I’ve been on Blogfresh Radio a few times in the past, and always enjoyed the experience. I used to chat to Bill Pearis, which was always fun, but he’s moved on now. These days when I talk to them it’s with a chap called Dev Sherlock who has proved to be just as much fun to chat to as Bill. A little too much fun actually – it seems to be traditional that when I talk to Blogfresh I prattle on endlessly for fucking ages, and then they face the unenviable task of trying to cut it down to a concise minute or so. Poor bastards – still, someone’s got to make them work for their money.

Anyhow, in addition to the more usual approach where a blogger chats a little bit to introduce a song they’re really enjoying at the moment, Blogfresh have very kindly done a profile on Song, by Toad on their latest show. There’s inevitably vanity at play here, of course there is, but I am nonetheless really chuffed that they decided to feature this blog on their recent show. It’s nice because I like what they’re doing, and they’re nice people. So go an listen and make a point of listening regularly. Their shows are short and sweet, unlike my rambling dispatches, and give you a really good taster of what’s going on on the blogs that week. It’s weird to hear a blogger’s actual voice, because sometimes I’d imagined something entirely different, but rather cool nonetheless.

In other news, I am back on Fresh Air Radio (click on the Listen Live thingy) this weekend. I have two shows, Saturday 12-2pm and Sunday 2-4pm both this weekend and next.  So if you want to hear me successfully managing to not swear – no seriously, it happens – tune in.  It’s Freshers Week at the uni as well so I might concentrate on a bit of an introduction to the Edinburgh music scene, and also play some songs from my own time as a first year student. That’ll give the game away something chronic about just how bloody old I am but fuck it, why not, it sounds fun. And there’s nothing to help people settle down and get over their nerves about being new to a place that finding some silly old fart to snigger at.

Here’s a couple that I might well consider:
Lemonheads – Being Around (Acoustic)
James – Say Something

Or my first year in Glasgow:
Gene – Sick, Sober & Sorry
Pulp – Common People

Bill has very kindly allowed me back on Blogfresh to talk about Modernaire and the whole intellectual property issue.  After seeing the enormous length to which that particular discussion unravelled I think Bill was placing enormous confidence in his editing abilities, to be able to get the inevitable rant down to a couple of minutes worth of intro.

It also gave me a chance to big up Modernaire again, after the slightly spiteful nonsense that ensued on that particular post.  I felt bad about that because I really like the band and I never really intended to slag them off personally.  To reiterate: they are an excellent group, they really should go places, and I think they are ace.  But also, internet exclusivity as a concept is just silly, and that particular policy is not only futile but potentially quite damaging to the initial word-spreading that they currently need.  Still, good luck to ‘em and let this be the last of it.

The Delgados – Accused of Stealing

I introduced The Low Miffs to Blogfresh Radio last week, and that episode is now up on their site. There are a couple of minor factual errors – I really don’t think they come from Edinburgh, for example – but it’s a good episode all in all. It includes a contribution from one of my favourite bloggers, Rich from Cable & Tweed, so get over and have a listen. I don’t think I swear once. Or, more likely, I did, but they cut it out. Bastards.

Erm, so, the gig. I have to confess I was three sheets to the wind for this one, so perhaps apologising to everyone I inflicted my company upon on Sunday might be in order. Particularly the very patient Low Miffs! Unfortunately I’d been at the pub since early afternoon watching the football with some mates, and then arrived at the Bongo Club at normal gig time – i.e. about eight-ish – only to discover that nothing was happening until eleven. So what was there for it but to go to the pub for three more hours.

The plus side of this inebriated condition was that I was in a right good mood by the time the lads came on stage, and wasn’t in any way let down. They’ve not played for a while due to practical reasons so they were raring to go, despite being slightly apprehensive. It was bloody brilliant, too. They’re really rather theatrical on stage and Leo Condie truly goes for it in all his be-suited fervour.

Their songs suited this full-on delivery I reckon, and the saxophone showed through a lot more live than it does on record. I am waiting for their 7″ singles to arrive, but from the looks of it we should expect a lot more good things from these lads in the future.

The Low Miffs – Cressida
The Low Miffs – Where Are Your Songs Now?

website | myspace | buy earl grey & also sprach shareholder

Greetings all.  Just to let you know that I am featured on the latest Blogfresh Radio, talking about iLiKETRAiNS.  Bill did a remarkable job of editing it all down to something short enough for the format, because I didn’t half go on a bit.

Click here to listen.