The Bonnevilles at the Banshee Labyrinth 4th February 2022

This gig was a release - a release from Covid, a release from the isolation that the pandemic brought . This was a release from all of that anxiety. As Andy said 'What the **** was all that about?' 

The Bonnevilles are primal - a scream of the purest rock'n'roll that takes it to the maximum every time. I've never seen them and thought they were better last time. Andy and Chris always hit their mark and serve up a brand of garage blues punk that is such a full and joyous sound that is at once a nod to the past but a clear full steam ahead with a noise that is astonishing when you realise this is made by just two guys from Lurgan. Do yourself a favour catch the Bonnevilles live sometime. Really. Do.

Support was from the sublime Mudlow who produce a swamp or estuary interpretation of of punk blues and all the better for that. They created a joyous (that word again) racket that set the scene nicely for the Bonnevilles maelstrom to follow.

Suffice to say a very, very good night.

Native Harrow live at the Hug & Pint Feb 1st 2022

Native Harrow have been my first gig of the year twice. Last time was in 2020 as the first in a clutch of gigs before the Covid lockdown paused live music. To be fair this gig was supposed to be in December 2021 but was postponed due the omicron variant.

It was a great way to open my gig year - a favourite band performing in the cosy cellar that is the Hug & Pint performance space. I have my favourite spot to stand so was set for a good night. And it was. Drawing mainly on their last album 'Closeness' - apt title in these socially distanced times and for an album that came out during the first lockdown. 

In their performance the songs seemed to me to have a tenderness, a softness that spoke of the distance that had been put between the band and the audience by the forced shutdown, and false starts of the last two years. That gentleness of tentatively getting to know one another again suited the songs made for an evening where Native Harrow seemed as assured as I've ever seen them. The music Devin and Stephen make together evidences as much as it hides of its influences and presents a music that is recognisable but also unique and quite itself. 

A wonderful start to my gig year.

Gina Villalobos - Rock'n'Roll Pony revisited

 

Over the Christmas break I rediscovered my iPod and scrolling through the music contained there I found a few artists that to some extent I'd forgotten about. One that really caught my attention was Gina Villalobos a California based singer/songwriter and her album 'Rock'n'Roll Pony'.

I can't quite remember how I first found her - possibly a suggestion on iTunes or searching the internet somewhere. However I'd found her doesn't really matter. It's the music that matters and when I clicked on play the tracks I'd downloaded 'Why', 'Faded' and the cover of World Party's 'Put the Message in the Box' the sound was so fresh and immediate. Gina has a voice for which the word ache was created. These world weary songs, delivered with that soulful ache and a full band rock Americana sound had me in it's spell again. I remembered how excited I was when I first found her music. 

What had happened to her and this wonderful sound?  Was she still recording? Within minutes I was googling to find out. What I found told me that yes, she still produces music intermittently, an album 'Sola' in 2014 (check it out on Spotify) and a single in 2016. It also turns out that she works in the film industry providing sound effects and scores.

I'm glad to have become reacquainted with Gina Villalobos. The music is, to my ear, life affirming and joy to hear. I'd say if you're a fan of Lucinda Williams and Lilly Hiatt you could do yourself a favour and add Gina Villalobos to your playlist.

https://ginavillalobos.com/     

Rock'n'Roll Pony

Frazey Ford at La Belle Angele...at last

 This was a gig that i thought would never happen. Tickets bought early in 2020 for a date in June that year. So before Covid 19 hit and closed down the world and live music with it. Even this rescheduled date at the end of November 2021 had that 'it might not happen' mood preceding it. A cancellation was only ever a positive Covid test away, for the band, the venue, or me.

I was grateful, then, to find myself at the venue duly masked, queued and reflecting on the last time I'd been at La Belle Angele to see Anais Mitchell weeks after that other disrupter Donald Trump had become American President.

Frazey Ford though was a balm sorely needed in these troubled and anxious times. She's been called Americana and she is but it was telling, for me anyway, that pre-show the music playing was Al Green. It seemed apt to me as Frazey's music now is a soulful and funky groove that the Rev. Green would be proud of. Mainly featuring the music from 'U Kin B the Sun' Frazey moved through her songs backed by a band (key players from the album sessions) that gave life to those songs with soul and sophistication. her songs reflect on life with all its nuances and affirm that life with joy.

As this gig turned out to be my last live experience of 2021 thanks to Covid 19's Omicron variant it was certainly a good feeling to leave with a smile on my face (obscured by a mask).

https://www.frazeyford.com/

*******

Another hook for this gig was the appearance of support act Gwenifer Raymond. It is not often I see an act that is purely instrumental and this one was mesmerising playing a punk folk blues inspired by 'American primitive'. One woman and a guitar that's all. The sound she creates reminded me of the folk guitar of Bert Jansch and Davie Graham but heavier and riffier. Well worth catching if you get the chance.

https://gweniferraymond.com/

American primitive guitar

Vitality vs. Nostalgia

 I've written before about nostalgia in music. some might call it 'heritage'. In shorthand, for me, it signifies an inability or a desire not to move on. It sits with views such as 'things were so much better before' and in the case of music 'there is no music worth listening to now'. I don't subscribe to these views.

Sure I listen to music that was made decades ago and enjoy it. I also like to re-evaluate music from my past. While it can give you a warm glow and rekindle memories it is best in my view not to get caught up in a web that devalues what is going on now. There is plenty happening now that is fresh and new and worth listening to.

It is not all about the absolute new. There are bands who have been around for a while and have kept putting out new material, never relying on greatest hits to get people to come and see them.

On Friday I went to see the Nightingales play live, a band that has its roots in the post punk world that shaped my musical choices. Mysteriously I never really listened to them at the time and only discovered them a few years ago - live on the recommendation of a friend. With only lead singer Robert Lloyd remaining from the original line-up this is a band that has astutely avoided the mainstream but managed to keep evolving and making relevant new music. I've seen them three times and the sets are always fresh and full of new material played with with a considerable intensity and brio that would put many bands to shame both old and new. There is something vital about their shows. The current line-up has been stable for a number of years now and produce a powerful live show that is a must see. There is no hint of nostalgia, the songs on Friday night bleed into each other creating a wonderful cascade of sounds and words.

Supporting them were the Blue Orchids. Again a band that has a track record date back to the same post punk roots and led again the one surviving member of the original line-up in Martin Bramah an original member of the Fall (another band that had no time for nostalgia). I'd seen the Blue Orchids a few years back supporting the Nightingales and remembered them more clearly. Like the Nightingales they have kept going producing music and touring. This was a new line-up to me and a combination of the new energy in the band, which includes Tansy McNally on lead electric ukulele (yes really), and the power of Bramah's new songs (they are touring new album 'Speed the Day') delivered a set brimming with vitality that left the crowd cheering.

From these two bands that could rest on their heritage and nostalgia there is a clear lesson - vitality beats nostalgia. Keep it contemporary.

Shout out too to the strange and wonderful Kamura Obscura who opened the night with a series of electronic soundscapes that were at times psychedelically chilling, other times dancy. A kaleidoscope. 

https://uknightingales.bandcamp.com/

https://blueorchids.bandcamp.com/

https://www.kamuraobscura.com/

Courtney Marie Andrews - Mackintosh Church Glasgow

It had been too long since I'd seen Courtney Marie Andrews play. December 9th 2018 to be exact at the CCA in Glasgow. A gig that nearly didn't happen as Courtney Marie had contracted flu and had cancelled a number of UK dates only returning to the stage in Perth on the 8th where she was clearly still suffering and the next night in Glasgow. Both those gigs were strong performances and closed off the touring of the 'May Your Kindness Remain' tour.

She should have toured the 'Old Flowers' album in 2020 but a stronger flu virus closed everything down worldwide so that elongated our wait for this much anticipated tour and Glasgow gig. 

The venue for this a Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed church was fitting both for the solo performance but also for her devoted following sitting in pews rapt with attention and in awe of her power and the poignancy of her songs. As a member of the support said 'I guess you're here for some sad songs'. Sad songs indeed but delivered with a lyrical and performative maturity that made the show life affirming.

The set focussed on the songs from 'Old Flowers' with the title song kept for a powerful piano accompanied encore. It was breath-taking and closed the night. Songs from her breakthrough album 'Honest Life' filled out the set. She also featured three new songs (James Dean, On/Off, To Be Wanted) which were unfamiliar but very well received. The single 'Near You' also featured and has graced her setlist for some time now.

While it was a solo show Courtney Marie was joined in stage by support act Memorial who provided beautiful harmonies for a trio of songs from 'Old Flowers' - If I Told, Burlap String and Break the Spell. These unique reinterpretations of the recorded songs made the evening something to savour. 

It was wonderful to see her again that the crowd gave a thunderous call back for her encore and a heartfelt standing ovation at the close.

Welcome back Courtney Marie, we have missed you.

https://www.courtneymarieandrews.com/

https://www.communionmusic.co.uk/artists/memorial/

Nostalgia for a time yet to come: New sounds from Scotland

Someone I know suffered a disappointment recently - the Genesis reunion tour was cancelled due to Covid. I felt for the disappointment but not the band I'm afraid. a group of rich middle class men temporarily unable to top up the pension pot is not something I can get too sympathetic about in this world. I wish love, happiness and health to all bands whatever their age but a Genesis reunion tour is one bus I'm happy to miss.

My focus as I've got older has been to seek out new music. I've never subscribed to the nostalgia circus of bands reforming to play on past glories. There may be the occasional exception....but only for something exceptional (my judgement) like Magazine reforming to perform 'The Correct Use of Soap' album (to be fair they also threw a new album into the mix) and then they were gone. 

In the current landscape of the restarted gig scene I have discovered new music that means more to me than any Genesis redux. 

Mt. Doubt, Victoria Park Hotel

First up was catching Mt Doubt play the Victoria Park Hotel in Leith. This was most probably the first live gig in Leith since Covid hit and closed things down. Indeed at the height of the first Covid lockdown the Victoria Park Hotel became accommodation for homeless people with no recourse to public funds. As a venue its a good size and as I arrived it was clear that Mt Doubt were more than capable of filling the space. It was heartening to see the crowd gather almost as if things were normal but for the adoption of facemasks. 

Mt Doubt are new to me. While I have been aware of them for a while I was there on the recommendation of a friend (who couldn't show as he'd was with lurgy though thankfully not that one!). I settled in for the show and was won over by Leo Bargery and band as they worked though the phenomenally good 'Doubtlands' album. I had flashbacks to those bands form Scotland that I'd never saw about a decade ago like The Last Battle or Admiral Fallow but listened to obsessively. Here was a music that was its own but harked back to something recognisable to me but with no hint of nostalgia. These are songs from Scotland and the world now. To say I enjoyed to evening is an understatement - I bought the album on cd and bagged a t-shirt as well. Shout out to Lisburn who opened for Mt Doubt, I really warmed to that sound as well. New music not old nostalgia that's the future.

Lizzie Reid, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut

Hands up my daughter plays music and as a music fan I'm very supportive. So much so I drove in atrocious weather to Dundee and then from the city of jute, jam and journalism to Glasgow and the legendary King Tut's Wah Wah Hut to take her to a support gig for rising talent Lizzie Reid. I hadn't heard Lizzie Reid until the journey from Dundee to Glasgow and those Spotify moments hit home with the songs 'Company Car' and 'Cubicle'. The gig was busy as you might expect for someone shortlisted for the SAY award on the strength of an extended e.p.. After opening sets from Juan Laforet  and Naomi Munn (I confess to many proud dad moments during that return to stage after two years away from live music) Lizzie took to the stage with a full band and put on a show that was as stunning in both song writing and performance as anything I've seen for some time. Whatever that alchemy is that song writers on the rise have she's got it in spades and whether she pulls of a SAY win or not is immaterial really as the strength of these songs indicates that we'll be hearing a lot more from Lizzie Reid. There was a lot of love in the room for her on Friday night and the room was generous enough to share that love with the support acts. As they should as this was a night of new music not nostalgia. This is the future.

To anyone who says they've heard it all before I say really? Shake off your memories of youth and listen to the new sounds of young Scotland. It's all out there now and you don't have to use your pension lump sum to buy a ticket. 

https://mtdoubt.bandcamp.com/

Lizzie Reid - Company Car

Juan Laforet

Naomi Munn