Radio Nowhere

I'm Moving..

2011-08-12T17:10:00.006+01:00

Time to leave Radio Nowhere and move on....

You will find me here from now on...hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading.

Faither.

The Jayhawks (Live at the ABC Glasgow)

2011-08-04T18:36:00.001+01:00

I arrived pretty early for this gig....with a spare ticket....my wife having to call off at the last kick.

I noticed, as I entered the venue, that the box office queue was tailing back...there was a fellow at the window who seemed to be having some difficulty...either redeeming his ticket or buying one....I gave him my spare....share the wealth baby...one more of us one less of them.

Anyway with my "good deed" out of the way I climbed the stairs and on into the gig. I've seen a few things at the ABC and I have to admit, it isn't my favourite place. I have absolutely no good reason to offer for this...none...but given the clamour for tickets the gig was moved from the Oran Mor to there.....fair enough.

I had a nice spot for the Mark Olson/ Ingunn Ringvold set, which I must say I thoroughly enjoyed, but decided to move....for some strange reason prior to the main event.....I think it's me, I've found myself becoming a little agitated in crowded situations....especially when people seem more concerned in texting/tweeting/facebooking etc than watching the show...more on that later.

In my last blog post I made a wee point about the whole Olson / Louris thing.....dear friend(s), take it from me, it is sheer folly to make statements like this until you have seen people perform live....don't get me wrong I still prefer Louris but jeez, Olson rose again in my estimation....the fact that they are so different makes the Jayhawks the perfect thing that they are....and they are. This was a cracking little acoustic set where the duo treated us to songs from The Salvation Blues (2007) and Many Colored Kite (2010)....Olson made the dulcimer hum and harmonised beautifully with his new girlfriend who is a mean percussionist and singer in her own right.

So with the "support" having vacated the stage area I found a decent vantage point about two thirds back in a direct line with Louris's mic. Unfortunately, a couple of minutes prior to the show starting, a group of slightly inebriated 20-somethings squeezed into the gap which I had hoped would remain undetected....no such luck. Eight of them...right in my face....with only what seemed to be a cursory interest in the show......so I moved, again.

By this time the Jayhawks were in full swagger and the room were hooked in and covering just about every centimetre of floor space. I'm not going to moan anymore....The Jayhawks were astounding. Let's not forget it's a fair few years since the definitive line-up were in harness.....they motored through most of "Tomorrow the Green Grass" and "Hollywood Town Hall"... sprinkled in new ones from the forthcoming "Mockingbird Time" and allowed Tim O'Reagan to deliver his very own "Tampa to Tulsa"......

The band were obviously overwhelmed by the crowd reaction...so much so that they came back for 3 encores....one when half the audience were heading for the exits.....Louris couldn't persuade the rest of the band back for a fourth but I know he tried.

What do I take away from a night like last night...well...all the finicky negative stuff I can filter out....that's just me. The new tracks don't honestly match up to the classics but I'll buy them anyway because hey, this is my band. What really stands out is the Olson/Louris partnership...it would be impossible to imagine those seminal albums without those distinctive harmonies....hearing them sing them live was more than enough for this boy scout.

Favourite track - loved them all from "Witchita" to "Clouds"....but if you held a gun to my head "Real Light" did it for me.

Roll On Wednesday...

2011-07-31T19:58:00.001+01:00

I was intending to wait until Tuesday before writing this post so that I could have entitled it "Tomorrow....The Green Grass!"....but I couldn't hold my horses any longer. Very excited about going to see the Jayhawks at the ABC Glasgow on Wednesday evening....very excited.
Now I know that this isn't strictly a Jayhawks video but it is, nonetheless, awesome. The Gary Louris album "Vagabonds" is a thing of beauty...I haven't managed to purchase the acoustic version yet but it's on the cards along with Mockingbird Time and possibly the re-issues.
I lean slightly more towards Gary Louris than Mark Olson if you were going to hold a gun to my head and ask me to pick whose music I prefer. I have Olson's "December Child" and "Many Colored Kite" and although I like them, very much, I still think that Louris has the marginal edge as a singer/songwriter.
However, it's a moot point and that's not what Wednesday is about. This is the first Jayhawks tour for aeons and with a new album on the horizon things couldn't be better....simply cannot wait.

Hidden Gem

2011-07-28T13:48:00.001+01:00

I like it when this happens.....I'm sifting through a mountain of cds at the moment and one of them is a compilation album called "The Six Sessions". This album showcases the talents of many singer/songwriters with whom I've become familiar over the past couple of years, thanks mainly to my cousin who keeps me right as regards the things I should be listening to...or might like to try out.
On the disc you'll find such luminaries as Eliza Gilkyson, Chris Smither, Malcolm Holcombe, Darrell Scott and Sam Baker...class acts all.
Tucked away in there are other performers that I'm not quite so familiar with...one such performer being Dayna Kurtz. Never heard her music before but she's been around for a wee while...current discography stretches back to 2003.....I'm off to get me some. Just get a load of this voice.

This track is from the 2003 release "Postcards From Downtown" and is entitled "Love Gets In The Way"....and yes I know that isn't what the video is called......I'll go by the album track title - it's probably right.

Americana Right Here...

2011-07-17T09:32:00.000+01:00

Leading on from the disgustingly talented John Fullbright I went looking for the Music Fog site.

Should you crave a little Americana..they have everything you'd need right there.

Take a look.

There's also a channel to to which you may subscribe on Youtube.... worthy of your perusal.

Moving Right Along...

2011-07-17T09:02:00.001+01:00

I was at a wedding yesterday....the wedding of two of my closest friends Grant and Diane MacKenzie......it was my first humanist wedding and was very proud to do a short reading for them....it was a very emotional and fulfilling day.
What struck me most was the deeply honest and unsentimental way in which both of them displayed their affection for each other and in how a service of this type really does include everyone.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for a wonderful day and dedicate this song to G & D wishing them both a long and happy life together.

A RN First...

2011-07-15T14:27:00.004+01:00

Her name is Annlaug and she is Norwegian....

"November" is the name of the album and judging by this review in the Herald, back in May, Karine Polwart is a big fan...so much so that she leant Annlaug her band and husband!
This video, filmed with her Norwegian buddies, is for a song called Sveve Heim...which Google translator informs me means "Floating Home"....certainly has that quality....beautiful....even if I don't understand a word of it.

I'm the 189th viewer of this...you're next.

Redbird....now there's a band.

2011-07-15T13:52:00.000+01:00

Take some Jeffrey Foucault, mix in a liberal splash of Peter Mulvey, two or three spoonsful of David Goodrich and garnish the whole thing with Kris Delmhorst....you have "Redbird".
They are great and everyone should be enjoying them in copious amounts....I know I am....especially when they do Townes covers to this standard....delicious.

Deer Tick

2011-07-14T14:05:00.003+01:00

Yes Deer Tick....named after a tick from a deer.

Okay we get inspiration from all sorts of places....they are a 4 piece band from Providence, Rhode Island which is a place I wish that I came from because it sounds so brilliant when you say it. Any roads, their latest (3rd) scratching has just fallen into my lap...it is called "The Black Dirt Sessions" and is extremely good.

Give it a whirl.....here's a track.....Twenty Miles.

In Case You Haven't Seen It.........

2011-06-23T20:40:00.003+01:00

My dear father sent me this with the message..."Can you guess what this is an advert for?".....I couldn't....I laughed....a LOT.

The Bugle Sounds Again......

2011-05-24T21:19:00.001+01:00

...and we'll all roll along to the Glasgow ABC on Wednesday October 12th.

Roddy Frame playing in front of a band for the first time in....ohhh....ages.

So possibly a new album of "band" type stuff is in the offing?

Be interesting to see what some of his solo stuff sounds like with a full backing...then again he might leave it alone and concentrate on Aztec Camera stuff and new ones...wonder who'll be in that band...should be a cracking night.

Here's the main man in classic style....remember that jacket?....ahhh man!

Green Eyed Monster

2011-04-12T23:13:00.004+01:00

Received texts from Joe and Treasa at the weekend...think it was Saturday.

They'd been down in the Pitlochry area meeting up with a mutual friend of ours (Phil) who left Wick for pastures new a few months ago. Joe and Phil are keen cyclists and Treasa loves to take to the hills so everyone, I would confidently conclude, had a great weekend given how beautiful that part of the world is.

The texts came in about 7.00pm on Saturday....Guess where we are?

They had only landed (by sheer fortune) in Pitlochry (or somewhere nearby) on a night when Heidi Talbot was doing a gig there...accompanied by John McCusker....oh it gets better....and Kris Drever. So you can imagine how envious I felt. I have tried on numerous occasions to see these guys play together but can never quite nail it. Anyway, long story short, Heidi and the lads served up a treat.....allegedly.

Drever is a sensational musician...that is not to denigrate John McCusker who is amazing but I think Kris Drever has that little extra something...he tends to make things look ridiculously easy....and does weird things like....eh.... starting up his own youtube channel "mcdrever" ( I don't know this officially but it seems like it could be)...which I found by sheer accident.....apparently he loves playing live but hates having to do studio work which he finds to be a bit of a chore (which is quite cool in itself...don't you think? ) I am delighted to be only the 69th person to view this wonderful rendition of an Irish tune that I can't remember the name of for the moment and The Atholl Highlanders.

The one on the left is Drever...the one on the right is a lady, called Anna Massie and as Phil correctly pointed out....she pretty good too.

Today's Music Café

2011-04-06T15:12:00.002+01:00

I don't often catch much of this programme as it starts at 1.15pm...which is when I'm usually returning to work after lunch break. If I'm in the car or travelling to a meeting somewhere it's usually on...if not the Music Café then one of the other cafés on offer on Radio Scotland...can't remember them all.

I was out in the car earlier on when I heard the dulcet tones of Mary Chapin Carpenter and that immediately grabbed my interest...I don't have much MCC stuff but like her voice and think she's a great songwriter...anyway, following on from Mary and just prior to Bruce McGregor interviewing Judie Tzuke (remember her...I used to really fancy her when I was in the first flush of youth) came Tracey Thorn....now pardon my ignorance....I don't know much about Everything But The Girl....all I know about them is they did one tremendously wonderful song called "Missing" (which still sends shivers down my spine) and they famously covered Rod Stewart's "I Don't Want To Talk About It".....I always perceived them as being a bit "mod-ren" for me?

Okay at the risk of make an utter prune of myself I'll move on. The lassie, Tracey, who is in fact married to the guy from EBTG, has just released a solo album and the track that was played on the programme was something a bit special...it hit all the buttons for me.....enough to have me scrambling around to get a listen to the album...here's the song..."Oh, The Divorces!"

The album is called "Love and its Opposite"....good old Spotify.

Boring Techie Stuff...

2011-04-05T00:05:00.000+01:00

But it is kind of fun when you are interminably bored, like what I am..

http://greatbigsky.blogspot.com/view/flipcard

If you follow this link it will give you this blog but in a whole new format...you can choose from flipcard, mosaic, sidebar, snapshot or timeslide.

Irrelevant I know....but I can't sleep.

Manx is a Cool Cat

2011-04-04T19:05:00.000+01:00

Okay, I apologise that ultra cheesy title.

On this day in 1915 father of the modern blues, Muddy Waters was born in Issaquena County, Mississippi (if you can trust Wikipedia ) was born.....strangely enough, it is the same day but in 1968 that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee....anyway that's by the by......you ain't getting U2 today.

I found this great video of Harry Manx playing his version of Muddy Waters's classic "Can't Be Satisfied"....now I'm no blues aficionado/anorak...what I know could be printed on the reverse of the proverbial matchbook....but I know what I like and gee this guy can play. I have one of his albums which is exotically entitled "Bread and Buddha"....it's dead good.

Another tasty tit-bit

2011-04-03T14:09:00.000+01:00

Now this hasn't even appeared on the Eden Court schedule yet...I know because I checked.....apparently, Love and Money are going to be playing in Inverness in October....this news was brought to me last night via a text from Bryan over in Strontian. He'd apparently been checking out their Twitter and "ping" up it came...if you want further proof go here....

Love and Money - in Inverness (honest)

This would save me a hike to Glasgow...not that there's anything inherently wrong with that...I love Glasgow, it's just that the show is on a Wednesday night...that's a serious up and downer....for work next day.

Plus, I am craving to hear the "new and previously unreleased material"....give the rich vein of form James is in at the moment it should be worth the now, shorter, wait.

Sweetness, Sweetness I was only joking.....

2011-04-01T11:24:00.003+01:00

Received a text from my pal John, who works as a lecturer in Salford City College. John has lived in the Manchester area for quite a number of years but has only started, in the last few years to teach in Salford.

You know what's coming next don't you....yeah. As he was on his way to a meeting this morning he chanced to glance up and catch sight of a building which looked very familiar...the iconic Salford Lads Club.

We were never, as I remember, massive Smiths fans, as such....I mean I don't remember John (or I) strutting around with a foot high quiff and a bunch of gladioli stuffed in is hipper....but I'm pretty sure I could bet that both of our record collections contain The Smiths (1984) and The Queen is Dead (1986).

This image, of course, is from the latter which we all had in wonderful gatefold sleeve and 12" vinyl. Apparently (you can see I've got time on my hands) the image is now part of the collection at the National Portrait Gallery. It was shot by photographer Stephen Wright who had this to say about image.....

“That “ photo was shot on a cold, dark, winter day in Salford, yet somehow it has a darkness that sets the right mood. It seems so casual and un-posed and in a way that’s just how it came together.

Low key...right? Some things just happen and places become famous.....it's a great photo and I fully understand why John stopped and took it all in.

Johnny Marr does look uncannily like Pat Nevin though....I've probably got that the wrong way round eh?

Here's a wee video that I found on Youtube that gives a few insights into The Queen is Dead and, I suppose, The Smiths as a band. The combination of Morrissey's lyrics and Marr's guitar is something that, when in it's pomp, was sheer brilliance.

Thinking back I reckon the main reason that I don't have more Smiths records in my collection was that the guy who lived next door to me at college had a serious Morrissey crush. We had the Smiths for breakfast,dinner and tea.....it does cloud your appreciation somewhat.

Crowded in the Wings....

2011-03-31T14:10:00.000+01:00

Details are sketchy at the moment but a huge thanks to Norrie for this heads-up.

The Jayhawks - Oran Mor, Glasgow - Wednesday Aug 3rd 2011......to quote my youngest daughter O..M..G

Bought two tickets today...I'm there.

Now I assume that by original line-up we are talking c.1992-95 here..(as pictured L to R)...Karen Grotberg, Mark Olsen, Tim O'Reagan, Gary Louris & Mark Perlman. The attached video seems to suggest this.

Now, once Norrie had put out his blog post earlier, it sent me scurrying down the fast lane of our beloved "super highway" in order to glean some information on what has been occuring and what is due to occur.

They have played some gigs earlier this year.....starting off, funnily enough, in Toronto and gravitating back towards their spiritual home in Minneapolis by the end of January. This seems to be organised primarily to coincide with the re-issues of their seminal albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass.

It would appear that the tour schedule sees them heading to Australia before landing here for the Oran Mor gig, doing a couple of shows in England then embarking on a mini tour of Europe. The setlists from these gigs show the band borrowing heavily from those two albums...ofcourse this was the main body of Louris and Olsen's best work...so again unsurprising....but absolute heaven for fans like ourselves.

I'm sorely tempted to part with the necessary cash and just purchase these re-issues... buuuuut it kind of goes against my instincts....I'll see how flush I am later in the year.

If you are in any doubt whether the Jayhawks can still cut it....observe.

Some People Call Me The Space Cowboy.....

2011-03-28T20:26:00.000+01:00

When I was on my travels last week I received my Christmas pressie from Dougie.

It is a CD...The Lloyd Cole Small Ensemble - Slaughterhouse Studios 01/22/2010

It is also very, very good.

I suppose I'm as guilty as the next man of kind of forgetting ol' Lloyd....bought all the Commotions stuff and dallied with the first three solo albums....then kind of let him slip off my radar. This album has brought lots of the memories flooding back and this video is just wonderful.

Love the bit just after the middle eight where he needs to get back, rather sharpish to the twiddly bit....yeah, I'd find that hard too. Thanks Doug.

HowTo Start a New Week....

2011-03-24T14:33:00.001Z

I don't reckon this is very advisable...given that I cant see very well....but here goes.

Well the "Candybar Express" arrived in Aberdeen with just enough ticks on the clock to neck a swift pint of Guiness Extra Cold and mosey (if moseying is what they do in the Granite City) on over to the Lemon Tree. We took our seats in the nicely packed room just as James, himself, took he stage.

Now, the boy was obviously on a downer having spent most of that afternoon tuned in to a low key religious festival....in which his team won second prize....but let it affect his performance he did not.

This was a superb show. My mate, Dougie, who has seen James on countless occasions said that he was on "great form"....me? Well that's the cherry broken. With nothing to compare it to I will say only this....James Grant is an awesome talent. The fact that he downplays everything about himself is merely symptomatic of having to peddle his wares to small congregations where ever he goes. He is dumbstruck by the response to the Love and Money reunion, although he obviously enjoys any money it will bring.....however he was at pains to point out that his solo career will not be ending....."It's a bt like Robbie and Take That," he explained, "eh...and I'm Robbie in this scenario. I'll go on being Robbie..if you catch the drift?"

And long may he do so.

Favourite on the night.."My Father's Coat" from his 2009 release "Strange Flowers". With the incomparable Fraser Speirs joining him on harmonica, it was perfect. Grant's voice and playing are seamless. Each song is a gem.

I am no longer a virgin....and it feels pretty good.

Then the b*****ds in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary took my eyes out, literally...but that is a story for another day

Kismet

2011-03-18T20:39:00.001Z

....don't know if it is the "will of Allah" but I had been saving my pennies for another trip down to Inverness to see James Grant live ( for the first ever time) at the One Touch Theatre in Eden Court. Unfortunately circumstances conspired against me and I had to abandon my trip....sadness, yes.
It's funny but when I received a letter from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary inviting me in for my eye operation on Monday I didn't expect to find the very same James Grant playing at the Lemon Tree on Sunday evening....my train arrives in the Granite City a little after seven o'clock and James takes the stage about eight-ish.

My pal Doug is currently running me down a ticket.....could it be?

When I'm sitting front and centre with a nice glass of foaming ale in my hand I'll believe it....I'm not sure if this video was taken by friends of James when he was round at their house or if it was from when he was doing "house-gigs".....that is, you could actually pay him to come and play in your front room.

The video cuts off abruptly but it is fantastic while it lasts.......

I've posted this up....

2011-02-16T23:31:00.000Z

....for the simple reason that Michael has his electric piano on an ironing board.

Great song too though.

Gotta Gun...A Big Gun!

2011-02-16T22:59:00.001Z

Do I really have to say anything?

Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane, Fats Kaplin.....Postcard From Mexico (Lost John Dean 2006)

Love the raw sound on this.....brilliant.

On one of the attached videos you'll find a "crib sheet" video for this song where Kane writes all the lyrics on his tom-tom....old age....doesn't come alone....these guys are great individually but even better together.

I Walk a Crooked Road...

2011-02-16T22:41:00.001Z

I have enjoyed the music of Darrell Scott for some time. He's another one of those supremely talented writers/singers/instrumentalists that seem to fly serenely below the radar....just where we like them.
His last album (2010) "A Crooked Road" from which this is obviously the title track is a wonderful double helping of 20 songs. I urge you to rush out there and purchase it immediately.....or flick your mouse.....or whatever.....don't deny yourself for one more second.
The album version is slightlyy different from this acoustic version....I like them both but for me the album version just shades it which is unusual....in my world.

Let Me Be

2011-02-14T15:55:00.000Z

Still picking my way through that mountain of CDs and have lit upon another gem

Dan Arborise

This is from his album "Around In Circles" which was originally released in 2006.

If you, like me, wish to know more....go here....Dan Arborise

Set List...Teddy Thompson (Ironworks)

2011-01-29T18:38:00.000Z

For those of you interested here's TT's setlist from The Ironworks. Note date....American style.

Might be interesting to see if this compares with what went on elsewhere? I got the feeling he was a bit disenchanted with Glasgow...one person too many trying to chance his girl, I reckon.

She's a big strapping lass.

Not too shabby on the fiddle either.

He didn't play "Poundcake" as part of the encore....Van Halen?....well, I suppose he did do Sweden's finest justice...mind continue to boggle?

From Here to There and Back Again...

2011-01-29T15:37:00.001Z

An interesting and splendid couple of days.

The main reason behind my trip to the "city" on Thursday evening was that I had a hospital appointment early on the Friday.....of course being the kind of guy I'm are, I took a wee look at the listings for the One Touch Theatre and The Ironworks for both Thursday and Friday...

Who'da thunk.....Thurs - The Roddy Woomble Trio Fri - Teddy Thompson

This couldn't just be serendipity? could it?......and a £19 Travel Lodge room into the bargain......my wife, Kait, isn't used to me lavishing such luxuries upon her and was more than happy to accompany me on the trip as she had some toil to take through her work.

We didn't get left Wick until about 4.45 / 5.00pm which meant that we touched down in the Highland Capital at roughly 7.00pm, having had nothing to eat....The Woomble gig opened at 8.00pm so we decided that we should just go and chance our hand at getting a table in the Eden Court restaurant....we did think it might be a bit dear but by this stage money wasn't the issue....grumbling stomachs were. We needn't have worried, the food was very tasty and extremely reasonable on the wallet...a couple of plates of Cullen Skink, two mains, two drinks and coffee all for a whisker over £30....fine and dandy and still time to visit the toilet then settle down in the glorious tiered ambience of the One Touch Theatre....(I've sung it's praises in a previous post).

So there we are.....settled, happy waiting for Mr. Woomble and his trio to take the stage. The crowd is filling up nicely and there's a warm, convivial, intimate atmosphere.....perfect. Or so we thought.

Now I like the occasional drink myself, don't get me wrong.....I have done a fair bit of it in my time and I'm not going to get all "holier than thou" about what happened during this show but what I will say is that the staff and management of Eden Court need to take a closer look at their policy as regards allowing entrance to patrons who are, obviously, mind numbingly sh*t-faced.

It was the classic "Jasper Carrot - Nutter on the Bus" scenario....this two (male / female) unsteadily made their way down the steps and began to barge their way into....yep you've guessed it.... the row just in front of us. They were both absolutely "snottered", she slightly less so than him, but you could feel everyone in the immediate vicinity start to bristle as they fell into their seats.

The concert started....I could see the hackles on the back of Kait's neck rise as our inebriated friend ( the guy), whistled, heckled and generally annoyed everyone around him.......As Woomble would introduce a song he would shout "Cheesecake!"( some kind of in -joke between him and Roddy perhaps?) or he would try as best he could to get the quartet to play "Loch Lomond" (wasn't going to happen really...not that night.....not ever.....not with a new album coming out, certainly!). He then started calling out during songs much to the displeasure of the "large gentleman" in front of him who eventually took matters into his own hands, turned round and "lamped" him one. A fracas ensued. The stewards/ushers ( or whatever they are) eventually managed to physically remove him and his lovely lady, who, to be fair to her, had been trying to stop him.... they were subsequently ejected......all while our brave onstage group were giving "Waverly Steps" laldy..........bizarre? surreal? crazy?

Anyway Woomble immediately released the valve soon afterwards when he commented..."It's gone kinda quiet?" to whit one wag shouted "Cheescake!"....laughter ensued and the atmoshpere returned to something approaching normality.

This gig was obviously the fore-runner to quite an extensive tour promoting the new album "The Impossible Song and Other Songs"....the stuff we heard was excellent. The musicianship from the trio was of a very high calibre, father and son Gordon ( upright bass) and Sorren MacLean (guitar) dovetailed beautifully with Seonaid Aitken (fiddle/piano)....allied to Woomble's unerring delivery and finely crafted songs (impossible or not) you have good night....a relatively short night....just over the hour....but quality.

The filling for this musical sandwich was, unfortunately, not very tasty.
Friday morning saw me in Raigmore Hospital with a small telescopic camera up my nose. I've had trouble with the old conk for years and recently seem to have been suffering from more sinus infections than is reasonably acceptable. The specialist had a good look around and informs me that I have a couple of twists in my septum (ooo...err) and a small bone spur which seems to be creating difficulties.....CAT scan in 4 weeks....must try to organise it for the 4th of March....James Grant at the One Touch.

Okay, yuk! Not the prospect of James Grant...that would be very un-yuck...no, my nasal difficulties, let's just move on.

A short hop and a skip over the beautiful River Ness and you find yourself at the Ironworks. This is the kind of venue that Inverness has been crying out for, for years. It is, at this moment, still building its reputation. I've been there a couple of times, saw Justin Currie on the tour for his first solo album and King Creosote/The Pictish Trail/Player Piano on another occasion. Justin was standing room...KC was the cabaret seating, which I've also talked about on this blog.

We arrived bang on doors open (?) 8pm and the place was pretty full. The very helpful steward informed us that downstairs was a bit busy and all the tables had been snapped up so we'd probably be better off going up to the balcony. I was a bit put off by this at first but once we dragged our seats forward to the balcony rail the view was superb. The thing that is a bit strange about the Ironworks is that for a small-ish venue the stage is really, I mean, really high.

It's odd.

If you are on the floor or sitting "cabaret style" you are looking up constantly and that can be a bit of a pain latterly. Up on the balcony we had no such difficulties.....

Teddy Thompson, like Roddy Woomble, is hawking a new album...it is entitled "Bella" and is released very soon....8th Feb (?) something like that. I was interested to read Norrie's comments from Thompson's gig at the Arches, in Glasgow the other night....ofcourse I'm reading those comments after having seen TT. It seems that Glasgow seemed to be a bit of a non-starter? Well...the good news Norrie, for us Highlanders at least, was that Teddy brought his A game. Okay maybe not the A-game...but a good B+.

There was a good sized and typically reserved but attentive crowd inplace for support act David Ford. Must admit I'm new to this guy but he's darned talented and has a lot of excellent material. He uses that layered/looping effect which is a lot of fun to watch live ( remember KT Tunstall's breakthrough appearance on "Later" ?) I was glad the caught most of his set....including his love song for Margaret Thatcher..."She's Not The One For Me"....a Christy Moore once said, "Say what che want about T'atcher but dere's plenty foine sangs written abou da wuman." This was definitely one of those....although I feel it loses something in the album as it's done as a big production number...just my opinion.

A little after nine Teddy took to the stage. I must admit I was a wee bit worried with his first reaction...he received a nice ovation and merely grunted into the microphone...no "Good Evening, INVERNESS!!" I needn't have worried as after the first two songs "I Feel" ( from Bella) and " I Should Get Up" (from Separate Ways) things got going nicely and everyone eased into an enjoyable night. Teddy started interacting and made a big thing of telling us..."I'm going to play a lot of new stuff...it's in the contract...you won't understand it right now but tomorrow you'll go....ahhh yes....all will become apparent.....you will remember this moment.".....There was a fair bit of laughter, with which he joined in and added.."...honest."

Some of the songs weren't immediate for me...so maybe young Thompson is telling the truth....all shall be revealed once I get time to digest the album. I cadged a copy of the set list from the sound technician at the end of the show as I wanted to know just how much of the new album he played...the answer is simple...just about all of it.

There was a lovely wee acoustic vignette half way through the show where Teddy stuck together two of my personal favourites "Everybody Move It" and " Don't Know What I Was Thinking"...plus three or four others.

All in all a great night and with Abba's "Super Trouper" ( Where band members did backing vocals acapello style Soo Pah Pah Troo Pah Pah! ) as one of the encore numbers along with the Louvin Brothers' "My Baby's Gone"...we had a little bit of everything.

So, with that ,our little "pre" weekend came to an end. It was good to catch up with old friends along the way and indulge in some retail therapy too. All in all an excellent couple of days. Saving my pennies for March.

Justin Currie/Naomi Bedford

2011-01-26T16:51:00.001Z

This video is for Norrie as he's just been to see Justin at the Celtic Connections Festival.This is a song that Justin wrote for Naomi Bedford and here they are singing it in (possibly) Justin's living room. Okay, so it's got "Nothing Ever Happens" overtones but I still like it....haven't heard much of Miss Bedford....might keep my ears open.

Maybe this starts me off on a "duets" kick......a "duet-box" if you will?

Please post in your ideas.

Well.....what do you reckon?

2011-01-17T20:19:00.000Z

Sometimes it is best to leave classic songs alone as regards cover versions....I don't know but I think this works.....Teddy Thompson is one of the best vocalists around at the moment and Martha brings a complementary voice which keeps this kind of "edgy"......nice, yes.

Did I tell you I'm going to see Teddy on the 28th?

Seems appropriate....

2011-01-12T17:18:00.000Z

.....to include this video at this junture in the Winter jukebox.

Just secured two tickets for me and my good lady to see Mr Woomble at the One Touch Theatre in Eden Court, Inverness at the end of the month ( Thursday the 27th ). We're staying down and on the following evening we're heading over to the Ironworks to see Teddy Thompson.....so NO MORE DAMNED SNOW!!!!! Okay!?

The Promise

2010-12-08T23:02:00.000Z

Enthralling programme on BBC 1 last night.

Thanks Joe, for the tip-off........my favourite programme, Imagine, was all about "Darkness on the Edge of Town" revisited.....the astounding story and lost songs from Springsteen's brilliant and deliberately austere fourth album which had the unenviable task of trying to follow up to the groundshaking "Born To Run".

The full story unravels at the link above....it's on iplayer for the next 20 days....if you missed it...go now.

The double album "The Promise - The Lost Sessions" is a towering piece of work.

I know this is my winter jukebox but you're going to have to allow me a bit of leeway here...."the nichts are fair drawin' in!"

Mercury is Falling

2010-12-02T18:08:00.000Z

I'm on a bit of a roll now....I'm in danger of spoiling you all. This is a beautiful acoustic version of "Mercury is Falling" by Ben Glover....he of Ben Glover and the Earls fame....another gem.

Wild Is The Wind....

2010-12-02T17:58:00.000Z

Okay...my blog...my rules

There's a distinct lack of Bowie on this blog....this is a great track......what a vocalist.

Winter

2010-12-01T17:03:00.000Z

Well said Jamesy....metaphorically speaking.

So begins the winter juke box....be prepared for some obvious and maybe not so obvious ones.

Ahhhhh Teddy, There You Are...

2010-11-29T15:25:00.000Z

My thanks to Grantybus for pointing out that TT is playing in the Ironworks in Inverness in January....This in turn sent daughter #1 off to the website to book two tickets...all sorted.

Cannot wait for that one.

Had To Post This

2010-11-04T08:01:00.001Z

Although not Carlsberg...this IS probably the best beer commercial in the world....as someone on Youtube called it.

Slow The Pace...

Blackout

2010-10-29T17:30:00.000+01:00

I've been alerted to the work of Texan writer, artist and visual thinker Austin Kleon by my friend Bryan through his excellent "Various Malarky" blog (bookmarked opposite).

Kleon is best known for his newspaper "blackout poetry"....I could go on blethering about it but it's probably best if you take a "butcher's" youself.

Very clever.

He does lots of other clever things too....go and take a look.

Storyhill

2010-10-25T09:37:00.001+01:00

Another gem from my cousin....latest album is "Shade of the Trees".....first release way back in 1995.
Click on title for website.

Frally anyone?

2010-10-22T14:22:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Norrie for letting me know that the Celtic Connections artiste list had been released for next year's jamboree.

Sadly there isn't an awful lot on it that is making me purr with delight...plus the dates do not fall favourably for most things that I might think of going to. One such being Teddy Thompson, whom I'd dearly love to see live. I've been giving his self titled first album (2000) a bit of a pasting recently....don't know why...just have.

This led me onto Spotify for a bit of a rake around and found that he has duetted recently with none other than Frally Hynes (Ex Mrs Ben Folds) on her debut album "The Light".....I've listened to it and I like it...lots.

I shall ofcourse do the decent thing and purchase the album....great thing Spotify.

It's What You Do With What You've Got.....

2010-09-26T10:35:00.002+01:00

I couldn't resist adding this picture to today's post. Geronimo's Cadillac, is a cover version of a song by Michael Martin Murphey that Dick Gaughan first recorded on his "Sail On " (1996) album. He uses the song as a wee sing-a-long to wind up his set and tells a short story about a t-shirt (also pictured) which he received from a friend in NYC....and of course the story of how the proud warrior Geronimo ended up with what I believe is called a "locomobile". Great story, great night and great to see someone of this stature playing a gig just down the road from my house...in a pub where I (mis)spent a great deal of my early 20's.
I'd been worried that I wasn't going to be able to go along last night due to this latest bout of "man-flu" but a couple of sudafed and some manuka honey around the chops and I was off. I picked up Grant and Treasa and we headed for Mackay's Hotel. As we arrived, the star of the evening was outside having a quick puff, no doubt trying to relieve the chronic sinusitis which he claimed had developed in Orkney where it (and I quote) "pished" for three days.
Now I'm not really in the habit of offending anyone through the pages of RN...not much anyway...certainly not anyone local to Wick or the surrounding area for fear of getting my head stove in...but I must make comment on the sound technician and supporting act for the evening....John (Johnnie Fats) Sutherland. John is (to some) something of a legendary figure on the Caithness live music circuit having played for more years than he cares or can remember. Apparently this is the first time in 15 years that John has appeared on stage without his son, the multi talented instrumentalist, Isaac. I remember first going to see Fats playing in the early 80's - didn't like him then - don't like him now....this is not a personal slight on the man, I don't know him personally...this is just my own honest opinion of what he has offered me, musically. It was about 40-45 minutes that I really wished I could have spent somewhere else. He played this song acoustically...it's called Retrospect....I'll let you make up your own mind.
Anyway, what "Fats" left behind as he meandered away after his set, which seemed to go down rather well with the gathered throng, (many of whom attend his excellent music nights at the Dunnet Lighthouse) was a sound level that would have stripped the skin from your bones. Now, I'm no expert but Dick Gaughan's voice in a small room doesn't really need Shea stadium volume levels....unfortunately when he asked his "sound" man to do a bit of twiddling the sound man was nowhere to be found, much to Dick's chagrin. At this point Treasa and a great many others were rolling up pieces of tissue and inserting them in their ears....yes, we are talking fairly strident here.
Thankfully some of the more discerning members of the audience had a quiet word at the interval and the mix was slightly better in the second half. That of course was when the second half was eventually allowed to start.....Gaughan had started to play the opening bars of the beautiful Burns song "Now Westlin' Winds" and obviously didn't want such a wonderful tune to be fettered in any way by outside interference. Unluckily for him the bold "Fats" had chosen this particular moment to have an in-depth (clearly audible) conversation, stage-side, with one of the audience. Gaughan looped round and round....eyeballing the chatters and telling the rest of us "I can go like this all night if needs be" he had to...for at least two minutes until the distraction finally abated, without apology. Now, for me, that's just ignorant and rude - plain and simple.

Dick Gaughan, despite the sinusitis and other things was in great form.

His brilliance both musically and lyrically is unquestioned....certainly by me anyway.

Gaughan

2010-09-25T17:58:00.000+01:00

Have recovered sufficiently to go along and see Dick Gaughan at the Mackay's Hotel this evening. Hopefully there will be no uncontrollable bouts of coughing and the only phlegm will be produced by the great man himself.

Will report back tomorrow.

Just To Keep You Off Balance...

2010-09-21T23:55:00.000+01:00

A little bit.....

Marr's brilliance shining brightly.

Again not a fan of Radiohead but they sure as hell punch this one out as though they mean it.

Tip-top.

Old Favourite.

2010-09-14T08:34:00.001+01:00

Persevering with the cover version thingmyjig for the moment. This is an oft covered song that I love anyway but Krause takes it to a different place entirely...the vocals here as near perfect as you'll get...great little acoustic solo thrown in too.

I'm sure the Foundations would approve.

He Isn't Even Scottish.....

2010-09-11T22:05:00.000+01:00

.....and I don't know how he got away with this....Robert Palmer must spin every time he hears the chorus....never mind, that's all academic, just sit back and enjoy this superb cover by Camera Obscura.

Takin' Bout You and Me......

2010-09-11T21:13:00.000+01:00

Staying with the theme of cover versions here's an absolutely cracking version of Joe South's classic "The Games People Play" by Dick Gaughan. Dick is apparently coming to the legendary Mackay's Hotel in Wick in a fortnight and it's a fair bet that I'll be amongst the gathered brethren that evening.

I've always found that Gaughan seems to polarise people.....my friend Joe hates him.

This is for him....lap it up big man.

Does That Make Me Crazy?

2010-09-09T20:40:00.000+01:00

I have a very unhealthy appetite for Shawn Colvin....she is truly wonderful.

I thought it might be a good idea to stick with cover versions for a wee while....I know this is boringly similar to that programme on Radio Scotland but I can indulge myself 'til my heart's content here.

All suggestions gladly received

Well Worth Watching....

2010-09-08T22:08:00.001+01:00

Not having Sky TV or any such nonsense I didn't see this "unplugged" programme....mind you I'm not a fan of The Corrs so probably wouldn't have tuned in anyway....However this is a fairly stunning version of "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix..no, really. There was an interesting comment under this video where the author(desertswo)said of Hendrix..

The man was an iconoclast, and a lover of many genres of music. As a fan of more than 40 years I feel confident in saying that Jimi would have loved this.

Oh Jimi would have loved it alright.....

Transatlantic Sessions - Double Bill

2010-08-30T21:05:00.000+01:00

Two absolute classic songs....first up Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine et al giving "Hummingbird" laldy....

...quickly followed by the beautiful voices of Maura O'Connell, Karen Matheson and James Grant....just listening to the harmonies, makes your spine tingle.

Cath....and Lukas

2010-08-29T11:38:00.000+01:00

Don't need an excuse to insert a coin for this one.....the brilliant "Cath" from the equally brilliant "Narrow Stairs" album.

A really strange coincidence occurred here.....I was looking at a Cherry Ghost video..they were doing an interesting cover of MCR's "Welcome To The Black Parade" ....that led me to watch the original video of that song ( which I don't particularly like ). Anyway from there I moved onto Deathcab for Cutie's "Cath" for no particular reason other than I think it's very, very, very good.

Imagine my surprise when I find out that the guy from the MCR video is also in the DfC video and is none other than Lukas Haas whom I last remember seeing in Inception and before that Witness....that's a 25 year gap....he's obviously busy doing music videos then?

He still only looks about 14 years old.

Jukebox Back On

2010-08-29T11:06:00.001+01:00

Think I need to catch up on a few tunes I've enjoyed recently....this song by Diane Birch makes me smile and that's a good thing because today it's very windy and rainy and I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps.

Oh Dear!

2010-08-23T22:24:00.000+01:00

Just found out, whilst doing a bit of reading on the old web, of the tragic event that happened during a Swell Season concert two nights ago in Saratoga, Northern California.

Read here.

ONCE

2010-08-23T21:37:00.000+01:00

Was pleasantly surprised yesterday when I came in to find my eldest daughter watching the above film. I was gifted the DVD by my friend Bryan a good while back and immediately fell in love with it then....it was good to catch up with it again. The film is the perfect vehicle for the sublime music and lyrics of Glen Hansard (fondly remembered as Outspan Foster in The Commitments) and Marketa Irglova, now known as The Swell Season....and it's a nice wee story too.
Here's a trailer set to the wonderful "Falling Slowly".......................................ohhhhhhhh yes.

Robby Hecht

2010-08-01T13:06:00.000+01:00

Wading my way through a back-log of cds that I should have listened to before now and this fellow has immediately jumped out at me....Robby Hecht. The track above...Two Tickets is taken from his beautiful debut solo offering which is entitled "Late Last Night" and came out in 2008....another one that just slipped past me but thankfully not my cousin.
Give his website a visit.

Under The Moon of Love (and Money)

2010-07-21T14:32:00.000+01:00

Received a very nice email form Margaret Macdonald at the Strathpeffer Pavilion today. She too is very upset at the uptake of tickets for the James Grant concert but informed me that ticket sales had been very poor, in general, this year.

The most stunning fact was that the ONLY concert that has sold out at the Pavilion, this year, was the night when the mighty SHOWADDYWADDY brothel crept their way into town (village)....like she says "go figure".

Just to let you know I wasn't at that gig but it sounds like, to my mind, it may have been bloody awful.....then again, they got punters through the door and made some money. Bottom line I suppose.

That being said it's kind of refreshing, although probably of no consolation to Mr.Grant, that there are less of us than there are of them.

Wouldn't You Just Know It.......

2010-07-20T22:28:00.000+01:00

It seems that I really don't have a lucky touch when it comes to gigs in the Inverness area.....after Drever, McCusker and Woomble being canned in the Ironworks it is "lack of interest" which has put paid to my chances of seeing James Grant at the Strathpeffer Pavilion.

Disappointed....very disappointed.

They Bloom in the Darkness....

2010-07-02T23:07:00.001+01:00

Strathpeffer Pavilion 22nd July.

Will be there....unless it snows or some such.

Title track from latest album.....delicious.....Twilight soundtrack? Aye right.

Sam Baker

2010-07-01T00:54:00.000+01:00

I received three albums from my cousin a while ago...they are called Mercy, Cotton and Pretty World and they are the work of Sam Baker. I hadn't heard Sam's music played anywhere, other than my living room, until Tuesday when I attended a course run by my friend Alan.

He used the wonderful "Signs" from Cotton, in an very evocative way and coaxed us, as educationalists, to challenge the way in which we seek to deliver and teach language skills.

Music often gets overlooked at the expense of poetry and prose as a way of teaching literacy skills.....Alan illustrated to us the sort of impact it can have and how meaningful it can be.....amongst many other things.

This video is for him.

Oh yeah....

2010-06-07T22:26:00.000+01:00

Whilst in Edinburgh we were talking about Oil City Confidential...The Dr.Feelgood "rockumentary".....I sadly managed to miss it. The BBCi player has also run out on it so I'll have to catch it by some other means.....purchase possibly.
Any way here's a pretty rare clip from the Whistle Test....I believe this is what was known as R&B when I was a spotty faced teenager...fond memories.

Whilst We're Rolling...

2010-06-02T21:49:00.000+01:00

The juke-box is trundling along nicely so here's my favourite Jayhawk.....Gary Louris. This guy gets more and more brilliant with each song....

Matt Harlan

2010-06-02T21:00:00.001+01:00

I know very little about Matt Harlan but this song makes me want to find out a bit more....sweet.

Whilst Perusing....

2010-06-02T20:20:00.001+01:00

My pal Bryan sent me over to the NME website to have a look at some videos...very good they were too...The JD Set taking on Madonna...good,good. I also found this video which I thought was great, coincidentally by another band that Bryan has been nudging me towards for a while...The Black Keys.

Nice One.

Michael Marra, Chamber Orchestras and a' that.......

2010-05-31T21:58:00.001+01:00

Just back from a week long stint in Edinburgh.....very,very busy.

If I may list some of the things I did....please remember some of these were part of a school residential trip....I'll let you guess which...and some were with two of my best cronies - the first time the three of us have been together, we worked out, for about 17 years.

Ten Pin Bowling, Camera Obscura, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Dungeon, Playhouse Theatre (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Edinburgh Zoo, Murrayfield Ice Rink, Cinema, Butterfly World, Dynamic Earth, Mary King's Close, Laser Quest, Deep Sea World, Sandy Bell's, The Queen's Hall (Michael Marra & Mr McFall's Chamber Orchestra), Salisbury Crags, Arthur's Seat, Coda Records, Rose Street...........

Quite a list and a lot to cram into a week.

Enjoyed seeing my friends...immensely. Looks like the reunion will become an annual event, hope so.

Anyway as this has become, primarily, a music blog I will include this wonderful video by loadsaweeminsingin.....the wonderful "Muggy Shaw" from the equally wonderful pen of Dundee's finest.

Back to The Kennebunk Coffee-House

2010-04-13T22:06:00.000+01:00

I'm very fond of Pierce Pettis.

This song, entitled "Farewell" is just beautiful....was listening to it tonight whilst doing the dishes and thought it best to share it with you....you'll thank me afterwards.

The Great War

2010-04-05T14:26:00.001+01:00

Is the name of Justin Currie's forthcoming second solo album.

I've been giving his myspace site a bit of a hammering in recent days trying to get to grips with some of the new stuff....The thing is, you never know with Justin...these tracks may just be filed away for posterity....I think that "In My Heart, The War Goes On" (bloody awful title) is the new single but can't be certain of that.

I'd imagine he'll be popping up all over the airwaves in coming weeks promoting his tour and impending release.

I'm listening really hard and just not getting it yet.....surprisingly....mind you I didn't get "Can You Do Me Good?" at first....that's what we're dealing with here.

I'm in Edinburgh on the weekend of the 29th May....just my luck eh?

Too much to expect he'd come back to the Ironworks.

Who said nostalgia was a thing of the past?

2010-04-02T13:59:00.001+01:00

I was sniffing around Clive Gregson's Youtube channel....which sounds vaguely disgusting....when I found this.

Now, I'll warn you before you watch.....this is insanely catchy....it might not be everyone's cup of tea but I just love it having spent some of my formative years on a staple diet of Any Trouble, Nick Lowe, Graham Parker....and the like. Can't say I ever got into the Stiff All Stars but what do I know? If you want to know their story click on the title link.

I just love the idea for the video whereby people....whom I suppose like the song... posted in clips of themselves singing/miming, playing etc and it was all cobbled together.....it works brilliantly and looks (most importantly) like a lot of FUN......especially in Acton, for some reason.

They are planning making a new video for the same song.....now where's that camera?

I Have Decided....

2010-03-03T16:36:00.000Z

....that I am going to stop using phrases such as ..

"They sound like..."

"That reminds me of...."

"That's just a straight lift from....."

etc etc etc.....when listening to music. It really gets on my daughters' nerves and I'm finding that there really is very little that is completely original.

So "VIVE LA RIP OFF!!"

M79

2010-02-20T20:22:00.000Z

Following it up with a handsome dose of Vampire Weekend.

Once more I have to thank the fruit of my loins for bringing this wonderful music to my (increasingly) hairy ears.

This is simply too good for words.

Ted

2010-02-20T20:13:00.000Z

Don't know what got me thinking about the late, great Ted Hawkins today....I'm glad that I did though because I went trawling and unearthed this really cool montage of stills from old New York....with "Sorry You're Sick" as a soundtrack.

What could be better.

Brendan Croker and The Five O'Clock Shadows

2010-02-19T21:10:00.000Z

Please someone put me out of my misery and tell me who they supported.....late 80's/early 90's.

Aaaaaaarrrgghhhh!

City and Colour

2010-02-19T20:47:00.000Z

This is just a smashing track....the album "Bring Me Your Love" is also exceptionally good....thank you Emlaaaaa.

Go here to find out all about them. I think you'll find it's quite an unusual story. The guy who sings in the middle of this track sounds eerily like Brendan Croker....I once saw Brendan Croker and The Five O'Clock Shadows when they opened for.......god I've forgotten!!! at the Barrowlands Ballroom......oh dear that's embarrassing....could it have been Robert Cray? Any way they were really good. As is this.

The Temper Trap

2010-02-16T21:20:00.000Z

Pestered daughter #2 endlessly regarding this band....she kept on saying "Go and look it up on the internet you lazy old duffer!" ( or words to that effect )....well eventually I did....because the song "Sweet Disposition" has been swirling around in my head for ages. Usually when a song receives a great deal of airplay I quickly tune out but for some reason I'm completely besotted with it...

No explanation.....so went out and bought the album.

Which is good also....in fact very good....okay, there will be nay-bobs out there who will claim it as bland and derivative and a complete U2 rip-off......"Where The Streets Have No Name"..... and all that.....yeah okay, granted.

Tough. I like it.

Grant Campbell

2010-02-04T21:37:00.000Z

Another little gem.

website on the right....he's good this boy.

Oooooooooooooooooh

2010-02-02T21:37:00.000Z

Not keen on Cheerios but dead keen on their advert.....how much can we convey by uttering one simple vowel sound....clever.

Dash it All

2010-01-29T21:58:00.000Z

1. Didn't get off my lazy a£"e and book tickets quickly enough......sold out 2 weeks in advance

2. It's snowing again....bad

Sorry am I to be parted from you......here's a clip of the boy from the Orkney Folk Festival. Now, there's a distinct possibility........

Kris Drever & Session A9

2010-01-05T00:38:00.002Z

I decided to include this Drever, Coyne and Kelly set as I hope to be seeing Kris Drever at the Celtic Connections festival at the end of the month. He's playing with Scottish folk supergroup Session A9 on Friday 29th January at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow.

Session A9 are described as "a constantly evolving organism" but one of their mainstays is multi instrumentalist, Gordon Gunn, from Wick.....my hometown. Here's a wee bit of them to whet your appetite. My friend Bryan may remember Gordon and Charlie conducting fiddle classes whilst we struggled to play some "bitchin'" Boccia in Strathpeffer. The video is in short clips but gives you a real feel for their music.....and Gordon shows off his Italian...."Grazie" indeed!

Pierce Pettis....ladies and gentlemen

2010-01-04T15:14:00.002Z

Uh huh....I know, I know.

Another gem that I come across very late....(thanks to another consignment of cds from my cousin in Auld Reekie).....but then again better late than never.

I have the latest album which is called "That Kind of Love"....it is great.

Pettis has been around a while but his website only shows five solo albums for sale in the discography...will investigate.

This song,

Nothing But The Wind

was written by the late Richard Heard who became a great friend of Pettis. Apparently he records a song of Heard's on all of his albums.

Just enjoy....

Ah what the hell.....here's another one.....happy new decade everyone!

The Trip To London

2009-12-29T14:58:00.002Z

Onwards with the Folk Box.....My favourite Irish band.

Four Men and a Dog........oh yes.

If you didn't like that...you aren't alive.

Tis The Season

2009-12-28T14:40:00.000Z

I tend to listen to a lot of folk music at this time of year....at least I try to.

There is something about New Year that has me hankering for the sound of the pipes and drums. I have included this wee video in anticipation that my friend Jeff, over there in sunny Miami, will feel ( and possibly partake of) the New Year spirit with me.

Canadians, Simon Fraser University are just too good......I find the opening tune very very uplifting, just what is required at this time of year.....enjoy this on South Beach dude.

The Good Old Black Cab Sessions

2009-12-24T22:45:00.000Z

Yes! This is just magnificent......I did write about the Black Cab Sessions ages and ages ago and begged you to go take a look.

Well, here is my little track for you....RN readers... as a Christmas present.

"No Sunlight"....by the ever impressive Deathcab for Cutie.....thanks Lou for putting me onto them.....what seems like aeons ago.

The Dogs are Back in Town

2009-12-05T14:37:00.003Z

After a bit of a kerfuffle during their last visit to Wick.....whereby drunken idiots nearly wrecked some of their equipment....the Old Blind Dogs were back last night,not in the black Stairs Lounge but in the Pipe Band Hall to play to a disappointingly small gathering of about 50.

To be honest these guys are near the top of the tree as regards folk music in Scotland and Johnnie Hardie has been leading the band in new and interesting directions since the band's inception in the early-mid 80's ( not 50's as Aaron Jones would have you believe!).....it's a shame more people didn't turn out for them....£12 isn't really too much of a stretch even this close to Christmas.....maybe I speak out of turn? I don't know?

Anyway, what I like about them is that they showcase exciting musicianship and rip-roaring tunes but temper this with an eye for the traditional.......The Bonnie Earl O' Moray being, to my mind, one of the best they do.

Hope they return again soon.

Here's a nice wee vid to give you an insight

End of the Line for Hyslop

2009-12-01T16:54:00.003Z

My friend over at "Using Passing Places to Permit Overtaking" and I shared the excellent news of Fiona Hyslop's demise as Scottish Education Minister today.

Okay, there's collective responsibility with these things and it isn't fair to blame Mrs. Hyslop for all the manifesto cock-ups that have occured under this SNP government....BUT she was the one shouting loudest and is now trying to get us all to understand that it "wisnae really her fault".

We now switch to Mike Russell.....lower class sizes.....more PE......new schools.....GOOD ON YA MIKE?

Unless they appoint Ali Bongo these things wont disappear.....and I'm not sure even he could manage it.....may he rest in peace!

Not So Desperate Dan

2009-11-24T20:56:00.002Z

The RN Jukebox straps on the old acoustic now for a cracking track from the voice of Semisonic.....Dan Wilson.

Against History for your delectation dear viewers....

Something to Smile About.....

2009-11-22T09:47:00.004Z

If you're Scottish, that is..........

Scotland 9 - Australia 8.

27 years in the making and what a tussle it proved to be. The Australians, a multi-talented and extremely powerful rugby union nation, were repelled at Murrayfield by a Scottish team who played with a fire that hasn't been witnessed in the nation's capital for many a long year.

Yes, we rode our luck a bit.

Yes, Mark Giteau couldn't have hit a cow on the arse with a flat stick.

Yes the Aussie's made some crucial errors in try scoring positions.........BUT

SCOTLAND 9 - AUSTRALIA 8.......shout it from the rooftops....this is a massive win..... if you read the papers today every superlative imaginable has been used up.

Quite right too.......

Made to Order

2009-11-13T20:33:00.002Z

Once more a band I've never been a great fan of ( World In Motion may have had something to do with that!)......I bought "Ceremony" as a 7" single way back when and never paid much heed to them after that......this was 1993 I think................ REGRET.

Corking song.....love it to bits

All Hail to the King

2009-11-06T22:08:00.003Z

King Creosote....a big favourite of ours at RN....my thanks to a certain Mr.Gregg for bringing this wee genius to my notice ( back in the days when PE really mattered ).....678....altogether now...

No I never was going to be first out of the stalls.....

Piano Man..

2009-10-05T07:31:00.002+01:00

Never been a huge Billy Joel fan but have always loved this song. This version was recorded on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978.

Classy and a must have on the jukebox.

I'll Be By Your Side.....

2009-10-03T21:46:00.001+01:00

The jukebox ticks over now with one of the most amazing and heartbreaking renditions of "Unchained Melody" you are ever likely to hear....given the circumstances this is nothing short of remarkable and one of my favourite clips of all time.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr......Ahhhhhhh

2009-09-30T22:19:00.003+01:00

The year is 1980 and this is exactly where I was....The Beat.....forget all this "English" Beat nonsense.....They were absolutely brilliant and their albums were saved when I went on a mad selling spree....solid gold on the RN jukebox.

'Ands off, She's Mine"

Wakeling at the top of his game, with that guitar....Saxa's smooth tones...the wee bass player that couldn't dance....those days you could say "rim-shot" without attracting the wrong kind of attention.

Sorry the vid gets clipped.

I Can't Sing...I Ain't Pretty and My Legs are Thin....

2009-09-27T20:17:00.001+01:00

Oh Well....Guess that says it all....great way to start up the box again.....ah Peter Green...

Going Up....and Down

2009-09-26T22:32:00.002+01:00

Juke box off for 24.37 minutes....please watch this film, it's tremendous. Marc Issacs made this in 2001(!!!?) Can't believe I haven't seen it....I know I'm slow but that is just ridiculous.

You won't regret setting aside 25 mins honestly.....beautiful film.

Follow Me Boy..

2009-09-26T08:31:00.003+01:00

The superb Malcolm Holcombe with a great performance of "Goin' Home"....search out his stuff, he won't disappoint you. Would love to see this guy live.

SW 3

2009-09-25T21:57:00.003+01:00

The next tune up on the old RN Jukey is a live performance by Roddy Frame.

I could have picked any song from the brilliant "SURF" album as most of the songs have been captured live on Youtube.....this one will do today.....enjoy

Belated Birthday Wishes

2009-09-24T21:34:00.002+01:00

My thanks to Norm for alerting me to Bruce Springsteen's 60th birthday. This track is a shoo-in to the RN jukebox. Brilliant band version, works for me. The Boss at his story-telling finest.

Reprise

2009-09-24T07:36:00.004+01:00

I must admit that there is a lot of Paul Brady's music that doesn't do it for me but when you isolate the man and the guitar and stick him on a balcony in Dublin he produces fantastic stuff like this....Mary and The Soldier, a "must have" on the Radio Nowhere juke-box.I'll drop in a few others later.
I'm sure I've posted this before but can't be bothered looking back and as the "Jukebox" is now in full swing and I'll be adding to it daily there may well be other duplications. Stick with me.

Make the whole world wait........

2009-09-21T22:35:00.003+01:00

Okay let's keep this jukebox ticking along with one of my favourite Del Amitri tracks. From Can You Do Me Good (2002!!!!) may I present "Make It Always Be Too Late" performed as part of his acousticy tour of the USA (2008) at Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, Manhatten. Pitch perfect as usual Mr. Currie. Great arrangement of a brilliant song.

Ride On.....

2009-09-14T22:41:00.003+01:00

Just what the great man says.....I'd forgotten how beautiful a song this was until 5 minutes ago whilst listening to Live at the Point (2006)......if that album isn't in your collection please rectify that as soon as possible.
It's amazing.
This version has Donal Lunny playing keyboard and, of course, Deccy....
,
"Ahhhh, now we're onnut Deccy......"

Staying on a Theme

2009-09-03T08:45:00.002+01:00

Here's the nipper showing that he can do a cover version or two himself.....love this.

I have a feeling I may have posted this previously, who cares.

Ooops!

2009-09-03T08:38:00.002+01:00

Couldn't resist posting this.

He isn't everyone's dish of tea Ol' Richard but I must admit.....I really have a soft spot for him. This is just great.

I'm NOT that innocent!! YEAH!!

As I Was Saying....

2009-08-31T08:08:00.003+01:00

Kait and I headed down to Castletown Heritage Centre this weekend to take part in an introductory course on drystone dyking. The course was run by the volunteers at the centre and the deal, basically, is that they feed and water us for two days and we build them walls in their Heritage Garden. Everyone is happy. We are hoping to construct a drystone dyke at our cottage and want to build it ourselves so this seemed like a logical step to take.

The Heritage Centre is based at Castlehill which is where a thriving flagstone business once operated and shipped stone globally and where a dairy and farm steading once stood. It's a beautiful location on the shores of Dunnet Bay....well worth a visit.

Our instructor for the weekend was D.S.W.A Master Craftsman and Instructor Dave Goulder from Rosehall, Lairg ( pictured right ). If you go across and have a look at Dave's website you'll see what an interesting character and a talented bloke he is. Under his careful tutelage we were able to construct the two straight double walls and two curved double walls you saw in yesterday's post.

All in all a superb experience and weekend. You get to meet really nice people and learn new ( or ancient ) skills at the same time....well worth while....keep an eye out for future courses. They know how to look after you in Castletown, the soup at lunchtimes was tremendous.

Drystone Dyking....I recommend you try it.

2009-08-30T20:19:00.005+01:00

Today ( and yesterday ) I, along with 11 others took this........

....and made these......

I'll let you know all the details tomorrow.....for the moment feast your eyes on some quality craftsman-ship.....not bad for a bunch of amateurs eh?

Castletown Heritage Centre.......Quality weekend.