Mogwai with The Pastels and Remember Remember at the Usher Hall

The usher Hall in Edinburgh is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2014 with some special shows. In terms of Scottish independent music, you can't get much more special than last nights triple bill of Mogwai, The Pastels and Remember Remember.

With the rugby on at Murrayfield, Dave kindly offered to drive so we could avoid the last train back with a load of drunken rugby fans. This ensured we were through in time for doors opening and in plenty of time for Remember Remember.

The Usher Hall looked exceptional, a fitting setting for the evening.

Remember Remember were a 6-piece for the evening, lined up across the stage with an impressive array of instruments and effects. Graeme Ronald introduced the band and thanked Mogwai for having them, before announcing they would play some songs from their forthcoming album due for release later this year, on Mogwai's Rock Action Records.

The opening song was beautiful. Bubbling lysergic synths, delicate melodies played out on xylophone and keys before synths, bass and percussion took took the audience on a musical journey into Graeme Ronald's mind.

Ronald's ear for melody and his ability to create beautiful layers and sonic adventures is pretty staggering on record. Watching him almost conduct his band in a live setting with knowing nods and glances is a pleasure to watch. The smile on his face as he let the closing song fall to him playing keys before letting rip on his guitar was fantastic, you could tell he was enjoying being let loose on the Usher Hall sound system.

The venue was pretty full by the time Remember Remember had finished their set, so my wish for a quick visit to the bar before The Pastels came on wasn't quite fulfilled as it was mobbed.

The Pastels were in full flow with the title track of their latest album 'Slow Summits' as we made our way to the front. A 6 minute 30 second guitar surf/psych instrumental, it sounded superb via the Usher Hall sound system, the guitars were sharp and piercing.

The Pastels went one better than Remember Remember and were a 7-piece for the night, sounding superb on a range of songs from throughout their career. 'Check My Heart' was a joyful romp, bright and breezy guitar pop, full of hooks and melodies. 'Summer Rain' was melancholic and beautiful.

Song of the night for me was 'Baby Honey'. If Ronald had visibly displayed his enjoyment of the quality of the sound system on offer then Stephen Pastel did the same; turning his amp up, using a bottle for effects and creating a fantastic sound with duelling guitars. It dates back almost 30-years but just sounds so fresh and vital, raw and packed with urgency.

Mogwai came on to a magnificent reception and didn't waste any time at all in creating widescreen soundscapes in a way that only they can. We moved back from the front to take it in, but also to protect our ears a little. Mogwai are fierce!

'Heard About You Last Night' is the opening song from their fantastic 'Rave Tapes' LP and it opened proceedings here. The band just locked in, all on the same wave length.

The dramatic lighting rigs suspended from the ceiling created a spaceship like feel to the show, Mogwai certainly played like they are from another planet. Braithwaite jerked in time with his playing, another clearly enjoying the sound system

The audience seemed in awe and in adulation. Mogwai inspire a real devotion from fans, displayed in the hall and also through the steady queue at the mercy stall

Mogwai are an incredible live act, quite difficult to describe, you really have to experience it for yourself. The way they take a riff/sound and build on it, they are intense, fierce and inventive.

This was a fantastic 3-band bill in a tremendous setting that bands and fans appreciated.

2014 - 10 things I'm looking forward to

Happy New Year everyone.

I hope that you enjoyed the festive season.

To kick start my blogs this year I thought I'd make a list of 10 things that I'm looking forward to. They are roughly in date order;

1. TeenCanteen 6Music session, 15th January
Next Wednesday TeenCanteen head to Manchester to play a session for Marc Riley's 6Music show.

Marc became a fan of the band after hearing 'Honey', the bands debut single. He ended up playing it about 10-times over a month or so and then invited them to a session live on air by saying 'if anyone from TeenCanteen is listening then we'd love to have you down for a session, get in touch.'

I'm looking forward to hearing their warm pop hooks and harmonies coming through the airwaves on a cold winters night.

2. The New Mendicants album, end of January
I caught Norman Blake and Joe Pernice at Mono last year. Their set was absolutely stunning, highlighting what fantastic songwriters they are. As well as playing Fanclub and Pernice Brother faves, they also showcased some songs from their forthcoming album as The New Mendicants.

Sadly I am working at a Burns Supper on the night they play the Arches, but I'm looking forward to the album. Norman actually let me hear a song from it on his headphones when we met on the train home from Glasgow one night!

Norman has been providing some of the soundtrack to my life since 1991 and I am thankful that he shows no sign of letting up. Check their brilliant Christmas single HERE - Fanclub-esque guitar and gorgeous Blake harmonies.

3. Bobby Womack at the Royal Concert Hall, 27th January
I always look forward to the line-up for Celtic connections being announced. There are always a few surprises. This time it was the announcement of soul legend Bobby Womack playing the Concert Hall - on my birthday!

My wife has already confirmed she has tickets and I've booked the day off work so we can relax ahead of the show.

Womack's latest album; 'The Bravest Man In The Universe', was released on XL Recordings last year. It is an absolute delight and I have recently been kicking myself for not buying it when it first came out. Damon Albarn is heavily involved in the project and his influence (along with that of XL boss Richard Russell) ensure modern beats and a sense of eclectic styles go with Womack's incredible voice.

Albarn had previously tempted him out of retirement in 2010 for a guest on Gorillaz 'Plastic Beach' album. He seems to have been taken by Womack's skills and style and this album is a dream. i can't wait. Check this amazing Jools Holland performance with Albarn on keys.

4. This Love by Vigo Thieves; February, ABC on 29th March
I've been on quite a journey with this band and i cannot wait for the next stage that will kick off with the release of the 'This Love' single at the start of February followed by a tour in March and April. The tour includes a HUGE show at the ABC in Glasgow. Having watched the band go from basements to selling out 2-nights at Tut's, packing out tents at festivals, wowing the Barrowlands and the Academy when supporting the Fratelli's and The View and then selling out the Arches last October, I cannot wait to see if they can sell out the ABC. It will be quite a statement for an unsigned band.

'This Love' is absolutely fucking massive. It will blow people away. I think Scotland and the UK is crying out for a band like this. There is far too much crap about. This is a band writing with heart and soul and shouting about it in a way that resonates with people - hence the forever increasing fan base.

Stevie Jukes and co respond to a challenge and a crowd like no other. This has all the makings of a celebration.

5. Mogwai, The Pastels and Remember Remember at the Usher Hall, 8th March
I was all set to buy tickets for Mogwai playing Glasgow during Celtic Connections when they announced that this show in Edinburgh, with not one, but two brilliant support bands. I immediately decided to go for that instead.

Mogwai's 'Rave Tapes' album is already picking up some good reviews ahead of release at the end of January. They are such an interesting band, fiercely independent and capable of majestic instrumentals that can be soft, delicate and beautiful at one moment before reaching for the skies and soaring high the next.

The Pastels appearance hopefully means that they will continue with a burst of activity generated by last years superb 'Slow Summits' album. Remember Remember are label mates with Mogwai and one of my favourite Scottish/Glasgow bands. Their leader, Graeme Ronald, is a genius when it comes to melodies and layering sounds.

6. Velveteen Saints at Nice 'n' Sleazys, 28th March
I've blogged about this young Glasgow band a number of times. i've not seen them for a while though and i expect this Glasgow show to be an absolute riot. Velveteen Saints will be road ready after a 3-month tour with The View at the end of 2013. They will also be celebrating their debut single being released on Tim Burgess' O'Genesis Records in February

Velveteen Saints create fantastic fuzzy guitar anthems a-la JAMC and BRMC. This is going to be hot and sweaty punk rock with a pop edge. Should be a belter with Vigo Thieves to follow the next night!

7. Wickerman Festival, 25th & 26th July
I've been down to Wickerman 4-times now and I absolutely love it. It has such a lovely vibe. I love the line-ups they come up with. The first time we went down they had the Human League, Candi Staton, Idlewild and Magic Numbers - great festival bands.

I love the Solus Tent for up and coming bands, the Scooter tent for some Ska and the Silent Disco is a riot. The burning of a huge Wickrman at midnight on the Saturday is great fun. The setting is stunning and the vibe can be enjoyed by punks, ska heads, families, teens and those that should no better.

There is no guarantee that we'll be there - but Lynn and I certainly hope to get down. We have also discussed going to Loopallu in Ullapool for the first time in September.

8. News about a Stone Roses album
God I love this band. I love them so much that I am really scared they let me down by producing something sub standard.

I love the fact that the Roses have only given one proper interview since they reformed - and that was the press conference to announce their resurrection.

They have already provided me with some amazing memories in Amsterdam and at Heaton Park (Glasgow Green was a let down for me). Do they have anything else to give? Or are they happy to have proven a point and sit back and count their money? An album might not come out this year, but then again look at the way Bowie, My Bloody Valentine and Beyonce have surprised everyone in the last 12-months.

Me with Mani, the morning after the night before

9. A new Teenage Fanclub album

Having met Norman on the train home from Mogwai Plays Zidane, I know that the Fanclub have been writing and playing together. They never tend to rush an album and with Norman's New Mendicants album coming out at the end of this month I do worry that this might get shelved until 2015. Latest rumours point to a September release though….

10. A new Charlatans album/shows

The death of Jon Brookes last year hit me surprisingly hard. The Charlatans, along with the Fannies mentioned above, have been the most consistent and constant bands in my life since that magical year of 1991 when I was 15 and discovering so much good music. I really feared that the band might call it a day, Tim Burgess certainly seems busy enough with his solo projects.

But…A Charlatan I….this is a band that have come out fighting in the face of diversity more than once during their career. I can't wait to hear what they come up with. Might not come out until 2015 but I hope they play a few shows.

Remember Remember at Bar Brel, 29th January 2012

Well that was quite a weekend of music, Admiral Fallow were majestic at the ABC on Friday night and last night I was blown away by Remember Remember playing in Bar Brel. Both gigs were part of Celtic Connections.


I discovered Remember Remember late on last year. How I kick myself for not checking them out before. I've pretty much fallen in love with their album The Quickening that was released on Rock Action Records in the fall of 2011.


So last night Lynn and I headed along to one of our favourite bars in Glasgow last night, calling on the Grandparents to babysit for the second time of the weekend, we need to rebuild the brownie points! 


We were early, arriving at Brel for 7.30pm as the tickets had said it was an early show. Remember Remember were still soundchecking so there was time for a beer or two and a catch up with our friend Ceal.


Adam Stearns and the Glass Animals were supporting. The Glass Animals were quite appropriately named, helping Adam to create some fragile harmonies that captivated the Brel audience.


Adam, plus his sister and friend played well, especially considering they are so different to Remember Remember. There were laughs all round as Adam introduced a harmonium that they had bought the day before. Somehow his sister coaxed beautiful sounds out of it.


There was time to grab a quick beer as the conservatory in Brel filled up ahead of Remember Remember. We were standing to the side but a couple sitting in the very front row got up and said we could have their seats. After careful consideration for our ears and how geeky it would be to sit inches from the band (Brel is teeny tiny) we decided to go for it.

Remember Remember is a collective built around the considerable talents of Graeme Ronald (above). There were 6 of them playing at Brel last night, so they ended up having to use some of the floor space for their vast bank of instruments and pedals; Brel's electricity bill may be considerably higher next month!


The set consisted mainly of tracks from The Quickening; openers 'White Castle' and 'Ocean Potion'. Ronald displayed nimble footwork in a square foot of space to switch from playing glockenspiel to guitar, fully utilising his amazing case of effect pedals.


Xylophones plays a huge part in the music of Remember Remember, melodies are picked out before the band slowly but surely take the music and the listener off on a glorious and at times epic journey.


At the back of the stage we had the long haired and bearded drummer who seemed completely in tune with Ronald, responding to nods and hand signals to up the pace or bring it down. To the drummers right was a bank of synths where most of the bass sounds originated from, along with a whole heap of other glorious noises.


At the front of the stage a girl switched from xylophone to keyboards, while the guitarist could barely move to her left due to everything going on around him.


Ronald was at the front with guitar, effect pedals, keys/synths and xylophone and to his right was a guy playing sax and more keys/synths.

'Scottish Widows' started with Ronald gently playing a gentle piano/keyboard riff before swelling into something completely mesmerising. The six piece just seem so i tune with each other, they can take songs to places others can only dream of. 

There was an element of humour (as there is at most Glasgow gigs) when Ronald's Mum sitting behind us said that this was her favourite song. It was a nice moment and there was more to come.


'One Happier' is just beautiful. A truly stunning and emotive piece of music. I guess that is one thing that really hit home watching and listening to the band last night; how they can conjure up such emotion without words.


Take 6-minutes out your day to marvel at what must go on inside Graeme Ronald's head to create the layers of beauty that make up this song.

Ronald announced 'John Candy' as the bands final song and the beats started it off, the opening guitar riff was looped before the second started, synths started to bubble and the journey was starting. 'John Candy' is probably my favourite RR song. It teases and eases itself into the groove and it flows superbly; just gorgeous.


The bit around 2-minutes in is epic, particularly in the live environment. Ronald brought some gadget out that allowed him to coax some stunning star kissed sounds out of his guitar and the band just locked in for the ride.


Ronald asked if the band had time for one more and the promoter who was clearly enjoying the show said 'two more'. Ronald replied without missing a beat 'do you know how long our songs last?'


Then it was time for Ronald's parents to join in, almost doing the introduction for him when Ronald said 'we'll do songs in one, 'Fountain' and 'Mountain'' and his Mum said 'these are off the first Remember Remember album'. His Dad then joked that they would have to sit further back next time. It was a lovely warm moment that the audience enjoyed.


And so it ended, a show that I can put money on being in my top 5 shows of 2012 and January isn't even over yet. Remember Remember are an exceptional band with unbelievable talent and vision. I look forward to seeing them again and hearing some new tunes from them in the future.

Celtic Connections 2012 - My highlights

The cold weather, the darkness, the rain, post festivities....January in Glasgow can be pretty bleak. Thankfully, us Glaswegians found a solution to the weather and the blues a long time ago; it is always dry in pubs, you can have a good laugh with your mates and it is even better if there is some good music.

The start of the year will see Glasgow at its very best as the city plays host to (almost) a month of music (Celtic Connections) in January, the Glasgow Film Festival in February, the Magners Comedy Festival in March and the Glasgow International Art Festival from mid-April into early May.

Then it is practically festival season anyway!

I always enjoy the programme for Celtic Connections coming out and plotting what I am going to see. A few things caught my eye immediately and I've spent the last 30-minutes or so going through the up to date list to plot my month. Here is  my definites and maybes for Celtic Connections 2012, as well as notable mentions. If only I had the time and money to go to them all.

DEFINITES

Sunday 29th January, Remember Remember and Adam Stearns and the Glass Animals, Bar Brel

I've mentioned the Glasgow band Remember Remember a few times since I caught them at the Glasgow Science Centre as part of a Detour Night. They blew me away with their music, chemistry and musicianship.Their album 'The Quckening' is excellent. So I'm just about to order 2 tickets to catch them in the tiny Bar Brel, one of my favourite Glasgow watering holes. The fact that Adam Stearns is supporting them with his band is an added bonus as he is someone I have been meaning to catch live for some time.

Friday 27th January, Admiral Fallow, FOUND and Chasing Owls, ABC

Admiral Fallow have gone from strength to strength in the last two years, so I am really looking forward to seeing them play their biggest Glasgow show to date at the brilliant ABC. With support from Fence Records FOUND and the hotly tipped Chasing Owls, I imagine that the ABC will be full of Glasgow scenesters to check out a truly brilliant bill of music at a January friendly price. Oh, it also happens to be my birthday. Look out for Admiral Fallow's front man Louis Abbot out and about at various venues throughout the festival with two appearances at Brel with guests/friends.


Afterwards I'll be heading to Pinup Nights at the Flying Duck to catch Nevada Base and find out what mischief the Pinup lads have planned for their first bash of 2012. 

Sunday 5th February; Rachel Sermanni and friends at St Andrews in the Square

I caught the beautiful Rachel Sermanni for the first and only time back in April this year when she played the Wide Days music seminar in Edinburgh. She was captivating; young, beautiful, quietly confident with a cheeky side and very talented - picking gently at her guitar and allowing her voice to silence the audience - not an easy thing to do when the crowd is pissed up. I look forward to seeing her again, especially in the stunning St Andrews in the Square, the venue where Lynn and I got married.

MAYBES
Friday 20th January, Cornershop & 1990's at Platform
I caught Cornershop for the first time in the early-mid 90's when they supported The Pastels at King Tuts, pre-Fatboy Slim remix success. I have a few of their albums and I admire their fierce independence and experimental pop. Platform is a great venue and I have a soft spot for the 1990's as well. 


Tuesday 24th January; The Louisiana Connection with the Aaron Neville Band and Cedric Watson at the Royal Concert Hall
'Hercules' by Aaron Neville is an all-time fave tune of mine. I'm not sure if he'll be playing that tonight or not. From the description of the night on the Celtic Connections site though, it is going to be a brilliant night of music regardless. 


Thursday 26th January; King Creoste and Jon Hopkins at the ABC
'Diamond Mine', the Mercury nominated album by the above pair, is a truly beautiful album. The care and attention in the playing, production and craftsmanship just oozes out. Can it be replicated in live form? Well there is only one way to find out. I do hope to make it to this one if it doesn't sell out.

Notable mentions


Saturday 21st January; Laetitia Sadier, Jo Mango and Dan Haywood's New Hawks at Platform
Laetitia from Sterolab who I used to have a bit of a crush on.


Sunday 22nd January; Russian Red with Rachel Sermanni at the Mitchell Library


Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd; Gerry Raffery Remembered at the Royal Concert Hall
My Mum is going to this.


Sunday 29th January; Martha Reeves and the Vandellas at the Arches
As I caught Martha at the Arches the last time she played, I'm not too fussed about missing this for Remember Remember at Bar Brel. She is fantastic though, 'Heatwave', 'Dancing In The Streets', 'Nowhere To Run'....the Motown classics are all played by a shit hot band.


Sunday 29th January; Bonnie Prince Billy at the Old Fruitmarket


Chemikal Underground Nights at Bar Brel
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