Uncharacteristcally, given how hectic things were last week, there seems to be precious little happening in Edinburgh for the bext little while.  Frankly, this is a blessing, as this year has been exhausting and I have never felt more grateful for an approaching holiday.  However, there are a couple of genuinely important events (well, to me at least) to take care of before then, and a couple of them coincide this week: the Song, by Toad official Christmas party is taking place at the Bowery on Friday 5th December, and will basically twin as the official launch of Song, by Toad Records‘ debut release, Meursault’s Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues.  We’ve spent all fucking weekend printing the sleeves and folding and all sort of other stuff, and we’re still not done.  The CDs themselves arrive tomorrow, and we still have five hundred packs to fold and fill. We’ll get there of course, but it’s yet another reason why things have been so exhausting of late.

Before the splendid Allo Darlin’ and a full-works set from Meursault, we’ll be having an hour or so of open mic as a warm up.  It won’t just be a rabble though – we’ve got a good few Edinburgh indie celebrities, if you can call them that, to play some bits and pieces so it should be really fun.  So swing by the Bowery on Roxburgh Place from about half seven for some fun and games.

Allo Darlin’ – Atlantic City

Other than that, there’s only one other show I can find this week and it is this:

Thursday 4th December 2008: Pumajaw, Eagleowl & Sparrow & the Workshop play Limbo at the Voodoo Rooms.
Given I’ve never seen Pumajaw and given I love the other two bands on the bill, I would say that there is almost zero chance of me skipping this gig.  Pumajaw’s music is defined by the band themselves as being genre-less, but it’s basically a variation of electro, folk and a little bit of fairytale wooziness.  I know basically nothing at all about them, so I’m rather looking forward to this one.
Pumajaw – The Bending Wood

You know it never occurred to me that Meursault’s band name would prove so tricky to spell, but first the BBC and now Mojo magazine have managed to spell it incorrectly, and both in different ways. When they were played on Gideon Coe last week they were on the track listing as Meuersault, and now their brilliant review in this month’s Mojo starts with them being referred to as Mersault. God knows how that’s going to affect any of our potential sales, but I hope we don’t have too many people give on looking for a band that might not drop easily out of a Google search. I’ve written a page on the label site with both misspellings in the URL and the title, which is about all I can think of.

Anyway, what a fucking great review eh? Well done lads. The album can be pre-ordered here, in advance of a 15th December release date, or bought at the Song, by Toad Christmas Party next Friday at the Bowery.

Aaron Schroeder – Hooray For You

In advance of the official release dates for Song, by Toad Records things there has been a slow and steady trickle of good news from the media outlets to whom we have submitted our stuff.

We just found out last night that both Stuart Maconie and Gideon Coe have played songs from the Meursault album which is, frankly, fucking brilliant.

Is This Music? have given both Meursault and eaglowl records fantastic reviews, so massive thanks to both Ed and Brian for those.

Crack Magazine gave the Meursault album a really positive review (scroll down a bit) and eagleowl’s Sleeptide was featured in Word Magazine as one of the favourite songs on the office stereo this month, and were also featured by the Scotsman as one of Scotland’s best unsigned bands.

Apparently the Nightjar record is going to be the Single of the Issue in the next edition of Beatmag – ie at the top of this page – but I don’t want to jinx it by being prematurely delighted. Big thanks to Thomas for his enthusiasm – it’s much appreciated.

We’ve had some really positive blog reviews for the eagleowl stuff from The Next Big Thing, for Nightjar from Landcroft House, and for Rob St. John from Eaten By Monsters, so thanks to Brother Randall, Rob and Tom respectively for those.

I have to point out that the eagleowl and Rob St. John records are not Song, by Toad releases, just friends who we helped with their promo effort, in terms of mailing lists, envelope stuffing, some format advice and things like that. So I really don’t want to give the impression that I am trying to steal their thunder because I haven’t made a particularly big contribution to the success of either record. They’re both just friends, so I’m pleased for them, that’s all.

So, we’re nearly ready for the official release date of the Meursault album (at the Toad Christmas Party on the Friday 5th), complete with new, super minimal art packaging as designed by the band themselves (fucking art students), I reckon we should be a cool couple of million in the black by the end of… oh, stop it, you know what I mean.

Rob St. John – Paper Ships (Live Demo)
Nightjar – Poor Man’s Son
Eagleowl – Know By Now
Meursault – Nothing Broke (Demo)

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

Christ that whinge of depression about our electoral system was a bit of a damp squib thrown onto our weekend plans wasn’t it.  Fuck that for a game of soldiers, this is a bloody great weekend and I am bloody looking forward to it and there is going to be plenty of fun to be had, so enough sulking and time to be cheerful.

Tonight there’s cutting and pasting and putting together the samplers for the launch party tomrrow.  I also get the first samples of the Nightjar album, getting us within a week or so of our first official release. Tomorrow is seeing a couple of old mates for the first time in ages, and trawling charity shops for some first class silliness for the launch night itself.  Then Sunday is calming down, sleeping off a monumental hangover and generally relaxing.

The sun is out, things are fun, and in general the only worry is that I fight off the temptation to go out and drink too much beer and never get my samplers put together for tomorrow.  Sunshine, booze, music.  It’s a simple recipe but nevertheless and completely infallible one and today it promises a fine weekend of inebriation, joy and Toadery.

Neko Case – Star Witness
Elk City – Los Cruzados
Ravens & Chimes – General Lafayette!  You are Not Alone!
R.E.M. – Fall on Me

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

Well we know that Andy – one half of the Nightjar songwriting team – is currently banjo-bothering in London’s finest satirical drums and banjo combo Celebrity Chimp, but what of The Other One?  The Other One is a certain Mr. Jack Richold and he was responsible for the more delicate songs on that album.

Well I met up with Jack for the first time the other night to discuss the Nightjar release and he gave me a four song demo CD of the stuff he’s been working on in the past year, including two re-recordings of songs on The Moth Trap.  I don’t know much about Jack or his music beyond the Nightjar stuff, but these are absolutely gorgeous.  It’s a similar gently hushed folk music to his contributions to The Moth Trap, so perhaps not for the punk rockers in the audience, but for those of you who appreciate this sort of thing you won’t find much better.  The re-working of Lady of the Calico is utterly beautiful, and that little bit of female vocal he’s added is a masterstroke.

Without having seen him play live there’s not much more I can tell you, but I promise to sort that out as soon as I possibly can.

Jack Richold – Lady of the Calico
Jack Richold – Mary Morri