Song, by Toad

Saturday’s gig was, I think it’s fair to say without excessively blowing my own trumpet, fucking outstanding.  What fun!  There were flowers everywhere – thank you for those of you who made an effort, and didn’t leave me alone to look like a pillock by myself – the music was great and the gin flowed in epic quantities.

The open mic stuff at the beginning was great fun, so a big thank you to everyone who played.  We had two lovely songs by Alison and Tom from Aurora Stands in Snow, and then a couple from Scott Renton of Uhersky Brod, easing himself back into gigging after spending eight months gadding about the world (the total bastard).  If anything I think it’s probably Scott’s lyrics which make him stand out as a songwriter – has that very Scottish gift of being able to sprinkle his gloom and cynicism with enough wit to make you laugh, but never so much as to make you miss the point.

Next up we had a Jesus H. Foxx/Meursault mix, with an omnichord version of A Few Kind Words, an improvised percussion version of Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues, some Pavement and an acoustic version of Matter, the title track to the Foxx’s debut EP.  Then we finished up with some most un-Byrons-like acoustic stuff from Ed Stack.  Shorn of the thumping racket of his usual drummer Sam, he went altogether bluesier to close out the open mic part of the evening with real humour.

I know gig nights are supposed to be about the gigs, but personally I absolutely fucking love the open mic parts of Toad nights, and the Bowery really is the perfect place for that kind of thing, seeing as there isn’t actually a stage as such.

Yusuf Azak was the first of the evening’s main sets, setting up as usual with just himself and an acoustic guitar.  His recorded stuff – two free downloadable EPs available here – includes all sorts of looping and buggering about with things, so you can imagine why I like it so much, but live there is absolutely nothing but his amazing voice and his somewhat amazing way with a guitar.  There’s something mesmerising about his voice; it’s almost a surprise to find out that, yes, what you hear on record is almost exactly what he sounds like in real life.

He’s working on an album at the moment, something I will be waiting to hear with bated breath.

Yusuf Azak – Ursa Major

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Found’s set followed Yusuf and was, frankly, stunning.  It’s one of the perils of growing a band as you explore a bigger sound: how do you then go backwards and ask some of them just to not bother playing on some songs.  In particular the opening two songs of the Found set were just fucking lovely.  The banjo is probably my favourite instrument at the moment, and these two tracks were basically Ziggy playing solo on the banjo with just enough accompaniment from Kev and Tommy to add a bit of depth to the sound, and it was brilliant.

But if you’re Found, what do you do?  Do you integrate a couple of these more pared-back numbers into your full set at the risk of underemploying a couple of your band members for a bit, or do you take the approach they seem to have selected: to play some stripped-back sets and some full ones and let regular fans explore their range that way.  I honestly don’t know what I would prefer, but this was certainly my favourite Found set since the first time I saw them at Fence Club a couple of years ago.

Found – When You Fall (Live)

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So a big thank you to everyone that turned up to make this a most memorable night indeed, and cheers to Ruth and Jane and the staff at the Bowery for all their hard work since November – this was a great way to sign of for a month or so.

Bugger me it’s a busy week in gigs this week, starting this very evening, which is annoying in a sense as I’d rather hoped to have a relaxing week.  Fat chance, it seems.  Sorry for the lack of chat, but there’s a fuck of a lot to list here and I have to get this done before the end of my lunch break.  Consequently these previews are going to be the shortest I’ve ever written.  It might seem slightly insulting to the bands involved, but huge apologies if it is, but I am really, really rushed this morning.

Monday 23rd March 2009: The Ghost Bees at the Bowery as part of the Place Project.

Very delicate and, yes, ghostly female indie-folk from the Maritimes in Canada – Nova Scotia I think.
Ghost Bees – Vampires of the West Coast

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Monday 23rd March 2009: Joe Gideon & the Shark, Paul Vickers & the Leg & Enfant Bastard at Cabaret Voltaire.

Lots of growly guitars.
Joe Gideon & the Shark – Civilisation

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Wednesday 25th March 2009: Schwervon, Withered Hand & Come in Tokyo at the Bowery.

Schwervon are part of the New York anti-folk stuff I do believe, albeit rather more punky that you might expect from a tag like that.
Schwervon – Pretty Slow

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Thursday 26th March 2009: Leith Tape Club upstairs at the Isobar, with Rob St. John, Jennifer Concannon, Randan Discotheque & Ottersgear.

A really friendly DIY night down in Leith.  Highly recommended.

Friday 27th March 2009: Tentracks and Oxjam at the Bowery, with Punch & the Apostles, Jesus H. Foxx, The Byrons & the Black Diamond Express.

The new Jesus H. Foxx stuff sounds really good, I’ve never seen the sheer carnival mentalism that is Punch & the Apostles, the Byrons make a good fucking racket and so, in a different style, do the Black Diamond Express.
The Byrons – Good Man

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Friday 27th March 2009: Oxjam presents Vashti Bunyan & Lucky Jim at the Roxy Art House (i.e.: upstairs at the Bowery).

Lucky Jim is rather lovely, in the singer-songwriter style and Vashti Bunyan took one of the biggest hiatuses in music history between her first and second albums of folk prettiness.
Lucky Jim – You’re Lovely To Me

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Saturday 28th March 2009: Broken Records at the Bedlam Theatre.

Should be quite an interesting show, this, because it’s a small venue and apparently the usual mayhem will be tempered somewhat in favour of something more tailored to the environment – should be good.
Broken Records – Wolves (Toad Session)

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Saturday 28th March 2009: The Phantom Band at Cabaret Voltaire (more Oxjammery).

I’m not so keen on the Phantom Band but I know a lot of you are, so I thought this was worth pointing out as well.
The Phantom Band – The Howling

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Well it’s welcome back to Edinburgh for Mrs. Toad, returned on Saturday evening. It’s good to have the stroppy old bitch back, telling me all the things I haven’t done to her satisfaction during her absence. I’d forgotten how much I missed that incessant grumble.

This week isn’t really live week for me, if I’m honest. I have sessions and interviews that are woefully behind schedule and need dealing with before they go stale. I might sneak out and see the Byrons on Thursday, but that might be it I think. Ah the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, when did it foresake me?

Thursday 2nd October 2008: The Byrons & The Fnords at The Ark.
Okay, okay, so the Ark is a shitty venue, but this looks like fun. I like the Byrons, they have a new EP apparently, and given how different their previous recorded material was from their live show I’m very curious to hear it. The new stuff on their MySpace page is sounding pretty sharp, so it’ll be good to see them live and in person once again. The Fnords aren’t going to win any prizes for originality but they play a sort of rockabilly punk and they do it pretty well, judging from their MySpace, so they could be great fun.
The Byrons – Lights Have Changed

Saturday 4th October 2008: Johnny Foreigner & Danananackroyd at Cabaret Voltaire.
When Johnny Foreigner played Henry’s last year the place was half empty, but the reviews were spectacularly favourable. I personally have always been just a little ambivalent as far as they are concerned, but there were a lot of very trustworthy sorts getting very excited about their brand of furious guitar-bothering.
Johnny Foreigner – The Houseparty Scene is Killing You

Sunday 5th October – Fanattica, Black Diamond Express, Claes Cem & Injuns at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
I don’t know too much about any of these bands, but I’ve been intending to see Black Diamond Express and Fanattica for a while now. There should be plenty of real instruments at this gig, which is always welcome. Where is the good punk these days, then?
Fanattica – Black Cat, White Cat

Gosh, that was fun. Exhausting, nerve-wracking and monumental hangover-inducing, but it was certainly fun.

The Meridian is a small place, so it filled up pretty quickly (which was an enormous relief). Then again, that was the precise reason I chose that particular pub – I’m not daft! Morgan – the man who is Song, by Toad TV – helped me charge round charity shops during the day frantically accumulating china tea sets, old lamps, anything that would give the place a bit of Toadly character. The piece de resistance ended up being an oddly sinister-looking doll in a large bird cage but, erm, oh just don’t ask!

The teacups were put to use as gin receptacles. For a tenner you could buy a teapot of gin & tonic (five shots – bargain) and then you helped yourselves to cups and thus was gin imbibed in biblical quantities. It was a bit fucking ridiculous, but then that was the idea. We wanted it to be fun. Apparently the mix was a little strong for some but that, I’m afraid, is how an amphibian takes his medicinals.

The place looked brilliant, loads of people came, the atmosphere was great – I had a fucking brilliant time.  The only blot on the landscape was the fact that the carefully constructed between-bands mixes I asked my friends to make were nixed by a computer meltdown, so we had to be rescued by Alex the sound guy’s iPod.  Fortunately, this more than did the trick, but apologies to JC and Andy for wasting all your effort.

The performances were excellent.  The Byrons made a right fucking racket to wake everyone up, Meursault’s largely acoustic set was gorgeous, and then Celebrity Chimp rounded off the night superbly.  I’ve never seen them live before and I’ve been humming their songs ever since.  Fucking brilliant they were, and it was great to have the chance to bring something a bit different to the Edinburgh live circuit.  As I said to a few too many people at the time (I was very drunk and clearly pleased with myself over the turn of phrase) ‘none of yer agit-folk here, lads’.

Apart from that, it was really, really nice how many people turned up to support us.  Thanks to all of you for making the effort.  It was a bit like a wedding in the sense that I never got the chance to properly talk to half the people I wanted to, but I really am chuffed that you all made the effort to come along.  Nightjar album release party in July, everyone?  I promise to stay a little more sober.

Perhaps.

The Byrons – Azerbaijan
Meursault – The Furnace
Celebrity Chimp – Swingers

Of course there is one and only one gig worth attending in Edinburgh this week: the Song, by Toad Records Launch Party! It is the official line of this publication that no other gigs are even happening, never mind worth turning up to. Some arse has managed to sneak in some rogue listings at the bottom of the page, but believe me he will be hunted down and given a severe beating before the day is up.

It would be great to see as many of you as possible at the launch party. This is as nerve-wracking as it is exciting, so get there nice and early for your free sampler (only 25 to go round) and help us celebrate in a bit of style.

Wednesday 11th June 2008: We See Lights & Woodenbox & Emily Scott at the Wee Red Bar.
It’s all a bit folky at this month’s Trampoline gig. We See Lights are not a group I can tell you that much about, but Emily Scott’s stuff is gorgeous and Woodenbox were terrific at the T-Break Heats in Glasgow a month or so ago. It won’t be as much fun as the Toad Records Launch Night of course, but it will tide you over well enough.
Woodenbox – Situations

Wednesday 11th June 2008: Jonquil & The Occasional Flickers & Wounded Knee at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
It’s an eclectic lineup from The Gentle Invasion, with rising quirk-folksters Jonquil, pastoral indie band The Occasional Flickers and experimental soundscaper Wounded Knee all bringing something quite different to the evening. The one common thread is perhaps the laid back, comfortable vibe that should pervade, so for all it won’t be as good as the Song, by Toad Records Launch Night, it should be an enjoyable gig nevertheless.
Jonquil – Apparency
The Occasional Flickers – A Medal Won in ‘84

Friday 13th June 2008: Alex Cornish at Cabaret Voltaire.
Having played material from his debut album When the Traffic Stops both solo and with a four-piece band, Alex has finally decided to procure a string quartet to bring the full depth of his sound to the live stage at last. It should be really good, this, but don’t get too drunk because you don’t want to be hung over at the excellent Song, by Toad Records Launch Party the following day.
Alex Cornish – Counting Chimney Pots

Saturday 14th June 2008: Rags & Feathers & Ziggy Campbell & Les Enfant Bastard at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
Of course none of you will be at this, as you’ll all be at the Song, by Toad Records Launch Party. But should you be so scurrilously disloyal as to go along, then feel free to swing by Leith afterwards and brandish your stamp for free entry. You may just be able to catch Meursault (10pm – unlikely) and Celebrity Chimp (11pm – probably) if you’re quick. Ziggy Campbell is the Found frontman, and Les Enfant Bastard are possibly the living embodiment of anti-folk. Rags & Feathers I know nothing about at all, but follow the MySpace link and enlightenment is yours for the taking.
Les Enfant Bastard – U R My Fucking Sunshine U Cunt

Saturday 14th June 2008: Celebrity Chimp & Meursault & The Byrons play the Song, by Toad Records Launch Party, at The Meridian, Leith.
There is surely no way I need to tell you any more about this, but even if you don’t give a shit about the label or my own endeavours or any of that stuff – and of course, there’s no reason that you should – then you may wish to come down to see the bands anyway, as this is a really excellent lineup. More details here if you want them; hope to see you there.
Celebrity Chimp – Plastic Girl

Sunday 15th June 2008: The Twilight Sad, Broken Records & Meursault at the Bongo Club.
What finer way to nurse your prodigious hangover after the night of your life at the Song, by Toad Records Launch Night than by spinning round to see Broken Records and Meursault, probably Edinburgh’s two best bands at the moment, supporting swirling noise-merchants The Twilight Sad at the Bongo Club. It won’t be as much fun as the night before, but then, you probably just couldn’t take that much joy in one weekend anyway.
The Twilight Sad – Watching That Chair Painted Yellow

Yes indeed it is finally that time, and we are about ready to kick off Song, by Toad Records.  Click on the flyer (right) for more details.

Basically we’re going to have a silly great party at the Meridian in Leith (basically head down towards the Foot of the Walk, and it’s on the left in that run of low red buildings) and I’ve invited some of my favourite bands to join in the fun.  I’m also going to be giving away about twenty or thirty free Song, by Toad compilations to the first arrivals, with sampler tracks from our own label as well as hopefully some contributions from Toad pals like Bear Scotland and Fife Kills.  Basically, it will be a bloody good CD, and I’ll do a nice cover for it too.

Celebrity Chimp are coming up from London, partly because Andy is also in Nightjar, which will be our first release.  Meursault are playing because a/ they’re fucking brilliant and b/ we’re looking to do a 7″ release with them later in the year.  And last but not least The Byrons are playing because, erm, well just because they’re fantastic really.

We’ve got the bar until 1am too, so there’ll be plenty of good music.  I’m going to try and steer clear of moaning indie rock too, however cutting edge, and ask a good friend of mine to make a Motown compilation, I’m going to ask my old mate JC from The Vinyl Villain to put together a rarities and oddities compilation, and there’ll be some good old circus mayhem music as well.  We may even get sensible later in the night and play some normal party music, but I kind of doubt that somehow.  Where’s the fun in that, eh?

So pass this on to your friends and please do come down and support us on the 14th.  It’s going to be tremendous fun, and I can’t wait to see the Chimps live.

Celebrity Chimp – Swingers
Meursault – The Dirt & the Roots
The Byrons – Azerbaijan

It’s actually fairly quiet this week, prior to the commencement of the Leith Festival next week, so I may take the opportunity to spend some time with my lovely lady wife and do nice normal bonding things like going for walks and sitting in the garden with a cup of tea. This instead of the more usual and rather less satisfying recent habit of her sitting on the couch reading a book and occasionally looking up at my back as I frantically try and get things sorted for Song, by Toad Records, mix a demo EP for a friends of mine and edit the latest session videos.

You really would forgive the lass for being far, far less tolerant of this sort of behaviour than she is.

Tuesday 27th May 2008: Broken Records & Jyrojets & Root System at Cabaret Voltaire. Cancelled, sorry!
Broken Records? Who? I haven’t seen much of these guys since they started gadding about the country being famous, but this week I will certainly be catching either this show (which is free, by the way) or alternatively their acoustic set at the Voodoo Rooms on Thursday.
Root System – I Know

Thursday 29th May: Vetiver & Adrian Crowley at Cabaret Voltaire.
What I know about Vetiver could be written on the back of a postage stamp, but people I trust (i.e. Bart & Euan who you probably know from the comments section) are very excited about this one, so I’ll defer to their judgment. Adrian Crowley is well worth seeing as well: a slightly broody, atmospheric songwriter who gets lumped in with folk sorts but not, as far as I can tell, because his stuff especially resembles folk music.
Vetiver – You May Be Blue (Live)

Thursday 29th May: Broken Records (Acoustic) & Y’All is Fantasy Island at the Voodoo Rooms.
Apparently Broken Records are bringing everyone except Gill, their bass guitarist who has been given the week off for good behaviour, so acoustic it may be but don’t expect it to lack their customary clatter. I’m intrigued by this set actually, so of the two shows this week I might forgo the free one and pay for this instead. For Broken Records acoustic stuff, try a Toad Session recording of their debut single:
Broken Records – If the News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch It (Toad Session)

Saturday 31st May: The Byrons & Sara & the Snakes at the Hive.
I love the Byrons: Sam batters the living shit out of his drums and Ed breaks his guitar. In fact I think they’re that ace that I’ve invited them to play the Song, by Toad Records launch night on the 14th June. The recorded stuff is really nice too, but a definite departure from their current live setup which is much more raucous.
The Byrons – Anglais

There’s only time for a real quickie this week as I am working my hairy little buttocks off on the Broken Records stuff at the moment.  Still, in your insatiable thirst for pointless, self-indulgent rambling I was sure you’d want to listen to something splendid in the meantime.

There’s no underlying theme to anything either I’m afraid, just me rattling on about some current and very interesting music, as well as a couple of confessions so shocking you may never come back here again.  Looking at the playlist, I’m sure you can guess which ones they are.

So good luck with this, and I am already looking forward to the next one.

Toadcast #25 – The Quickcast[audio http://media.libsyn.com/media/songbytoad/ToadcastNo25.mp3]

01.  The Futureheads – Broke Up the Time (02.02)
02. Tapes ‘n’ Tapes – Hang Them All (05.05)
03. Meursault – Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues(13.21)
04. The Byrons – Azerbaijan (19.13)
05. The Fire Engines – Candyskin (26.04)
06. The Close Lobsters – Firestation Towers (28.53)
07. Mighty Mighty – Law (34.21)
08. Kim Carnes – When I’m Away From You (41.14)
09. Meat Loaf – Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (44.32)
10. Dirty Summer – War is Bad, Bono is Great (50.02)
11. The Low Lows – Dear Flies Love Spider (53.40)
12. Sargasso Trio – It’s Hot in Hell (58.32)
13. The Extraordinaires – High Five the Cactus (63.11)
14. Modernaire – Distraction (69.40)
15. The Indelicates – Point Me to the West (75.47)
16. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Night of the Lotus Eaters(83.47)

Yes, you did read that correctly.  Meat Loaf.  Fuck off.

Mrs. Toad has been away all week and I have been at a gig every night in her absence.  In retrospect this was a bit foolish because I’ve had to sit through some real shit, but everyone I have specifically gone to see has been excellent.  A few less shows next week though, because there are only so many indie three or four-pieces that I can sit through who bring absolutely nothing new to the table in a musical sense and don’t even perform with any real sense of joy either.  Why the fuck are you people bothering?

So here’s a quick run-down of the stuff I really did think was good this week:

Jesus H. Foxx - I do have some reservations about these guys in the sense that at times their punchy, shouty indie-pop can seem just a little contrived.  For the most part it’s excellent though, and improves with repeat listening.   Their single release gig took place at Henry’s on Tuesday and I went along and availed myself of a nice new bit of vinyl.  It’s called Tightt Ideas and if you get in touch via MySpace I’m sure they’ll be prepared to send you one, assuming you ask nicely.  And this is the b-side:
Jesus H. Foxx – This is Not a Rental Car

The Byrons – Well they sound nothing like their recorded stuff when they’re on stage.  Partly this is due to the fact that a couple of the MySpace songs are older tracks recorded when the band was a five-piece, and partly because live they just bloody well go for it.  Sam has burst a bass drum before apparently and Ed managed to break his guitar in this set, but it was bloody fantastic. As a two-piece the sound is inevitably a bit more garage bluesy, but still keeps a pretty contemporary indie sound with its lurching changes of pace.  Definitely ones to keep an eye on if you ask me.  They are (perhaps) about to get round to recirding a few more songs, so there will be more to come from The Byrons on this blog.
The Byrons – Anglais

Alex Cornish – You already know I like Alex’s stuff, and he’s a truly nice chap to boot, and most keen to make a gin-fuelled appearance on the Toad Session in the next month or so, but even that wasn’t enough to make me stick around for the execrable Sandi Thom, not even out of curiosity.  Alex played an acoustic set on this occasion which I really enjoyed, but it was his relaxed, charming way with the crowd that struck me the most.  Opening early at Cabaret Voltaire can be tough because things start very early there so they can get in a more lucrative club night afterwards, but Alex’s easy chat brought the crowd round to his side in moments, and they loved him.
Alex Cornish – Scotland the Brave

Meursault – It’s basically indie electronica I suppose, but the presence of the banjo and ukulele brings something really different to their sound, but really this is mostly about Neil Pennycook’s amazing voice.  It’s such an impassioned howl that it is nigh impossible not to feel the emotion of this music in a live setting.  And the giddy delight at the release of their self-released album (buy one here) was a real pleasure to see.  They were buzzing and it was brilliant.
Meursault – Salt Pt. 2

I may have seen some crap this week, but I’ve seen some great stuff too.  Looking back at that little list, though, you know what excites me the most?  Not one of those groups has a label.  Alex has been courted, but isn’t having any of it, The Byrons just haven’t got their shit together, Meursault put together their first EP with a label but just didn’t think they brought enough to the table and Jesus H. Foxx just decided to put out the single themselves.  Indie is well and truly alive, and I am fucking excited as hell about the next few years of music in this city.

It’s another solid week of gigs this week, with a couple of lesser-known groups popping up and the chance for me to see new discovery The Byrons play at the ARK, which promises to be good.  Mrs. Toad’s away this week, so I have free reign to go out as many nights as I please – whee!  Have fun, Toadlings.

Wed 5th March: The Byrons & Foxgang at The ARK.
So, a couple of days after I write about them , here are The Byrons, playing their Blur-y brand of, um, what, post-rock? They’re joined by Foxgang who are also pretty good – beatier and a bit more upbeat – so it should be a good night.
The Byrons – Anglais
Foxgang – Cheesewire

Thursday 6th March: The Occasional Flickers at The Bongo Club.
When I first heard their music I thought ‘gosh this twee pop sounds right up Cloudberry Records‘ street’ and lo and behold who has a Cloudberry single to their name? Yup, you guessed it. Well they’re playing with The Afterglow and Exit Music at the Bongo Club on Thursday.

The Occasional Flickers – Rucksack

Friday 7th March: Meursault at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
This is their album release actually.  I’m not sure if there’s a label involved but if not, fuck it.  Who needs labels these days.  So I am set for plenty of beers and some rather dark banjo-meets-electronica goodness.
Meursault – Salt Pt.2

Sunday 9th March: The Beat at the Liquid Room.
The Beat! The fucking Beat! I won’t be going, because reunion tours for ageing ska legends tend to be overpriced and a poor compensation for being too young to have caught it the first time round. But The Beat, people!
The Beat – Stand Down Margaret (Whine & Grine)
The Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom