Showing posts with label lightships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lightships. Show all posts

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Association

 

Cover version of the month #113
Teenage Fanclub cover International Airport

Teenage Fanclub have recorded and released some incredible cover versions over the years. Ranging from their limited edition 7-inch of The Ballad Of John & Yoko back in 1990, through to their glorious take on The Go-Betweens Easy Come, Easy Go as the b-side to the I'm In Love single, taking in the likes of The Byrds, Madonna, Neil Young, Yo La Tengo and Sebadoh en route.

Just over 20-years ago, the Fannies released a split 7-inch with their friends International Airport, recording a cover version of their song Association for a Domino Records single. 

International Airport are Tom Crossley's band. Tom is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist, currently a member of The Pastels and Gerard Love and the Magic Influence. Tom's talent, ear for sound and taste come pouring out of his music. Having seen him up close with Gerry quite a bit over the last couple of years, he really has the magic touch (influence) and brings so much to anything he is involved with.

Crossley is someone who recognises and understands the beauty of the xylophone and you can hear that throughout Association, which is an exceptionally loose, melodic and playful song. (Regardless of what version you listen to - see below) The song is musically layered with love and care. I love when it drops to almost nothing, guitars kind of hang lightly over percussion and then it all comes back in with the vocal refrain; Won't you tell it to me doctor

NOTE - I think this is the lyric, it's what I have been singing all these years!

International Airport recorded three versions;

  • Association - what I presume to be the original. A laid back, stoned, kind of psych folk jam, beautifully raw version which appears on their 2004 album Reunion Of Island Goose. This version really highlights the tumbling and flowing vocal melody. I just listened to the whole album again while driving about in the Glasgow sunshine, it's a glorious messy delight.
  • Association! Channel Mash - The lead version on the 4-track EP with Teenage Fanclub from the same year. It sounds like Teenage Fanclub and The Pastels might have been involved. I'm pretty sure I can heart Mitch's voice at times, also Norman's.
  • Association! Int Air Source - The 4th track on the EP. More akin to the album version.
Teenage Fanclub clearly loved the song and recorded their own version. It's an absolute gem, full of sunshine shimmer, glorious guitars and happy harmonies. An instrumental version is also on the EP.

Tom seems pretty busy with Gerry and there are signs of long overdue activity from The Pastels, so I'm unsure if he'll record and release anything with International Airport again or not. Regardless, he brings creativity and a cool dreamy vibe to everything he is involved with - Tom is a genuinely supreme musician.

The International Airport original of Association, their Channel Mash version and Teenage Fanclub's cover are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

13. Hurt
39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
64. Lola
82. Drop
87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire
92. Valerie
101. Shout!


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Saturday, 22 June 2024

Do Your Thing

Cover version of the month #98
BMX Bandits (with The Wellgreen) and Lighships cover Moondog

I had never heard of Moondog until 2022 when I caught Gerard Love playing a string of Autumn shows in and around Glasgow. Gerry introduced a cover of Do Your Thing which had had a slow, dreamy, flowing and gorgeous melody that melted hearts. It seemed to have been written for him!

I found out that Gerry released a version on the b-side to Lightships Sweetness In Her Spark single in 2012. I later learned (quite recently) that BMX Bandits had recorded a version back in 2009 with friends Marco Rea and Stu Kidd (The Wellgreen) that came out on YouTube in 2012.

Moondog's original sets his beautiful melody over some stunning piano and he delivers solid advice for just over 3-minutes over 2 verses, including;

Do your best

And opportunity will do the rest

Don't give in

Capitulation is the greatest sin

And in the second verse;

Learn to wait

And while you're waiting, learn to concentrate

Moondog's voice, melody and words feel and sound effortless. Almost like a hushed and dreamy nursery rhyme. The piano is delightfully playful and I'm guessing that (like me) you'll play this song a few times in a row. 

BMX Bandits with The Wellgreen recorded a loving cover back in 2009 (see below for an interview with Duglas T Stewart) when they had a couple of spare hours in the studio. Duglas, backed by the talent of Marco Rea and Stu Kidd, remain pretty true to the original. The fact that the trio had limited time helps create a very organic feeling, the little keyboard solo sounds beautifully lofi and pure. Stewart's voice works so well with Rea and Kidd doing backing vocals and harmonies. Kidd's military style drumming is a delight and the fact that both Stuart and Marco are exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalists means that a couple of studio hours can be extremely productive. You can hear the love for the song in this recording. I'd been planning a blog on Do Your Thing for some time, but only discovered the BMX Bandits version very recently.

Photo by Mark Gilles

Do Your Thing is already pretty dreamy, but on the Lightships cover, Love and co add a psychedelic sleeping pill to slow it down and stretch it to 5 minutes 35 seconds, replacing the piano with gentle xylophone, guitar, brush strokes on the drums. The melody really suits Gerry's voice and style. This is pure gorgeousness, beautifully hypnotic, you can get lost in the music. If the original is a dreamy nursery rhyme, Lightships version is a psychedelic lullaby. Close your eyes and drift away. The last two minutes are exquisite.

Moondog original 1978 version

BMX Bandits (featuring The Wellgreen) version 

Lightships version

The Moondog original and Lightships cover version are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below an interview with Duglas T Stewart. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

You can download the BMX Bandits version from Bandcamp

Thanks to Duglas for answering a few questions about Moondog and creating a playlist.

1. How did you discover Moondog? Did someone introduce you to his music, or did you stumble across it yourself? 

I discovered Moondog's in Japan in the early 1990s while in Tokyo with BMX Bandits. My girlfriend at the time, later my wife, Midori introduced me to lots of incredible music and she recommended that I should buy a CD that featured two of his albums, Moondog (1969) and Moondog 2 (1979). 

John Hogarty, who was playing guitar with us at that time also bought a copy. I had never heard anything like his music before. The rhythmic patterns with so quirky and brilliant. Some of it was like jazz, some of it was more like orchestral soundtrack music and then there were almost nursery rhyme like vocal rounds and songs with simple truths at the heart of them sung by Moondog and his daughter. Although I am making some comparisons there it still felt totally unique. It sounded as though it was created by an original thinker. 

2. What attracted you to cover 'Do Your Thing'? How important were The Wellgreen to the recording?

We recorded our version of Do Your Thing in just a couple of hours on June 1st 2009. I had thought for a long time that I could imagine it as a BMX Bandits track. The melody sounded like it would suit BMX bandits and I had an idea of how I wanted to approach it, a bit like a School House Rock song meets BMX Bandits (School House Rock was an American educational animated series that featured cool songs with an educational twist. Two of the most famous examples are 3 is the Magic Number and Unpack Your Adjectives). 

Marco & Stu from back in the day.

I was at Marco Rea from the Wellgreen's studio with Stuart Kidd, who was the other half of The Wellgreen at that time, and Brian McEwan, who was one of BMX Bandits then. We were recording another song for a tribute album that was never released. I suggested since we had recorded the other track so quickly that we should have a go at Do Your Thing. I explained my concept for it and I really wanted to utilise the magical vocal blend Marco and Stuart have together. 

The original Wellgreen vocal blend and Stuart and Marco's incredible ability to work really quickly and instinctively was key to how the track turned out.

3. Are there any other songs by Moondog that you are fond of?

Moondog is a major musical figure for me and for a number of my musician friends. Bill Wells is a major Moondog fan and was meant to be collaborating with Moondog and then sadly Moondog died before it could happen. Norman from Teenage Fanclub is a fan and recorded a version of another Moondog Song (My Tiny Butterfly) with Bill Wells. The first V-Twin single, a collaboration with Bill Wells, used a sample of a Moondog rhythm as its backbone. David Scott of The Pearlfishers is also a major fan. 

David and I organised a tribute concert to Moondog featuring a set of versions of some of our favourite pieces written by him. I think The Trashcan Sinatras have covered a Moondog song in the past and Gerry Love's band Lightships also recorded a version of Do Your Thing. Gerry took the song in quite a different direction from us and it is really effective, testament to the strength of the original song. The Pastels are also Moondog fans. 

I helped put together a reissue of an album that Moondog made in 1957 with Julie Andrews. He is a unique musical figure. He was blind and lived and performed on the streets of New York dressed like a Viking playing music on his own home made instruments but found an audience for his unique music and in later life he moved to Europe. I am going to make a playlist of some of my favourite Moondog music to go along with this piece.

A taster of Moondog for your ears - by Duglas T Stewart

4. BMX Bandits have covered a number of songs over the years. Do any (apart from this one) stand out for you?

There's too many to mention but one of my personal favourites is a cover version of a song by a Hong Kong duo My Little Airport called You Don't Wanna Be My Girlfriend, Phoebe. It is such an incredible song, our version's arrangement/ instrumentation is very different from the original. It was recorded by Stuart Kidd, James McEwan and me, again  very quickly and it was also recorded in 2009. I'd like to play it live sometime. 

5. My own favourite cover version is probably Richie Havens cover of Lamont Doziers Going Back To My Roots. Could you choose a favourite (or a few if you can't narrow it down)? 

The obvious choice for me is one that you have featured on here, Harpers Bizarre's version of Jim Pepper's song Witchi Tai To (Duglas kindly answered some questions on this incredible song HERE) but I will give you another one, which is an album of cover versions by Laura Nyro and LaBelle called Gonna Take a Miracle. I know that your sister also loves that album. I think I recommended it to her. When I first saw the tracklisting of the album I thought it was crazy. It features all of these versions of classic songs that I thought had untouchable original versions . I couldn't understand anyone having the audacity to cover these classics but I decided to buy it because I was curious as well as outraged. When I listened I couldn't believe what I was hearing, it is so incredible, so life affirming from start to finish and it remains one of my ultimate favourite albums to this day.

6. Lastly, if you could choose someone to cover one of your songs, who would it be, why and what song would you like them to sing and play?

My favourite new artist to emerge this Century is a singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and arranging talent called Sofie Royer. Please check out her incredible album Harlequin if you don't already know it. Well, of course I would love for her to cover one of my songs and I would be delighted for her to make her own choice of any of my songs that I have written or co-written. That would be such a thrill but she has enough great songs of her own so that's just an idle dream. 

I love recording and playing live cover versions of songs that I love by other artists because I am a fan and also it's a great way to learn new ways of doing things that you can bring to your own music in the future.

UPDATE - on Friday 21st June Duglas watched The Cords and said; "The Cords were fantastic at the Glasgow launch for Grant McPhee's Postcards from Scotland book. I loved their whole set, which they finished with a beautiful cover of BMX Bandits I Wanna Fall In Love. I had tears in my eyes."

Previous covers of the month blogs

13. Hurt
39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
64. Lola
82. Drop
87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire
92. Valerie
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Thursday, 4 April 2024

Gerard Love at Stereo

Of all the stars I've ever seen

You're the sun

Is it co-incidence that the sun is shining in Glasgow the morning after Gerry Love's first full band show in the city for years? 

Personally, I think Gerry's songs could brighten and warm the darkest of days. We've had our fair share of them recently. The 2023/24 winter was particularly wet, dark, cold and stormy. Now the clocks have gone back, the nights are getting lighter and spring may finally be in the air.

Around 300 people squeezed into the basement of Stereo in central Glasgow to banish the winter blues, lovingly warmed by support band National Park. 

How on earth did this band pass me by? Led by John Hogarty, who has been in and around the Glasgow scene for decades, they played a brilliant set. There were guitar sounds similar to Galaxie 500 and The Velvet Underground, with maybe the odd vocal nod to The Go-Betweens. Early research and conversations last night indicates that they only played the odd show and sporadically released singles on various labels. So I guess I can be excused for missing out on them. Hopefully they will be playing again soon.

National Park by Ruthie Blaney

On to Gerry, going under his Sunday name with a crack band consisting of Tom Crossley (flute, xylophone and other goodies), Noel O'Donnell (drums and backing vocals), Dave McGowan (guitar) and Bob Kildea (bass). 

They started cooking up the goods from the off, bursting into Hang On and then taking the room on a sonic journey through his back catalogue; sprinkling some Lightships here, a new song there and one of his Fanclub classics everywhere.

90-minutes absolutely flew by! I've been fortunate to catch Gerry playing stripped back show in a variety of venues over the last couple of years, but seeing and hearing him with a full band was a delight.

Photo by Vivienne Wilson

Girasol was dreamy and blissful, Fallen Leaves sounded even better live than on record, there was just the right amount of rawness to it. Muddy Rivers was gorgeous, the band jammed on at the end. Don't Look Back was sublime and after the first of 4 new songs there was  a double header of Take The Long Way Round and Going Places. Wow! Gerry and co were spoiling us! 

Love has a romantic soul and that really shines in Sweetness In Her Spark. I love the lines; this old heart is beating for her, sweetness in her spark, it's gonna take me away. Gerry and Dave's guitars gelled superbly and as for Tom Crossley, well, he is a special talent and brings so much to Gerry's songs.

Star Sign was stunning, a cover of He'd Be A Diamond was power pop perfection, while Love's 3rd new song may well be in the running for his first single from his forthcoming album. I kind of like the idea of it being released under the name of Gerard Love. 

Photo by Ruthie Blaney

There was still so much more to come. There were so many lovely smiles on stage and in the crowd. Thin Air was delivered with pace, style and passion. Meanwhile, Silver and Gold was one of my highlights of the night. Gerry's voice was truly beautiful and Noel O'Donnell's harmonies throughout the set were absolutely perfect.

Ain't That Enough had everyone singing along, while the power pop perfection of Sparky's Dream was the perfect way to send everyone home or up to the bar to discuss the show.

Gerard Love is a phenomenal talent. I'm not sure what Dave and Bob's plans are with TFC and B&S later this year, but I hope there is room in their calendars to play some more shows with Gerry.

Roll on the album.

Here are a few more photos courtesy of Ruthie. 





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Sunday, 4 February 2024

Andrew Wasylyk and Gerard Love

On Tuesday 30th January I drove into Maryhill in the west of Glasgow to see Andrew Wasylyk and Gerard Love playing for Celtic Connections. The artists were performing in the beautiful Mackintosh Queens Cross on Gascube Road, the only church in the world designed by the great Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I first caught Andrew and his band playing in this wonderful venue back in 2018 when they supported The Pastels. 

Andrew is an immensely intelligent musician who takes inspiration from landscapes, people and stories to create his mesmerising, cinematic soundscapes. He is naturally curious about things, while his prolific nature that has led to him releasing 7 albums since his debut in 2015 -  1 per year since The Paralian in 2019. 

Watching Andrew playing the piano with his 7 piece band was a joy and this performance was enhanced by films playing on a large screen behind them. With strings, horns, additional keys, a solid bass underpinning everything and funky, playful and at times jazzy beats, Wasylyk and co conjured up something really special. 

As Andrew's music is almost completely instrumental, I have to confess that I'm not great at knowing the names of his songs! I do know that he closed with the sublime Last Sunbeams of Childhood, a favourite from his last album. I just enjoyed being immersed in the experience. Andrew also shouted Free Palestine before beginning his finale, generating a number of cheers in the audience.

There were definitely a number of songs from his Hearing the Water before Seeing the Falls album including a mesmerising The Life Of Time. Andrew explained that photographer Thomas Joshua Cooper was the inspiration behind the album. Thomas talks of life over a beautiful piece of music.

Wasylyk and co also played Truant In Gossamer which was possibly their most psychedelic song of the night, they really got into it and created something very special. I would highly recommend going to see Andrew and his band next time they play - especially if they have the visuals accompanying them. 

Towards the end of his show Andrew thanked his band, the production team, Tommy Perman for the visuals and support for the night - Gerard Love. The way Andrew spoke of discovering Teenage Fanclub around the same time as me really struck a chord. Andrew rightly called Gerry 'one of the greats' and I think everyone wholeheartedly agreed.

Gerry himself is exceptionally modest, but his body of work with Teenage Fanclub and Lightships really does inspire people. It's been a joy to watch Gerry playing various venues in and around Glasgow over the last couple of years; playing songs from his back catalogue and occasionally testing out new ones.

Backed by Noel O'Donnell on guitar/drums and the exceptionally talented Tom Crossley on keyboards/flute/xylophone, Gerry played a wonderful set. Don't Look Back had a beautiful church choir singing along gently.

The new songs sounded fantastic. One in particular has a warm flowing melody and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like when the album comes out.

Sometimes I have to close my eyes

When I look 

for you

Closing with Ain't That Enough, Love highlighted how blown away he was by the venue and turned around to his band to say 'we should play here again sometime'.

I hope they do.


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Saturday, 10 December 2022

Monorail Music 20th Birthday Party


20 years of Monorail Music. 20 years of popping in for records, cd's, tickets and books. Not to mention meeting friends, beers, food, events and gigs in Mono.

The record shop, venue and the people involved in both have left an incredible imprint on the Glasgow music scene. The splash they have made has generated ripples that have spread across the world.

Musicians playing in Glasgow will seek out the venue, friends who have come to the city from further afield have the store earmarked and ask 'does Stephen Pastel really work there'. Music fans worldwide benefit from the knowledge and taste of Dep, Michael, Russell, Stephen and co from their weekly newsletters and Twitter musings. And their end of year lists are always so lovingly compiled. In fact everything about the store oozes a warm love and genuine passion that you can't help fall for.

On the Monorail website they mention they pride themselves in being independent, focused and friendly. And I think everyone who visits is proud of those qualities and all they have achieved.

I wonder how many times I have visited over 20-years. Nowhere near as often as some of the store regulars, but a decent enough amount to be on nodding or name terms with most people who work there. I don't think I have ever left the store empty handed. Does browsing exist in Monorail? It's going to lead to the purchase of something! 

Monorail encourages and supports the arts in so many ways. The store is effectively a base for record labels like Geographic, Night School and Monorail's own sometime label. The Pastels and Sacred Paws are two of the many bands that work, or have worked, in the store.

And so, time to celebrate a landmark. 20-years. The party arrives at a good time, everyone needs escapism and a reason to celebrate something good. Monorail is good, in fact Monorail is great. 


As a possible sign of age, I opted to drive in. Freezing temperatures, an ongoing lack of taxis and the fact Glasgow Central would be crazy with Christmas party goers were the reasons. Shout to Mono for having an excellent selection of no-alcohol beers, the Brooklyn Special Effect lager was lovely.

I arrived in plenty of time to see Water Machine setting up on stage and immediately recognised the artist Flore de Hogg who is (or has been) in a number of cool bands. I caught her at Mono on a Record Store Day a number of years ago in a brilliant band called Wet Look. I don't think they ever got to the stage of releasing, but they were super cool.

Water Machine were a bundle of fun and nervous energy. Opening song Water Machine 'we have at least 3 songs called Water Machine' set the tone. A lofi groove, synth melody and catchy vocals (with ace use of backing vocals) quickly won the room.

A song about the drummer always being late for rehearsals was fun, with a pop (almost playground) hook and melody that had people dancing and even singing on first listen.

Trying to find a website or social page to link to the band is proving impossible! I'm rarely on Instagram but you might get some info from Flore's page.


The LH DJ set before Gerry Love was excellent, paving the way for Gerry, Noel (guitar and backing vocals), Paul (percussion), Jamie (bass) and Tom (all kinds of things) to take the stage and begin with the heavenly chiming guitar of December.

This apt opener from the seminal Bandwagonesque LP generated a heart response from the crowd. Gerry and his band then took us on a musical journey the setlist weaved through Lightships and Fanclub songs. 

Gerry's voice on Silver & Gold was exquisite, Sweetness In Her Spark was gentle gorgeousness, Starsign was flowing and dreamy and Take The Long Way Round was euphoric guitar pop, even when stripped back.

Paul Quinn's percussion skills really came to the fore on Every Blossom while the whole room seemed to sing Don't Look Back, the Mono choir. It was a wonderful moment and the ovation afterwards was long and heartfelt. 

Sunlight To The Dawn is one of my very favourite Gerry Love songs. The opening guitar riff sends warm tingles down my spine, a second layer is added and the band fall in, creating a great groove. 

Slow, contentment to your soul
A golden sun sets in your eyes
When love's in your willing heart

Gerry and Noel warned the band were running out of time and could fit in a couple more. There were cries of play them all and I don't doubt that the crowd would have settled in for the night if that was possible.

As it was, closing with Ain't That Enough and Sparky's Dream, was quite enough! Two incredible songs that had the backing of the Mono choir again. Gerard Love and friends left the stage to huge cheers and cries for more. I can't wait to hear what Gerry records next year. 

Before long Stephen Pastel was playing records including September Gurls and Daytripper to keep the good vibes going.

The party was just getting started, but it was time to head home to my Mum and daughters. 

I hope everyone who stayed to party to Apostille (a brilliant live act - check this blog) and DJ's had a goo time and got the dancing started.







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Sunday, 23 October 2022

The Hanging Stars & Gerry Love at Stereo

 


Friday night was one of those great nights when everything seemed to come together perfectly. Venue, sound, DJ, friendly local promoter, crowd, local support and a band from out of town coming in and playing their hearts out in appreciation.

I can't remember the last time I was in Stereo for a gig. The upstairs cafe bar is great for vegan food and a pint, but it must be 2019 anyway since I was last downstairs.

Gerry Love (yeah him again!) was the reason I got a ticket for the night. It was the 4th time I'd seen Gerry in a couple of months. But as I explained to my wife, I hadn't seen him live since 2019! This was making up for lost time.

Each show has been different. This time Gerry was joined by Paul Quinn on percussion, further fleshing out the Lightships sound. Noel O'Donnell on guitar and backing vocals/harmonies has been sublime. Will he go back to drums in the future? I kind of like the way Noel and Gerry are gelling. And then Tom Crossley on various keys/synths, flute and xylophone is a bit of a musical all rounder who brings so much to everything he is involved in. If there was a Glasgow Fantasy Bands League, you'd want Tom in your band.


Silver and Gold was my highlight from Friday night. Gerry's voice sounded as good as I have ever heard it. He hit a real sweet spot. Take The Long Way Round was beautifully gentle and euphoric, Ain't That Enough always sends warm tingles down my spine and Gerry's romantic heartfelt optimism was sprinkled throughout his set.

Glasgow has many basement music venues, the sound in Stereo might be the best. It was really spot on. I also mentioned the local promoter earlier. Holly Calder is a super stylish girl with impeccable taste and knowledge of music. As well as probably having one of the best record collections in Glasgow, Holly's taste in fashion is incredible and she regularly DJ's and puts on nights across the city.

So Holly was putting on The Hanging Stars, also putting them up in her flat for the night. The world (especially the music world) is a warmer place for people like Holly. 

Photo by Holly Calder

And Stereo was pretty warm by the time The Hanging Stars took the stage. A 5-piece, they created a brilliant sound. I would maybe say a little alt. country with a psychedelic tinge.

The band themselves would say Cosmic Americana from London town mixing desert haze with grey rain. They are definitely more poetic than me! A great description!

I have to admit that I hadn't heard of them before this show. A few of my friends at the show were surprised by this. I checked them out in advance of the gig and really enjoyed what I heard, but live, they really blew me away.

Singer Richard Olson had a stunning selection of guitars to choose from; 12-string acoustic, 12-string electric or at times a mere 6-string. Sam Ferman on bass and Paulie Cobra on drums kept things super tight, allowing Patrick Ralla on lead guitar and Joe Harvey White on pedal steel to whip up a storm.

White had a lovely selection of effect pedals and knobs to push and twiddle, creating a lush, warm sound that engulfed the Stereo basement and put big smiles on peoples faces. 

As I said, I'm not overly familiar with The Hanging Stars songs at present, but I'll change that over the coming months. Just the band I need to get me through a cold, dark winter.

Check their setlist below.

Special shout out to Patrick Cichy who DJ'd before, between and after the bands. Patrick's song selection is also listed below and he has uploaded it to mixcloud.

Stereo is a 2-minute hop and skip from Central Station, and my house is a mere 6-minute walk from Uddingston train station. So, as I said, a pretty perfect night! Great to catch up with so many friends.





Cosmic Americana from London town mixing desert haze with grey rain.






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Friday, 14 October 2022

Gerry Love at The Doublet


It's been a while, but last night I left The Doublet Bar thinking 'that's one of my all time favourite gigs'. A beautiful feeling. I've hung on to it all day. 

The Doublet, situated on Park Road in Glasgow, is a cracking wee no thrills, no fuss bar that I've come to love over the years. Handily located just off Great Western Road and within walking distance of Kelvinbridge Underground and Kelvingrove Park, it's still just nicely off the beaten track, on its own.

Downstairs is a cosy bar with a fine selection of beers and malts. There is no TV and you're encouraged to keep your phone in your pocket. It has a real community feel, but anyone is welcome. And then upstairs there is a small lounge that occasionally runs gigs. I put on Starry Skies back in February 2020, just before the world went crazy. 

With an official capacity of 45, getting a ticket for Gerry Love playing The Doublet was going to come down to luck. And I was out of it! I think I saw a post on social media about 90-minutes after the gig had been announced. So, of course, it was sold out.

Step forward my friend Ruthie Blaney who I met through the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub. Ruthie lives in London but has travelled all over the country to watch her favourite band. So Ruthie bought tickets to come up to see Gerry in such an intimate venue.

But then, realised the journey was just too much, coming on the back of a trip up to Strathaven to see Gerry last month and again last week to see BMX Bandits.

I will be forever grateful that Ruthie contacted me with her spare tickets!


On to The Doublet. I arrived at 7.45pm and my friends Lorna & Christina were already in. We were soon to be joined by Paul & Barry, joining the queue for doors opening to get a good seat upstairs.

Jack Mellin from Spinning Coin & Sacred Paws supported. Playing some incredible acoustic instrumentals that were hypnotic at times, dreamy at others with moments of intensity. Jack knows about 100 more chords on the guitar than me! He also sang a couple of times and kept the crowd captivated with his skills.

The view from the bar! Photo by Chris

On to the maestro - Gerry Love.

Joined by Noel O'Donnell on guitar and harmonies/backing vocals & Tom Crossley on on flute/keys/xylophone this was cross between a Gerry Love and a stripped back Lightships show.

Why was it so memorable?

Well the venue for a start. Noel was literally leaning on the bar and having a pint, joking he'd get a round in. Seeing Gerry in such an intimate venue was a real treat.

But it was the songs and the delivery of them that made it so special. It was just so good to hear so many of Gerry's songs stripped back. And to see him playing guitar so close. Noel and Tom brought so much to them, the trio played superbly.

Star Sign opened the set in style and what a selection of songs we were treated to. Sweetness In Her Spark was all kinds of gooey romance and dreamy melodies. Absolutely gorgeous.

This old heart is beating for her
There's sweetness in her spark
It's gonna take me away

Don't Look Back was an absolute joy with the crowd singing along beautifully. Oh how I've missed the shouts of 'go on Gerry boy' to highlight the love for songwriter and song. 

Love played a trilogy of songs from Grand Prix. Going Places was all kinds of spine tingling goodness, from the opening chiming guitar to more dreamy head over heels lyrics and melodies.

I've requested the stars to shine

Sparky's Dream closed the show but there was lots more before then!

If memory serves me correct, in addition to Sweetness ... Gerry and co also played Silver & Gold, Muddy River, and Fear and Doubt from Lighships. The latter introduced as being a rarity. It was one of my favourites from the set. But really, everything was just a delight.

Speaking of delights, I couldn't believe it when Gerry fuzzed up his guitar and played the riff from Hang On. I briefly managed to look around the room and jaws were dropping!


What a joy. Hang On is a real favourite of mine, that line - of all the stars I've ever seen, you're the sun - swoon! The outro with Tom playing flute was one that I didn't want to end. There were a few times when the band could have played on, gelling superbly.

From Songs from Northern Britain we had Take The Long Way Round early on, creating beaming smiles all round the room. Later on Ain't That Enough cause my friend Lorna to become a bubbling mess - in a good way. I thought she was kidding at first when she tugged on my arm, but then it became a hug as this gem of a song overwhelmed my good friend. The lyrics, the melody and the environment - perfect.

Sweet Days Waiting was beautifully mellow. It might have been raining outside but we were basking in sunshine upstairs in The Doublet.

Near You is a real favourite of mine. Guitar pop perfection. And then there was Gerry's cover of Moondog's Do Your Thing that seems to have been written for him.

And then it was Sparky's Dream to end. Everyone sang, everyone was smiling, everyone was feeling good. Paul, who owns The Doublet had introduced Gerry by saying something about the state of the world, how we're living in strange and dark times and that we all need a little more love, Gerry Love. (or words to that effect). I drove home buzzing, thinking of Gerry playing that set with a full band. 

So I think that was pretty much the set. The band were playing just a few feet from where I was sitting, with the majority of the crowd standing by the bar. It felt special, it was special, it was Gerry Love and friends playing some of my favourite songs.

Hopefully Gerry will have some album news in the near future.

I'll be heeding Paul's advice and getting a little more Gerry Love at Stereo next Friday as he supports The Hanging Stars.



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Saturday, 29 February 2020

Summer Holiday

Cover version of the month #52
Lightships cover Seaside Stars

+ Gerard Love interview


You can always rely on Gerry Love to brighten the skies with his voice, words and music. So many of his songs offer dreams of escapism, of the sunshine. After weeks of grey skies and endless days of rain, many people were dreaming of, or booking, summer holidays.

Along came Lightships, the name Gerry records under, with a beautiful gem of a cover version. Summer Holiday by the band Seaside Stars.

The song could almost have been written for (or by) Love. The mellow melodic vibe and pace suit his voice, the lyrics of dreaming and of escaping snow, school and town are pure Gerry.

And there'll be no homeworking
And we could be together, forever

Snow makes town a mess
Still we're in this class
Dreaming all the way
Of a summer holiday

I'll say no more though, as Gerry kindly agreed to answer a few questions on the band, the song and his beautiful homemade cover version.

How did you discover Seaside Stars and what were your first impressions?

In the 2005 Man-Made tour Teenage Fanclub played a few shows in Germany. The first couple of shows were in Stuttgart and Koln where we were supported by a group called Sealevel, the following 3 or 4 show it was a double bill with The Posies. Seaside Stars features Hans from Sealevel and his friend Andi. How I came into possession of The Stranded Whale album is currently a mystery. I originally thought that I had been given a copy during these 2005 shows but as the album dates from 2006 I must have been given it in 2007 or 2008. I have no clear memory as to who have it to me or when I was given it. I do have a strong memory of listening to the album a lot while on tour. It's one of *those* records. I liked it the first time I heard it, it has a real charm; it's warm, subtle, close, melodic, it creates a magical space, as all good records do.

Check and download the album here

Why did you decide to cover their song Summer Holiday?

In late 2017 I received a Facebook message from Andi asking if Teenage Fanclub would consider recording one of Hans' songs for his 50th birthday celebrations. The plan was to present Hans with the personalised CD of hand-picked cover versions from his back catalogue. For one reason or another, the Teenage Fanclub recording didn't happen but as I had such a strong memory from my time with The Stranded Whale I thought I should try to do something myself. I believe Seaside Stars records are all DIY home recordings so I felt that a lo-fi home recording would be the way to approach it. I guess Summer Holiday was the song that stuck out for me and I felt that I could possibly do a decent version. When I originally presented it to Andi in early 2018, I listed it as by "Gerard Love" but for the time being I guess all my stuff will now be presented as Lightships, so I uploaded to YouTube as a Lightships recording.

You recorded the song in your kitchen and it sounds lovely - who was involved in the recording? Can we expect more like this?

I live in a tenement and I have a small recording set-up in the alcove in my kitchen so I recorded and mixed it there. I just did it myself. I had to contact Andi for some help on the chord progressions, but it was all done and dusted fairly quickly. Just a couple of weeks ago I received a Facebook friend request from Hans himself, it brought my mind back to the recording and I asked him if it would be OK to upload it to YouTube. I don't expect to release many home recordings but you never know.

I guess Summer Holiday was a commission, a request, and if any similar requests were to happen in the future then it is something I would consider. My version sounds home recorded but I'm quite happy with it. Primarily, I like studio recordings and I imagine that's the way I'll go forward but I'd be happy to do the odd DIY thing now and again if an interesting opportunity presents itself.

Could you tell us some of your favourite cover versions?

Too many! A few that instantly spring to mind: My Back Pages by The Byrds / Mr Bojangles by Nina Simone / Different Drum by The Pastels (and The Lemonheads) / I Can Feel The Ice Melting by Yo La Tengo / Let Me Get Close To You by Alex Chilton




Previous covers of the month
13. Hurt

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