Never Ending Mixtape Part 21

So my Never Ending Mixtape (Spotify playlist) reaches 500 songs! And it does so by bringing together 27-songs that largely have a very indie guitar vibe to them.

I add songs to my Never Ending Mixtape on a regular basis and do a catch up blog monthly. And I have to confess that I listen to it a lot myself! Even more so now there is so much on it. Shuffle is my preferred option, but if you want to listen to the latest additions back-to-back then you will need to scroll down t near the bottom of the playlist.

In February I discovered Ezra Furman and wondered why I hadn't before now. He comes across as an artist just pouring with imagination, stories, ideas and energy. Like a pilled up Dylan jamming with Springsteen and Arcade Fire. His latest album Transangelic Exodus should feature in many end of 2018 polls/blogs and he plays the ABC Glasgow on Monday 28th May.

Elsewhere Australia is represented by Smudge, Grant McLennan ad The Go-Betweens. We have the purity of Daniel Johnston, the playfulness of the Moldy Peaches, heartfelt indie gems by Sebadoh and a whole lot more; including Spotify discoveries of Sloan, Miracle Legions, Insecure Men and the crazily names Cleaners from Venus!

Dig in and enjoy. All feedback welcome.

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE.

Here are the latest additions.

Suck The Blood From My Wound - Ezra Furman
Take Off Your Sunglasses - Ezra Furman
Are You Gonna Break My Heart - Ezra Furman
Impractical Joke - Smudge
Easy Come, Easy Go - Grant McLennan
Black Autumn - East Village
True Love Will Find You In The End - Daniel Johnston
Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches
I Will - Sebadoh
Think (Let Tomorrow Bee) - Sebadoh
Brand New Love - Sebadoh
Rebound - Sebadoh
It's So Hard To Fall In Love - Sebadoh
Everything You've Done Wrong - Sloan
Bout des doigts - Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Ballad of Red Buckets - Yo La Tengo

Psychocandy - Jesus and Mary Chain
Can't Hardly Wait - The Replacements
All For The Best - Miracle Legions
Let's Go - The Feelies
Keep It Surreal - Ride
I Don't Wanna Dance (With My Baby) - Insecure Men
Depreston - Courtney Barnett

Bye Bye Pride - The Go-Betweens
My Favourite Dress - The Wedding Present
Holdin' On - The Clean
Corridor of Dreams - The Cleaners From Venus

Teenage Fanclub at Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom

Well that was quite special. Teenage Fanclub, my favourite band, playing on a Saturday night in the world famous Barrowland Ballroom, my favourite venue.

I hadn't been so excited before a gig in years. It felt like everything was gearing up towards a real celebration of the band and their music. It was!

This was highlighted when the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub arranged a meet up in McChuill's on High Street beforehand. Fans from Scotland mixed and mingled with fans from Norway, Sweden, Italy, America, Canada, Slovenia......and even England! There was talk of gigs gone by, of dearly departed fans, of rarities, b-sides, t-shirts, favourite songs, mugs, umbrellas.....and there was plenty of beer. It was a fantastic 3 hours in great company.

Duglas T Stewart from BMX Bandits is in the Fanclub Fanclub and there was a lovely moment when we left McChuill's and a guy came up to Duglas and have him a big hug and thanked him for his music.

On to the Barrowland Ballroom around the corner.

The merriment on offer at McChuill's meant that we missed Spinning Coin as support, something I intend to rectify when I head out to the ABC tonight. So there was just time to stick our jackets in, grab a beer and find a good spot relatively near the front.

The band came on at 9pm sharp to a rapturous roar. There were several classic Barrowland roars throughout the night, greeting songs like long lost friends and almost giving the band a warning not to leave it so long the next time.

The sound was perfect and the band were in top form, as you would expect after 3-months of touring. Raymond's guitar playing was exceptional, Norman was beaming and grinning at all his band mates, the crowd and those in the wings - his voice sounded better than ever, a guy next to me shouted several times that 'Gerry Love has the voice of an angel' and no-one disagreed, Francis' drumming was top drawer and he also added harmonies to several songs, while Dave yet again showcased how integral he has become to the Fanclub.

Picture by Eric Wilson

New songs mixed effortlessly with old classics; Norman's loving Baby Lee ran into Gerry's Thin Air which was full of zippy zest, while Verisimilitude received a glorious ovation. The guitars sounded incredible, Raymond was on fire, Norman and Gerry's voices combined with ease.

The setlist almost speaks for itself, it was one gem after another. As the songs and beers flowed a few people were encouraged into the middle of the front for a bounce and pogo, myself included. Those that did put their arms around strangers shoulders and jumped in time to I Don't Want Control Of You and punched the air in delight to Ain't That Enough. In between there were smiles all round for Norman's traditional glockenspiel turn during Raymon's stunning Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From.

Photo by Solange La Rose

There was another huge Barrowland roar to greet the opening riff of Sparky's Dream and a whole host of people decided to relive their youth by creating a mini mosh pit down the front which was great fun. Smiles all round. Then it was arms aloft for The Concept. 3 guitars chiming and glorious harmonies on stage, a few bum notes in the crowd ;-)

Starsign kick started the encore and my only constructive criticism of the night was that this could have been followed by Raymond's Can't Feel My Soul rather than With You. It brought the pace down a little after more pogo-ing down the front.

Guitars chimed and sounded sublime for a cover of The Go-Betweens Easy Come, Easy Go before the traditional closer of Everything Flows causing mass pogo-ing and another huge Barrowland roar of approval, thanks and recognition. Someone even crowd surfed right at the end!

This was a special show by a special band. I can't really put into words how much I enjoyed the whole day and night with family, friends and my favourite band. They played a blinder and I now have the pleasure of seeing them again tonight!

Fanclub's Fanclub meet up