Jonny and BMX Bandits at FRETS

Friday 20th February saw me head through to the beautiful town of Strathaven to see Norman Blake and Euros Childs play a rare show as their side project Jonny. With Stu Kidd on drums, the trio released a self-titled album back in 2011, full of improvised stoned humour, gorgeous harmonies and melodies, and some genius songwriting.

6-years previously, I'd caught Norman and Euros play the Strathaven Hotel (blog here) under their own names, one of the last shows I caught pre-lockdown.  

FRETS has grown from strength to strength since then and Norman has a particularly strong affiliation and association with them, after all, FRETS founder Douglas McIntyre was responsible for forming Butler, Blake and Grant - who now have a second album coming out and they have toured all over.

Before Jonny, we had the joy of a stripped back BMX Bandits set. Duglas T Stewart on vocals and kazoo and Rory on guitar and harmonies. Joined by long term friend and collaborator Stu Kidd on drums and backing vocals for a couple of tracks.

Duglas was in fine form, mixing humour with emotional stories about wellbeing and the importance of friends. The set was largely similar to the Mono show they played earlier in the month, although the addition of Little Hands was one to warm hearts throughout the room. What a song! I appreciated it all the more after Duglas' warm reflection on the inspiration for the song. 

The Bandits were playing a show in Japan and Duglas was very taken by a girl dancing down the front. He turned to Francis on drums and said 'I'm going to marry that girl'. And he did! Duglas spoke very fondly about writing the song and how his wife Midori made such a positive impression on everyone she met upon moving to Scotland.  Sadly Midori passed away and Duglas highlighted how important it is have to places, items or songs to remind us of people.  

I hope Duglas and the current incarnation of BMX Bandits can play some full band shows this year. He has a fine catalogue of songs to dig into. The Sailor's Song was a stunning opener, the closing refrain of I could watch you dancing all night gets me every time.

Jonny were also full of humour with Euros cracking everyone up when saying that a mis-print on the dressing room sign (Jonny spelt with an 'h' - "Jonny don't do drugs, Jonny don't do H") nearly caused them to cancel the show. He then talked of steel drums going missing on the motorway.  

Elsewhere, their cover of Bert Jansch's Baby Blue was absolutely gorgeous, even if the complex chord changes required a restart - with Euros, Norman and Stu all buckled over laughing!

The trio played virtually the whole of their 2011 album, sadly missing Norman's exquisite Never Alone.

Highlights? Circling The Sun was beautiful, the joy of Euros and Norman singing and harmonising effortlessly is something I could listen to for hours on end. Stu also joined in on a lot of the songs, so we had 3 part harmonies - glorious!

Bread was gooey and warm, with Euros really going for it. Blake's Dark Clouds from the Fanclub's Shadows album was lovely, while my out and out favourite was Cave Dance. A fun rock n roll number that morphs into a psychedelic synth jam. I don't think FRETS had heard anything like that before!

Norman highlighted that they still intend to bring out their Joe Meek covers album and played Summer Without Sun, recorded by The Charles Kinglsey Creation, featuring one of the owners of the fabled Rockfield Studio where the Fanclub have recorded. 

Dep from Monorail was in the audience. I hope his ears pricked up as Norman highlighted that this mixed album is sitting unreleased and that they would love to bring it out...

Euros Childs and Teenage Fanclub weekender

Usually, if I don't write a blog within a day or two of catching a live show, then the blog doesn't happen. My greatest regret is not writing a blog on Martha Reeves and the Vandellas playing BAaD back in August 2021. Not only was it an incredible show by a living legend, my sister Carla got backstage afterwards and sang with Martha! Sadly this incredible moment wasn't captured on camera and I had left after the gig so I missed it! But any time I hear Martha, I think of this. 

Anyway ... point being, this is just a short blog to belatedly document a lovely weekend of live music! Euros Childs in the tiny Hug and Pint on Friday and then Teenage Fanclub (with Euros on keys) in the gigantic Hydro on Sunday!

The Hug & Pint, on Great Western Road, is a small but beautiful bar/restaurant upstairs and basement venue downstairs that has live music on almost every night of the year. Run by 432 presents and named after an Arab Strap album, the venue promotes and hosts and eclectic melting pot of music. 

Euros Childs certainly gave us an eclectic melting pot of a set on Friday night! Do you know what? This was probably my gig of the year. I was probably only aware of 2-3 songs in the set, but every song blew me away; personal and inventive lyrics, amazing melodies - sometimes loads of them in just one song, bridges, hooks, choruses, humour and a cracking band that could veer off on delicious tangents.

Stuntman opened the set, One Shoe was an early highlight, especially for one fan in front of me! At times Euros set was garage pop, other times psychedelia with a touch of electronica, while at others it was really beautiful ballads with sublime strings.

Euros is an energetic and entertaining front man, fizzing with energy, giving it 110%, total belief in his talent, his band and his songs. Everyone was captivated.

The middle of the set saw Euros and co perform a 20-minute song (I'm afraid I didn't catch the name) that continuously veered off on multiple tangents. There were mentions of orange skies and sunshine, I was spellbound and I am going to track this song down!

Spanish Dance Troupe by Euros' old band Gorkys Zyngotic Mynci was sublime, the strings, the harmonies, the melodies - just gorgeous. As an encore, Euros and co played his song Virgin Moon. This was stoned songwriting genius, a tale of Richard Branson owning the moon, what that meant, who went there ... barmy, bonkers and utterly brilliant. Melodies to die for.  

I am going to enjoy digging back into Euros extensive back catalogue over the coming months and wish I had explored it before now.

Then on Sunday night I headed back into Glasgow to see Teenage Fanclub supporting Vampire Weekend at the Hydro. I have to be honest and say that I was only going for the Fanclub. Vampire Weekend aren't really my thing. I caught them at the Barrowland when their first album came out, bought their second and then I don't think I have listened to them since. Very talented musicians, they just don't get me going.

Thankfully my brother sorted me with a pass, so I could add the Hydro to the extensive list of Glasgow venues that I have seen Teenage Fanclub play in. Not only that, my friend Lorna and I were in a box, centre stage and with access to a bar. Amazing!

Teenage Fanclub played a short set from 7.30-8pm and the vast majority of the crowd had arrived in time to see them. It was quite something to gaze out across thousands of heads to see Norman, Raymond, Dave, Euros and Francis on stage. There were no big screens, but we could still tell from our distance that Norman was beaming due to the way he moved and held his guitar.

I Can't Find My Way Home eased the band in, before they ramped it up a few notches with Start Again, About You and What You Do To Me. Raymond's wah-wah pedal sounded sensational on It's A Bad World before the vast Hydro (with top sections curtained off) was treated to the delight of a full length version of The Concept and a closing blast of Everything Flows.

The band were in good form and I look forward to finding out what they'll be up to in 2025. A run of August dates might hint at the release of a single ahead of a new album? Expect a Scottish date(s) to be announced in the near future.

Teenage Fanclub at the Tramway

Last night I added The Tramway to the list of Glasgow venues that I've seen Teenage Fanclub in. It's always a thrill when the band play somewhere different.

Ahead of the tour, Raymond McGinley said; "Following our most recent album Endless Arcade we did a UK / Europe tour in support of that. While it felt great to be properly back on the road again post-pandemic, we realised that for many of the venues we’d been playing those same places over and over for more than thirty years. We thought that next time we should try to do something a bit different. As part of that tour we played a couple of seated venues and enjoyed the experience. We got the feeling that the audience did too. So, for the tour this year in October and November we decided to put together a run of dates in seated venues, for the dual purpose of both playing shows in a theatre environment and in venues that are mostly places we haven’t played before. For both band and audience this tour should be an enjoyably novel experience.”

Raymond knows his fans!

And it was an extremely enjoyable experience. 

After a narrow escape on the train where I was heading to Pollockshaws East rather than Pollockshields East, I met my friend Lorna outside the venue shortly after doors opened. After grabbing a new mug and a beer, the doors to the theatre swung open and we headed in to nab good seats.

We opted for the end row 3, directly up from where Raymond was due to stand. It was great to see loads of people we knew around us, or on their way to seats. 

The venue had exposed brickwork to the sides and a huge screen behind the stage, which was pretty much floor level with the crowd then elevated above the band. I was immediately reminded of The Beatles playing in Twickenham Studios at the start of the Get Back documentary. That kind of vibe. It was like dropping in on a band rehearsal.

Sweet Baboo (Stephen Black) played a short acoustic set in support. Heartfelt stories were told to introduce several songs with Goodbye (about a neighbours dog he walked during lockdown) being a particular favourite of mine.

Black has stood in for Dave McGowan on bass a few times, so it was great that the band invited him out on tour. Baboo is promoting his latest album The Wreckage, that came out in early 2024. It's safe to say that his humour, melodies and storytelling won him new fans.

At 9pm Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, Francis Macdonald, Dave McGowan, Euros Childs and Stephen Black strolled on to the stage. For the next 90-minutes, the six piece Fanclub delighted the crowd with songs from new album Nothing Lasts Forever and songs from across their career, culminating in set closer Everything Flows, their glorious debut single.

There were smiles and laughs - especially as one brave heckler shouted ELTON at Blake as he sat behind the piano for Self-Sedation. Blake took it in typical good form, joking he needed more elaborate glasses. And then when one brave soul jogged across the front of the band to go to the toilet it caused hysterics for Norman and Raymond - especially cause the guy was dressed like he was out for a run!

The sound was excellent throughout; guitars gelling, heavenly harmonies and all kinds of heart tugging moments. A double dose of Alcoholiday and Did I Say early on was worth the admission money alone, while Raymond's beautiful Only With You was an unexpected treat.

New songs - Tired Of Being Alone (set opener), Foreign Land, I Left A Light On, Falling Into The Sun, Self-Sedation and See The Light were all played, fitting effortlessly in alongside older cuts. There was an extra zip to them in a live setting, especially the first couple, the guitars sounded a little more raw and urgent.

I was gutted they didn't play album closer I Will Love You. I do hope that makes an appearance in the live set at some point. But then, with 30+ years of songs to choose from, you can't get everything!

I Don't Want Control Of You is always on the setlist and it always succeeds in lifting and moving me. I'm In Love is another song that has extra zip and zest in the live setting, while My Uptight Life was as poignant as ever.

Stephen Black played acoustic guitar, keyboard, percussion and saxaphone through the set. I thought his acoustic guitar in particular added a lot to some songs. Just that extra little layer.

Dave was super solid on bass, while Euros harmonising with Norman is a delight. 

Back In The Day is a recent favourite of mine and it sounded sublime in the encore, the chorus seemed to go on and on, the band looked like they were really enjoying it. 

Closing with Everything Flows, Teenage Fanclub left everyone feeling a warm glow that the band continue to radiate. I'll be back for more on Tuesday in Edinburgh.

I do like to stand with a beer at gigs, but do you know what, I loved this show. The Tramway was set up perfectly, can't have been a bad seat in the house.

Nothing Lasts Forever by Teenage Fanclub

I'm very glad that Teenage Fanclub have been in my life since 1991 when I discovered Bandwagonesque. Over 30-years! Nothing Lasts Forever of course, but the band are still here, still with me and still releasing music that fills me with a warm glow.

My love and appreciation for Teenage Fanclub grows stronger with every passing year. With every single, album and run of shows. With each anniversary of a classic album - happy forthcoming 30th birthday to Thirteen. With every new friend I make through a mutual love for the band - online or in person. 

Welcome to the world, Nothing Lasts Forever, the 12th Teenage Fanclub album. It is a beautiful album containing 10 songs of love, life, loss, hope and light. If Everything Arcade was reflective, then this new album is looking forward.

Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, Francis Macdonald, Dave McGowan and Euros Childs seem to have the bit between their teeth. This is the second Fanclub album in a little over 2-years. We were previously used to/frustrated by an album every 5 or 6 years.

Of course Fanclub albums are always worth waiting for. Maybe even more so, as we all get older. Speaking of which, the passing of time is a theme throughout the album. 

Norman: “These songs are definitely personal. You’re getting older, you’re going into the cupboard getting the black suit out more often. Thoughts of mortality and the idea of the light must have been playing on our minds a lot. The songs on the last record were influenced by the breakup of my marriage. It was cathartic to write those songs. These new songs are reflective of how I’m feeling now, coming out of that period. They’re fairly optimistic, there’s an acceptance of a situation and all of the experience that comes with that acceptance. When we write, it’s a reflection of our lives, which are pretty ordinary. We’re not extraordinary people, and normal people get older. There’s a lot to write about in the mundane."

And so the album begins with Foreign Land Blake singing about time, the past and moving on. His heart beating brightly again after heartache and dark times. There is a delicious run on the bass by Dave before Raymond sets his guitar to stun on the instrumental section. 

It's time to move along

And leave the past behind me

My heart was like a stone

But now it's beating brightly

Official video - Foreign Land 

Raymond's up next with Tired Of Being Alone sounding wise and wistful. Is it just me, or does McGinley's voice sound more melancholic with age. Raymond's always had a knack for finding a hook/mantra to close some of his songs and this is a gem. 

Come with me, watch the seasons go

Summer nights with the sky aglow

Fallen leaves on the ground below

Let's walk outside in the falling snow

Official video - Tired Of Being Alone

Light is a theme that runs throughout the album, with the word featuring in 3 of the 10 song titles. I Left A Light On was the first single taken from Nothing Lasts Forever, away back in April 2022 to soundtrack a tour. The piano and strings really give it a lovely post Beatles Lennon solo type feel. Blake singing of a love spiraling out of control, of being lost, but leaving a light on. It's heartachingly beautiful.

Official video - I Left A Light On

Raymond: "We never talk about what were going to do before we start making a record. We don't plan much other than the nuts and bolts of where were going to record and when. That thing about light was completely accidental; we didn't realise that until we'd finished half the songs. The record feels reflective, and I think the more we do this thing, the more we become comfortable with going to that place of melancholy, feeling and expressing those feelings."

McGinley consistently urges listeners to See The Light, an early favourite of mine. There is a gentle saxaphone in the background and plenty of warm and chiming guitars. There is a brief pause before a gloriously playful guitar solo.

I don't need to roam

I go back home

To see the light

It's Alright is positive and uplifting, like Norman has just had a big blast of sunshine happiness. The lyric to the second verse highlights he is moving forward; take a step into the mystery. Euros tinkling keys come through on repeated listens. Blake goes on to sing it's looking clearer up ahead and Raymond's guitar solo really fizzes. There is a classic going to the country lyric; 

From city street

To country lane

Life is taking hold again

There'll be no need for worry now

It's alright

Falling Into The Sun starts with some fuzzy psychedelia sounds before bursting into life, Dave's bass sounds fantastic. The middle section before Raymond's guitar solo is unexpected and delightful, as is the guitar. 

There are echos of McCartney on the brilliant Self-Sedation. The freshness, the jaunty piano and the vocal melody. Blake delivers this beautiful line in the first verse; 

I wake up before the dawn to start my dreaming of you

The double chorus is superb and there is another brilliant lyric I picked up on; from a breakdown to a breakthrough while the instrumental is pure Macca.

Chiming guitar gently launches Middle Of My Mind, Raymond sounds super dreamy. If the album is largely about moving on, for the time being, McGinley is lost in his thoughts. 

Back To The Light sounded great as a single, it sounds even better as part of an album. Blake sings of finishing a gig and heading back to his love, highlighting his appreciation in the chorus and then throughout the rest of the song.

For you, you know I'd walk a country mile

Have your tissues ready for Raymond's beautiful I Will Love You that closes the album. The slow burning, near 2-minute, intro is beautifully dreamy, leading to McGinley singing about how his love will last through all that is wrong in the world. Until the end of time. Norman's harmonies on the chorus are gorgeous.

This is Teenage Fanclub at their best - heartfelt emotion, love and hope in the face of racisim, bigotry, pollution, capitalism ... the grim reality of modern day life. Love can help. Love can win.

I will love you

Until the sunlight decides to hide

I will love you

Until the planets collide

I will love you

Raymond: "In many ways, us-and-them-ism has taken over the world. I will love you is looking for positivity but its being totally fatalistic at the same time. This shit will exist forever, what are you going to do about it? I came up with the line I will love you/until the flags are put down/and the exceptionalists are buried under the ground while i was playing the guitar. I started wondering what that was all about and where it might go. It's looking for positives within a fatalistic, negative view of human nature."

Foreign Land

Photo by 

Donald Milne

Teenage Fanclub released new single Foreign Land earlier today with no prior announcement. A couple of hours later, Monorail dropped some news about their forthcoming album Nothing Lasts Forever, due on 22nd September ahead of their comprehensive European tour.

Foreign Land begins with fuzzy guitar feedback, leading to a fast paced rhythm guitar that underpins Norman harmonising beautifully with Euros. Raymond adds little riffs at times, before taking off on a soaring solo after the second chorus. 

Blake's songwriting is mature and poetic, saying so much about how in love he was and how he now recognises it's over, equally heartbreaking and full of hope. After a heavy heart and sleepless nights, there is now recognition that the past is in the past and it's time to move on. The two line chorus says it all. 

The past's a foreign land

I did my best to understand

Teenage Fanclub are in great form, McGinley's beautiful meandering guitar solo (a cousin to Home) is deliciously playful, both mid-song and through the outro. Euros keys on the outro jam are more evident after a couple of listens, I look forward to hearing this live.

The video was filmed inside Hamilton Mausoleum, one of the largest in the world. Francis MacDonald released an album of chamber music back in 2018 that was inspired by (and recorded in) the venue. It clearly left quite an impression and it is a cinematic setting for the video, absolutely stunning!

On the single and album;

Raymond - "When we got offered ten days in Rockfield, we weren't ready in our minds but then we just thought, 'fuck it' and went for it. If you're sitting around waiting for the stars to align, you can end up never doing anything. We turned up and worked our way through ideas and came up with some while we were there. Foreign Land was born in the studio. If we hadn't gone there at that point through happenstance, that song wouldn't exist. We like to let things happen. As people, we find a deadline inspiring. We like to put ourselves on the spot and see what happens. We usually get away with it. This record is the cliche of the blank canvas, which thankfully we managed to fill."

Watch the video HERE or below.

Roll on September and the tour.

It's time to move along

Leave the past behind me

A heart was like a stone

Now it's beating brightly

The past's a foreign land

I did my best to understand

Beneath the moon and stars

I loved her most profoundly

I wandered in the night

But now I'm sleeping soundly

The past's a foreign land

I did my best to understand

Teenage Fanclub - Glasgow Barrowland - September 2021

Photo by Carla Easton

 Ah Glasgow Barrowland!

I was so excited about returning to this iconic venue that I showed up for doors opening. I've probably not done that since visiting for the first time back in 1993 - also to see Teenage Fanclub. 

Just grabbing a beer and walking round the iconic ballroom listening to background music while watching everyone coming in heightened my senses. I'd missed this kind of thing so much; the sense of anticipation, an occasion, a special night out.

Pretty soon I was catching up with friends - Lorna (my real Teenage Fanclub buddy), Lloyd from Olive Grove Records, John from my hometown of Carluke and loads of people from the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub. 

It was great to see loads of people coming in early for Poster Paints who delivered another impeccable set. Carla sung beautifully and it was brilliant to see her on the Barrowland stage. Number 1 sounded particularly powerful and the response from the crowd was warm and loud. Set closer My Song was glorious, building into a dreamy New Order groove, low bass, synth and the kind of guitar riff you could listen to for days.

Poster Paints play their debut headline show at The Poetry Club in Glasgow on October 7th. Be great to see you there.

Photo by Kat Gollock

Shortly after 9pm Teenage Fanclub walked on to the stage to a huge Barrowland roar and after strapping on their guitars they launched into the double header of About You and Start Again. The band were in excellent form, it's a shame that this little run of shows has come to an end just as they are really getting going. I found myself checking dates for their shows next Spring earlier today.

A run of 3-songs from Endless Arcade really highlighted that the band are on form on record and on stage. Everything Is Falling Apart and Home both allowed the Fannies to stretch out and flow. Dave and Francis were locked in tune all night, allowing their mates to jam on and extend a number of songs. 

Photo by Kat Gollock

Home was outstanding last night, the guitars sounded glorious, I love when the band play like this. Then there as an absolute romp through Warm Embrace, quickly becoming a live favourite for band and audience.

What You Do To Me was particularly euphoric last night, sung gustily on stage and on the famous sprung ballroom floor. It felt so uplifting to be in the Barrowland and singing along with friends and strangers.

Closely followed by Raymond's outstanding Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From, with Norman playing his xylophone to huge cheers.

Back In The Day was another highlight, the band extended it, clearly enjoying playing it live and there was a nice moment afterwards where someone near the front shouted his appreciation to Norman, adding 'that's a corker' raising a smile from Blake.

There were regular smiles on stage and off all night. We were standing just a few rows from the front to Dave's side and you could see the energy being created and enjoyed on stage.

I'm In Love had a real zip to it, while the closing section of The Concept was simply sublime, just absolutely gorgeous.

Raymond's The Fall started the 4-song encore, the outro section sounding particularly dreamy and beautiful, then we had Norman tugging on heartstrings with his stunning The Sun Won't Shine On Me, the guitar riff was heavenly.

Norman then announced they were going to play a cover version by an 80's band ... going on to play Golden Shower by The Boy Hairdressers, his pre Fanclub band with Raymond. 

Ending with Everything Flows, I was really taken with the way Euros added a hammond style riff to the song. He has brought a lot to the band and seems to have quite a free license to add bits to songs, while his harmonies with Norman are so natural and beautiful. Norman waved his guitar in front of his speaker to generate feedback, just lost in the moment, it was so good to see.

It was good to be back!

I must mention the Simply Thrilled Aftershow at McChuills round the corner on High Street. Walking into my favourite bar to the sound of Rocks by Primal Scream was so uplifting. Pretty soon they played Radio and a few people started dancing. The boys got the hint and it was Fanclub tunes until closing with a group of us singing and dancing like the good old days to Baby Lee, I Need Direction and of course - Everything Flows to close. I felt absolutely elated! 

Teenage Fanclub at Assembly Rooms

Even though it's complicated

We got time to start again

My last gig was 29th February 2020. Looking back at my blog, I attended 6 gigs in the first couple of months in that year. Gig going was (and will be again) a major part of my life - a reason to catch up with friends, to have a wee night out and visit some of my favourite bars in Glasgow, to watch bands and artists I love, to discover new sounds and to get the buzz from entering venues like The Barrowland and seeing audience and artist become one.

February 2020! 

Then everything changed ...

But enough has been written about that. Lets get bang up to date - Tuesday 14th September 2021 to be precise. 

The sense of anticipation of a gig is still there! The buzz of arranging to meet friends, of sorting someone out with a spare, even thinking about what to wear! 

In addition, there is a strange form of planning that is going to become the norm for a while. I missed 2 gigs that I had tickets for the 2 previous Friday's as I knew that this gig and the Barrowland on Thursday were the ones I really wanted to go to. My friend Lorna decided not to go after giving someone a lift home from John Grant at the Barrowland last week and then they subsequently tested positive. Lorna is negative, but worried. COVID is absolutely everywhere. We're learning to live with it, or we are trying to. It's not going away and it feels like we'll all get it at some point - we need to trust in (and test) the vaccine and our immune systems. It feels like we're living in a giant experiment at times. 

But back to the gig!

The Edinburgh Assembly Rooms is a breathtakingly stunning venue. The chandeliers, the craft work and attention to detail on the ceiling ... everything seemed so grand ... from the entrance and the welcome from the staff, to the well staffed bar and to the huge high ceiling-d room for events. 

My sisters band Poster Paints were supporting and playing their first ever gig! You'll find my blogs on their first couple of singles here and here.

They played beautifully and brilliantly. The sound was absolutely spot on, the audience were warm, responsive and by midway through the set the venue was full.

Simon's guitar looked and sounded sublime as he coaxed gorgeous sounds from it, Sita harmonised beautifully with Carla on some songs and my sisters voice was as good as I have ever heard it.

Playing a 7-song set, Poster Paints won the audience with some stunning songs. Circus Moving On is all kinds of slow dreamy gorgeousness, while closer My Song built slowly and hypnotically into a a kind of shoegazey New Order groove.

My friend Luke captured it on film HERE

Poster Paints play their debut headline show at The Poetry Club in Glasgow on Thursday 7th October.

Next up ... Teenage Fanclub!

The warm guitars of About You kicked things off, all of the band looking happy - the combination of guitars and harmonies sounded particularly blissful after so many months without live music. I found myself leaving my friends to move closer to the stage, closer to the speakers to get lost in the music and the rush of the live experience.

Teenage Fanclub were on form - they always are! If I was relishing being back at a gig then my favourite band were clearly enjoying playing with each other and to their fans again. Home was a bit of a standout for me last night, the glorious jam at the end was lovely and tight but loose, Raymond's guitar playing was exceptional.

Warm Embrace was another highlight, the band tore through it and Francis' drumming was outstanding. The band seemed to really enjoy playing this one. Euros on keys and harmonies, Dave really going for it on bass - they flew through it.

There were plenty of old favourites too - Alcoholiday, a romp through God Knows It's True a spellbinding Verisimilitude with the chiming guitar riff sounding heavenly.

Picture by Lee Skinner

Back In The Day is a real favourite of mine from the new album and I was delighted the band included the song in the set. It could become a staple over the next few years. Euros and Norman harmonising effortlessly.

The Concept still sends warm tingles down my spine - the humour, the harmonies, the pleading 'believe me' urgency in the hook I didn't want to hurt you, oh yeah and the guitars and extended outro. 

Norman's The Sun Won't Shine On Me is simply perfect and the chiming guitars and his crystal clear vocals brought me close to happy tears of joy. And then the traditional set closer, the bands debut single, Everything Flows, released way back in the summer of 1990, sounded as perfect as always.

I look forward to doing it all over again on Thursday night at the Barrowland.

I'll never know which way to flow

Set a course that I don't know

Norman Blake and Euros Childs at Strathaven Hotel

Douglas McIntyre from Creeping Bent Records is involved with FRETS Creative in Strathaven. The creative hub have started organising regular shows at the Strathaven Hotel. Towards the end of 2019, both James Grant and Lloyd Cole played shows. Last night was the turn of Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake and Euros Childs .

Strathaven is a lovely little town in Lanarkshire. It's not the easiest to get to, certainly not by public transport and especially not in crazy wet and wild weather, but that didn't prevent Fanclub Fanclub members traveling up from London and down from Cromarty.

We were only traveling from Uddingston, a 25-minute drive away, but the back road from Hamilton to Strathaven was pretty scary in the wet and wild weather. We were glad to get in and grab some drinks from the bar in time to catch most of KiDD's set.

KiDD , on this occasion, were Stuart Kidd and Alan Clark on their acoustic guitars with a dash of 'mouthie'. I absolutely loved what I heard; beautiful melodies and harmonies and their guitars gelled well together. Kidd's new songs have a lovely sense of maturity and happiness to them - telling tales of setting up a home with his wife and child. I look forward to hearing them on record. They worked beautifully with just the guitars and I wonder if this is the route when he comes to recording, if he hasn't already.

After a short break Norman and Euros waltzed into the room like the bride and groom taking to the top table, quite fitting as the venue is usually booked for weddings - my cousin Katy got married there.

The duo opened with an acapella version of Sky Men by Joe Meek and it was really beautiful. Their voices sounded so beautiful together and their was a bit of a celtic feel to their take on it. There have long been rumours of Jonny (Norman and Euros side project) having an album of Joe Meek cover versions ready to go, was this a hint that they might finally release it?

We didn't have time to find out as what followed was a moment of slapstick comedy as Norman spilled a bottle of water and was worried about electrocuting himself. The water was cleared up and Stuart Kidd took to the stage to play some light percussion as he does on the Jonny album.

You can find the full setlist below. It was really good to hear most of the Jonny album live again. You Was Me flowed brillianty, Bread was brilliant, so clever, so melodic and so funny. Norman's I Don't Want Control Of You is even more stunning when it is stripped back and the shouts for Euros' Spanish Dance Troupe were granted and the song was very warmly received.

Whilst Norman was tuning Euros took up the tale of the two of them once owning an antiques shop, this yarn led to Norman auctioning off a vinegar bottle! The between song banter was hilarious and very good natured.

I'll Make Her My Best Friend was another of my favourites from the Jonny album, short, sweet and upbeat, while Circling The Sun was just sublime.

Never Alone is my favourite song on the Jonny album, there is so much imagery and emotion in the song, it's truly beautiful. And Norman's stripped back take on his Fanclub song I'm In Love was glorious. I hope it is recorded in that style at some point.

My sister had been hoping that Euros would play a song of his called Spin That Girl Around and was delighted he did. I hadn't heard it before. It's a cracker, really stunning, beautifully melodic.

Norman, Euros and Stuart then ended with a cracking cover of The Kids Are Alright by The Who that I hadn't heard in ages. I found myself blasting it out this morning.

A brilliant night. The Bluebells are playing an acoustic set at the next FRETS night in March and the April headline act will be announced on Monday. Sign up for their e-newsletter to get details first.

Everything Is Falling Apart

If it sounds like Teenage Fanclub are feeling their way into new single Everything Is Falling Apart, as they pick out some notes through the first 19- seconds, then you could take into consideration the fact that this is their first single since the departure of Gerard Love.  But don't worry, after a deep intake of Raymond McGinley's breath, they soon hit their stride.

Gerry's departure after the euphoric Creation Years shows at the end of 2018 hit fellow Fanclub fans hard, but it could have been worse, the band could have split completely. Of course I'll miss Gerry and his incredible catalogue of Fanclub songs, but on the bright side the band have continued to reach deep into their catalogue with Norman's songs coming to the fore. And news is filtering through Glasgow that Gerry is writing and recording.

Everything could have fallen apart...

As it is, the band are hard at it, Dave McGowan has switched to bass and good friend Euros Childs has joined on keyboards. The band reconvened post Creation shows to record in Hamburg and have since toured SE Asia, Australia and New Zealand over the last 3-weeks. They now play in Canada and the States and release their first post-Gerry single. Another new song has also been aired on tour and it sounds like the band have the bit between their teeth, buoyed by the outpouring of love and devotion displayed at the Creation Years shows and the demand throughout the world. After a short break they head to Europe and have a series of festivals through the summer including a return to the Kelvingrove Bandstand.

There may be an element of band humour (I hope) coming through with the title and chorus everything is falling apart (from our love), maybe even with the line relax, find love, hold on to the hand of a friend, about Euros coming in? Maybe I am reading far too much into it.

Elsewhere there is urgency and a classic flowing McGinley melody. I noted as the band blitzed their 1990's albums over 3 nights just how personal Raymond's songs are and how many begin with I ..... the only difference with his latest effort is that it takes til the second word, he then declares;

Hey, I feel

I feel something new in my life

I don't know what's real

I've only just opened my eyes

There are the harmonies and guitars that we have all come to know and love from the Fanclub. If the Creation shows told me anything, it is that I've come to appreciate their qualities and personalities even more with every year. And Raymond's qualities really shine through on this welcome new single.

On this evidence Teenage Fanclub are a band that are together, enjoying writing, recording and playing. More please.

Hotchpotch by KiDD

I first came across Stuart Kidd when he started playing drums with BMX Bandits at a very young age. Since then he has gone on to play with Euros Childs and Linden, whilst creating music with The Wellgreen, personal faves Dr Cosmos Tape Lab and solo under the name of KiDD.

The small label The Barne Society have thoughtfully collected the best of KiDD's solo work into an album entitled Hotchpotch that is available to stream or buy HERE

KiDD can melt hearts, Little Lucy is an ode to a friends baby girl and he sings about love being on her side. If Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub ever records a solo album then I expect it to contain something like this. Melodic, thoughtful and beautiful.

Most of the songs have a lovely laid back feeling and groove to them. The vocals are gorgeous - melodic, pure and true.

Listening to Waiting for Springtime on a cold, wet and miserable day in Glasgow was like escapism. A lofi drumbeat, gorgeous melodies and a hushed and dreamy vocal...

7am, another tired Tuesday

I'd much rather be, hiding beneath the duvet

If KiDD reminded me of Norman Blake earlier on in the album, Waiting for Springtime is the kind of song Gerry Love would....well, love!

We've been so long, waiting for springtime

It's been so long, I can't recall the last time

We felt the sun

Royal Jelly is a wibbly, wobbly, sugary instrumental that is great fun, Leave Me Here I'm Sleeping is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard this year, while Ring the Belle is more dreamy, acoustic, gorgeousness wrapped up in just over 3-minutes

The compilation closes with What Do You Think, melodica over a lazily strummed acoustic guitar and

Where do you think I'd be if something went wrong

You'd open your eyes to see I've been here all along

I'm a little late in posting the blog, so the limited yellow cassettes have sold out, but you can name your price for a download - make it a good one :-)

Into the Lime by The New Mendicants

The New Mendicants are Norman Blake and Joe Pernice, two long term friends who suddenly found themselves neighbours after Blake moved to Canada with his family.

The story behind their album is that Nick Hornby asked them to record an album to soundtrack a film that was being made based on one of his books - A Long Way Down. The music the duo created never made it to the big screen (yet), however it has been released in the form of 'Into the Lime' on One Little Indian Records.

10-tracks come in at just over 30-minutes, during that time we are treated to some fine examples of songwriting, gorgeous harmonies and the sound of two friends enjoying making music together, clearly bouncing off and inspiring each other.

Blake has been pretty productive during the down time after the last Fanclub album, already gifting us an album with Euros Childs under the guise of Jonny that contained gems like 'Never Alone'; as good as anything he has produced throughout his career. So I couldn't wait to get stuck into 'Into the Lime' to see what was on offer.

'Sarasota' opens the album; Harrison/Beatles-esque guitar and handclaps greet the listener in a friendly and warm manner. The song flows with ease, the 'it's free, it's free' chant/chorus sinks in on first listen.

'A Very Sorry Christmas' ticks a lot of boxes for Fanclub fans like myself. Harmonies sent from heaven and some cracking warm electric guitar.

Pernice and Blake sound like they are having fun on 'Cruel Annette' that has a real McCartney vibe to it. Playful melodies and lyrics combine for a bit of a jaunt.

Having read Hornby's 'A Long Way Down' then 'Follow You Down' would be perfect for a film adaption. Gentle vocals, guitar and glockenspiel combine in lovely fashion.

The guitars are cranked up for 'Shouting Match' with glorious results. 'If You Only Knew Her' slows it back down a little with one of the best choruses on the album. McCartney-esque sprung to mind again on first listen.

If you only knew her

You would love her truly

Underneath her heavy spell she casts to make you love

You'll never get above

'High On The Skyline' is another song that would certainly have fitted in with the film. The chorus is repeated regularly to make you think that it would have been the real standout song in the film; maybe at the climax? Pernice and Blake gel effortlessly throughout the album

'By the Time It Gets Dark' is probably my favourite on the album. Starting with Pernice and acoustic guitar before Norman joins in with glorious harmonies and a sprinkling of piano. Gentle percussion takes the song on further, flowing superbly. This is beautiful.

Maybe, by the evening, we'll be laughing

Just wait and see, all the changes there'll be

By the time it gets dark

'Out of the Lime' rubber stamps how well Joe and Norman work together. Two kindred spirits indeed. I'm looking forward to the next Teenage Fanclub album, but I suspect that this won't be the last record by The New Mendicants. I get the impression that the two could knock out albums on a regular basis - coming together to write in each others house over a few beers - sounds good!

'Lifelike Hair' is….a little weird, certainly in comparison to the rest of the album. Garage-psych. It has been a while since I read the book so I have no idea if this is a specific reference to it or not.

'Into the Lime' contains plenty examples of all that is great about Norman Blake and Joe Pernice -harmonies, chiming guitars, top class songwriting, a dash of humour and some beautiful melodies. I hope they record together again.

Jonny - Jonny (album review)

Jonny are Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Euros Childs (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci), two friends with a shared love of sunshine, melody, harmony, humour and pop.

I first heard about their collaboration project a few years ago and in 2009 the two of them played the Shoeshine Records night at Celtic Connections, then....nothing, apart from rumours on the Teenage Fanclub forum. Norman had a Fanclub album coming out in 2010, so the project was shelved.

Thankfully the project, now named 'Jonny', has been revisited with the release of an album and a tour.

The opening paragraph is a short summary of the album. When Norman and Euros are at their best, the songs are glorious examples of warm guitar pop. The album also highlights their playful nature and the fact that it came out of jamming sessions.

The opening track 'Wich is Wich' is a play on words and the sound of two friends sharing their sense of humour, a knock out fun jam.

The second song and the debut single 'Candyfloss' lifts the bar considerably as the pair show us what they can really do, a perfect 3-minute sugar coated pop song that is aptly named. Check out the video below;

'Waiting Around For You' sounds like a simple jam, a fairly basic 60's riff with Norman and Euros having fun with the lyrics, hooks and harmonies. 'Goldmine' is more of the same.

'You Was Me' is another simple riff with gorgeous harmonies floating effortlessly over the top. Norman and Euros Celtic voices combine to stunning effect.

'Circling The Sun' is Norman at his best. One of the nice things about this album is its immediacy. You can tell it was written and recorded relatively quickly and simply.

Changing skies

Turning Tides

There's a heartache I can't hide

Winters long

Winters cold

Without you

On first listen I thought my itunes must have skipped to an obscure McCartney track that I didn't remember, however I checked, and it is indeed Norman and Euros with the song 'English Lady'. Punchy, catchy, with real Macca style bass as well as the vocals and the lyrics. 

With 13-tracks on an album coming in at 40-minutes long (despite one song coming in at over 10-minutes) the vast majority of songs come in at around or under the 3-minute mark and the next song up 'The Goodnight' is one of those. There are no drums, just acoustic guitar, keyboard and the two voices combining.

'Bread' by Euros is next and it is a hymn to bakers everywhere, it sounds like it is straight out of the period of the 60's where everything was dipped in LSD.

Hats off to those that make the bread

One night I had a dream

Of a land where things aren't quite what they seem

People young, old, short and tall

They weren't happy, they had no bread at all

'Cave Dance' is just pure Blake and Childs humour. They played it at the previously mentioned Celtic Connections gig and they clearly had a lot of fun doing so. It sounds like they did when they recorded it as well!

It's another basic late 50's/early 60's riff and beat and the lyrics play on the songs that called upon teenagers to 'do a dance'. 

The first two minutes fly by and then the song goes off on a total tangent as everything stops and a synth riff starts and slower vocals come in, taking the listener off on a trip, with a mantra to;

do do do do do do do the cave dance

do the cave dance, my darling, do the cave dance

At 8-minutes in the beat kicks back in with a simple yet gorgeous keyboard riff and lifts the song for a beautiful closing few minutes.

'I Want To Be Around You' is 2-minutes of harmony heaven. Simple guitar pop that leaves me feeling warm inside and with a smile on my face. They make it seem so easy.

'I'll Make Her My Best Friend' is also close to the 2-minute mark and it could be described as a country jaunt, rather apt as the lyric is;

when i get back to the country, i'll make her my best friend

'Never Alone' is quite simply beautiful and a shining example of why I have followed Norman Blake and Teenage Fanclub since 1991 and the release of Bandwagonesque.

It tugs on the heartstrings, 

there's been nights when, I can't sleep

have i fallen, in too deep

come back where my heart is calling you

come back to your home

come back to me now you'll never be

never alone

It is Norman backed only by a keyboard and Euros on harmonies, it is my song of the year to date and it is only 1 minute 50 seconds long.

So, I guess the opening paragraph may well sum up the album. For those unaware of the joy of Norman and Euros' previous work it must seem a strange album. There are some throwaways, some jams, but on tracks like; 'Never Alone', 'I Want To Be Around You', 'Circling The Sun' and 'Candyfloss' the talent of Norman and Euros shines through. The album is only £3.99 on itunes. You can't go wrong with that price.

The remaining dates of the tour are;

11/02             Liverpool Mojo
12/02             Sheffield The Harley
14/02            Manchester Deaf Institute
15/02             Birmingham Glee Club
16/02             York The Basement
18/02            Middlesborough Westgarth SC
19/02             Glasgow Platform
20/02             Newcastle Cluny
21/02             Sunderland Independent Room 2