This is the beginning of what Milo has already pointed out is going to be a monumental period of carousing.  Last week was very, very quiet in terms of gigs, but if you paid any attention to that then the sense of security into which you might have been lulled would very much have been a false one.  Because it all kicks off in earnest this week, and if anything next could be even heavier.  Livers of Edinburgh beware!

From my own perspective I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, in the sense that the year’s tasks are approaching their completion.  This will be a monumental relief, and believe me, that last week before Christmas will be spent going to bed at about ten at night.  Until then though, no rest for the wicked.  Or the stupid.

Thursday 3rd December 2009: There Will Be Fireworks & St. Jude’s Infirmary, with solo acoustic sets from Meursault & Broken Records for the Avalanche Album Club party at the Caves.

There Will Be Fireworks’ album didn’t entirely capture my imagination, I have to confess, sounding a bit too much like an amalgalm of The Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit, but they have sold a hell of a lot of copies of it off their own backs after very few gigs and a lot of very good reviews, so they are definitely doing something right.  For me this implies that I should be paying a bit more attention to what they’re doing, and this is the first time in a while they’ve played Edinburgh.

Thursday 3rd December: The Pictish Trail, Rachel & Laura Lancaster & Tisso Lake play Leith Tape Club at the Isolounge.

The Leith Tape Club is one of the nicest nights in Edinburgh.  Rachel and Laura Lancaster more commonly go under the name of Chippewa Falls (when the drummer is present), and Ian from Tisso Lake has a gorgeous voice and a really engaging solo set.  And that Pictish Trail fellow isn’t bad either!

The Pictish Trail – You Covered the Earth With Your Thumb (Toad Session)

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Friday 4th December 2009: Deer Tick at Sneaky Pete’s.

This is a low key gig, but I really would recommend it.  Deer Tick’s album War Elephant really is good, and apparently they’re excellent live.  There are elements of folk and indie rock in the album, although I suppose if you wanted a gigantic generalised banner to pop it under then I would probably use the term Americana.  Either way, highly recommended.

Deer Tick – Ashamed

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Friday 4th December 2009: Fanattica & Blueflint at the Penicuik Arts Centre.

I know I generally don’t cover out of town gigs – it’s all I can do to stay even vaguely on top of local ones – but Penicuik almost counts, and this one intrigued me anyway.  I’ve never been to Penicuik Arts Centre, but the flyer for this promises candlelight and an open fire.  Buses run regularly to and from Penicuik all night apparently, so if you’re looking for a romantic evening this week, and I never ever thought I would hear myself say this, Penicuik might actually be the place to be.

Friday 4th December 2009: FOUND, Meursault & Panda Su play the Ten Tracks Christmas bash at the Roxy Art House.

I think this might be Meursault’s last gig of the year, for which I would imagine they will all be truly grateful.  Being a record label is fucking hard work, but when people put this much effort into their band then it never seems like a chore for a moment.  FOUND have been playing new album material recently, and I have yet to see any of it, so I am not going to miss this.

FOUND – Mullokian

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Saturday 5th December 2009: Schwervon, Withered Hand, the Pineapple Chunks & Enfant Bastard at Henry’s Cellar Bar.

Our Christmas party (ie, our personal one, nothing to do with Toad) happens on this particular evening, and I am sizing up the likelihood of being able to sneak out to see such a cracking lineup without Mrs. Toad taking a big stick to my gentleman’s appendage.  Unlikely, I think, which is a shame because in terms of general wonkiness this bill includes three of Edinburgh’s best bands if you ask me.  And all different, too.  Shite.

The Pineapple Chunks – Art Storage

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Saturday 5th October 2009: The Last Battle single launch at Carter’s Bar.

Another rather intriguing gig here.  Single release?  Already?  Wow!  The Last Battle haven’t been going that long, but have already snuck up on my blind side with a new single, which they’ll be launching at Carter’s Bar, just down the road from Henry’s, on Saturday night.

Well well well, another week, another flutter through the pages of Edinburgh’s virtual classifieds for the finest tuneage known to man.  Or at least, Edinburgh man.  And woman.  For this week.

Tuesday 8th April: Alex Cornish at The Ark.
Me old pal Alex will be playing at The Ark on Tuesday, so for Scotland’s finest dose of mellow, pianoey pop songs, this is the place to be. Pop up and say hello afterwards too, as he’s the friendliest chap imaginable. I’ll be away unfortunately, so I won’t be able to make this one.
Alex Cornish – This One’s For You

Friday 11th April: Randan Discotheque & Sanna at The Village, Leith
This is part of the Club Welto folk night. Randan Disco is acoustic stuff, but written with that trademark Scottish humour permeating every song, and Sanna bring some gentle electro underpinnings to matters. The Village is a top way to spend your Friday nights in general, I’d say.
Randan Discotheque – Heather the Weather

Saturday 12th April: Chippewa Falls at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
Bart’s Gentle Invasion promotion sideline are hosting this one at Henry’s. Instrumental rock is a bloody hard thing to pull off, but the only reason Bart got out of the promoting lark in the first place is that he refused to put on gigs where he didn’t love the entire lineup, and that ginger man’s word is good enough for me.
Chippewa Falls – Wolfy

Update: now definitely CANCELLED. Sunday 13th April, Make Model, Found, Frightened Rabbit at Cabaret Voltaire.
Frightened Rabbit have a new album approaching called The Midnight Organ Fight, which I am pretty interested in having a listen to, as soon as it’s possible. I haven’t given the band that much thought for a while, I have to confess, so it’s time I started to pay attention again I think. Between their indie rock and Found’s electronic indie-folky stuff – bleep hop, they call it, which makes more sense – this is an excellent lineup only slightly let down by the headline act who are no better than reasonable, in my eyes. Be a little careful with this one, as Found have it down on their site as cancelled, whereas the others do not, so it may just be that Found themselves aren’t playing, which would be a shame.
Frightened Rabbit – The Modern Leper
Found – FCN Mapa Remix