Broken Social Scene, Art School, Fri 17th Feb

Warm up pint in the Variety. An early show, doors open around seven, we rolled up around 7.45. Upstairs to find the tills were broke and they weren't serving any drinks. One sensible chap behind the bar was serving pints of TL, but only if you had the right dough. He kept a tally of pints sold scribbled on his arm. That boy'll go far. I only had a tenner so i bought 5 and shared em amongst our posse of 4. BSS shambled onstage soon after the drinks issues, 8 or 9 of them always on stage at one time. Looked they all attended GSA, rather scruffy in their personal presentation it must be said. However, they sounded great, really full on, with each of them putting their heart and soul into it. Passing around vocal duties is an inspired move with such a large group, it really varies the tone and the vibe of the show. I was a bit disappointed that my fave tune (stars and sons) was done in a fairly low key way. On record it features tight crisp drum beats and a rigid structure, with swooping keyboard washes and breathy, distorted vocals which build to an ace crescendo. Played live it was just a very straightforward walk through. Other tracks included 'lovers spit', sung by the bloke rather than the girl, and some more stuff off 'Forgot it in people'.
Only neg note was their bullshit awe at playing in Glasgow. One of the guitarists said, in a Canadian accent with full on annoying high rise terminals 'Could you, like, put a hex on my guitar to make it play better, like a highland hex?' FUCK OFF AND PLAY ANOTHER TUNE!!! There was also some needless Mogwai sycophancy and other refs to their last show in Glasgow. it didn't ruin the gig but it didn't add to it.
Quick skip down to Asia Style for a quick feed then home. Highlight of the Asia Style experience was the proprieter telling two dudes in no uncertain terms that they had not been overcharged and that the conversation was over. Brilliant. Wouldny take an open pay packet hame tae her!!

Chalets / Datapanik / The Hot Puppies @ tuts 12/02/2006

Datapanik first up, or 'Bis' as I like to call them. Good fun energetic electro poppy tunes. Just like Bis. The guy got up my nose by saying 'We're Datapanik' American style, as in 'Da vinci', obviously its meant to be pronounced to rhyme with Day. Manda's vocals were too low down in the mix. Questionable stage wear, kinda faux corp short sleeves white shirts with 'Panik' patches for the boys, just the kind of american garage attendant wear they couldn't give away in Flip. Sub S&M thing for Manda.

Hot Puppies were altogether more serious, no laughing allowed, 2 guys 2 gals(?), sang a song about Mariella Frostrup's problem page. Observer readers obviously. Guitarist wore his leather jacket buttoned up the whole and sweated like a paedo in a creche.

Chalets were like a more polished version of Databispanik. Except with two foxy birds. Good stage presence, they were very confident, easily slipping in some banter twixt songs and no-one of them hogging the limelight. Good electro pop tunes and the girls were very attractive. Performance marred only by some complete fucking tit in an Italy shirt with a long pony tail, who had clearly rattled one too many ten bob eccies. Bounced around like an arse, banging into folk and grinning like a fool. When the band came on he shouted 'Paddy fuckers' at them. Unsure whether this was intended to mean 'fuckers who are paddies' or indeed 'People who fuck paddies'. Don't think he knew what he intended either. Anyway, girl from Chalets just said 'you're very bold' and proceeded to completely ignore him. Good work girl. Girls looked lovely in polka dot semi gothic dresses.

The Kooks, Embra Venue 5th Feb '06

Through to Embra last night for the Kooks gig. Embra was hoaching with Rugby fans after the game with France. Rugby shmugby, means eff all to this Glaswegian. Went as arranged to the Malt Shovel on Cockburn Street but the hubbub of Rugger types and the skirl of the pipes (bagpipes? indoors?) was unbearable so effed off round to some terrible backpackers place, having been unablke to secure seating for food in the Doric.
Quick tootle through Waverley to the Venue in time to see the 2nd band Mumm-Ra. Good Thundercats related name but thats all I can really say. The name reminded me of a fantastic long lost hiphop mix tape which featured the sterling rhyme ' It's one for the money, two for the show, thunder, thunder, thundercats HO -OH.'
Kooks themselves were much better, really confident, the singer's got an interesting voice, strange west country accent he uses to sing. And the band aren't scared to veer off into the realms of ska abd dubby type sounds.
Down to Jaynes for a couple afterwards, all good.
Forthcoming highlights include King Creosote at barfly, Guillemots at KTWWH, Moz (yes!) and the Flaming Lips in Embra.
Benicassim tix being bought soon and also ATP if I can muster a posse.

Belle and Sebastian, Newcastle, Sat 28th Jan

Went down to Newcastle to (a) see Belle and Sebastian playing and (b) celebrate Soft Paul's birthday. He and a couple of mates came up from Doncaster to N'Castle. The band started well with 'State I am In', it sounded really good, clean and pure. But the sound quality seemed to deteriorate as the night went. Usual Murdoch Monologues between songs, first one he was going on about goths in N'castle being rubbish compared to Glasgow ones. The other examples of intersong banter were unintelligible mumbles, you couldny hear a word he said. The sound seemed to improve a bit but it wisny the best. Whilst doing 'Wrong Girl' Stevie dropped in a nice nod to the locals, singing 'Ah, what happened to you, whatever happened to me.' This was the theme song to a Newcastle-set sitcom in the 70's called 'The Likely Lads'. I cheered but nobody else seemed to get it. Either I'm an old codger or the audience were thick. Evidence of the latter was provided by some daft Geordie who kept shouting 'Stewy! Stewy!' at the top of his voice. Perhaps he wanted to profess his undying for Mr Murdoch.
Bounced around a couple of bars after the gig before heading back to the hotel. Good nightlife it has to be said, one bar (Tokyo?) had a nice triangular outdoor terrace accessed from the first floor - it was actually the gap between the surrounding buildings, they had two huge sails suspended over the area to provide a bit of shelter. Nice touch.
Drove back up on the Sunday via the East coast, beautiful sunshiny day. Stopped at the Lindisfarne / Holy Isle crossing but the water was rushing in to cover the causeway.

Unexpected guests

This happened back on 19th September, but it bears re-telling. I was lying in my bed on a Sunday night trying to drop off. Kept hearing a scratching sound, so of course tried to ignore it. When it became clear that something was making a noise, I put on a lamp & got up to investigate. Transpired said scratching was coming from the cupboard where the central heating boiler lives. Assuming it was a mouse, I opened the door expecting Stuart Little to bounce out. Nothing. Went and turned on the main light, and turned back to see something hanging on the back of the door. Can you tell what it is yet? It was a wee black blob hanging down, a bat no less. I just stood and looked at it, thinking 'What the F**k am I going to do?' Went and checked the internet and turns out the wee c**ts carry rabies, best wear gloves & long sleeves if you're gonna get up close & personal. Dressed for the occasion, I returned to my guest. Wee shite had moved. Hunted around and turns out he's moved up on top of the roller blind. Cunning, but not cunning enough. Inter-High-Web also suggested using a cardboard box for entrapment. So dressed to kill and armed to the teeth with a shoe box I aproached my prey. Tugging gently on the cord of the blind, young Nosferatu edged forward bit by bit. Eventually he was hanging by one mangy claw finger, as I held the box below expectantly. Just at the last moment the little shit swooped down and started flying round the room. Pretty fancy moves for a little dude, and it was pretty amazing to be so close to a creature you usually don't get a swatch at. However, the Johnny Morris moment soon passed and the young man's thoughts turned to his scratcher, no fuckin way was I gonna try and sleep with this nightcrawler fleeing about. Taking decisive action, I opened the blind and opened the window wide as it would go, hoping Batfink would use his super sonic sonart radar to detect the opening. Fat chance. Turns out my bat has about as much sense of direction as a lemon. So he again alights on top of the blind. Daft cunt. Boldened by my encounter, I approached and held the box right in front of the critter, ready to scoop. Pulled the blind cord and the bat went into the box. Quick flick of the wrist and I papped him oot the windae. Good fun, but good riddance. Movie to follow when I can be bothered.
To explain, the flat is on the top dancer, and there must be a wee hole from the roof through to the cupboard, my little bloodsucker must've wormed his way down.
Next night I found some mangy lion and freezing cold witch in there. Feckin' chancers, same treatment, straight oot the windae. That'll learn 'em.

Cross referenced.........

I've been cross ref'd by a pal, who is a veteran blogger, ultra techie and all round good egg. Feel quite chuffed. It was his encouraging words that got me started with this thing. So blame him. I believe the etiquette is to reciprocate, so check it out, you won't be disappointed......
http://martinlittle.com/

Movies and Food..........

Friday night caught 'The Singing Ringing Tree', a bizarre 1957 technicolour acid version of a Grimm Brothers fairy tale. From East Germany. Totally brilliant, disturbing and endearing, check the imdb refs........
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052199/

Went to the fantastic Seb's Cafe on Old Dumbarton Road for some lunch today. The place is a hidden gem, stashed in the hinterland beyond Firebird where few have the gumption to tread. I had previously sampled their amazing 'pites' - little pasties of light golden pastry with fillings such as feta and mince whilst imbibing at the nearby Goat. Today was the first sit down meal experience, had lovely soup followed by 'Kernala(?)', spinach savoury bread and dip. The bread had a texture like sponge cake and it arrived at our table with wisps of steam rising from it. It went exceedingly well with the yoghurt dip. My main was a roast red pepper stuffed with mince and rice, which came with a goodly dollop of mash. My companion had a nice chicken dish, expertly flavoured with mustard. Service was wonderfully friendly, the proprieter sat and chatted with us for a while after our meal. It is TINY, 2 2 seaters and a 4 seater table, but well worth checking if you are in the vicinity.

Later on caught 'Brokeback Mountain' in town, yet another triumph for Ang Lee. It's just a simple love story, except the lovers are two cowboys. Who "ain't queer, y'understand?". Heath Ledger gives a brilliant mumbling performance - he seems to have implants at either side of gob as if he's got plugs of tobacco permanently inserted ready to chow. Jake Gyllenhaal's good too. Reminded me of my anti-homophobic adage, which I will share with you now. Most gay guys are well groomed, well dressed and successful. The more well dressed, well groomed and successful guys there are chasing EACH OTHER the better, because then there's less competition for the available chicks. And this improves the chances for breeders like me. Diggit?
Not quite sure if it's up there with 'The Origin of Species' as social evolutionary theories go but I like it.

Happy Zero Six

It's been a quiet, chilled and laid back year so far, enjoying it tremendously.
Hogmanay was spent at a nice party in a palatial flat on Lawrence Street, many thanks to the hostess. Salsa dancing was an.....interesting way to celebrate but the assembled hordes loved it. Down to the snooker place to extend festive greetings to some pals, then resisted the temptation to stay out, was home safe by 2.30am. It was either that or it would've been 2.30am on the 2nd Jan. One is far too many and a hundred's not enough.

Watch how the city consumes us.........

Sunday afternoon at Barfly for Emma Pollock's solo show.

http://www.barflyclub.com/whatson/default.asp?vn=6

http://www.4ad.com/emmapollock/

1st support act were very good, 5 piece with piano, trumpet, guitar, bass and a singing drummer. Good, big sound, Squeezeish with Foreigner moments. Other singing drummers - Phil Collins, Levon Helm out of the band and him out of the eagles, Glenn Frey? Corrections / further suggestions welcome.

2nd act started with 2 girls singing and playing guitar. Sounded good at first but they became a bit monotonous. Minor key miserable folk. For their last song they brought on guitarist and one of the girls played violin, much better.

Emma Pollock was fantastic, fair belting it out so she was. Had much more of a stage presence than she did with the Delgados. One of the things I disliked about them was their lack of presence, they would just shamble on-stage apologetically and start, they never had any vigour or excitement about them. However, Emma commanded the stage, ably supported on a couple of tracks by a pianist who looked about 12. New songs sounded great, typically cryptic lyrical complexity. Try saying that with a mouthful of space dust.

Went round to the Bastille Taverne afterwards for some food, great spot, bit of an oasis in that otherwise rubbish bit of town.

http://www.bastille-taverne.com/

Blissful afternoon in Cafe Hula

Lunch on Saturday at Cafe Hula. They warned me when I phoned to book that they were short staffed. You had to serve yourself, but it was fine, the atmospehere in the place is lovely, worth the (minor) inconvenience.

http://www.cafehula.co.uk/

Off round to Universal for a tea-time pint and burger. What other pub could you go to where the proprieter will play their national anthem in honour of your pal? Absolutely outstanding.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=G2+4JD,+uk&iwloc=A&iwstate2=savedloc%3A1&hl=en

Co-worker interface scenario

Friday night started at the Arches with a wee gathering for newbies at work like me to meet the gang. Felt a little sheepish at first but soon found my wolf suit. Chatted to loads of folk, seems to be a decent standard of human being in the new job. Thence to Cafe India for a cramped, hot, loud, poor quality Indian meal. Thankfully the company was good. On to Coopers to meet the West End gang, finished at my lovely neighbours flat for beer and blethering. Great night.

Ain't no love then there ain't no use.........

DOVES @ BARROWLANDS 15 DEC

Quite a good show, usual epic bombast, but they sounded great. Warm up drinks in McChuill's, met a few folk there and at the Barras. Hit the TB afterwards and foolishly ended up in Campus w. the TB crew. Great laugh with them but the place is awful.

It all comes crashing down....

Photos of Mitchelhill flats in Castlemilk being demolished a couple of weeks ago. This was where we lived until I was about 8 years old. 7 / 82 Mitchelhill Road. Five 1960's tower blocks on the brow of a hill on the southernmost tip of Glasgow. The views were amazing, I remember that. You could hear the Hampden roar from our flat on the 8th floor on matchdays. The towers used to sway in the wind. Apparently they were supposed to. The flats were bookended to the East by St.Martin's RC church, and to the West by St.Martin's RC primary school. Behind them was a little swing park, the Cathkin Braes park and bluebell woods. Heaven for a wean. Altogether now 'I'm a skyscraper wean and I live on the nineteenth floor...........' Link to the full lyrics.....

http://www.roblightbody.com/scotland/scotlandjeely.htm

I thought this event might regurgitate some juicy emotional phlegm......but nah, it just looked dead wee compared to how I remember it.

Waiting for the moon

Photies of the (apparently) full moon as viewed from my flat at about 7.30am this morning. Set the digi on night mode, enabled the timer and just rested on the window ledge. Could've dug out the tripod but was too busy eating my porridge.