IN PRAISE OF BOOKS : IT'S LOVELY TO BE HERE by JAMES YORKSTON

This wasn't a Xmas gift....it was one I picked up in the middle of last year while browsing round one of the few remaining branches of Fopp Records in Glasgow City Centre and one which was read in a few days. I'm giving it a mention here as I saw some copies on sale in the same shop for just £3 the other day which is an astonishing bargain given its list price of £9.99

The book is, as its cover indicates, a series of extracts from the diaries of James Yorkston written while he was on various tours. On the surface this might sound a bit dull and monotonous - you know the sort of thing....woke up with hangover, travelled to venue, did soundcheck, gig was great/mundane/OK/awful* (* delete as appropriate), got drunk afterwards and went to bed after crazy party/realising again how much I miss my family back home* ("delete as appropriate).

But this is nothing at all like that.

It begins, somewhat very helpfully to anyone who might not know too much about the author,with a 20-page introduction that explains how James Yorkston became part of the roster of the critically-acclaimed and increasingly popular indie-label of Domino Records. There then follows five separate chapters for tours covering 2004-2009 in different parts of the world promoting different records to different audiences.

There's a real touch of the Malcolm Middleton's about much of the writing with James seemingly always trying to convince himself that he is as good and talented a performer as everyone else is telling him. It's very clear from the outset that the author is indeed a true gent from his behaviour towards fellow artistes, including support acts or those above him on the bills and that he is one of life's genuinely decent blokes in an industry where egos run rampant and you can never really be sure of who your friends really are.

The book, like a few others in the genre (see in particular parts of the Luke Haines bio Britpop and My Part In Its Downfall which was previously reviewed here at TVV), is great at reminding anyone envious of the rock'n'roll lifestyle that much of it is mundane and repetitive with the added worry of never knowing in advance how well your performance will be received.  It's worth remembering that to musicians this is a job first and foremost.....and I don't care what anyone says, there are days when nobody wants to go to their work.

Other recurring themes are the need to get a decent meal - James is a committed vegan and many a promoter has failed to grasp just what that means - and his feeling that only drink and Valium can get him through the fear of flying.  I know all this sounds a bit downbeat and depressing, but at no point does the author seek your sympathy.  There's a great deal of self-deprecating humour in the writing (another Middleton trait) and all told you cannot help but feel a lot of warmth and affection for the author....he's the sort of bloke you'd be proud and honoured to call a mate.

You really don't need to know anything about the records James Yorkston has released over the years to get something out of this book, and as I say, it's going for a ridiculously cheap price in Fopp Records just now, so don't be shy and give it a try.

mp3 : James Yorkston  The Athletes - St Patrick
mp3 : James Yorkston & The Athletes - St Patrick (Vitus Mix)
mp3 : James Yorkston & The Athletes - Catching Eyes
mp3 : James Yorkston & The Athletes - Blue Madonnas

All four tracks lifted from a single released back in May 2002. It's a really beautiful song in my humble opinion.



Happy Listening