I’ll confess, the fact that Sparrow and the Workshop have twice insisted to me that John Knox Sex Club are the best live band in Scotland played a significant part in me asking them to play at Henry’s on Saturday.  Then I heard their version of Katie Cruel on the Sways Records Mixtape, and thought it was incredible.  And then I heard their new album Raise Ravens, and that was that. So I am really looking forward to tomorrow, I don’t know about you.

As for today, it really is unseasonably warm at the moment – almost creepily so.  I half expect Jeff Goldblum to come rushing in the door brandishing unfairly discredited research and demanding I help him get in touch with the president to explain how aliens are invading, or the dinosaurs are coming back, or a comet is about to collide with the planet or something like that.  It’s usually Jeff Goldblum who delivers that kind of news isn’t it?

I other news, the Eastern Promise even is taking place in Glasgow (well, Easterhouse actually, but that’s almost Glasgow) this weekend.  You can get the bus from Mono if you like, and tonight will see the appearance of the amazing Animal Magic Tricks, who was fucking great in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, and tomorrow the return of the Scottish Independent Record Fair, where you can purchase assorted tat from the independent record labels of Scotland, amongst which we number our good selves.  You’ll be able to tell our stall, because it will be the one with all the best stuff on it.  Bwah-ha!

Actually, I’ll be there to set up, but will have to get back through to Edinburgh pretty sharpish for obvious enough reasons. In my absence, the stall will be manned by Wee Matthew, who has helped us out with all sorts of things, from filming to PR to screen-printing of album covers, over the last few years.

And so, before I even begin to try and get my head around another busy weekend, let’s just kick back and relax a bit, and spend the afternoon fannying about on the internet. My Fresh Air Show, incidentally, is likely to be on a Friday afternoon this year. Along with yon Brian from Trapped Mice/Loch Awe/Last Battle/etc etc etc… and possibly one other victim.  So erm, yes, even more wastage to Friday afternoons than usual!

1. Name a band who sound nothing like their name.
2. Era you romanticise the most.
3. Of all the people saving the world in disaster movies, who would you most want on the case if you had the choice.
4. Has there actually been a good ‘ZOMG it’s the end of teh wurld!!1!’ film that you can think of?
5. Kids’ movie you actually like.

Five songs from 2003/4 for your entertainment.

Rickie Lee Jones – Little Mysteries

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Laura Viers – Shadow Blues

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R.E.M. – Bad Day

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Shiva Burlesque – Do the Way

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The Jesus & Mary Chain – Just Like Honey

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I suppose that if we are talking about Scottish gigs this week, I really do have to mention T in the Park, or Nedstock as my far-funnier-than-I friend refers to it over at the Vinyl Villain.  I’ve actually only been once myself, back in 1996 I think it was, when Radiohead and Pulp headlined the Saturday and Sunday spots respectively.  The thing is, I looked it up on Wikipedia and it seems that was indeed 1996, but then, it says Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were also on the bill and although I cannot for the life of me imagine missing one of my all time musical heroes I have absolutely no recollection of seeing them that year.

The one thing I do remember, however, was watching a hunched introvert and an awkward geek effortlessly engage one of the biggest crowds I’d ever been a part of.  I think it was probably the first time I ever really understood what real star power actually was, because both Jarvis Cocker and Thom Yorke had the whole gigantic main stage crowd eating out of the palms of their hands.

I’m glancing over this year’s lineup and wondering who I would go and see, and apart from maybe Big Pink and Dirty Projectors on Friday, and Frightened Rabbit and Mumfords on Saturday, I’d stick with the ‘also appearing’ bit at the bottom of that poster where you see the likes of Sparrow & the Workshop, the Boy Who Trapped the Sun, French Wives, Mitchell Museum, The Seventeenth Century and Washington Irving.  Most of them are playing the T-Break Stage, where Meursault are also making a guest appearance on Friday.

Wednesday 7th July 2010: Rickie Lee Jones at the Queen’s Hall.

I really don’t know anything at all about Rickie Lee Jones from a musical perspective, but I have heard one or two songs I like here and there.  And given people have repeatedly advised me never to ever put gigs on in the Summer, I suppose it should come as no surprise that this is the only one I could find this week that I liked.  Any suggestions welcome in the comment thread.

Rickie Lee Jones – Little Mysteries

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Jesus, this has been a little too much like hard work, hasn’t it.  Basically, because of the launch of Song, by Toad Records in March or April, and the approach of the Toad Sessions, I am trying to get everything neatly organised before things go a bit mental and I’m running around like a blue-arsed fly trying to stay on top of it all.  I’d rather have the hiccups now, rather than when I’m really trying to show off.

In any case, that should hopefully be all the cunting about over for the time being, and thank fuck for that.  I have nothing much to add, apart from to congratulate the three-hundred or so readers I’ve had so far today and on Friday.  How the hell did you manage to even find the site in amongst all my bungling?  Well, thanks for your determination anyway.

By way of not very much, here are some very, very good songs. Back before I went digital I used to compile all the best tracks from the random samplers I’d find on magazines onto mix CDs. A large percentage of the tracks on these samplers was generally rubbish, but some of the compilations I made from them hung together surprisingly well.  These songs are from one I made in early 2004.

Rickie Lee Jones – Little Mysteries
Randy Newman – Political Science
Shiva Burlesque – Do the Pony
Tim Buckley – Chase the Blues Away
David Byrne – Glass, Concrete & Stone