Teenage Fanclub live in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a city that I am exceptionally fond of. Back in May/June 2008, my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I spent a month living in an apartment in the Palermo Viejo district of the city at the end of 1-year travelling around the world.

After a year of almost constant travel and not really staying anywhere more than 4-6 days, it was great to have a base. We embraced living in the city - joining our local gym, hanging out in the bars and cafes and wandering around museums and (Evita's) graveyards.

Ice cold Quilmes beer, incredible red wine, the best steak ever (we went to La Cabrera - a traditional parrillas - 3 times it was so good!) , Tango in the streets, Boca v River, River v San Lorenzo, a 2-day trip to Iguazu Falls, United beating Chelsea in the Champions League final ... I have so many good memories.

Back in the Day - with brown hair, in the stadium early for Boca v River

Not the greatest game, a 1-0 win for Boca, but an INCREDIBLE atmosphere

So, I was excited for Teenage Fanclub when the band announced that their South American tour would include a visit to Buenos Aires for the very first time. I thoroughly enjoyed the bands Instagram updates from Brazil and Argentina. It looked like they had a blast, played their hearts out and felt the passion from their South American fans. There is a mini-documentary in the making! If they go back I'll offer to go and make it!

Speaking of which, Juan Marioni from Buenos Aires is a member of the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub who I have become friends with online. Juan is a very talented musician - check Juan's Bandcamp page for his Norman, Raymond and Gerry EP's of cover versions and also his Songs of Teenage Fanclub covers album.

I love Juan's versions. There is something about songs originating in Bellshill making their way across the world and being covered that warms my heart. 

Juan has been waiting to see his favourite band for quite some time! So, I asked if he would write a blog on the experience. Now that Juan has had time to recover, he has written a beautifully passionate, funny (I laughed out loud at the Mongolia section) and soulful blog that portrays his deep love for the band.

I'm all in if the band make it back to Argentina! If my wife and kids let me! Maybe we will all go!

Guest blog - 1,130,112,000 seconds. Teenage Fanclub live in Buenos Aires.

1 130 112 000 seconds. That's how long it took Teenage Fanclub to play in Argentina. Yes, I double-checked the calculation. The time that passed from their live debut on November 17, 1989, until they finally stepped onto the stage of C ART MEDIA on September 9, 2025. A wait full of disappointments and "almosts" that never were, but which, in the end, turned into pure glory. This is the story of how, after so long, everything came together so we could celebrate our love fest with the band.

A while ago, I found out that back in 2011, my beloved Teenage Fanclub had played in Brazil. Missing the possibility of (maybe) travelling and seeing them wasn't the biggest disappointment; the real heartbreak was not having known about their visit to a "nearby" country. Social media wasn't what it is today. The taste turned even more bitter when I was told they had already been there in 2004, "close" to my neighborhood. I say "close" in quotes because Brazil is not that close, and São Paulo is 2,238.8 km from Buenos Aires, a distance similar to the one that separates Bellshill from Rome.

But hope is never lost. Around that time (2014), Lollapalooza began to be held in Argentina, and I thought that was my chance. Thanks to that "industry monster," I was able to see Johnny Marr that same year, who, by the grace of some divinity, did a sideshow—going to a festival with 1500 bands in less than 12 hours is an ordeal for me and my back. Every time a new edition was announced, the first thing I did was read the fine print on the flyer looking for the shows "less interesting to the public," but Teenage Fanclub never appeared on the lineup. The possibility of seeing them at a proper venue was fading. At that point, I would have settled for a 20-minute set at 4 p.m. on stage number 7 of said festival... or another.

Then, Gerry's departure made me doubt whether the band would continue, and the 2020 pandemic arrived. The years went by. Until one day in 2024, I read in an Instagram post: "Teenage Fanclub in... Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia." "No, now that's it," I thought. "They're never coming to Argentina!" Outrage! They play in Mongolia—and I have nothing against Mongolians, I love them!—but if there's a distant, inhospitable place with no visible rock culture, that's the definition of Mongolia. I swear I gave up then. I thought my only chance would be to travel to the UK or Europe at some point to catch one of their tours, like my friend and colleague from Los Andes, Sebastián Rubin, who saw them in 2018.

They say miracles exist, and in 2025, a light of hope emerged. At the beginning of the year, the São Paulo date for September was announced, and I started planning a trip to Brazil. The planets seemed to align—they didn't play Planets at the show, the 1st absence from the setlist—: 

I feel the planets surround me 

They gather 'round me 

A little later, I found out through "secret sources" that "it seems Teenage is coming to Buenos Aires"... At last! From having to travel 2100 km to São Paulo to taking the bus for three stops to get to the venue, it was truly a sign that God—if he existed—thought of Argentinians this time—God Knows It's True... the second major absence from the setlist.

Seeing Teenage Fanclub live was one of those pivotal moments in my life that I will never forget, an event I waited more than 34 years for. As a fan, as a musician, as a person. Since 1992, when I fell under the spell of Bandwagonesque, I've been waiting for them. Because that's what it is, ladies and gentlemen: a spell these guys have cast on me—and on so many others around the world. And what better than they themselves in Baby Lee - another one missing from last night's repertoire...—to explain what they did to me: I'm enchanted, I've fallen under your spell How can I resist When you cast them so well? And yesterday, it happened. Teenage Fanclub in Buenos Aires! The owners of the recipe, the creators of the special sauce.

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The build-up and the show

Before the main event, Sebastián Arpesella played and gave a soft and delicate show. A former member of Grand Prix, my colleague Rubin's band in the '90s, who was invited onto the stage and reunited for a self-tribute, performing two songs. The anxiety was growing, and on my way to the bathroom, I saw Euros Childs listening to the opening band. I managed to say hello; he was the only member of the band I could get close to. I didn't make him uncomfortable with my fanaticism, I just thanked him for being here.

Around 9 p.m., the assistant with his flashlight, like a Bat-Signal, announced to the sound engineer that the start of the show was imminent. And so it was: the guys came on, and emotion flooded me. I was three metres from the security barrier, seeing my idols in person for the first time. The concert kicked off with Tired of Being Alone and I sang all the lyrics, sometimes phonetically, and I was already losing my voice! I thought to myself, "I'm seeing them! They're right there!" Then, the first classic, About You and the first ovation came. What I didn't like was the change in key; I think there are songs that are very difficult to lower in tone, and this is one of them.

The first part of the set, with Ray at the front, continued with Endless Arcade which was the best version of the first three songs, with its Barrett-esque psychedelic influences. Previously, Norman made the first greeting, thanking the audience and acknowledging that it had taken them 36 years to be here.

Now it was Norman's turn to take the lead vocals. When he plays an D major, I speculate out loud: Norman 3! But I was wrong, it was the turn of The Cabbage one of my favorites from Thirteen, an album I love and enjoyed a lot at the time—it was the first one I bought contemporary to its release. A highlight was Ray's minimalist solo with the classic rock lick that XTC calls Ernie.

Then came the second big ovation with Alcoholiday and I told my friends Fer and Pablo, "This is the riff of my youth" when the song gets heavy metal, before all I know is all I know.... The "Norman set" closed with the beautiful I Don't Want Control of You which, to my taste, sounded a bit more subdued than the recorded version, less brilliant. Let's grant that the album version is practically unbeatable! 

During the video Barby Recanati (see below) did with Ray via Zoom before the show, he mentioned that he was a fan of Syd Barrett and The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. And at this concert, I started to detect details in their songs! I already mentioned it in Endless Arcade and in Everything Is Falling Apart the next song, that feeling of a mantra that abounds in their compositions appeared. The solo, which uses the Mixolydian scale, transported me to other landscapes. At the end of the version, Euros added a detail that isn't on the album, and the song started to sound like Kraftwerk (!).

There was a change of instruments: Norman on bass, guitar with capo for Dave, and Fender Telecaster with open tuning for Ray. The audience chanted "Ole, ole, ole, Teenage Fanclub!", and 120 Mins arrived. Raymond at his best, another of my all-time favorites, with lyrics that resonated with me in those years: I don't wanna be alone, I don't wanna be well known. Great work by Dave on the lead guitar; I think that was "his moment." 

It continued with It's All in My Mind another "new" classic. Super tight, in my opinion, one of their best songs: minimalist and modern. And we got to Metal Baby People were dancing and singing, and the group shone with another furious version, with a very Rolling Stones ending.

At this point, I was surprised by how the band sounded. I didn't imagine they were so precise and that they rocked this way live. Francis is the engine and has the right beat, at the necessary volume. In this big venue, he came through with power and precision.

Norman said something about Raymond showing us the use of the wah-wah. We speculated among the nearby audience, like people in the bleachers at a soccer match, about which song would follow. I guessed that It's a Bad World was coming, another high point in Raymond's repertoire. 

What You Do to Me followed, and the crowd exploded, chanting from start to finish and even generating a small but lively mosh pit. By this point, we were already surrendered to the Fanclub, and the musicians were seduced by the Argentine audience.

I imagined that—since they had said they would play classics for being their first show—they would perform Your Love Is the Place,  in my opinion, Raymond's highest point. So I let myself be carried away by this song, although, to my taste, the tempo was a bit slow and I was expecting a more energetic version.

A friend and former student, Santi, approached me and hugged me at the start of I'm in Love. The first thing he said to me was: "I'm in ecstasy," and he perfectly described my feeling. I borrow his words. I get distracted and chat with him for a while, so the song, which is short on its own, flies by.

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The final stretch and the encores

There's a moment of "rest" after so much high, and I think the beautiful version of Middle of My Mind also serves as a breather for the musicians; it sounds better live than on the album. As a digression, there were no vinyls in the merch, which I think is a great shame, since here it's very expensive to get a record. And well, for now, I'll continue without having Nothing Lasts Forever.

Now we enter the final stretch and another peak moment: someone from the audience asks for it, and Norman grants it, Neil Jung. The "stadium" came down, and the group delighted in the crowd's singing of the solo melody, which continued even after the song ended. The band applauded their Argentine audience. Raymond now tells us: The World'll Be OK and we returned to the psychedelic side, alternating a yin-yang of atmospheres with the previous and the next song: The Concept.

And the concept is Norman's melodies, which have that je ne sais quoi, that touch that makes them eternal, irresistible, and that cut before the coda in which time seems to be suspended and is eternal... and the coda itself, one of the most beautiful in the history of rock, I dare say, only surpassed by Hey Jude. Again, the audience sang in ecstasy, Ray's enormous solo, and the end. Ovation and chants asking for what Norman had already announced before starting the song: they're leaving, but they're coming back.

Raymond's reminder

As far as I'm concerned, they should keep going, because there are many more songs I'd like to hear. The chosen ones for the encores were Back in the Day, Falling into the Sun and Mellow Doubt - a gift for the people, since I haven't seen them play it as an encore on another setlist, although I could be wrong.

And we got to the farewell. Norman genuinely thanked them for having come down to Argentina and told us that they had wanted to do it for a long time, but it hadn't happened. Today it did, and I hope they come back soon, because we need them. Everything Flows is the classic final song of every show for a while now. A priority, you know it, but you have to experience it, you have to live it! I was in Flow mode after the demolishing ending, a few inches off the ground.

Several friends and former students approached me and repeated the same words: "Thanks to you, I'm here today." The evangelism bore fruit, and although we're not a gigantic crowd, yesterday more than 1000 of us, Argentine Fannies, had our moment of glory, our celebration of love for the band. And we gave them the warmth we have on this side of the world and, from what I felt, it was more than enough for our heroes on stage.

I waited a long time, and yesterday it happened. Teenage Fanclub in Buenos Aires: beautiful, emotional, long-awaited, unique.

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Setlist

Tired of Being Alone / About You / Endless Arcade / The Cabbage / Alcoholiday / I Don't Want Control of You / Everything Is Falling Apart /120 Mins / It's All in My Mind / Metal Baby / It's a Bad World / What You Do to Me / Your Love Is the Place / I'm in Love / Middle of My Mind / Neil Jung / The World'll Be OK / The Concept 

Encores Back in the Day / Falling into the Sun / Mellow Doubt / Everything Flows

How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More)

Trust me #104
How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) by Brooke Combe

Last week a short video appeared on my Instagram feed of the singer Brook Combe in a rehearsal room singing her new single How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) with the teaser - Any1 else wish the charts still sounded like this?

A glorious bust of the chorus drew me so deeply that I immediately checked if she was playing live and bought 2 tickets for her Saint Luke's show in December - before hearing the full song!

Brooke Combe burst on to the Scottish music scene in 2023 with the release of her mixtape Black is the New Gold , following that with debut album Dancing at the Edge of the World earlier this year, produced by James Skelly of The Coral. 

Truth be told, I've seen Brooke's name around but never took the time to check her out. That is part of the problem with so much music being instantly accessible in today's day and age.

How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) is beautifully pure euphoric soul music. A jaunty piano over strings introduces the song, Coombe doesn't hang about - it's a 2 line verse and then a 2 line bridge into the chorus. 

If you only knew

What your silence put me through

The bridge turns things up a notch;  

How it feels when you let me down

Said you care but you don't know how

Coombe's voice is stunning, rising effortlessly for the chorus. After the second verse, bridge and run through the chorus I love when she sings oh baby to start the chorus all over again. Warm tingles run down my spine. 

Baby, how can I tell you, how to love me more, if you don't try?

Baby, how can I tell you, how to love me more, if you don't try?

How can I tell you?

Why should I beg you?

I'm enjoying digging through Coombes back catalogue and it was fantastic to see so many other people I follow on Social Media also enjoying this fantastic single. It's no surprise to see that Brooke's show at Saint Luke's is now sold out.

How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) is added to my Trust Me playlist; search fplaylistor Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

You can also check the northern soul influenced video below;

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

96. Common People by Pulp

97. Let Our Love Grow Higher by Eula Cooper

98. Regret by New Order

99. Keep On Keepin' On by Nolan Porter

100. Sit Down (Live at G-Mex) by James

101. Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder by Yeti

102. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

103. Life Is Sweet by The Chemical Brothers

Teenage Fanclub in The Devils Arse

Teenage Fanclub's recent run of shows where the band played a string of places that they had never played before has energised both band and fans - with many travelling to catch the Fanclub in small venues off the traditional tour circuit, or in unique places ... or in countries they had never played in before.

There was one venue I really fancied - The Devils Arse! How many times can you say you saw your favourite band in such a place?! 

A long standing charity dinner engagement meant that I couldn't make it down to this particular show, but I was determined to publish a blog with the title Teenage Fanclub in The Devils Arse!

Thankfully, my friend Gill Ross, a lovely member of the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub, offered to write a guest blog and it is an absolute belter - funny, passionate and informative. I hope you enjoy it.

Look out for a guest blog on Teenage Fanclub's visit to Buenos Aires by Juan Marioni in the near future. The boys trip to Brazil and Argentina has looked incredible. 

Teenage Fanclub, 29th August, Devils Arse, Castleton
Guest blog by Gill Ross

My favourite band. In a cave. There was absolutely no way I was missing this ! Peak Cavern aka the Devils Arse is in the chocolate box village of Castleton in the PeakDistrict. It boasts the largest cave entrance in Britian at 20 meters high, 35 meters wide and 100 meters long, which makes it an ideal place to hold a concert. The name ‘The Devils Arse’ originates from the flatulent sounding noise the cave makes when flood water drains from it. It was allegedly renamed ‘Peak Cavern’ to spare Queen Victoria’s blushes on a visit in 1842 although its believed she didn’t visit in the end. She missed out. Maybe she would have been tempted if a gig was on. 

Photo - Mick Rhodes

After an epic 6 hour drive, the dog and I went on stretch our legs on a wee recce. Having located the cave, we headed back to our hotel, bumping into the boys, who were on their way to sound check. There was concern on Facebook, after a picture was posted showing the gear being transported up in a buggy (no roads up) that Norman had entrusted his ’60 Jag to the buggy. He was carrying his guitar when we met him, so no, he didn’t. Phew. 

When I arrived at the cave later, the support, Selma French, had already started. Normally this would have annoyed me but, on this occasion it turned out to be a blessing. As I was walking towards the cave the most glorious sound greeted me. Gorgeous vocals, which got louder, richer and more intense as I neared the cave entrance. I was in love with the gig before I even got inside. It was simply heavenly and to experience that moment, for once, I was glad I was running late. 

Photo - Mike Turner

The capacity of the venue is 600 but it didn’t feel like that inside, despite being sold out. The floor is split level, I guess you get what you’re given with a cave. Norman commented it was very disconcerting to have an audience on two levels.

There was a slight slope backward on the lower level so as a pint-sized fan, the choice of spot was critical. I did about a third of the gig quite near the front but played dodge the tall peeps for a view of Norman or Raymond, but not both and then retreated to the back where I would see the whole stage minus Dave. 

Photo - Steve Tamburello

After much anticipation from a friendly but hyped-up crowd, the boys came on and kicked off with Foreign Land. I’m not even sure I took it all in. The sound was sensational. Enriched. Magical. Like nothing I had ever heard before. No echo.

Hearing the Fanclub play always makes me smile but this was different. It felt like a privilege. I stood with a massive grin on my face, big enough to rival Norman’s. The lads followed the opener with About You. Raymond was in fine voice and the harmonies were enchanting. 

Photo by Mike Turner

Next up was Tired of Being Alone. It had a beautiful softness, intensified by the cave acoustics. Soothing to the overstimulated fan ! Then, I Don’t Want Control of You, equally scrumptious classic, with the boys nailing the much loved key change. Norman beamed and commented ‘Not all bands do key changes, we just do the one!’ And a joyous one it is. 

This was followed up with Everything is Falling Apart and Alcoholiday. Call me old school but this song is absolute class and particularly in a cave, I defy anyone to disagree. Norman made a joke that the band were sponsored by Specsavers. To be fair, this applies to a fair whack of the audience. There is a wave of fully sighted, young fans coming through, which is nice to see.

I was utterly blown away by how good Did I Say sounded. Just stunning and potentially my favourite moment of any Fanclub gig ever (and there’s been a few to choose from) . I’m not even sure I have the words to describe just how magical it sounded. I could have gone home then and been happy. 

That sublime moment was followed up by 120 Minutes. The boys knew what they were doing when they put this set list together. Chill time over, they bounced into What You Do To Me, joyful as ever, with Norman joking afterwards that if you liked that song and wanted to find it on Spotify then it was called ‘What You Do To Me’. 

Photo by Mick Rhodes

The intro to Falling into the Sun was perfectly suited to the acoustics. It’s at this point, I begin to wonder if this is the pinnacle of Fanclub gigs and that every other future gig will only be ‘nearly as good as the Devils Arse’ The boys start Neil Jung and this did not help my concerns one bit. So phenomenal, that in its honour, I shall henceforth be known as Gil. 

Francis was perfection on the drums (as was the case all night). Outstanding. Sublime, which continued into The Word’ll Be OK prior to ramping it back up for I’m in Love (and by then we absolutely all were), Come With Me, soft, rich, melodic beauty was the perfect penultimate song prior to a crowd in fine form all letting their hair down, and singing and bouncing to The Concept. 

Photo by Steve Tamburello

Norman warned us that there was only one way out, so if we didn’t leave, they would have to do an encore. There was no way anyone was leaving. The encore started with a delightful rendition of Back In The Day, which is still lingering around in my head. Metal Baby was next up and what a treat. I should listen to it more often as it a cracker of a tune. I maybe over played it in my teenage years…… It was well received by the crowd, who were perhaps thinking the same thing. 

The Middle of My Mind was a beautiful choice prior to Norman introducing Everything Flows, ‘It was our first single, it still is’ No one ever gets tired of Normans banter. So, as always, Everything Flows brought an utterly enchanting and magical show to an end. Just as good as the first time I ever heard it. 

And in case anyone is concerned that no future gig will be as good and I have ruined my future enjoyment of my favourite band, I went to see them in Holmfirth the following night and they knocked it out the park. The boys never disappoint.

Photo (above) by Steve Tamburello 

Photo (below) by Richard Morton

Photo by Mike Turner

Never Ending Mixtape part 103

Welcome to part 103 of my Never Ending Mixtape!

I started this blog/playlist/mixtape back in October 2016 with the simple intention of creating a playlist that I would add songs to on a regular basis and then blog about the latest additions every month.

There would be no thought to the structure of the playlist, unlike the mixtapes and CD's I would make in my younger days. I'd just add songs when I felt like it, depending on what I was listening to.

As a result, my Never Ending Mixtape jumps from 4,541 songs to 4,588 songs with the addition of Los Angeles by Big Thief who have just announced a Barrowland show for next Spring.

You'll find a few of the additions listed below. There are loads of new discoveries - look out for a forthcoming blog on the ace Chewing Gum Delirium! 

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

Recent discoveries

1, 2, 3, 4 by Feist

Black Marbled Elm Trees by King Creoste

Peeled Apples (Andrew Weatherall remix) by Manic St Preachers

Funky Chimes by Francis Coppietiers

Chewing Gum Delirium by The Free Pop Electronic Concept

Hung Up on a Dream by The Zombies

It's Indian Tobacco My Friend by Cornershop

What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag? by Cornershop

Time (You and I) by Kruanghbin

New releases

Taxes by Geese

 Los Angeles by Big Thief 

Playing Classics by Water From Your Eyes

Old favourites

Buttermilk by Eugenius

Fine Time by Cast

Neil Jung by Teenage Fanclub

Stolen Car by Beth orton

Time of the Season by The Zombies

The State That I Am In by Belle & Sebastian

It Won't Be Long by The Beatles

The Boy Hairdressers

Blake, McGinley, Lambie, McDonald and McAlinden

The Boy Hairdressers were a short lived band from Glasgow who counted Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, Francis McDonald (all Teenage Fanclub), Joe McAlinden (Superstar/Linden) and Jim Lambie (contemporary artist) as their members. Paul Quinn (Teenage Fanclub) also played some shows.

Blake, McDonald, McAlinden 

The band released their only recordings via Stephen Pastel's seminal 53rd and 3rd label in January 1988. The 3-track 12-inch consisted of A; Golden Shower, B; Tidalwave, B2; The Assumption As An Elevator.

The Boy Hairdressers and their sole release have taken on something as a cult status - given what the members went on to achieve. The recordings (rough and raw, but made with love) are a glimpse of a band developing - not really quite there with their sound/style.

Golden Shower is easily the best song on the record and was shown some love and appreciation when Teenage Fanclub covered/revisited the song when they played The Barrowland in 2022. High pitched harmonies over sparse acoustic guitar start the song. Then, after a brief pause, bass, drums and keys/vibrophone/flute bring things to life. I'm pretty sure Raymond used some of his guitar work in other songs. 

Tidal Wave is like a mock English folk song. I imagine it might sound better as an Irish folk song. Although under two-minutes long, I'm pretty glad when it's finished. I'm not a fan of this one.

On the final song, The Assumption As An Elevator, I find myself asking who is singing. Is it Norman? I like the outro, with some nice guitar noodling from Raymond, while Jim Lambie creates Velvets-y effects.

When you read some quotes from interviews Norman gave following the break up of The Boy Hairdressers, it's no surprise to find him highlighting his relief that his new band (Teenage Fanclub) is just me ... being me. 

Teenage Fanclub cover an 80's band at the Barrowland

Given that The Boy Hairdressers brief existence was in a pre-internet, pre-mobiles and pre (easily available/affordable) video camera era, there is extremely limited information about the band online.

However ... I did some digging and uncovered interviews, fanzines, photos, (hazy) fan memories and stories from band members, those around the band and fans who caught The Boy Hairdressers and very early Teenage Fanclub.

Photos by Andrew Turner

Horse & Groom pub, Bedford, 17th October 1987

Norman and Raymond were interviewed in a Pastelism fanzine just after they started Teenage Fanclub. Perhaps this section of the Q&A between Stephen and Norman speaks volumes about why Blake broke away with Raymond to form Teenage Fanclub

Patelism: It seems The Boy Hairdressers were just getting a fair amount of interest and then you split up. So what happened?

Norman: The thing about The Boy Hairdressers was that no-one was really motivated to do anything. We were very badly organised ... it ended up that only me and Raymond were putting any effort in. ...

Pastelism (on the song Golden Shower): Do you think it was all a bit naive, all that sex and smutty innuendo stuff? 

Norman: Aye, I'm a bit embarrassed by it now. It was a bit stupid.

Later in the interview;

Norman: ... the new stuff (TFC) reflects more of what we are really about. We feel much more comfortable with Teenage Fanclub ... it's just (me) being me.

In 2021, Raymond and Norman spoke with Ed Nash for a brilliant interview, in The Line Of Best Fit reflecting back on pivotal moments in Teenage Fanclub.

Here is what they had to say about The Boy Hairdressers;

Norman: The Boy Hairdressers had fizzled out and Raymond and myself were the two people left standing. We'd put out a 12 inch on Stephen Pastel's label (53rd & 3rd), so we'd had a taste of what that was like. We wanted to move on and put an album out as soon as we could.

Raymond: People knew who the band were, but it wasn't like we did a lot. We put out one single and played a handful of shows. We were really frustrated by that and once the Boy Hairdressers finished we had this idea that we wanted to make a record before we started talking about what the band was.

Norman: We had a number of songs we planned to work on and that we'd played at the latter end of the Boy Hairdressers. We wanted to do stuff rather than talk about it, so we thought 'Let's put an album out, let's just go for it,' but we couldn't afford to do that. Now you've got Pro Tools on a computer, but a Portastudio was state of the art then. The embryonic part of A Catholic Education was us sat in Raymond's flat recording these very basic demos on a Portastudio. That's where it all started for Teenage Fanclub.

Both of these interviews, although short, probably tell you all you need to know about The Boy Hairdressers. They had fun and a bit of a laugh, played a few gigs, got some attention, put out a record but didn't quite gel and different members of the band perhaps had other priorities/options. 

Raymond and Norman took a few songs into Teenage Fanclub, including Don't Need A Drum and Too Involved, with Raymond funding the recording of debut album A Catholic Education after being left some kitchen appliances (including a fridge) by a neighbour. Check a previous blog on the Fanclub debut HERE

You can listen to The Boy Hairdressers 4-track demo of Don't Need A Drum below. You can instantly hear the move away from the sound of the debut EP - this is cooler and more assured - even as a 4-track recording. This, as highlighted in Norman's interview above, is really a Teenage Fanclub demo. 

Other demos that fans have mentioned (but are currently unavailable online) include Saliva (that went on to become Too Involved) a song called either Flying Helmet or Magic Helmet and a Norman song that BMX Bandits recorded - Let Mother Nature Be Your Guide - LISTEN

I asked a few people in, involved with or around The Boy Hairdressers for some information and (hazy) memories. 

Photo by Kaori Laird

Paul Quinn: It wasn't until I turned up to do the first gig I played with them that I realised Joe McAlinden and Jim Lambie were also in the band! That show was at The Volcano at the bottom of Byres Road where the club scene was filmed for Trainspotting. The 2nd show was at Fury Murry's. After the show, I was asked by Raymond and Norman about what I was planning to do and I stupidly said I was going to continue playing with the guys from Bellshill I was in a band with. I had my reasons for that decision. However, it was a stupid decision as The Boy Hairdressers didn't last long after that. They both went on to form Teenage Fanclub. 

Andrew Turner: It was my brother Nigel who promoted the Bedford (photos from the Horse & Groom above) gig way back in 1987. Norman still remembers the occasion with a certain amount of fondness - he even held up a photo of said gig during the recent (August 2025) Teenage Fanclub show in Bedford.

Duncan Birrell

Pretty sure I caught them live, I think one time may have been on a two-night charity gig for Shelter in Glasgow around 1987 at the old Volcano, at the end of Byres Road. I think the Groovy Little Numbers and The Bandits played one of those nights too - using a lager can as a guitar slide. Heady days!

Joe McAlinden

A review from our first gig. Raymond hadn't joined but was watching in the audience.

Photos from Joe's personal collection

Kevin Francis

Saw them at ULU bottom of the bill below Dinosaur Jr and Primal Scream. All I remember is that someone was sitting down, possibly Norman and there was one song that started with A Capella Beach Boys style harmonies. I loved it!

Brendan O'Hare

They were all from another planet.

Kaori Laird: The voice saying Boy Hairdresser in Japanese at the beginning of the Teenage Fanclub song Speeder - is my voice! It was recorded at Norman's Granny's house. 

After Boy Hairdressers there were rumours circulating that Norman was already working on a new band - who would become Teenage Fanclub. I asked Norman what they would be called and he said Black Watch or Old Grandfather Clock. I knew he was not serious, but it was so Norman (isn't it?).

Fraser Gillespie

The Boy Hairdresser was a terrible novel by Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell. I saw them at least twice in Glasgow and also Norman's previous band The Faith Healers. Their keyboard player, Jim Lambie, did posters and filmed for Splash 1. He went on to become a very successful artist. I have a demo of Saliva which became the TFC song Too Involved - was that The Boy Hairdressers? I saw the very first TFC London gig at the Camden Falcon. It was obvious that they were going to be successful.

Graeme Williams

I saw them live supporting The Pastels at The Boardwalk in Manchester - was a great night, quite the shambolic gig to use a well worn trope, but you could tell they had something special. I have the ticket stub still somewhere.

Steph Wood

I put them on once and they slept on my floor - I still occasionally find one of those round blue Golden Showers stickers when I pull a random record out of it's sleeve ...

Antonio Navarro Ros

In Pastelism fanzine appears the first Teenage Fanclub interview ever and Norman and Raymond talk about the disband of The Boy Hairdressers. Here is the link (also see above)

Teenage Fanclub at the Old Fire Station

My friend Lorna and I decided to travel down the M8 to Carlisle to catch our favourite band on Sunday night. We have very similar taste in music! After meeting back in 2001, I really have no idea of how many times we must have seen Teenage Fanclub together over the years! Including solo or side projects, it must be over 50. Maybe even more. Seeing them play always brings a smile to our faces.

We were both thoroughly impressed by the venue - The Old Fire Station - easily accessible, situated just on the outskirts of the lovely Carlisle town centre, handy car park directly across the road, good lay out, well staffed bar (alcohol free for me) and a fantastic sound.

When Teenage Fanclub's Autumn tour dates came out, I was determined to get to one of them. Sadly, their Devils Arse (show in a cave) clashed with a work event. Carlisle was a little easier to get to.

With a standing capacity of 420, this was an excellent chance to see the Fanclub in an intimate venue before they venture to South America where they play 3 dates in Brazil and then head to Buenos Aires in Argentina - an incredible city that I was fortunate to spend 1-month in back in 2008 at the end of a year travelling around the world. I'd love to go back sometime!

Support act was Selma French who played as a duo with her cousin Anna. Their harmonies were absolutely exquisite, I'd highly recommend checking them out. 

On to the Fannies! Lorna and I managed to get a great place near the front on Raymond's side. We were immediately blown away by the sound - the Old Fire Station sound system is superb. Just three rows from the front, Raymond's guitar was on fire - what a handy venue to be in!

Opening with Tired Of Being Alone, McGinley's guitar was soon flowing and fizzing. About You quickly got the crowd bouncing and singing-a-long. There was a great group of girls near the front who danced throughout and a crowd of people in the centre of the venue who bounced and sang their hearts out.

Norman joked about the stage having a clock that included the temperature which he informed us was currently 25 degrees and asked if we could turn it up a notch.

Alcoholiday threatened to do that and when Norman checked to see if it worked he told us it was now 31.8 degrees. Then apologised as he noted 31/08 was the date!

All songs received a warm response, but Fanclub favourites, like the aforementioned About You and What You Do To Me, Neil Jung, I Don't Want Control Of You and the pre-encore The Concept were greeted like long lost friends. It was pretty euphoric and there were lots of smiles on stage to acknowledge appreciation.

Rare outings for The Cabbage and Mellow Doubt were a welcome treat. While songs from across the bands extensive discography highlighted the strength of their back catalogue. 

The opportunity to watch Raymond playing his guitars up close felt like a privilege. Playful sonic sounds - inventive chords and solos, excellent use of pedals. I'd love the band to extend the outro to Everything Is Falling Apart, with Euros keys coming to the fore to jam with McGinley and Francis.

The flowing The World'll Be OK was soothing, Norman's It's All In My Mind made me wonder if Raymond might bring out his beautiful Only With You from the same album - maybe next time.

As always, the band zipped through I'm In Love and a positive sign of the band enjoying themselves on stage is when Norman spins round to his left to smile at Dave, or further round to see Francis, Euros, or right round to see Raymond. There were several spins and countless smiles. 

Ending with the band thanking everyone for coming out for their first ever show in Carlisle followed by an epic Everything Flows - based on the audience reaction and the smiles on stage - I think they will be back.