The Fathers Of Brazilian Football

John McAlinden is one of the most imaginative, creative, energetic, kind and hardest working people I have had the pleasure of meeting thanks to my love of music. AKA John McMustard and leader of Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, John and his band bring colour, flair and fun times to festivals, towns and venues all across Scotland and beyond. They have done this for well over a decade and are going stronger than ever.

You could say that Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 are the Brazil of Scottish festival bands! Both play in the same colour with CMD5 t-shirts brightening festivals like the Brazilian national teams glorious yellow strips light up stadiums. Both play to have fun and to make people happy, bringing smiles to faces and gathering support from neutrals. 

I was planning to write quite a few blogs on World Cup singles after writing about JJ Bull's magnificent LCD Soundsystem-esque Very Unofficial Scotland World Cup Song. But there have been so many I just couldn't keep up!  

However, I was determined to write a blog on a song that tells a different story to every other, one that links Scotland with Brazil, ahead of the big game in Miami. The Fathers Of Brazilian Football by Colonel Mustard & the Dijon 5 featuring Samba Ya Bamba is out now. The lead single from a 5 song EP.

The song is about the four Scottish men that brought football to Brazil, including the first ball, from Busby to Rio in 1894 courtesy of Thomas Donohoe! It's a remarkable story, now captured in song. A full documentary should follow with the good Colonel heading to Brazil! 

The Fathers of Brazilian Football were;

• Thomas Donohoe from Busby in 1894 got his wife Elizabeth to bring the 1st footballl to Bangu, Rio where a game took place between the textile factory workers.
• Charles Miller - His Dad from Fairlie, in 1894 took the rule book and 2 footballs to Sao Paulo and established the amateur game.
• Archie McLean from Paisley,alongside Bill Hopkins from Portsmouth, brought the short passing game, called tabelinha. Tabelinha in the chorus means little chart and is the short passing game that Archie McLean (the first Brazilian football star) from Paisley taught the Brazilians in Sao Paolo and it is played to this day.
• Jock Hamilton from Ayr brought structure to the amateurs through his coaching.

Why the hell couldn't Archie stay in Scotland and teach us this style of football?!

The ambition of John and his band on a DIY budget is exceptional, I find it incredibly inspiring. The video for the single was filmed at West of Scotland Cricket Ground - the home of the first international match in 1872 between Scotland and England. Scotland's only world cup winner Rose Riley features! Additional scenes were filmed at Glasgow Central Station, Hampden Park with Vanilla J from the Tartan Army and Springburn Park Synthetic Pitch.

Samba drums usher the song in, the infectious beat is then aided by the introduction of horns. Are you in?! John then tells the story through song - it is original, fun and very much Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 - unique, colourful and positive. Whistles, percussion, a breakdown, a build up, a Brazilian feel but with a distinctively Scottish accent. The hook obrigado, obrigado, play the game is infectious. Maybe one day we will get the Tartan Army and Brazil supporters chanting the chorus!

Check the brilliantly vibrant video below and then read on for an amazing interview with John. His passion for his band, friends, fans and football shines through. I greatly appreciate his time in answering my questions during an exceptionally busy time. 

Interview with John McAlinden (AKA The Colonel)

When and how did you come up with the idea for the song? 

My sister Nicola reminded me about Malcolm McLean that used to play in SambaYaBamba , his Granda was Archie McLean whose nickname in Brazil was little deer , because of how nimble and quick he was. He went over with the textile industry in Paisley and was one of the first stars of Brazilian football, playing for the Scottish Wanderers and Sao Paulo State , the highest honour at the time in Brazil. 

Archie and his friend from Southampton Bill Hopkins introduced the Brazilians to the short passing game they call Tabelinha which means little chart. The Scots took the passing game to England then all over the world. After hearing about Archie , i bought a book from the 90's by Peter Cameron that gave me so much more info and I then started discovering there were other Scottish links to Brazil. Thomas Donohoe an engineer asked his wife Elizabeth to bring the first football from Busby in 1894, they settled with their 2 boys. One of the boys went onto be a star of Brazilian football and is said to have did the first bicycle kick in Brazil before Leonidas Dasilva popularised it throughout the world. Thomas organised a game in Bangu in the suburbs of Rio between workers in the calico factory he worked in.

The person most Brazilians call the father of Brazilian football is Charles Miller. His family were from Fairlie, but he was educated privately in England. He crucially brought the rule book and another 2 footballs and started the amateur league, was a referee, a player and a prominent figure for many years after organising the first official game amongst Railway workers and engineers and then forming the first amateur league.

Jock Hamilton from Ayr, was a coach at Fulham and he went to Brazil and brought structure to the amateurs with the system Ingleza that should actually be called the Scottish system.

How quickly did it come together? Or given the story and everyone involved, did it take a while?

For Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 it was one of the quickest songs we've got together from inception in Feb/March to recording April/May and then releasing in May/June. My Brother in Law and Dijon 5 percussionist Roddy Dickson , also happens to be the mestre in SambaYaBamba , he has been to Brazil many times and played with a couple of the top Samba schools there including Academicos da Rocinha (pronounced Haw-seen-ya). Parading in Carnival and is the Scottish member of Bloco X, who are the best of the best Samba players outside Brazil. As soon as the idea came , I knew it had to be samba and we've been threatening to write a samba song together for years, so worked out well. 

Mikey Grant from the Dijon 5 came up with an amazing tune on the keyboard, Roddy sambafied it and I put the lyrics together, blending the football and textile imagery in it. It was hard squeezing 4 men into 2 verses , but we managed to do that and tell some of the main points of the story in as short and succinct way as possible. The Dijon 5 then added their individual stamps with horns, bass , guitar and vocals and for the EP version thats out now , we've included an instrumental, DJ 5 has done a house carnival remix and we bumped into an amazing Brazilian musician May Terra who has translated and sings on the Brazilian version 'Os Pais do Futebol Brasileiro'. Her vocals blow mine out the water. This is my favourite version.

What is your first memory of watching Brazil at a World Cup? Do you have a favourite Brazilian player? 

I have a vague memory of watching Socrates with my Dad when i was around 3 or 4 at the Spain 1982 world cup and that memory being there because my Dad was pointing him out and talking about him , but so young its all very vague and more of an awareness. Mexico 1986 was the first real World Cup I remember. 

Even though he was before my time Pele is probably my favourite Brazilian player, just from watching all the footage and watching Escape To Victory on repeat , the Colonel Mustard video 'Gay Icon' was our homage to that. In the 80s round about this time , playing football on the red ash pitch at St Barbaras in Muirhead , you used to baggsy what player you wanted to be and everyone would baggsy Maradona or Pele , a testament to his legacy. 

At school you knew , even if you hadn't heard him or seen them that Jimi Hendrix was the greatest guitarist of all time and Pele the greatest footballer, but I love the Pele quote that blows that out the water. "To be the best footballer of all time , you have to be the best in every position". 

My favourite Brazilian footballer of my time was Ronaldinho, who i believe is coming out of retirement after 11 years to join a Serie C side(oh he does like to be beside the C side) the style, flair, control and of course the goals, on his debut for Barcelona and of course against England. Just utter class. Unbridled talent. It's who Messi learned his trade from and its between him, Messi or Maradonna for most naturally gifted footballer of all time. They can see things instinctively that others don't. 

In terms of goalscoring machines though Ronaldo Nazario (R9) takes some beating. Watching him age 17 at the 1994 world cup and I was travelling in Australia in 2002 when he was in a front 3 with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. Scoring twice in the final. My son Charlie was asking to get the haircut, which may be the worst of all time , but is testament to his legend in the playgrounds of the modern era. That whole team with Roberto Carlos and Cafu. They were on another level.

You must be pleased by the reaction to the single. What has been your highlight to date? 

Aye its been amazing. Getting a wee early play from Michelle McManus on one of her last few shows on BBC Radio Scotland started the momentum building nicely , then playing it with SambaYaBamba at Julie McNeill and Campbell Ramage 'We Are Scottish Football' book launch at West Scotland Cricket ground, then filming with the West Park United 2014 team at Springburn Park was cool, my sons team that I was coaching. 

Playing a pop up show with SambaYaBamba and getting to do keepie uppies in Central Station and Ending up on Reporting Scotland. Meeting lots of the Brazilian community in Scotland there and when we were doing a food tasting challenge for Beths and Brownings the Bakers. Its been a great adventure and for all the down sides of streaming(mainly financially), watching our Brazilian Fanbase growing on all the streaming and social media platforms and the nice comments about the song from the Brazilian community have meant the most. Seeing tartan army pals like Murray from the Clutha and the Scottish Football Forum podcast spreading the word to the Tartan Army has been great and theyve done us so proud. 

The icing on the cake though was today's (Monday 22nd) filming at Glebe Primary in Irvine for STV for the news on Wednesday , the day of the big game. We had members of the Dijon 5, SambaYaBamba and SYB Youth band and hundreds of kids and teachers all singing and dancing. You can't beat that feeling of connection with an audience and the excitement and spontaneity that music and football can create.

Have you seen the Kevin Bridges show on the iPlayer where he goes out to Brazil? 

I thought the Kevin Bridges documentary was amazing, he is the Scottish everyman in so many ways and obviously the most relatable, funniest guy in Scotland. It had me in tears , had me laughing , i learned a few things. The scenes with Cafu and John McGinn were so good and in the favelas and going to the games were great. The quote that maybe went under some peoples radars was "Football without cans is nothing" the most clever writing and play on Jock Steins "football without fans is nothing" quote. 

I love the fact they included some stuff about Thomas Donohoe. In a near perfect documentary my only criticism would have been , that they could have got an interview from Bangu A.C, as they have a museum there and some experts and maybe some stuff about Sao Paulo and Archie McLean and Jock Hamilton. If they do a follow up that would be great obviously with our song on the soundtrack.

Do you think we'll go through? 

I think we will go through. Even if Brazil beat us with a low goal difference we can still qualify, but if the boys play at their best, we're more than capable of getting a result.

What are CMD5 plans for the rest of 2026? 

Writing and recording more music as we're on a roll and all these gigs and festivals-

Sat 27th June 7.30pm Kilmarnock Fair Festival

17th-19th July Sat afternoon Back Doune The Rabbit Hole

Fri 31st July Belladrum Tartan Heart

Sun 2nd Aug - Fringe by the Sea North Berwick

Sun 9th Aug Party at The Palace

Fri 28th Aug - Caledonian Uni 150 year anniversary gig

3rd -5th September - Lindisfarne Festival

Sun 27th September Dumbarton Rocks

Sat 24th Oct Biggar Little Festival

Sun 29th Nov 12.00 Winterstorm, Troon Concert Hall

Lastly - who do you think will win the 2026 World Cup? 

The Netherlands

The Very Unofficial Scotland World Cup Song

I recently stumbled across an incredible video on Instagram. It was of JJ Bull in front of a synth/keyboard, shades on, wearing an old Scotland training/travel top and singing in the style of LCD Soundsystem. I became completely transfixed and must have watched it a dozen times in an hour and sent it round family and friends. 

Watch below, read my musings and then read on for an interview with JJ Bull.

Every time I watch this, I need to watch it another 2-3 times! Bull is on fire, living out James Murphy fantasies while singing about his dislike of Hampden Park (I agree - loads of history but it does kinda suck), but how he'll go there, even though he thinks Scotland will lose. He still loves his team and country.

Quickly, we're into what has already become Scottish football folklore.

Because I wanna see Kenny McLean from 50-yards

I think that he might score

Kieran Tierney from 30-yards

Well I know he's gonna score

We then go deeper into LCD Soundsystem territory/influences with a delicious (and beautifully ridiculous) effect as Bull sings the first McTominaaaaaaayyyyy. Ending with the brilliant Scott McTominay, ballon d'or.

Scott McTominaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy

With a bicycle kick

I know he's gonna score

He's Scott McTominay

Scott McTominay

Ballon d'or

Are you watching? Are you as hooked as I was ... and still am! Bull then goes on to highlight the three host countries;

The USA kinda sucks, we've got to go there anyway

Mexico is on fire, ole

Canada is under snow, but I will go

Then it's back to the hooks about McLean and Tierney, with more bass, beats, extra emphasis and excitement and the addition of two other legendary goals.

And James McFadden, from 40-yards against France

Archie Gemmill, running through the Netherlands

Things break down and then the hook comes back in and we are treated to an even better McTominaaaaaaayyyyy, with a BICYCLE KICK! 

Genius! And great fun. I absolutely love this. Check out JJ Bull's FitbaThatba Instagram page for loads more football songs about iconic teams, moments and players. For those that no me, you'll not be surprised to learn I'm now transfixed with his Solskjaer song!

 

Thanks to JJ for answering these questions.

You clearly love football and music. Can you share any early memories of how you fell in love with each?

My dad is big into all bands and always listened to records quite loud on a Saturday morning so I'd hear the bass bouncing into my room. He also always had stuff on in the car. We had a beaten up second-hand piano and were made to do lessons and I used to mess around and make up instrumental nonsense songs on it. Did violin at school too but I didn't enjoy that, mostly cos we had to do exams and I disliked those strongly. But then one day I discovered Radiohead and then Oasis, and then Stereophonics appeared, and after teaching myself to play on a battered old classical string guitar, eventually I was given an Epiphone SG as a big present. I practised that thing for hours every single day, was absolutely hyperfocus obsessed. Basically repeat all of this except instead of dad listening to music he had the football on. I didn't fall in love with that until Euro 96 and then everything clicked. A new obsession! Video games definitely got me deeper into it, kicking a ball was fun, collecting stickers, but mostly video games. There wasn't much fitba on the TV if you didn't have Sky back in the 90s.

Did/do you play much football? Have you been in a band before?

I can just about get by to a very low standard at middle-age 5-a-side but used to be much much much worse. I played for a local team but would always be a sub, and I'd be subbed off after coming on as a sub. You've gotta get that technique locked in early, and I started way too late. I used to play in a band called 10 Easy Wishes, we played gigs around the UK and had some very small radio play on Radio 1 and some other film soundtracks stuff. It was like a power pop version of The Hives and I loved it. Did a couple of other things after that which did OK too and were also really fun. The Welles was one. I had a tiny bit of success as a solo artist doing Frightened Rabbit rip off FEEEELINGS type songs in my mid 20s. Then recently I had a band called Husband Duty but the other lads live in different cities. I think playing in a wedding band called The Sellouts alongside all of this helped me get much better at it.

When did you start writing songs inspired by players / games / moments? What was the inspiration (musical and football)?

Me and some university friends got absolutely hammered (a not uncommon event) one night and started making up a song in the living room about Michael Ballack having a skull on his head and farming salmon. This was around 2011 and I know that cos I made a stupid video which is still up on YouTube and from there things have escalated ever so slightly.

The more recent version of this came about cos I needed a creative outlet, and wanted to write songs again. But the problem is that I just like things being silly or funny or nonsense, anything serious just comes across so try-hard and lame and twee. And I love football. So if I write at my most honest, the things that come out are naturally going to be related to football cos that's what I'm surrounded by all the time, and it'll be funny cos I can't be serious. And cos the best creative stuff you can ever write is in flowstate and I find these parameters help me get in that zone, that's what comes out. Then I can sneak emotions, thoughts, questions, etc in the songs. There's stuff in some of them that I recognise is what I was thinking subconsciously when I listen back later and I've been using a football analogy to hide it. That is less true for songs about John McGinn saving the world from dinosaurs.

I discovered you via your Very Unofficial Scotland World Cup Song. How quickly did that happen? Did you create the music first? Or write the lyrics?

Genuinely wrote a version of the whole thing in my head in late November/early December, tried to play it live on a livestream and didn't sound how I thought it would, so I just waited until I had the right energy to make it and then spent some time redoing it to make it sound more like what it did in my head. And then some stuff happened in the world later that made me write the second verse and find the actual 'what is this actually about' that I needed to (hopefully) make it work! Whole thing probably took a combined... 4 hours. Maybe less.

What did you make of our performances to qualify and that night against Denmark?

Thought we were mostly dreadful and incredibly lucky - especially in games against Greece - but are overdue that same good luck and positive thinking by about 30 years. We were brilliant against Denmark. Or were we? I can't remember, I just remember the goals.

What are your hopes and fears for the World Cup?

We win the whole thing in a very funny, completely lucky way. Vs. We lose 1-0, 3-0, 5-0 in the group games.

Who are your top 3 favourite bands/artists and your top 3 players?

Radiohead, Phoenix, The Hives/LCD Soundsystem

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo (Nazario), Alan Shearer

 

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, Combe 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

Combe'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 Combes 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

Since Yesterday - The Untold Story of Scottish Girl Bands

The stars of Since Yesterday 

Those of you who visit my blog regularly will likely know that I have a younger sister, Carla, who I am immensely proud of. Carla has a fierce creative energy that burns incredibly bright.  Over the last 7 or so years, quite a lot of that energy has been invested in the making of a documentary entitled SinceYesterday - The Untold Story of Scottish Girl Bands alongside her friend Blair. 

While filming a music video together, an off-the-cuff remark along the lines of 'someone should do a film about Scottish girl bands' resulted in the duo beginning to track down and interview members of bands from the 60's up to present day.

Their time, energy, resilience, empathy, hard work and patience was rewarded earlier this week on Wednesday 21st August when their documentary premiered as the closing film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. 

Photo by Euan Robertson

What began as a hobby quickly became quite serious, as Carla balanced being a music obsessive with top notch detective skills. Carla would phone me up enthralled to tell me about her day with Jeanette McKinley from The McKinleys who released Sweet and Tender Romance on Parlaphone in 1964. A young Jimmy Page played guitar with them, they supported The Beatles and played on Ready Steady Go! and with The Stones at Wembley Arena.

Sweet & Tender Romance by The McKinleys (audio)

Then Carla would tell me about The Ettes who were super DIY punk, Lung Leg who burst out of grunge and riot grrl, Sophisticated Boom Boom, His Latest Flame, The Hedrons and the wonderful tale of getting in a car with Rose from Strawberry Switchblade. Maybe that will make the book ... as there will be so much recorded that didn't make the film.

In 2021 I helped Carla and Blair take their project to the next stage by managing a kickstarter for them. 659 generous people raised almost £29,500 to allow them to develop animation, clear archive footage and bring other people on board. Suddenly, a film was appearing.

Fast forward (and it didn't feel so fast when Carla and Blair were spending weeks on end locked in an editing suite! ) 3-years and the film has arrived!

Since Yesterday is a global story told through a local lense. It's emotional, beautiful, funny, soulful, defiant and it gives a voice to some astonishingly creative, resilient and wonderful women. 

The documentary redefines success, celebrating landmark achievements that have been overlooked by the Scottish music scene and the wider industry at large. Sophisticated Boom Boom (morphing into His Latest Flame) were the first band to play The Barrowland as we know it, as they were the support act for Simple Minds. This is something that I am positive the good folk at The Barrowland will look to highlight in the venue after watching the film.

There are harrowing stories about sexual abuse being common at gigs, bands being dropped (or not even being signed) because a member was pregnant or 'could become' pregnant. Rightly, the film highlights the severe lack of diversity in publishing and at festivals. 

There are memories of how it felt to get in a room and make a noise with friends, reflections on tours, using cardboard boxes for drums and lots of funny stories - Rose McDowall could do stand up! While I love The Hedrons being interviewed together, they come across as a real gang and they giggle their way through the interview - laughing at the absurdity of 12-songs taking them around the world, but then recoiling in horror as they recall the reason why major labels rejected them.

Peel sessions, demo tapes, Smash Hits covers, Top of the Pops, supporting The Stones, Mick Jagger's catwalk, offers, rejections, fall-outs, make-ups, fanzines, touring, fun .... Since Yesterday covers all this and much, much more.

The interviews are moving, everyone opens their hearts to the camera. Carla's passion for music, her own experiences and strong feminist values must have helped with this. Blair has done a magnificent job in filming and congratulations to all the team for pulling together the interviews, old footage, memorabilia, photos and animation to create something that flows beautifully.

Since Yesterday brings us right up to the present day; Hen Hoose, Amplifi, The Cords and many more. Wonderful teenagers and women who are creating, fighting, advocating, inspiring, pushing boundaries and looking out for each other. The DIY ethic and sense of communities that are being created is exceptionally inspiring; focusing on safety, support, platforms and encouraging creativity and co-working. 

Who knows? Maybe in 20-years time there will be another documentary about them. 

Who knows where this film will go? Who will it inspire? But right now, my sister and her friends have united Scottish girl bands from the 60's to present day. They have told their stories and documented them on a film that has brought them together. That in itself, is a remarkable thing. I am intrigued as to what will stem and flower from the energy and community that I was part of for a while at the premiere. Well done to all involved.

I'm super proud of Carla and I am super proud of my youngest daughter Rosie who appears throughout the film, discovering all kinds of Scottish girl bands along the way and making friends to form her own band.

Rosie (natural poser!) and her Aunt Carla on the red carpet

Who knows if Rosie will form a band later in life?! She was buzzing at and after the premiere where she met so many strong women. The film could well position these women as role models for young girls who watch it over the months and years to come.

Here are some links (below) to interviews that Carla and Blair did ahead of and at the premiere. Lots more news to come!

The Skinny - interview by Fiona Shepherd

The Herald - interview by Lorraine Wilson

Snack Magazine - interview by Andrew Reilly (page 53 - August edition)

BBC - feature and interviews by Jonathan Geddes

The Guardian - feature and interview by Katie Hawthorne

Holywood Reporter - interview and feature by Lily Ford

Film Authority - feature

The Herald - 5 star review by Barry Didcock

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart

 

Trust me #73

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

Rather weirdly, I got into Swift through my old 7-a-side football friend Craig who manages Mogwai's Rock Action label! Craig has superb taste in pop music and highlighted We Are Never Getting Back Together on his social channels many years ago. 1989 was my eldest daughter Zoe's first album!

Like many other fans of pop music, I've fallen for Taylor Swift. What an incredible artist, songwriter, performer and role model Swift is. 

Now, my youngest daughter Rosie (age 9) is a proud Swiftie and I love when she tells me that what she was up to at playtime and lunchtime at school - "Me and my friends were talking about Taylor Swift's albums."

I recently walked behind Rosie and her friend on the way to our local coffee shop and listened in to one of their conversations. I wanted to join in! Swift is inspiring young kids to buy and discuss albums. Incredible!

As a family, we debated about trying for tickets to see Taylor play Murrayfield. I did log on, but there were only 600 quid tickets left. Pretty much on the stage! But 4 tickets would be 2,400! Going on holiday over a one-off night out (no matter how good that night out might be) won over. 

Now, with Taylor's run of Murrayfield gigs coming up this weekend. I kind of wish we'd just bought the tickets ... although we'd be paying for them for quite some time!

Recently, Rosie introduced me to new song I Can Do It With A Broken Heart and we have been playing it pretty constantly in the house and in the car. 

Somehow this incredible slice of pop perfection didn't make the 'normal' version of Taylor Swift's latest album (her 11th) The Tortured Poets Department. For most artists, this would be a lead single. However, Swift is so prolific that I Can Do It With A Broken Heart is tucked in on the Anthology version which contains 31 songs and over 2-hours of music. Taylor has now released a remarkable 274 songs in her career. Incredible!

Starting slow and then kicking in with what feels like two sets of choruses, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart deserves a doctorate in pop music.  There are count-in's, clever lyrics, hooks galore and shimmering synths and beats that work so well with Swift's melodies.

A video has been released with professionally shot tour footage and the lyrics at the bottom. It works perfectly as Swift sings of having to go on tour post break-up with a broken heart.

Official video

A short first verse has Taylor reflecting on what her fans are thinking - she's having the time of her life, touring the world, playing sold out shows, making millions ... but the kiss off line is I can show you lies and then a 1, 2, 3 , 4 count into the pre-chorus.

The pre-chorus builds beautifully, it is classic Swift, a nice use of swearing, tumbling flowing melodies and Taylor pouring her heart out.

Cause I'm a real tough kid

I can handle my shit

They said - 'babe you gotta fake it 'til you make it' and I did

Lights, camera, bitch smile

Even when you wanna die

He said he'd love me all his life

But that life was too short

Breaking down I hit the floor

All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting - MORE

I was grinnin' like I'm winnin'

I was hittin' my marks

'Cause I can do it with a broken heart

Shimmering synths and beats kick in for the chorus proper. Be warned - this is SUPER CATCHY AND COOL! 

I'm so depressed I act like it's my birthday, every day

I'm so obsessed with him but he avoids me, like the plague

I cry a lot but I am so productive, it's an art

You know you're good when you can even do it, with a broken heart

BOOM! All delivered in precisely 1-minute 36 seconds. So good that it's time to do it all again. Another short verse has Swift still searching for her ex's belongings to ensure she didn't imagine the whole relationship. 

COUNTDOWN

That stunning pre-chorus

COUNTDOWN

BOOM

The super catchy chorus again (honestly - how good is this?!!)

Swift is in the zone and isn't quite ready to finish, the beats keep going, the synths still bubble and shimmer as Taylor realise how good she is at doing it in spite of everything. There is humour but also exceptional honesty as she declares;

I'm miserable

And nobody even knows

Before another beautiful kiss off ah, try and come for my job

WOW! Pop perfection. 

Taylor Swift plays Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on June 7th, 8th and 9th. She is a pop superstar. Enjoy if you're catching here in Scotland or elsewhere. 

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

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

Dillon Squire at The Rum Shack

I finally made it to a gig at The Rum Shack last night. It's a brilliant little venue on Pollockshaws Road in the Southside of Glasgow, just before Queens Park. Dillon Squire and his band were playing a show to celebrate the release Yellow Car No Hitbacks, their forthcoming debut EP on LAB Records.

Two singles, Bulldozer and the recent When The Novelty Wears Off have been released from the EP, adding to previously released singles, Allison Arms and Little Birdy. 

On the evidence of his releases to date and last nights show, Squire has is developing a collection of fizzy guitar pop songs with a punk / new wave edge at times. I always think you learn more about an artist when you catch them playing live and last night I came away thinking that Squire's flowing lyrics and melodies could easily be sung by Taylor Swift. His songs are full of hooks and at times many veer off into flowing sections when Squire is clearly on a role. As evidenced on recent single Bulldozer that just flows and flies.

Cause I've been running and you've been hiding

Did you feel this way when our worlds collided?

All these trials and tribulations

I could be the main star, in your coming of age film

Desperate times and desperate measure

Fucked up things that we do for pleasure

I've tried loving and it's not easy

I've been self medicating but it don't come cheaply

I've lost my mind completely

Squire's band is super tight. His co-guitarist Bo looks super cool and fires off amazing guitar solos, the rhythm section create the groove for the hooks, while the addition of Amelia Haldane on saxaphone and tambourine added something a little different to the live sound. 

People sang along to the four singles that Squire has released to date, but they also sang along to unreleased songs, including Dark Circles that has a brilliant chorus that people will pick up on first listen, it's that catchy.

On the drive home I thought of the many new and emerging acts that I've seen in Glasgow over the years. There are so many talented musicians that have been hyped but they failed to pass the acid test. I'd wake the next morning and wouldn't remember any of their songs - and not due to alcohol intake! Simply because they didn't contain any memorable hooks or riffs.

There is no danger of that happening with Squire. Fans were singing a-long during the show and afterwards two girls were sitting at the bar upstairs singing some of the guitar solos to each other. A good sign!

Dillon Squire is on all the usual social media, streaming and download sites.

Check him out and don't be surprised if you find yourself humming a riff or hook in the near future!

“My new EP is simply a self healing journey and a cathartic process that ended up turning into six of the best songs I’ve ever written. I started singing from the bottom of my heart and made sure that every word wrote down and that passed my lips was meaningful.

Keep On Dreaming

Keep On Dreaming is the second single from my sometime/part-time band Starboard Hazes.

The song had the working title Lemonhead right up until when it was recorded. It's one of the few songs where I had the music before the lyrics. I thought the chords were very Lemonheads-y, so that became the title.

A lot of musicians who are much better than me will say that eventually you just have to let go of a song. Stop tinkering with it, stop taking things out or adding things in..

I get that. I'd have liked to spend more time on this. To make it a little more Lemonheads-y, maybe with some warm acoustic guitar for the rhythm. But we recorded 4 instrumentals in around 6-hours, going back another day to record vocals. We didn't have much time! 

So although it didn't turn out quite the way I had it in my head, it does capture the energy and zest from the recordings. I was absolutely buzzing, so we raced through it! Me on rhythm guitar, James on lead and Calum Muir on drums.

I think we recorded in 3 takes. Then James overdubbed bass. I went back one evening in February to record vocals with Annmarie Lochrie. Done!

What next?

Well we have another 2 songs we recorded at the start of the year that we'll put out over the summer. We'll start with Bandcamp and then put all 4 out as an EP on other digital channels. I'm at the age where I can't keep up with them all, but I used Spotify!

Then James and I are getting together in the summer to work out 3 or 4 more. After that we'll find out who is available to go into the studio with us to record them. And we also hope to play a gig!

In the meantime, you can stream or download (for free) the single via our Bandcamp.

Me and James working out the songs