The Charlatans - Barrowland Ballroom - Dec 25

Last night The Charlatans played the famous Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom for the 17th time. By my reckoning, I think I've caught them 10/11 times out of 16. Pretty good going. They should really just book an annual night/weekender given their affinity with the venue, Glasgow and Scotland.

It's a home from home, like a cup final of a gig for band and audience who share and display genuine affection for each other.

The Charlatans played with, and generated, incredibly energy, lifting the crowd, who in turn, lifted the band to even higher heights.

Tim Burgess was like a kid in a sweet shop on a trolley dash. The happiest guy in Glasgow, a smile so wide and bright that The Charlatans probably didn't need a light show. He was beaming throughout, radiating pure positive vibes.

I first caught The Charlatans live in April 1994 when they played The Tramway as part of Radio 1 Sound City in Glasgow. Tim Burgess was mesmerising, dancing about the stage, looking super cool. The next day I queued in the rain to meet the band at Tower Records to get loads of CD's and records signed. 

I have no idea how many times I've seen the band or Tim play since. God, it's been over 31-years. I'd hazard a guess at between 50-60. The Charlatans and Tim are frequent visitors to Glasgow and were regulars at T in the Park. 

Riding in on the back of We Are Love, their 14th album, Tim had announced that the band would be playing a 2.5 hour set (with a short 10-minute break) with no support. Fans were encouraged to make sure they were in promptly for the band taking to the stage at 8.10pm. 

There was a small squad of us. Me, Lynn and our friends Robbie, Clare, Joe, Emma and Susie. I bumped into many more friends from down the years in the venue. Great to see my friend Gerry with his son Liam, he wasn't the only Dad introducing the next generation to The Charlatans last night - good to see.

Kingdom of Ours is a slow burner - an opener to allow the band to find their groove, which develops as the song goes on. Then Tim took his jacket off and Weirdo had the place bouncing. It  never stopped! That hammond sound! Beats and bass and then the piercing guitar - sublime!

For the Girls is a real favourite from the new album, super melodic and soulful. North Country Boy was euphoric. Many a Day a Heartache flowed effortlessly and by this point I had ventured from underneath the glitter ball to 3 rows from the front by Tony on keyboards.

Just in time for one of my very favourite Charlatans songs, the absolute banger that is Oh! Vanity. The band didn't let up, rolling out the extended groove of Let The Good Times Be Never Ending,  the powerful Blackened Blue Eyes and then .... Then. Modern(ish) day psychedelia, still sounding super fresh and vital.

No wonder the band needed a 10-minute break to compose themselves! 

10-minutes (on the dot) later, The Charlatans returned and started their second set of the night by jamming the intro to Forever, dedicated to Mani. This glorious song has a menacing groove, before breaking into a beautiful piano led section that ends with Tim declaring.

I know my star, I know my star

Is a brighter star, brighter star

Forever be in my arms

Gorgeous! 

The Charlatans were in full flight, new singles We Are Love and Deeper & Deeper sound like set staples, Tellin' Stories was gorgeous - the perfect winter warmer, Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over was spine tingling perfection, with Ride's Loz Colbert joining on percussion. Toothache was a deep, down n dirty groove, Soul Saver sounded like it could save lost souls and last night The Charlatans may well have managed that with their performance. Smiles all round. Life affirming stuff. A stunning trilogy from their eponymous album.

New song Appetite sounded even better live than on record, especially when Mark's guitar kicks in. In the Tall Grass was a welcome deeper cut, before Tim and co eased into top gear with a spellbinding One To Another - epic, powerful, groovey ... arms in the air on stage and off. The groove at the end was one you wanted to keep on going.

But ... as it ended, we were straight into another groove as The Only One I Know was teasingly started before the place exploded again. Wow! Hearing the Barrowland Ballroom sing the chorus of everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain was incredible. Like a mass choir, it was like our hymn. The Barrowland is our church.

Tim touched upon the audience response several times through the show - off the scale ... the best venue ... the best crowd ... the best city. 

Closing with a sublime Get On It, with another extended jam at the end, Loz Colbert gelled effortlessly with the rest of the band. Martin Blunt in shades, holding the groove throughout the set, Pete Salisbury on drums - driving things on, Tony on hammond and keys - not to mention his stunning backing vocals and Mark Collins on lead guitar.

BOOM an encore of Now Everything was followed by Tremelo Song (one of my real favourites from last night - from an extended list!) and then Sproston Green. The long intro started slow, almost delightfully sticky and sludgey, before becoming beautifully sugar sweet as the band stirred it up and found the mix.

This one knows, she comes and goes

And when she goes, she goes

What a night! Thank you to The Charlatans for giving me so many of them down the years, likewise to the Barrowland Ballroom and to all the fans who grace it. I am still buzzing!

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over

 

Trust me #102
Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

Released on August 7th 1995, just as the country was getting fixated with the Blur v Oasis Battle of Britpop, The Charlatans released the infinitely cooler and superior Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over , showcasing a loose, groove-infused sound reminiscent of Exile On Main Street-era Rolling Stones. 

For me, this was the sound of summer sun. At T in the Park the previous month, the band had kicked up a dust storm as they played in baking hot sunshine, with this song sounding particularly sweet and soulful.

Check the TV footage that someone has thankfully uploaded to YouTube. Burgess and co are playing a blinder, finding a real dirty groove to ride at the end. My brother and I were right down the front and it was immense.

Official video

T in the Park 1995

Tim Burgess, main stage, T in the Park 1995

The Charlatans were in a deeply rich period of creativity during the mid-90's that saw them release 3 incredible albums and 10 singles within 4-years. 

1994 – Up To Our Hips

Can’t Get Out of Bed – January 1994 / I Never Want an Easy Life If Me and He Were Ever to Get There – April 1994 / Jesus Hairdo – August 1994

1995 – The Charlatans

Crashin’ In – Boxing Day 1994 / Just Lookin’ / Bullet Comes” (double A-side) – May 1995 / Just When You’re Thinkin’ Things Over – August 1995

1997 – Tellin’ Stories

One to Another – August 1996 / North Country Boy – March 1997 / How High – May 1997 / Tellin’ Stories – September 1997

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over begins in the groove. Acoustic guitar and piano sounding like they were made for each other. Burgess comes in with an infectious top line melody, instantly recognisable, immediately memorable. By 40-seconds he's into the chorus that includes the beautiful line you look good when your heart is on fire.

I'm coming home

You look good when your heart is on fire

It's a matter of taste yeah!

Mark Collins introduces a piercing guitar solo after the second chorus and at 2-minutes 30 the song bursts further into life with Burgess singing to an old friend/flame?

Right now, where do you come from

Kick up, yeah go find your love

I ain't knocking on your door

Things slow down to the acoustic groove, before piano and beats come back in and it all sounds beautifully simple, easy and natural.

and all your friends seem disappointed

'cause they're not your friends now

Tim and the band are in full flight as they fly to the end, finding the kind of groove they could ride for hours. I wonder if there is an old demo of them just playing on and on. 

What a song, what a band ... I can't wait to see them again in The Barrowland Ballroom this December.

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over 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

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

The Charlatans at Queens Park Glasgow

I wasn't intending to write a blog on last nights Charlatans show in a Big Tent at Queens Park. After so many years, what is there left to say? April was the 30th anniversary of me seeing the band for the first time. I don't know how many times I must have seen them over the years. Maybe 40 times? At least once a year probably, sometimes more. 

There would be years where I'd probably catch them 4 times. Glasgow (twice), Edinburgh and at good old T in the Park where they appeared more years than they didn't.

The Charlatans lifted me last night and so I find myself suitably inspired to write a review over breakfast.

What inspired me?

Well the setting was pretty cool. A big old tent (possibly the old King Tuts T in the Park tent dusted down from being stored somewhere) on the far side of Queens Park. The Waterboys had used it on Friday night and Mogwai on Saturday. Could this be a new weekend fixture in the Scottish music calendar? 

However, it was the band that lifted and inspired me. Coming on stage at 8.45pm sharp to a huge ovation, Tim, Mark, Martin, Tony and Pete played a superb set that really took the crowd on a trip.

They really mixed it up, opening with the beautiful and shimmering Then, before a blast of power pop in the shape of Can't Get Out Of Bed, then the dreamy So Oh, followed by a euphoric Crashin' In. Four very different songs stretching from 1990 to 2014.

Photo by Tim Burgess

Toothache was a real dirty groove while North Country Boy really got the crowd going, everyone was singing with their hands in the air, punching the sky for the hook. Tim kept it going with Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over, which was one of my songs of the night.

Introducing My Beautiful Friend, Tim said sometimes we play it, sometime we don't, sometimes we play it, sometimes we don't. It was a little comedown after the high of the previous two songs, but again, it showed a different side to the band.

We were back on a high as the intro to One To Another kicked in and the tent erupted. Then we were into the blissed out psychedelic groove of Opportunity from debut album Some Friendly. Martin Blunt on bass was outstanding.

Tim's view for One To Another

Images and old video footage flashed up on the big screen behind the band. I hope they are uploaded to YouTube. There was particularly cool footage of a young Charlatans going for it in an old loft/warehouse with Tim in stripey T-shirt with that incredible haircut he had at the time.

Weirdo was another huge song that got people dancing, Soul Saver was a very welcome surprise, Blackened Blue Eyes was powerful and pure - we all need a shoulder to cry on once in a while. 

Come Home Baby has such an uplifting chorus and then it was The Only One I Know with an extended intro to allow Tim to take it all in. My friend and I put on an indie night in May and I played this, the dancefloor went crazy and the tent went nuts last night. The chorus is euphoric yet also beautifully melancholic and I appreciate it more with every passing year.

Everyone has been burned before

Everybody knows the pain

Very mature words for a young Tim Burgess to be writing back then. Timeless. A song that keeps on giving.

Tim's view for The Only One I Know

I had been expecting/hoping for How High in the encore, so my only slight disappointment in the night/setlist was that we had You're So Pretty to kick it off. Perhaps Love Is They Key from the Wonderland album would been better for the occasion.

But hey, we all knew where this was going ... we were all going to Sproston Green and we were all aboard. The long intro that builds and builds into a glorious groove and then BOOM

This one knows, she comes and goes

And when she goes, she goes

We were near the front, but now we were right in the mix, bouncing around in delight. What a song, what a band. I hope they come back to Glasgow again before too long.

And I'm still hoping for a Kelvingrove Bandstand date (or two). Maybe next year?

Tim's view for Sproston Green

The Charlatans at the Barrowland Ballroom

The Charlatans playing the Barrowland Ballroom is always a memorable night. Make it a Saturday, induct them into the Barrowland Hall of Fame, have them play a greatest hits set and you'll make it truly special.

Last night was exceptional. The Barrowland roar echo'd through the venue as the band walked on stage to a superb northern soul tune that I'll be trying to discover the name of today. Tim Burgess wore a smile as wide as the Clyde as he captured the moment for his Twitter (X) followers.

And we were off, the band effortlessly shifting into gear with the groove of With No Shoes, then sliding into the pure pop rush of Can't Get Out Of Bed, the sunshine Stones-y Just When You're Thinking Things Over and then the powerful emotional hit of One To Another!

OOOFFFFFTTT!

We were pretty close to the front, but at the start of One To Another I grabbed my mate Robbie and we danced through to the first few rows. We punched the air, we sang our hearts out, we pogo'd, threw our arms round strangers to bounce along and generally rolled back 30-years to feel like we were 18 again.

 A Glasgow crowd will always be 100% behind The Charlatans, but this opening blast of favourites and hits was a surefire way to win hearts and minds.

Tim Burgess was singing, dancing, conducting and generally having the time of his life as his friends and band-mates dove headlong into the deliciously dirty groove of Toothache, before the euphoric Come Home Baby.

Robbie and I were parched from singing and dancing, so we tried to get to a bar for a drink as the band eased things with the gorgeous And If I Fall. But there were a lot of thirsty Charlatans fans! So we just went straight back into the mix. 

Just as well! If the band were giving us (and them!) a breather, it wasn't for long! Mark Collins guitar for Jesus Hairdo sounded sublime. And it was time for another move to the front for Then, before North Country Boy threatened to lift the roof of the place.

Somehow Robbie's mate Graham found us as we'd lost him after One To Another. And he had beers for us! We gulped them down in no time!

The Charlatans were playing and sounding in peak form. The opening instrumental for Tellin' Stories was spine tinglingly sensational, while the extended instrumental for Let The Good Times Be Never Ending allowed Burgess to step back and admire his friends whipping up a storm. What a band! 

Was it as this point Tim introduced them? Anyway, at one point he did. Peter Salisbury on drums, Martin Blunt on bass, Mark Collins on guitar and Tony Rogers on keyboards and hammond. 

Each member got the roar they richly deserved.

Then we were off again. Weirdo sounded huge! Just Lookin' was like a burst of warm sunshine and then The Only One I Know had the famous sprung dancefloor absolutely bouncing. 2,000 pairs of hands were raised to the sky, 2,000 voices sang the chorus.

Everyone has been burned before

Everybody knows the pain

And 2,000 pairs of feet danced and jumped to the grooves and beats. Check the joy on peoples faces in the video below.

Impossible gave us a chance to come up for air, before the band raced through How High to leave everyone breathless and grinning. 

Billy Coyle from famous The Barrowland venue crew team came on stage to induct The Charlatans to the Barrowland Hall of Fame on the occasion of their 14th time playing. I've been to a good chunk of those 14 nights and this must be up with the very best of them. It may have been their best. Does it mean more all those years down the line?

It meant a lot to Tim and the band. It meant a lot to the fans.

Oh! Vanity kicked off the encore, a stomping and driving Motown beat and a young bagpiper joining Tony Rogers for the playful riff. I Don't Want To See The Sights was outstanding, Mark Collins guitar was particularly stunning. The sound throughout the show was spot on, but this did seem to stand out a little, even among all the hits. What a groove.

The lights went green and the band worked up Sproston Green before exploding into life. What a night. What a show. What a band! A 20-song set that left everyone beautifully tired and happy.

The Charlatans play again tonight. I think they should seriously consider an annual weekender at the Barrowland ... starting next year.

Good idea?

Dream setlist by The Charlatans

The news that The Charlatans were returning to the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow on Saturday 25th November had me checking my work calendar to see if I could be poised and ready for presale tickets going live at 10am on Wednesday 7th June.

I've been on The Charlatans mailing list for many a year and ... I didn't get a presale link. From Twitter, it seems like I wasn't the only one. But thankfully my friend Robbie got me, my wife and my brother a ticket, so we're all sorted!

The Charlatans have added a second night and still have space in their tour diary for a third ... TICKETS

Tim Burgess and co have a long history with the Barrowland. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I have seen them there over the years. A few! The atmosphere is always electric, like a cup final. 

Memories include an opening blast of I Never Want An Easy Life and Can't Get Out Of Bed in 1994/95 with someone crowdsurfing to Oasis I Am The Walrus before the band had even come on stage. 

The atmosphere was electric that night, like a cup final. Indeed, it always is when The Charlatans play The Barrowland. There is a beautiful bond, a powerful connection. The band, venue and audience become one and it is very, very special.

To be honest, I'm pretty gutted when they play the Academy!

Check this sensational live Radio 1 audio bootleg from December 1997. The band are in sensational form!

The Charlatans, Glasgow Barrowland, December 1997 bootleg

Another time my brother Ross and I went out the night before he turned 21. The band came on stage and played the beautiful long intro to Forever, then Tim can on stage with his hands in the air and the place just erupted. 

And then when The Charlatans played Some Friendly in full the whole venue became a massive indie club dancefloor when the band played The Only One I Know. But then, that particular song always generates that reaction, but maybe the famous sprung dancefloor at the Barrowland helps people dance harder and jump even higher.

Many of you reading this blog will have experienced the Barrowland roar. A special ovation reserved for special songs. An ovation that goes on and on, feet stomping, hands clapping, loud roars. The Charlatans have a few special songs in their arsenal and I can't wait to hear them and the roar of appreciation afterwards. I have tingles down my spine just thinking about it. I bet the band does too!

Will they have a new album out? Or will they just smash through a greatest hits and favourites set?

Either way, I'll be happy! The news about their show led me to try and create my dream Charlatans setlist. 

It could change from time to time, but for a Saturday night at the Barrowland ... this would take the roof off the place!

You can check it on my playlist here - Dream setlist - The Charlatans or search it on Spotify.

Forever

Tremelo Song

Can't Get Out Of Bed

Crashin' In

Tellin' Stories

Impossible

A Man Needs To Be Told

Oh! Vanity

Blackened Blue Eyes

Then

Weirdo

Try Again Today

The Blind Stagger

Just Lookin'

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over

North Country Boy

The Only One I Know

One To Another

Come Home Baby

ENCORE

Happen To Die

Let The Good Times Be Never Ending

Sproston Green

How High

Trust Me #37

Tim Burgess - "The question I get asked the most about The Charlatans isn't 'How does it feel to headline a festival?', or 'How does it feel to write a banger like The Only One I Know?', it's 'Where's the jacket from in the How High video?'" WATCH HERE

I'm not the only one to have wondered this over the years!

It turns out that the original was a prototype and Tim had to hand it back to the stylist. The jacket hadn't been launched and the stylist promised to send one. It never arrived.

Well, 25-years down the line, Tim has teamed up with Hikerdelic to create the jacket.

How High's 25th anniversary is on 9th June, so from 11am on that date until 11pm on June 12th, you can order one from the Hikerdelic website for £125. You get the added bonus of this super cool postcard

Anyway, I thought I'd revisit the classic single for my Trust Me series.

Starting at 100 mph and quickly increasing speed, How High captures the energy and the essence of The Charlatans in 3 explosive minutes.

Tim Burgess is in full flow, barely coming up for air, even when his band slow down, he keeps on going. There are a couple of short instrumentals where Tim has time to recharge before bursting back in.

Seeing The Charlatans live in 1997 was an incredible experience. I've often reflected on their regular Barrowland shows from this period as being like cup finals. And Burgess was the conductor, the midfield playmaker, absolutely on one. He still is. So are the band.

My favourite line is probably when Tim sings hang on to your hopes my darlin' don't let it slip away. I love the way the band slip in and out of this section before coming crashing back in again. 

Signing off with yeah, too high, gonna pledge my time 'til the day I die, the song is over in under 3-minutes, but instruments are allowed to fuzz and fade out. I like to imagine the band absolutely nailing it and looking round at each other in the studio as they allow this to happen.

A list of all previous songs I've blogged about in my Trust Me feature are listed below the lyrics to How High, along with links to each blog.

I've also collated them all into a playlist on Spotify that you can find by searching for Everything Flows - Trust Me , or you can CLICK HERE

How high?

Oh I can kiss the sun

Run a minute mile

While you hitch hike

Love shines a light

I'll be a winners cup

And I'm lookin' for the one who cut you up

You're not having me

You know the skies are mean

And I'm hopin' for a way to free you

Love I'm fixin' holes

The ones you break up

Come in from your drive

And the hand that rocks you

Cuts you up, like lyrics of your life

I can't buy

What I've done before

I wanna open up another door

I'm gonna let you pass

I'm on another path

I wanna be the king

While you zig zag

On a holy road

Like Caine from Kung Fu

How high, oh I can kiss the sun

Hang on to your hopes my darlin'

Don't let it slip away

And the hand who holds you

Keeps you warm

And helps you live today

Love shines a light

And it takes and it hurts

I know I'm right

I can bend 'til I burst

And love shines a light

And repays you with us

Yeah too right

I'm gonna pledge my time until the day I die

How high?

Oh I can kiss the sun

Run a minute mile

While you hitch hike

Love shines a light

I'll be a winners cup

And I'm lookin' for the one who cut you up

You're not having me

You know the skies are mean

And I'll be lookin' for a way to free you

Love I'm fixin' holes

The ones you break up

Come in from your drive

And the hand that rocks you

Cuts you up, like lyrics of your life

Love shines a light

And it takes and it hurts

I know I'm right

I can bend 'til I burst

And love shines a light

And repays you with us

Yeah too right

I'm gonna pledge my time until the day I die

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

Tim Burgess at FRETS Strathaven Hotel

Pre-lockdown, I really enjoyed heading through to Strathaven Hotel for an intimate performance by Norman Blake and Euros Childs. Jeez, almost 2-years ago! 

The gig was one of the first to be put on by Douglas MacIntyre of FRETS Creative, also of the band Port Sulphur and Creeping Bent record label. A man with many strings to his bow.

You can read or hear about all of them in an interview and podcast that Douglas has previously helped me out with.

Douglas MacIntyre interview

Douglas MacIntyre podcast

Strathaven is a lovely little town and the hotel is stunning. I can highly recommend their pints of Moretti - beautifully chilled and refreshing! I couldn't wait to get back over for another show. Rightly or wrongly, I hadn't quite felt confident enough to go to The Bluebells back at the start of September, but now the plaster is well and truly ripped off and I am thoroughly enjoying being back at gigs. 

Friday night was my 6th in 2-months. Not bad going for someone in their mid-40's with 2 kids. I'd be quite happy to continue the 3 per month ratio!

Tim Burgess, Mark Collins, David Scott, Stuart Kidd & Duglas T Stewart

I was particularly looking forward to Tim Burgess, Norman Blake and Duglas T Stewart playing together. 3 singer-songwriters and band leaders that I have followed and admired for 30-years.

Sadly, as a stark reminder that the pandemic isn't over, Norman had to pull out of the show after testing positive. Duglas kindly updated us to say that Norman is doing well and on the mend.

The FRETS shows do start early and unfortunately we missed the first BMX Bandits song - Duglas with his friends David Scott and Stuart Kidd. But we were in luck, there were a few seats in the 2nd row, so we settled in for the rest of a lovely soulful set.

Duglas was his warm, charming and passionate self. Dedicating the song Jean by Rod McKuan to his late Mum, telling us of how his Dad used to sing it across the kitchen table to the love of his life. 

Duglas spoke about how much this song means to him in a podcast we recorded way back in 2016 that you can check here Other highlights included A Missing Front Tooth from the recently released My Chain album was a melodic delight, Foggy from the Bee Stings album was beautiful and a pleasant surprise.

After a short interval, David Scott was back on with Stuart Kidd to perform as The Pearlfishers. I have to confess to not being incredibly knowledgeable about their back catalogue. Highlights were a couple of songs from their 2007 album Up With The Larks. Guitars and voices entwined, beautiful harmonies and melodies.

Just after 9pm Tim Burgess walked from a side door and up on to the stage. Wearing a long overcoat, plain white t-shirt, faded jeans and classic Reeboks, Tim picked up his guitar and took a seat to a huge ovation.

Highlighting that this was his first ever solo acoustic show, Tim did seem as nervous as he said he was, however he still had the confidence to begin with a brand new song called Here Comes The Weekend. Beautifully melodic, telling the tale of a romance across the seas involving calls and messages, it sounded super cool. 

Watching Tim playing acoustic up close was a real treat. His songs were stripped right back, highlighting how strong his vocal melodies and song structures are. The Charlatans Trouble Understanding got an early outing alongside solo material from 2020 releases. A handful of songs from I Love The New Sky and the beautiful Yours To Be from the Ascent of the Ascended EP. The latter has become a real favourite of mine and I really appreciated seeing and hearing Tim playing it in this way.

I thought I liked you, but I love you

That's how things can go

I may seem distant, but I heard you

Playing on the radio

Tim then shouted for his friend and band mate Mark Collins to come on stage to a large cheer. Mark looking super cool in desert boots, jeans, mod jacket and haircut. 

After playing Different Days and Emilie, Stuart Kidd came back on stage for the 3rd time to add harmonies and percussion on a trio of Charlatans classics. Hearing The Only One I Know stripped back to the bones was remarkable, the way Mark and Stuart played/jammed it was brilliant. The crowd sang along heartily. Then .... we had Then. Another song I didn't anticipate hearing in acoustic form. And it worked.

Photo by Ross Sinclair

North Country Boy was a delight, the melody changed to suit. Tim didn't play Doors of Then or White when I saw him recently at King Tuts, so it was fantastic to hear them.

The laid back friendly nature of FRETS and the evening was highlighted and underlined when Duglas and Davie came back on to the stage to play BMX Bandits seminal Serious Drugs. Duglas and Tim traded verses and I think everyone's heart felt warmer afterwards. 

Tim then sent his love to Norman and said that the best way to do it would be to play a song called Norman .... Norman 3. After a false start, the makeshift band played it superbly, another real heartwarmer with everyone in the room singing the Yeah, I'm in love with you refrain.

Just to turn the feel good atmosphere up a further notch, Tim invited a young boy in the front row up to play keyboards and we were treated to a 1-minute performance of the theme from Halloween. (I think!) It was a lovely moment, as was Tim singing to Douglas' daughter. From our position across the aisle we could see just what it meant to her.

There was more to come. Impossible brought a half dozen people waltzing down the aisle, singing a-long and punching the air, causing smiles in the crowd and onstage. Here Comes A Soul Saver and Just When You're Thinking Things Over caused a few more people to get up and dance at the end. 

Afterwards it was so good to speak to friends I haven't seen for a while. Everyone was basking in the warmth generated by the show.

It's so good to see Tim so busy and buzzing with his solo album and with The Charlatans recent A Head Full Of Ideas boxset/best of. He has the best of both worlds - small, laid back and intimate shows in King Tuts and the Strathaven Hotel and then back in Glasgow in December at the Academy.

Check the FRETS website for future gigs and sign up to their newsletter.

Tim Burgess at King Tuts

In the lead up to this show I had multiple debates with myself; I was going 100% its Tim at Tuts! I wasn't going - Tuts is tiny, there is no ventilation + it's sold out and will be rammed, COVID central! I'm double vaccinated I am going 100% it's Tim at Tuts! Repeat to fade.

Music + the chance to see one of my favourite singers in one of my all-time favourite venues + kind of an opportunity to say thanks to a lockdown hero for the listening parties over the last 18-month, won over. I was going. Lockdown is over, COVID isn't going anywhere, but the vaccination is really working, time to put it to the test.

Burgess, as always, has been a busy bee. Along with raising spirits, smiles and highlighting all kinds of artists and albums with his listening parties (check his incredible new book), he released his album I Love The New Sky on Bella Union.

The album grew on me, it's definitely one that I had to step away from and come back to in order to fully appreciate the songwriting, style and substance within the record. I think there was just so much going on in May last year. I know I wasn't the only music fan to find themselves listening to lots of old music rather than new releases, when the world was stopping and changing in front of our eyes, I was seeking something familiar. 

Anyway, back to King Tuts.

I enjoyed the walk from Central Station. Glasgow city centre was eerily quiet, the shadows of the beautiful old buildings on St Vincent Street loomed over me. Always remember to look up in Glasgow, we are blessed with some stunning old architecture.

Grabbing a beer in the downstairs bar, the doors soon opened and I made my way up the famous stairs to the venue section of King Tuts, walking up the other half dozen stairs to take my usual place behind the sound desk. It felt good to be back and it was lovely to soon be joined by friends Duglas and Jim, two people I would normally see quite regularly out and about at gigs, but not for a long time.

Tim actively encourages fans to get along to his shows in time for support acts, so it was pleasing to see Tuts pretty busy for Apostille, AKA Michael Kasparis, head honcho of Night School Records and part of the fab team at Monorail Music. 

Michael took to the stage, standing behind a bank of equipment; a synth, a sampler and (for later) his phone. Turning knobs and pressing buttons, Apostille layered beats on beats, screaming over the top before introducing synths and finally singing - coming on little Ezra Furman in terms of the speed and passion his words came out. The song may be called Natural Angel, I really enjoyed it.

Michael, normally pretty quiet and mild mannered when I see him in Monorail, was completely the opposite as Apostille. 'Are you all glad to be back at live music ... after me?' was a nice little joke to further break the ice with the crowd. 

Then there was a moment where Michael's phone buzzed in front of him just as he was introducing a song. It was his Dad. 'Dad, I'm playing a gig', Michael then held his phone to his mic so the crowd could hear his Dad say 'oh enjoy it, I hope it goes well', 'No. I'm playing a gig right now! Everyone say 'hi dad''. The audience responded and Michael's Dad wished everyone well. It was a funny and lovely heartwarming moment, the kind of thing I've really missed.

Michael played a very enjoyable set, shaking his head like Animal from The Muppets, getting lost in his beats, moving around the stage, like Freddie Mercury in Dave Grohl's body (a compliment). Great fun. I can only imagine the energy Apostille would generate from a headline show! 

Towards the end Michael gave his mobile number out and said he would happily act as a dating service for fans at his gig. Someone sent a message and it was really was his number, so Michael read it out. New fans were easily won.

Photo by Murray McMillan

One of the odd things about last night was that there was no music playing in between acts. I assume this is to stop people talking loudly over the top of it, part of the new rules and regulations we have to live with. I missed it. Tim or The Charlatans usually play cool tunes before they come on. I missed the lights dimming, the buzz and anticipation of an act coming on stage and the entrance music they chose.

So, at 10pm Tim and his band just casually wandered on to the stage to a huge cheer and cries of 'I love you Tim', of which there were plenty through the show. Dressed in a white t-shirt, blue dungarees and with his bleached blonde moptop, Tim could probably pass for someone in their mid-30's, he is ageing well and looking well.

Photo by Murray McMillan

Fronting a 6-piece band; drums, bass, guitar, violin and 2 on synths/keys, Burgess engaged well with the crowd during and between songs, dancing, raising his arms aloft and posing for photos when he spotted a phone pointing in his direction. In general, he looked like he was having the time of his life.

Empathy For The Devil was beautifully delivered, The Mall was super dreamy, new song Curiosity was blistering fast paced and full of energy, Yours, To Be was utterly gorgeous and tender, possibly my song of the night. Taken from the Ascent of the Ascended EP that Tim released hot on the heels of the I Love The New Sky album, Yours, To Be is Burgess at his melodic, romantic best.

Sunday morning, unconsciously conscious,

In the backseat of the car

Windows wound down, my arm around you,

Feeling like a superstar

Oh what a feelin'

To be yours

Tim only played one song from his own solo back catalogue, the sunshine pop of Oh My Corazon, which found me punching the sky and singing-a-long. I'll be revisiting Tim's excellent I Believe album through the week. Released back in 2003, a vinyl reissue would be welcome for the 20th anniversary in a couple of years time.

Laurie was another gem from last night, the hook we have friends in other dimensions, they come with the sweetest intentions, suspended in dreams and beautiful things really stood out for me.

Tim and co didn't bother leaving the stage for an encore as they wanted to play two more songs rather than one. Starting with I Got This, the encore upped the pace a little, both songs were more funky, they just had that little more edge to the dreamier songs played earlier, the band had worked the setlist really well.

For the closer Tim led his band into a funky jam that gradually became The Charlatans classic, The Only One I Know. The pace and the funk didn't let up, it was an outsanding version and I captured the first part of it on video until I put my phone down to dance.

Everyone has been burned before

Everybody knows the pain

The lyrics seem to mature and take on even more meaning with every passing year. It's crazy to think how young Tim was when he wrote them all those years ago. Soulful, deep and euphoric.

I look forward to seeing Tim again soon when he is back up at the end of the month to play the FRETS Collective nights in the Strathaven Hotel with his friends Norman Blake and Duglas T Stewart.

If you enjoyed this blog, you might like THIS ONE on my 10 favourite songs by The Charlatans.