THE SUNDAY CORRESPONDENTS

Two gig reviews.

#1 : The Scottish Enlightenment : 13th Note, Glasgow : Thursday 18 November 2010

(Stolen from the review written by Comrade Colin over at And Before The First Kiss)

The main event this fine evening was the Glasgow launch of an impressive album by The Scottish Enlightenment, entitled 'St. Thomas' (Armellodie, 2010). So far, reviews from the likes of BBC 6 Music, Song, by Toad and The Scotsman have been very positive and are, indeed, well-deserved. The Scottish Enlightenment take the stage at some point after ten o'clock and although appearing a wee bit nervous and unsure, at first, their sound soon dominates the wee basement bothy that is the Note. At times, down the stairs, it can be a little 'bass muddy' (that is so not a technical term but you get what I mean), but tonight the sound is great and the guitars shine brightly, especially on the slow-burning track that is 'Necromancer'. The new album, as you would expect, is given an appropriate airing and although early on, vocally, a bit reserved, David Moyes soon finds himself and delivers the script with confidence and, well, a rather dead-pan measure. It's a great night.....

mp3 : The Scottish Enlightenment - Little Sleep

My own take on this is that I went along on the basis if Colin and Matthew (aka Song By Toad) like something, there's a very good chance I will too. I really value their judgement(s) that much. And within two songs, I had fallen head over heels in love with The Scottish Enlightenment. So much so, I bought everything that was available from the merchandise stall that very evening. One of the best releases in all of 2010. I'm just sorry I was, as usual, so late to the party.

More about this band can be found here. And you can buy their excellent debut LP here.

#2 : Butcher Boy : Offshore, Glasgow, Saturday 20 November 2010

OK, I'm biased cos this is a band with whose members I have become friendly with in recent times. But please, you have to believe me when I say that if I thought the music they play was lacking in something, I'd not be slow in saying so.

Last night, in the comfort of a medium-sized coffee shop in the West End of Glasgow, Butcher Boy treated us to their first live gig in 18 months. It was a set that showcased a number of new tunes and gave us many old favourites. Yup, there were a few bum notes and the occasional fluffed lyric.....but nevertheless, this had to be one of the live highlights, not just of 2010, but of more than 30 years of me going along to gigs.

It was mesmerising.

It was enthralling.

It was breathtakingly beautiful with moments when some of us were reduced to tears such was the fragile beauty of parts of the performance.

It was wonderfully tight when they played the uptempo numbers, so much so that it took a great deal of self-control not to get out of my seat and dance, or even worse, start singing at the top of my voice.......

When a football team hit the heights and give you a performance that is truly outstanding, the manager often comes out and says you cant single out any one player above the others. It was a bit like that last night. All seven performers rose to the occasion and made for a perfect evening. But I cant let these few words of appreciation pass without saying that Robert Spark and Fraser Ford, so often the band members that get least attention, played blinders. But if they were worthy of 10 out of 10, then the others would have been awarded 9.95 from this judge.

But the most astonishing thing to those of us who swear by the majesty of the first two Butcher Boys LPs was the realisation that that the new songs are going to take the band to a higher plane altogether. The arrangements and orchestration reminded me of the first few Tindersticks records, and I am quite prepared to stick my neck out and say that Helping Hands (for that is the title of the next LP) will be THE best record released in 2011........

You think I'm exaggerating? Well, get yourself along to see them perform on Saturday 11th December at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. It's an afteroon gig that will combine with a Christmas Fayre.......

Oh and if you're lucky enough to have a ticket to see Belle & Sebastian at the Barrowlands on Tuesday 21st December, then get along and catch the support. act.........

mp3 : Butcher Boy - I Could Be In Love With Anyone
mp3 : Butcher Boy - There Is No-One Who Can Tell Where You've Been

The set-list in full:-

J is for Jamie
The Day Our Voices Broke
I Know Who You Could Be
A Better Ghost
Imperial
When I'm Asleep
I Could Be In Love With Anyone
Carve A Pattern
Helping Hands
Girls Make Me Sick
I Am The Butcher
This Kiss Will Marry Us
There Is No-One Who Can Tell You Where You've Been
Every Other Saturday

Please. If you dont have any Butcher Boy records do something about it now. They are available here.

Happy Listening

PS

Inbetween these two great nights, I was asked, by one of the best friends of Mrs Villain, to go along a catch a young band playing at the bottom of a bill that featured something like six bands for £6. I admit to doing so out of a sense of loyalty as the lead singer in the band was related to the husband of Mrs Villains' friend.

I was very pleasantly surpised by the promise and talent shown by The Occupationists. A page elsewhere on the internet says:-

The Occupationists are teenagers who are from Scotland. We like alternative/indie music and we hope you like our tunes.

Teenagers?? They're barely out of their nappies (I'm told they are all 17 or 18 years of age)

As I said, I enjoyed their short but very energetic set.

Demo versions of some their songs can be found here . They are going into a studio to record a debut EP this weekend. Good luck lads.