.CO.UK
THE SKINNY ISSUE 42•MARCH 2009•FREE
SHOWCASE NEW FASHION MUSIC THE RETURN OF INSTAL FESTIVAL FILM WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN? MUSIC MASTODON
FOOD LAND OF HOPE AND TANDOORI DEVIANCE GET YOUR QUEER PORN ON
METALLICA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE KINGS OF THRASH METAL
MUSIC BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY CLUBS THE SUBCITY PARTY EVOLVES...
MUSIC | FILM | CLUBS | THEATRE | GAMES | BOOKS | EVENTS | ART | FASHION | LISTINGS
SKINNY HALFPAGE No7 paths.pdf
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4 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
IT'S difficult to get excited about experimental art without a bit of detail. It's inherent in the fact that that it's 'experimental': you've no set idea what you're going to get. Of course, 'experimental' can be used to cover a multitude of failings, not least simply being boring. Seasoned critics and can't-be-bothered sceptics alike are well used to spotting the not-actually-veryinteresting half disguised as 'ground-breaking'. So it's a real pleasure when an experimental music festival like Instal releases its programme, and, while they're clearly making no concessions from their weird-is-best remit, there's lots in there that looks to be both fascinating and highly entertaining. Top of the bill is necessarily the near-legendary Hermann Nitsh, one of the original Austrian Actionists from the '50s, whose past works, often influenced by religious experience and pagan rites of initiation, included in 1998 a spectacular procession that ran for all of 6 days. Things will be a little toned down at Instal, but still pretty special: a world-class intuitive composer, Nitsch will be performing an improvised work on the organ in Glasgow University chapel. Elsewhere, abstract vocalist Phil Minton will be performing with his hastily-assembled 'feral choir', Taku Unami will demonstrate his (ACME?) 'acoustic laptop', while Sheffield-born, North American-based sound poet Steve McCaffery will be demonstrating that it's possible to be both a leader in your field and genial to the point of expert comedy. With a line-up as strong as this, folk will be travelling across Europe to catch some of the action. Those of us lucky enough to have Instal organised on our doorstep shouldn't really have any other plans for the weekend of the 20th-22nd. When you think about 'experimental' art or music, the tendency is to think about experiments in form: new ways of playing, new approaches to presenting writing, new combinations of styles. What is frequently overlooked is that the method of delivery is equally something that can be questioned and
stretched. I've mentioned in this space before that the release strategy for Radiohead's In Rainbows was a significant part of the album's appeal; a yet more integrated example would be the way in which an author like Charles Leadbeater, when working on his pro-collaboration title We-Think, worked extensively with a sizeable online community of helpers and why not? This can apply to curation too, and it's clear that organising the enormous scope of artistic practice on display at Instal, all working around what might roughly be called the 'phenomenology of sound', is in itself an experimental creative act. Always nice to see things done this way. Similar principles can apply in other areas, not least, say, in fashion. It has been bemoaned for some time that fashion hasn't evolved as it might in terms of new ideas, and this can be seen in the recycling of retro styles, through to the fact that new trends, while occasionally interesting and well thought out ('Barracuda' backed jeans - basically with a high bit at the back to avoid plumber's bum - do make a certain sense) still hardly represent a major shift in what people wear. However, significant changes do occur. One of the biggest has come with shops like Primark, selling on-trend items at a lunch-money rate. Also worth noting is the way in which Zara, another big high street chain, has largely ditched the idea of fashion being based on 'seasons', and will instead release lines for a specific fortnight. Clearly the shift is towards giving people the option to wear what they want, right now. All this talk of novelty and experimentation could be enough to let you forget that there's no replacement for mastering something, and staying at the top of your game for years. There's no danger of that slipping the minds of the thousands of Metallica fans who will be eagerly awaiting their sold out performance at the SECC this month. It's rare that these rockers, who have maintained the full force of their intensity over almost thirty years of putting out music, make it to Scotland, so we're particularly excited to offer you a major exclusive interview with the band (page 34). In all it's another month of plenty on the cultural calendar: so take your picks, unhinge your preconceptions, and head on out there. rupert@theskinny.co.uk
THE SKINNY March 2009 Issue 42, March 2009 Š Radge Media Ltd. Let us know what you think E: hello@theskinny.co.uk T: 0131 467 4630 P: The Skinny, The Drill Hall, 30-38 Dalmeny St, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG The Skinny offers a wide range of advertising packages and affordable ways to promote your business. Get in touch to find out more. E: sales@theskinny.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the printer or the publisher. Printed by Mortons Print Limited, Horncastle ABC: 32,487 1/7/08 - 31/12/09
Publisher Editorial
Editor Online & Music editor Clubs editor Heads Up editor Deviance editor Theatre editor Film editor DVD editor Comedy editor Books editor Games editor Art & Showcase editor Food & Drink editor Aberdeen editor
Production
Creative director Production editor Subeditors
COVER IMAGE Anton Corbijn
Sales
Enterprise manager Sales executives
Research
Listings editor Club listings
Sophie Kyle Rupert Thomson Dave Kerr Chris Duncan Erin McEIlhinney Nine Gareth K. Vile Gail Tolley Michael Gillespie Lizzie Cass-Maran Keir Hind Josh Wilson Rosamund West Ruth Marsh Jaco Justice
Matt MacLeod David Lemm Euan Ferguson Paul Greenwood Paul Mitchell Gillian Watson
Lara Moloney Francesca Howard Larissa Moran Becca Pottinger Andrew Cooke
Contents
6 8 10 16 18 20 24 25 26 29 30 32 50 53
DF CONCERTS PRESENTS…DF CONCERTS PRESENTS…DF CONCERTS PRESENTS… DF CONCERTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH WMA PRESENTS
Showcase
Emily Hogarth gives the Showcase a stylish spin melding the world of design, fashion and illustration.
Heads Up
Get involved with the forces of women at Reclaim the Night and International Women’s Day. Plus Jerry Sadowitz, Kompany Malachi and more.
Fashion
Girls in their pants! and 90210 is back on our screens, but should it be back in your wardrobe?
Food & Drink
PLUS VERY SPECIAL GUEST
GLASGOW SECC TUESDAY 7TH APRIL INVADERS MUST DIE - NEW ALBUM - MARCH 2ND PRE-ORDER NOW AT WWW.THEPRODIGY.COM/SHOP WWW.THEPRODIGY.COM
The Land of Hope and Tandoori, one man’s quest to eat at every Indian restaurant his tummy can take.
EDINBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE SUNDAY 15TH MARCH
Deviance
Get down and dirty with porn from a queer perspective and if you feel embarrassed bumping into a casual lay, read Slutty’s take on bumping into past customers.
Film
GLASGOW KING TUTS
GLASGOW BARROWLAND SUNDAY 26TH APRIL
Director Wendy Reichardt? is interviewed for new film Wendy and Lucy and Genova, Two Lovers and Let The Right One In get previewed for your pleasure.
+ TIE FOR JACK + CRAYONS (EDIN ONLY) + YOUNG STATES + GDANSK (GLAS ONLY)
+ JACK BUTLER + YOUNG FATHERS
GLASGOW ABC2 WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH
EDINBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE
Books
Poetry Frenzy at Stanza and Aye Write! Highlights, a month full of literary fun.
FRI 17TH APRIL
GLASGOW KING TUTS
Games
SAT 18TH APRIL
GLASGOW ABC2 SUNDAY 3RD MAY
Resident Evil 5 Preview and a 5 Star Streetfighter IV Review
Theatre
GLASGOW ABC2 SATURDAY 2ND MAY
Pushing boundaries with New Territories and Gareth K Vile delves into the beauty of burlesque.
+ JERSEY BUDD
Comedy
MONDAY 16TH MARCH
GLASGOW ABC2
SUNDAY 5TH APRIL
From Craig Hill’s Kilt to Frankie Boyle’s brash suits, how a comedian’s style affects the audience atmosphere.
+ FINDLAY BROWN
Art
Glasgow Stereo
GLASGOW ORAN MOR
Friday 27th March
FRIDAY 22ND MAY
Karima Francis
The return of The Embassy and Place Project Preview.
Music
Glasgow ABC2 Fri 27th Mar
Cover Feature: Dave Kerr talks to Metallica Plus Mastodon interview, the Decemberists, Super Adventure club and Black Lips.
SUNDAY 8TH MARCH
2 Many DJ’s, Luke Slater, Caged Baby and Solo Disco should give you a taste of the beats going down this month so get yer asses out to party.
If you dinnae ken what to do, check these out. Plus full Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival listings.
TUESDAY 24TH MARCH
GLASGOW ARCHES
Clubs
Listings
EDINBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE
NEW SINGLE ‘UFO’ OUT NOW www.sneakysoundsystem.com ww.myspace.com/sneakysoundsystem
GLASGOW QMU Monday 18th May
TICKETS 24HRS 08444 999 990 • www.ticketmaster.co.uk • www.gigsinscotland.com
IN PERSON GLASGOW Tickets Scotland, EDINBURGH Tickets Scotland, Ripping, DUNDEE Grouchos & all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres.
March 2009
THE SKINNY 5
the skinny showcase Emily Hogarth's work melds the worlds of textile design, fashion and illustration to create apparel, graphics and installations that defy easy categorisation. She graduated from Textiles at ECA in 2007, and stayed on to do a masters, completed in September 2008. She aims, through the multiple strands of her discipline, to 'make the everyday magical'. Many of her designs start out life as paper cutouts before being transformed into commercially printed cards, t-shirts, theatre sets, or high fashion garments. She has had designs commissioned by Medici cards, Jasper Conran for Debenhams, and The Arches, who used her intricate designs to dress the set of their Christmas production of The Snow Queen. In 2007 she won a Tigerprint New Designs award for commercial card design, and last year won the New York Tartan Week design contest, placing her Scottish Big Apple design on t-shirts throughout the city. She currently works from a studio in Coburg House in Leith, working on commissions, cutouts and prints to help the viewer escape into their imagination. Her blog is at www.emilyhogarth. blogspot.com, and she's registered and working on www.emilyhogarth.com
6 THE SKINNY March 2009
Brian Hewitt Life Time 6 March - 15 April 2009 Tue - Sat 11am - 4.30pm
CEG-100478 Brian Hewitt Advert.indd 1
March 2009
26/2/09 11:21:27
THE SKINNY 7
Chloe Fitzgerald investigates a huge series of events to coincide with International Women's Day in March - learn, support, protest and party
david lupton
Heads Up
Lady Power
According to the British Crime Survey (2001) there are an estimated 47,000 rapes every year, around 40,000 attempted rapes and over 300,000 sexual assaults. After reading those figures, constantly checking over your shoulder on a walk home suddenly doesn’t seem like such a paranoid move. Ironically and rather depressingly, however, the conviction rate is the lowest it’s ever been, which is one of the things that Reclaim the Night wants to change. The organisation marches to demand justice for rape victims and for the right to use public space without fear or hesitation, which can often seem to be a basic civil liberty and human right that is denied to many women. On Sunday 8 March, Reclaim the Night will take to the streets in Edinburgh as one of many events nationwide marking International Women’s Day, protesting against the tolerance of violence against women in Scotland. A member of the group explained: “The march is about reclaiming not just the streets and night but our lives - demanding the right to be safe and free from fear.” This grassroots movement has inspired many across the country with women’s groups, student unions and trade union groups, among others, putting together their own local marches to involve women and men in their regions. Other events include Edinburgh Women’s Equality Forum drop-in day, hosted together with Lothian
and Borders Police on 6 March in the City Chambers Business Centre, offering anyone the chance to speak to people from various organisations, including police, council, NHS and voluntary women’s groups. There’s also more light-hearted gatherings taking place, such as Blackwell Bookshop’s free evening of poetry and music on 5 March, featuring Tessa Ransford, the founder of the Scottish Poetry Library, as well as Morelle Smith and Anne Clarke, both members of Scottish PEN’s Writers in Exile Committee. You can even submit your own scribblings; Scottish Women’s Aid is asking all and sundry to submit their thoughts on what it means to be a woman in 2009, in the form of poem, art or photograph, compiling all the entries into a future exhibition. In Glasgow, the Everywoman Conference Scotland takes place on 3 March, a support and networking event for female business owners and those looking to join their ranks. Reclaim the Night, International Women’s Day, End Violence Against Women, Rape Crisis, and countless other organisations strive to move beyond the negative perceptions of feminism and of women as victims, seeking to inspire, educate and support women across the country. As Natasha Walter, author of The New Feminism puts it: “Reclaim the Night reminds us that women are still able to create change.”[Chloe Fitzgerald] more info online at www.theskinny.co.uk
Also on... Due North: With performances from over 120 artists (including the likes of Diplo, Jay Reatard, Hot Chip and Duke Spirit), the ‘one-ticketgives-access-to-all’ Stag & Dagger festival went down so well on the streets of London last year that they’ve decided to send it north. The Skinny is set to team up with Vice to present the inaugural year in Glasgow on Saturday 23rd May. Participating venues at time of going to press were Stereo, Classic Grand, The Admiral and The Arches, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. Early bird tickets are already on sale for the reasonable sum of £10 and can be purchased at from Seetickets.com, WeGotTickets.com and Gigantic.com. Keep your eyes on www.staganddagger.com and www.theskinny. co.uk for further, exclusive announcements . Kompany Malachi brings their parkour based extreme dance theatre to the MacRobert on 6th, entitled Boxin… Dr Sketchy Edinburgh
8 THE SKINNY March 2009
hosts a battle between winter demons and spring nymphs at its regular burlesque art class on 7th… Rambert Dance Company’s Eternal Light Tour arrives at Eden Court for two nights only on 10th and 11th… Edinburgh’s Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Assembly Rooms from 13th to 14th… The Arches present Into the New, a showcase of students and graduates from the RSAMD Contemporary Performance Practice degree programme from 12th to 14th… Jerry Sadowitz stops off at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews on 14th… Canongate Books launch their new creative club night, Irregular, at the Voodoo Rooms on 19th... aspiring writers need to submit their pieces by 23rd for this month’s Words Words Words at the Traverse and the potential of dance and disability is explored at Moving On - An International Encounter, at the Tramway on 30th... see www.theskinny.co.uk for more details.[Erin McElhinney]
Gutter Talk Fashion undergraduates @ ECA
kirsty
RAINE
kerr
david & bertie
Nadia
JETT
KIRSTY FRASER
RAINE HODGSON
KERR WATSON
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES? I originally wanted to study architecture so I often start with the shapes of buildings, the shapes in the skyline, and the texture of buildings.
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES? I like to design clothes that can be worn. Always very feminine and flattering.
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES? Definitely Japanese styles. I love the long shirts and the shapes of the clothes; Raf Simons and Guilano Fijiwara are two of my favourite designers.
THE FIRST ITEM YOU DESIGNED? I love old calligraphy. In second year I was clearing out my grandmother’s flat and found some old photos; I made tiny boxes with trace photos and calligraphy in silver chains coming off them. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FASHION CRIME? My Mum dressed me and my sister in matching clothes: leggings with matching t-shirts! And awful geometric prints. WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SKINNY READERS KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE FUTURE? Anna Lewis. Her studio is full of unusual things: old letters and ballet shoes. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY? Being original, because there are jewellery shops on every corner.
DAVID VALLANCE & BERTIE MAY WHO OR WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES? D: Gareth Pugh and Elie Saab, and I like designing for the spring/ summer season. B: I like the winter season, and I have an affinity with royalty! THE FIRST ITEM YOU DESIGNED? B: A velvet corset with a sheer blouse attached — I didn’t have enough velvet and it was just a nightmare to make. D: A denim skirt and jacket that was just horrendous. WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING? D: I think the ‘all day’ dress is good — the kind you can wear anytime. B: Jumpsuits, definitely. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY? B: You’ve got to have a strong sense of individual style because of the sheer number of people going into the business.
THE FIRST ITEM YOU DESIGNED? My grandmother was the most stylish person; she was a vintage underwear model and became Miss UK. I started by reshaping her clothes — I once ruined a black lace dress by turning it into a handbag. WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING? Hard to say — this spring/summer every designer is doing what they’re good at. Plus the economic climate has made people be more inventive. They’re conveying emotions through colour on the catwalk, creating these happy catwalk shows. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY? Making connections and graduating in an economic crisis. I’m planning to do a Masters before getting out there.
NADIA SCULLION WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU STYLE INFLUENCES? I really like Christopher Kane and Danielle Scutt. Travelling really inspires me, and street style blogs. THE FIRST ITEM YOU DESIGNED? I used to be a bit of a goth — I think the first item I made was a fishnet top when I was 13. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FASHION CRIME? I used to have a fringe that went on forever! I looked like a boy. Plus a big pair of polka dot trousers... but then I’ve just recently bought a new pair of polka dot trousers. Hmmm. WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SKINNY READERS KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE FUTURE? Holly Fulton — she’s our teacher! She’s showing at Fashion East, part of London Fashion Week. Also Richard Nicoll, who does 50s modernism styles. WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING? Big Perspex jewellery. And jumpsuits are everywhere.
THE FIRST ITEM YOU DESIGNED? I started by printing t-shirts, just graphics and stuff, using that iron on system. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FASHION CRIME? Wearing a Kappa tracksuit back in the day. I was a bit neddie at school. WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING? Big jewellery and shoulder pads, and jumpsuits are getting big. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY? I think meeting the right people is the hardest bit. At the end of college we’re given a contact to get us started.
JETT SWEENEY WHO OR WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES? The silhouette is always my starting point; I like enhancing and restricting the female form. Plus skin scarification. THE FIRST ITEM YOU DESIGNED? I used to make things out of old fabrics and old leather; I think the first thing I made was a top out of an old tea towel. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FASHION CRIME? I think I just wore a bit too much of everything. A bit too gothy as well. WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SKINNY READERS KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE FUTURE? Me in a few years! WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING? I like how fetish wear is reaching the high street in a tapered down way. You’re seeing PVC and wet-look materials on the high street now. [Edward Whelan]
March 2009
THE SKINNY 9
Fashion
Back in
Black
Shiny high waist skirt worn as dress £30.00 American Apparel Pearl cocktail ring £10.00 Diva @ Miss Selfridge Flower cocktail ring £12.00 Diva @ Miss Selfridge
Blazer Models own
10 THE SKINNY March 2009
Fashion
Pearl cocktail ring £10.00 Diva @ Miss Selfridge
Shiny high waist skirt worn as dress £30.00 American Apparel Black lace worn round chest £3.99 per metre Remnant Kings Pearl cocktail ring £10.00 Diva @ Miss Selfridge Wall Red Brick £0.71 each @ B&Q
Photography Koko Brown www.kokobrown.com Photographers Assistant Emma Crossan Hair & Make Up Kylie Macbeth www.kyliemacbeth.com Black pussy bow blouse £19.99 Vero Moda @ Frasers Black lace draped as skirt £3.99 per metre Remnant Kings Black cocktail ring £8.00 Diva @ Miss Selfridge Black beaded necklace £10.00 Diva @ Miss Selfridge Gunmetal necklace £16.00 Warehouse @ Frasers
Styling Clare Cameron Model Lauren McKelvie at Model Team, Glasgow March 2009
THE SKINNY 11
Fashion Red or yellow or pink or blue, orange or purple or green. Clashing loads of different colours is so last year...just choose one! Jason Wu's recent offering at New York Fashion Week showed everyone how to wear head to toe beige without looking like an OAP and Susie Bubble, fashion blogger supremo and current commissioning editor for Dazed Digital has been banging on about onecolour-fashion for a while now. Take heed and have fun with different tones and hues of the one colour and you will be surprised at the dramatic looks that can be created. [Sarah Graham]
1
2
3
Vintage disc necklace Pistol Whip Vintage - £12
Pug dog necklace Miso Funky - £10
Pleated Cape Claire Hamilton @ Che Camille - £125
Velvet band skirt Adil Singh @ Che Camille - £240
Woolen biker Jacket Topshop - £45
Pearl necklace (worn as bracelet) Miss Selfridge - £8
Vintage 1960s bed jacket Pistol Whip Vintage
Satin & net hat Made to Order by Pea Cooper 1Millinery
Vintage 1960s wedding dress Pistol Whip Vintage - £90
Vintage chainmail bag Pistol Whip Vintage - £18 Metallic tights Miss Selfridge - £6 Shoes - Model's own.
Stockist Information
Miss Selfridge - www.missselfridge.com
Creative Team
Make-Up Artist - Aileen J. Mullen
Che Camille - www.checamille.com (Floor 6, Argyll Arcade, Glasgow)
Pistol Whip Vintage - www.pistolwhipvintage.com Pea Cooper Millinery - www.myspace.com/peacooper
Photographer - Sarah Connolly Photography (www.sarahconnollyphotography.com)
Model - Vivien @ Superior Model Management
Miso Funky - www.misofunky.com
Topshop - www.topshop.com
Stylist - Sarah Graham (www.svgstyling.com)
Venue - The Buff Club, Bath Lane, Glasgow
Quiztime 1. Which band were Dedicated Followers of Fashion as far back as 1966?
Uncle Finabarr turns Fashionista 7. What is the name of Jay-Z’s own brand of clothing?
2. What was the title of the Style Council’s only number one album?
8. Which daughter of a rock icon’s graduation collection was modelled by Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Yasmin Le Bon in 1995?
3. President Sarkozy of France is married to a singer songwriter and former model. What is her name?
9. Which Britpop band released the single She’s In Fashion ten years ago?
4. Which David Bowie album does the track Fashion belong on?
10. Which veteran singer made himself a buck or two in advertising revenue when he released Forever in Blue Jeans in 1979?
5. Distinctly unfashionable Irish band Sultans of Ping FC gained a cult following in the early 90s. What garment did they pay homage to in the title of their biggest single? 6. Supermodel Kate Moss has been incessantly romantically linked with Pete Doherty over the past few years. But which rocker is her current paramour?
12 THE SKINNY March 2009
11. Short Skirt / Long Jacket was a single by which appetisingly titled American college-rock band in 2000? 12. Which controversial German fashion designer recently created a range of outfits for Kylie Minogue’s Showgirl Tour and also designed some of Madonna’s outfits for her 2004 Reinvention Tour?
13. Which sport brand was immortalised by hip-hop pioneers Run DMC in a 1986 hit? 14. What was the full name of Timmy Mallet’s garishly titled number one song in 1990? 15. Former child-star Jenny Lewis had released an album with The Watson Twins a few years back. But what potentially controversial item of clothing was featured in the title? 16. Which popstar was recently voted as America’s most stylish man by GQ Magazine? 17. Which of the following did not appear in the same magazine’s list of the 25 Most Stylish Musicians ever: Liam Gallagher, Bono or Beck? 18. Complete the song title, taken from The National’s Boxer album: Green ______?
always in fashion - kate moss
19. Which fashion designer was the partner of Malcolm Malaren when punk rock first emerged? 20. Which tempermental supermodel has had a Number One hit in Japan? La La La Love Song, a collaboration with Toshinobu Kubota sold 1,856,000.
Fashion
March 2009
THE SKINNY 13
FASHION
Fashion 4 All
Emma Mcdonald takes a look at forthcoming student fashion shows
CALLING all fashion voyeurs! Get your tickets to the hottest fashion shows on your doorstep! The Skinny can hardly contain its excitement this month with the runway revelations in store, displaying creation and innovation of emerging design talent from institutions around the country.
juxtaposition of designs from Edinburgh College of Art’s finest and established designers from the UK and beyond. International brands such as Luella and Vivienne Westwood will be showcased alongside local retailers Godiva and Boudiche. All proceeds raised will go to Maggie’s Centres, Scottish Motor Neurone Association and the Neurology Wing of the Western General in Edinburgh. Since its infancy the organisers have raised over £160,000 for charity and this year’s show is looking to up the ante.
First to take the catwalk by storm is the Glasgow School of Art Fashion Show 2009 at The Vic Bar on Renfrew Street on 17 and 18 March. This annual event has been on the go since the 1940s and has witnessed the first tentative steps of big names in British fashion, like Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders. The seams of the entire show are woven together by GSA’s second and third year textiles students and gives them the chance to stamp their fashion footprint and showcase creativity in print, weave, knit and embroidery mediums. There’s also the chance to pick up some of the unique designs at the ‘Fashion Show Boutique Shop’ so make sure you get there quick smart!
20 MARCH, STUDENT NIGHT - TICKETS £15 UNRESERVED SEATING, £20 FRONT ROW SEATS. 21 MARCH, VIP NIGHT – TICKETS £75 STUDENTS, £100 VIP AND £125 VVIP. WWW.EDINBURGHCHARITYFASHIONSHOW.COM
ALL SHOWS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND TAKE PLACE AT 7PM AND 9PM ON BOTH DAYS. TICKETS PRICED £7.50 (£5.50 CONCESSIONS) ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE VIC BAR ON 0141 353 4530 AND WWW.TICKETSSCOTLAND.COM.
This is followed hot on the stiletto heels by the Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show at The Corn Exchange on 20 and 21 March. Hailed as one of the biggest student fashion shows in Europe, ECFS is set to dazzle the capital for a sixth consecutive year with its ‘Revolution’ themed runway. Empowering tuxedos and dare-to-be bold colours will whet appetites and feed the senses. Run entirely by students, ECFS brings a
Next to strike a pose over in the City of Discovery, Dundee is ‘Wigs n Warpaint’ at Liquid Night Club on 27 March. This ‘alternative hair and fashion show’ is the brainchild of HNC hairdressing students at Dundee College and will feature clothes by up and coming labels Missy La La’s and Concrete Jungle. The event is also raising money for Maggie’s Centres and will have an auction on the night with prizes including signed football tops, spa days and concert tickets up for grabs. Kicking off with a reception at 7pm and culminating in an after show party with top DJs, tickets are selling out fast. TICKETS AT £8, CONTACT THE BOX OFFICE ON 01382 834 934 FOR YOURS. OVER 18S ONLY. KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AND NOISE ON THE BEBO PAGE: WIGSANDWARPAINT.
Last but not least in line for your haute couture diary dates is the Edinburgh College of Art Fashion Show that runs from 6 to 8 May in the neo-classical Sculpture Court in the college’s main building. Presenting design with a unique experimental edge, the show will feature collections of final year students in Fashion, Performance Costume and Textiles. These will be shown alongside the work of second and third year students exhibiting cross-media collaborations and individual collections. Highlights for 2009 include a unique partnership between the third year textiles students and Scottish design house Bebaroque that specialises in hand-embroidered hosiery. Lochcarron of Scotland is also providing tailored monochrome suits and vibrant mohair coats inspired by Jean Muir. To ensure the garments look their best as they sashay down the custom-made catwalk, models have been selected from Scotland’s leading agencies with Medusa and MAC looking after hair and make-up.
Good stuff... BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARES
We’ve known Caroline’s work for a while now, perhaps we’ve just been waiting for the perfect moment to share her designs. As Spring begins its at times tortuously slow emergence, what better time to sport a fetching pair of earrings featuring the severed wing of a butterfly corpse encased in laminated plastic? All held together with shaped and blackened silver, the jewellery is stunningly beautiful, fragile yet conceptually gruesome. Perfect. BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARES EARRINGS FROM £35 YOU CAN FIND A CAROLINE CLOUGHLEY DESIGN IN THE OWL & LION GALLERY, EDINBURGH, OR BY EMAILING CCLOUGHLEY1@HOTMAIL.COM.
ALEXANDRA FIDDES Alexandra’s work is also a timely reminder of Spring. Based on natural forms, she combines precious materials and the everyday to create unique jewellery that transforms and moves when worn. Silver sheet is morphed into budlike structures, felt into petals, wire into stalks, and chain into tendrils, giving the pieces a free flowing organic form, as if they have been grown not made. WWW.ALEXANDRAFIDDES.BLOGSPOT.COM CURRENTLY AVAILABLE N CHE CAMILLE IN GLASGOW AND THE WHITE GALLERY IN DUNDEE. PICTURED - 'FROZEN STEM' BROOCH PIN. MADE FROM STERLING SILVER WITH PEARL DETAIL.
K SWISS COURT DELUXE K Swiss‘s new Court Deluxe in white and green has a few fans in The Skinny office, perhaps due to its blending of street and smart styles, perhaps because it looks like it’d be good for tennis. With Music editor and noted rock aesthete Dave comparing the shoe to “something Megadeth would wear”, we leave it to you to decide how you feel. COURT DELUXE / AVAILABLE AT FOOT ASYLUM £55.00 / WWW.FOOTASYLUM.COM
DAVID LEMM
This fashion event is a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar with six public performances across three days at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. TICKETS AT £15 GO ON WSALE FROM 6 MARCH. WWW.ECA.AC.UK/FASHIONSHOW
Goodstead FANS of Edinburgh’s Goodstead are in for a treat this month, with the streetwear retailer relocating from the Pubic Triangle to a spacious new flagship store on Rose Street. For those unfamiliar with the shop, Goodstead opened two years ago and has swiftly built a reputation for stocking individual, fashion-forward mens and womenswear from a host of national and international designers whose clothes are often unavailable elsewhere in the city. The new store will feature a trainer wall for all the box fresh junkies out there, with styles from Clae, New Balance, Nike, Onitsuka Tiger, Pointer and Reebok again exclusive to the capital. Signature lines include Edwin Denim, apparently fronted by ageing star Brad Pitt; NYC cult utilitarian brand, Nom de Guerre; and Swedish fashion house Filippa K. Tees. Sweatshirts and bold graphics are provided by Australia’s Marshall Artist and Six Pack France, as well as Penfield, Carhartt and Staple. London brand You Must Create, whose mission statement includes an aversion to trends, are a particular favourite. Esteemed Skinny editor Rupert will presumably be delighted to learn that the mod subculture has been revived with collections from Farah, Fred Perry and Parisian design collective Surface to Air. Accessories include the high-fashion ranges from Falke and Jonathan Aston and wallets from JFold. All in all an exciting proposition for devotees of cutting edge style on the East coast. The online boutique is also expanding to bring the full retail offering to the web, www.goodstead.co.uk, so those outside the capital needn’t feel left out. [Rosamund West] GOODSTEAD RELAUNCHES ON 5 MAR AT 76 ROSE ST, EDINBURGH. EH2 2NN. OPENING HOURS ARE 10AM-6PM, MONDAY TO SATURDAY; 10AM8PM ON THURSDAY AND 12-5PM ON SUNDAY. 0131 228 2846; SHOP@GOODSTEAD.CO.UK WWW.GOODSTEAD.CO.UK
14 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
FASHION
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 15
Food & Drink
Currying Favour Glaswegian Craig Hazell is on a mission to experience curry houses the length and breadth of Britain, investigate their lasting cultural legacy and make up some very, very dodgy puns.
“You just want to run around eating curry?” I’ll be honest, it wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for. My Dad had echoed the words of my careers advisor 8 years previous and nearly a decade of excitement had been dismissed as foul in one foul swoop. And no one dismissed something as folly unless they meant it, or unless it was the 1950s. In moments like this, I often use the fact I was sent to boarding school to win my parents over. It evokes pangs of guilt, particularly with my mother. If I was a bad person, I’d constantly use this as a tool for my own advantage. As I am a terrible person, I save it and use it to maximise its effect. So, a year later I had my friends and family’s approval for what I pitched as a gastro-spiritual adventure. If the idea was, and is, simple, then the name is the work of a simpleton. I would tour the country eating in Indian restaurants across the land, sampling the best and worst Great Britain has to offer. A Cobrafuelled pun-off, in the tiny town of Castle Cary, Somerset, with my friend and co-creator led to it being called, of course, Land of Hope and Tandoori. Fred had chipped in with The Chronicles of Naan but I had just about toppled him, according to the Indian waiting staff who we had deemed suitable to judge. David, the manager, had played the Simon Cowell role and cruelly went against Fred in the final showdown. I was delighted. I should mention this was nine years ago. Nine years sitting on a gigglingly exciting pun without acting upon it. It was like leaving the biggest Christmas present until Boxing Day. Boxing Day 2018. The reason for Land of Hope and Tandoori remaining a hypothetical pub anecdote so long was, quite simply, the arrogance of youth. At 18, I didn’t think the 25-year-old version of myself would have time to do silly things like this, let alone justify it to his parents. Little did he know. I thought that, by 25, I’d be shitting Booker Prizes, stockpiling British Comedy Awards and schmoozing Richard and Judy on their sofa before
Susan Cairns
16 THE SKINNY March 2009
trying to bed their daughter at the after party. Many of these are still aspirations; I’m just hoping “running around eating curry” might land me on their sofa. So, that’s the messy conception of Land of Hope and Tandoori. However, what most people want to know is why I am doing this. Why put your body through six weeks of trauma, sleeping on sofas? First and foremost, I love Indian food. The variety of flavours on a menu at an Indian restaurant is astounding. The thought of going for a curry makes me physically salivate and the thought of salivating in the best restaurants in the country made my saliva salivate. The ethos of what ‘going for a curry’ means, to me, is just as important as the food. Whenever I think of going out for an Indian with my friends, I don’t think of what I’m going to order. I don’t think of Pashwari or Keema, Cobra or Kingfisher. I think of the lack of awkward silences, the fact I laugh more than I do through any dodgy sitcom. I’ve chased that feeling, like someone trying to recapture a childhood holiday, ever since. Curry has been the social backdrop to the best and worst moments of my young life. When I got a promotion, we celebrated with a curry. When two of our oldest friends got engaged, we said cheers over a garlic chilli chicken and when I was so heartbroken I could barely leave my room, my best friend consoled me at my favourite Indian restaurant. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have the guarantee of fantastic company, good food and great friends for six weeks? To visit friends I’ve not seen in years in the best possible meeting place? The thought of bringing together groups of friends that would never have otherwise
"Eventually, I had my friends and family's support for what I pitched as a gastro-spiritual adventure" met, and making curry their social crux makes me as excited as tucking into the madras does. Could they possibly be the best six weeks I’ve ever had? I’m in the process of finding out. By the time you read this, I’ll be coming to the end of my trip and heading home to Glasgow. What started as a conversation in my local restaurant will come to its appropriate end, its birthplace, New Shimla in Renfrew. If Castle Cary was Hamburg then the Shimla was Abbey Road. We’d concocted a ridiculous idea and even more ridiculous name in the former. However, we had made ‘grown up plans’ in the latter that meant I was actually going to do this. For that reason New Shimla
will always have a special place for me. Renfrew is a town that has more takeaways than people. It must be playing its part in the low life expectancy of the Scottish man. Therefore, we weren’t expecting much when we went upstairs. A huge picture of the Lotus Temple greets you as you enter. Fred and I already had the giggles after convincing his girlfriend that it wasn’t, in fact, a national landmark but the largest restaurant in the Shimla chain based in New Delhi. The modern interior was a pleasant surprise and this was only bettered by the friendliness of the staff and the quality of the food. Even if I’ve eaten in restaurants with nicer food, bigger reputations and better locations, I’ve never enjoyed myself in a restaurant as much as I did that night. It left such an impact that whenever Fred reveals his dinner plans, he doesn’t say he’s going for a curry. He excitedly tells me he’s off ‘for a Shimla’. I recommend everyone goes ‘for a Shimla’. As I write this, I’ve just started. I’ve already had a disaster in Edinburgh and a magnificent mango-based curry in Cinnamon, Aberdeen on Valentine’s Day. I’ve met what feels like thousands of strangers, including an Edinburgh taxi driver called Peter, who I suspect may have invented curry, such was his knowledgeable versing. I’ve also been mistaken for Pete Doherty in what was a bizarre exchange with a drunk old man. One of many, I’m sure. Although, he did prove my point that curry is the great social equaliser, if he thinks rock stars are flocking to Aberdeen for Indian cuisine. Newcastle awaits and more importantly so do weeks of two of my favourite things to do: 1) eating curry and 2) meeting people. Time will tell if they remain in that order. Follow Craig’s culinary journey around the UK at his blog landofhopeandtandoori.com New Shimla, 81 Hairst Street, Renfrew PA4 8QU tel:0141 886 2200
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March 2009
THE SKINNY 17
Food & Drink
Restaurant & Bar Reviews
deviance
The Queer Porn
Revolution
Mainstream porn not genuine enough? Then make your own and queer it up, says Alma Cork I’m currently streaming one of the episodes from the queer porn series known as The Crash Pad, made by Pink&White Productions - and damn is it hot. At the moment Red, a femme genderqueer model, is screwing Javier, an extremely sexy transman, with a strap-on, and I’m not sure I can get through the rest of my word count without taking a break. Queer porn has been receiving more and more interest recently, as many people have found mainstream adult industry productions to be deficient, or just not catering to their interests at all. Six years ago Courtney Trouble started up the queer erotica site Nofauxxx.com, partly because she thought mainstream porn to be lacking ‘chemistry’ and because she thought “the dominant adult industry was ... simply not making any porn that I actually liked. So I made it myself.” At that time, the only other queer porn site in existence, Ssspread.com, was starting to close down, although other ‘alternative’ porn sites, such as
suicidegirls.com and raverporn.com (now eroticbpm. com) were only just beginning. ‘Alternative’ porn doesn’t seem to be the same, or even quite as progressive, as queer porn. Instead, ‘alternative’ porn seems to exotify non-mainstream identities and cultures, such as goth, emo, ravers, etc. While I’d agree with the idea that it is healthy to have ‘alternative’ people in porn, I have to wonder if concentrating on what makes them so alternative and using that to sell the porn is really any better than the lack of such bodies in the dominant industry. For instance, if you were to tell me that as a transwoman I should be able to get my kicks from the kind of porn that focuses on trans people, then I’d think you were clueless. Sure, there are some wonderful performers out there, such as Buck Angel, but transsexual porn is predominantly about objectification of the transsexual body. Porn, for me, shouldn’t be about objectifying bodies, but about celebrating them and letting the
18 THE SKINNY March 2009
Instead of being aimed at any specific group or interest, queer porn blurs the lines and features a range of sexualities, lifestyles, and genders. You’ll find genderqueers, BDSM, trans people, butches, bois, femmes, and even straight people; the boundaries are hazy and anything goes as long as it’s hot, passionate and real. Queer porn also aims to be female-friendly and feminist; Nofauxxx lists this as a specific aim and includes many women in its ranks of guest photographers. Pink&White Productions is also run by a woman, Shine Louise Houston. She started Pink&White after finding it difficult to recommend good lesbian porn when she worked at Good Vibrations in San Francisco. Simply, there wasn’t much out there, and the world of mainstream porn still featured ‘dykes’ who were straight in their private lives. So, like Courtney Trouble, she decided to start making some real, honest dyke porn herself, asserting that “There is power in creating images, and for … a woman of colour and a queer to take that power … I don’t find it exploitative; I think it’s necessary.” While The Crash Pad is still largely dyke-based, it also uses models from many different genders and
sexualities. Pink&White describes itself as creating “adult entertainment that exposes the complexities of queer sexual desire ... dedicated to producing sexy and exciting images that reflect today’s blurred gender lines and fluid sexualities”. After viewing some of their episodes, anything seems to go here, and the models’ sexual expression and passionate performances are more important than providing scenes particular to any one kind of sexuality. Radically, to me at least, some of the latest episodes even include bio males. Even more pleasing to me is the inclusion of trans models, both male and female, although their transness is never exotified. This form of porn seems to celebrate queer bodies, providing the individual models with a greater degree of agency, and the most horny thing about the videos is seeing how much the models seem to be enjoying themselves. They’re not just fucking to some sterile script, building up to a predictable money shot, but instead they come across as being on fire with passion and sensitivity. In one of the episodes two bois indulge in some sweet and increasingly steamy caresses, throwing in some daddy play for good measure. At the end of the scene you can hear the amused producer say “Do you guys want to cool off a little bit now?” followed by some laughs, and it hit me that they weren’t just acting there; they really were that excited. In fact, some of the models in The Crash Pad also happen to be partners, adding to the genuine chemistry. It’s real sex with the volume turned up: loud, sweaty, and passionate, and in fact it’s been compared to gay male porn due to its intensity. Another refreshing aspect of The Crash Pad is that its models range from the unknown, with no experience in front of the cameras, to the pros, and when Houston originally started filming the first Crash Pad film, released in 2004, she got her friends to be the models. Queer porn is also as much about the art as the titillation. While the films have a do-it-yourself, independently produced style, they certainly do not come across as amateur (although babeland.com holds Crash Pad DVDs in its amateur porn section!). Courtney Trouble says, “I’d like to think that my target audience are the true connoisseurs of alt-porn, erotica, and queer porn; people who like to look at porn for both arousal and thought-provocation.” Meanwhile, the directorial style of Shine Louise Houston includes imaginative lighting and multiple camera angles, along with a back story that includes high-tech voyeurism and hidden cameras. More episodes of The Crash Pad are being added to the site all the time, and Pink&White have also released their latest feature film, Champion, a ‘lesbian martial arts film’. Directed by Houston, it features one of Pink&White’s producers and stars, Shawn (aka Syd Blakovich). Meanwhile, Courtney Trouble’s first movie, Roulette, is due for release in March. The Nofauxxx site says that the film aims to showcase “a community of ladies, artists, and queers with varying reasons for wanting to make porn; be it exhibitionism, politics, or money. We intend to visually explore those messages without sacrificing the explicitness of the scene or distracting the viewer from the sole purpose of porn: arousal!” Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and cool down. crashpadseries.com www.nofauxxx.com
Porn Review
Editorial In the anthology Working Sex Bruce LaBruce discusses the shortcomings of both the mainstream entertainment industry and the adult film industry: both put forward “a bland standardisation of sexuality which has little or nothing to do with liberal or progressive attitudes towards sex”. It’s refreshing to hear this from someone with direct (and unrepentant) experience of making porn, rather than someone who’s 100% against it anyway. (The book as a whole is worth reading for that insider’s perspective, and raises the question
expression of those bodies (and the personalities within them) shine through. It’s not what you do, but how you do it, and I consider the same idea to follow for all identities, bodies, genders, and sexualities, whether or not you have tattoos or piercings and irrespective of what music you listen to. Indeed, Nofauxxx.com includes the following in its mission statement: “We do what we can to support the activists who fight for awareness of cultural appropriation. This is why you will have a hard time finding mohawks, dreadlocks, or any fad-like cultural style which doesn’t come from a genuine participation or deep knowledge/respect for the culture it’s borrowed from. We aren’t perfect here, but we do try to put thought into our porn & who it might disrespect.”
of how sex workers can talk about bad experiences without this being seized on by detractors as proof that the entire industry ought to be smashed.) Alma Cork takes the opportunity in this month’s Deviance section to discuss queer porn and what it can do that mainstream porn can’t. Slutty McWhore describes what happens when her clients cross over to the real world. And don’t forget to visit us on-line too, where sex columnist Phoebe Henderson recounts how she learned to stop being so self-conscious and to talk dirty, navigating through the awkward territories of phone sex, cybersex, and boring porn standards to find what works for her. Enjoy. Nine
Roulette Courtney Trouble
rrrr NoFauxxx.com’s first commercial feature-length DVD promises to bring “seven distinct vignettes together to create a game of sexual Roulette”. A teaser trailer features Walter and Nikolaj, two queer punks who happen to be engaged in real life. They make out in a stairwell before heading up onto the building's roof to rip each other's clothes off. There are tattoos, handjobs, and cock-sucking galore. A second teaser starts off with queer femme Milo fucking Cole, a transguy, with a vibrator while riding the back of the toy herself. Later on, the roles reverse and Cole takes a strap-on to screw Milo in a number of positions. The feel of the pieces is thoroughly indie, so don't expect lavish lighting and flawless production. However, if you're after genuine chemistry onscreen then you're in for a treat.
Walter and Nikolaj come across as tender as you'd expect real-life partners to be, and Milo and Cole really just seem to be having great fun. The music is also well-chosen, with Walter and Nikolaj's dirty punk number changing to reflect the emotions on screen, whereas Milo and Cole have a disco refrain of “What time is it? Party Time!” pounding away as they screw each other. Further scenes will reportedly include "a queer femme hosting - and directing - her own pool table gangbang, a horny wrestler fucking himself with his teammate's glass dildo, and a real life lesbian couple proving that staying home is anything but mundane". With plenty to capture the viewer’s attention, Roulette looks set to thrill. [Alma Cork] DVD $35, available through Nofauxxx.com
Brief Encounters
DEVIANCE
Slutty McWhore
THE GREEN ROOM VENUE
Slutty McWhore describes the pitfalls of running into clients outside work...
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THU 19TH
ALASDAIR BOYCE
I’VE been working as an erotic masseuse in a small city for nearly three years now, so it probably wouldn’t surprise anybody to learn that I occasionally bump into clients out in the ‘real world’. The first time this happened, I was just about to be seated at a restaurant when I noticed a former client – a clean-cut Republican type—at another table, clearly on a first date with a woman. The situation demanded a degree of tact, so I did not, of course, say hello—but I simply couldn’t resist sitting diagonally across from him so I could get a good look at the proceedings. I hate to admit it but I rather enjoyed seeing the guy’s face turn whiter than the tablecloth when he spotted me. I winked at him mischievously and watched him squirm in his seat for the rest of the evening. Apart from this one night, all my other encounters with clients, past and present, have been relatively banal and have, curiously, nearly all taken place in supermarket aisles. I’ll mostly be able to tell that the person is or was a client but, other than that, I often won’t remember a damn thing about them. This may seem callous on my part, but given that nearly all my clients come from the same demographic – middle-aged; middle-class; out of shape – it’s hardly surprising. Should any of them decide to talk to me, my amnesia can be embarrassing because it makes for a very one-sided conversation. My clients remember details about me, and can ask questions accordingly, but all I have to go on is that I’ve had their cock in my hand at some point. This is not an uninteresting fact per se, but it does not provide much opportunity for supermarket-appropriate chitchat.
Awkward conversations aside, it doesn’t particularly faze me to bump into clients. This is perhaps because I’m more or less the same person in the massage room as I am outside it, so it doesn’t feel strange to meet clients in a more realistic setting. What has always bothered me, however, is the idea of booking a session with a new client and opening up the door to find an acquaintance standing there. If you already know someone, even if only slightly, the boundaries of your relationship are already clearly defined, so how on earth does one move seamlessly to the handjob stage in such a situation? I can only imagine what the conversation would sound like: “Aye, nice seein’ you doon the pub on Saturday night, Jim. Now, if you don’t mind, jist whip it oot so we can get started, eh?” Several weeks ago, I did come into contact with someone I had once met very briefly and didn’t recognise. He spared us both the initial awkwardness by only reminding me sheepishly halfway through the massage that we had both attended a trainee teacher orientation meeting in January. This means that we will soon be in the same class three days a week for the next year, training to be teachers together! As soon as I realized who the guy was, I must admit that I balked at the idea of giving him a handjob. Once the shock had worn off, however, I saw clearly that giving this guy a massage had effectively broken down all those social niceties that would normally have taken weeks, if not months, for us to overcome in the classroom. Put more simply, we had used the penis to cut through all the crap to get to what really interests us: pedagogy.
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MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 19
Film
One Girl & Her Dog Kelly Reichardt is establishing herself as the creator of beautiful, meditative indie gems. Gail Tolley meets her to discuss her new film Wendy and Lucy.
Kelly Reichardt’s 2007 feature Old Joy was a sensitively told story about two friends who meet up after several years to take a weekend camping trip. The film’s beauty lay in its minimal dialogue, its sensitive observation of friendship and ambient score by American indie rock band Yo la Tengo. It also starred Will Oldham, perhaps better known for his musical endeavour as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Reichardt’s latest work Wendy and Lucy features Oldham again, this time in a cameo role, however it is Michelle Williams as Wendy who really steals the show. On a journey north to look for work and accompanied by her dog Lucy she faces difficulty when her car breaks down and her finances run low. Reichardt was particularly interested in individuals who tread the line between survival and poverty and there’s little doubt that Wendy and Lucy is imbrued with a sense of the political, albeit with a small ‘p’. And in particular it plays out against a backdrop of the growing gap between the rich and the poor observed during the Bush era. Reichardt explains “This film was written right after [Hurricane] Katrina happened and it was very much in the forefront of our minds. It [the aftermath] really said that America didn’t just ignore its poor - it distained people in poverty and this was the wake in which we started writing the script.” And whilst Reichardt argues that her film is very much a story of its time, it also carries influences from the Italian Neorealist films of the 40s and 50s which were made in the context of a poverty-stricken, post war Italy and took as its subject matter the everyday lives of ordinary people. “We were having this nagging feeling about Neorealism and going back and revisiting those films just because those themes are really relevant right now.” Accompanying these themes is a naturalistic visual approach that captures the small-town world of the
American North-West. With both of Reichardt’s last two features being rooted in this part of North America I asked her about the role location plays in her films. “For both films I spent a lot of time driving around the country looking for other locations. For Wendy and Lucy I drove around the country for six months just looking around, which is all part of the process, trying to figure out what the film is. But both times I ended up shooting right where John [ Jonathan Raymond, the writer] writes them and he just writes from what’s outside his window. With Wendy and Lucy it’s a little different because she’s on her way to Alaska in particular, but the places where we’re shooting are parking lots, service stations and this could be anywhere in America, more so than Old Joy I think.” I asked Reichardt if (as one of the few women successfully making films in the American independent sector) she felt she brought a certain feminist sensibility to her work. “Everyone who makes a film brings their point of view and I’m sure my point of view is certainly from a feminist perspective, by the nature of how you see the world as a woman, which is probably a different experience from how you see the world as a man. But for Old Joy I found those characters very relatable and John Raymond mostly wrote the voice for Wendy, so it’s difficult to define in those terms. It’s interesting to think what Wendy’s plight would be if she wasn’t female; is she more vulnerable or does she have more advantages?” There’s certainly a sense of universality to Wendy’s story, unlimited by race or gender - it could quite easily be transposed to most Western settings. If Wendy and Lucy is a symptom of a closing era of political frustration in the States it will be interesting to see what Reichardt’s next project entails, moving into a period where hope and expectations are high. www.wendyandlucy.com
Editorial Gail Tolley: Celebrating women in film Ask the person on the street to name a female film director and you’re unlikely to get a huge range of suggestions. And whilst that shouldn’t detract from the fact that hundreds of women already make fantastic films, it still can’t be denied that they are out-numbered by their male counterparts several fold. In terms of those in the spotlight only one comes to mind, and there’s always the niggling suspicion that that might be in-part because of her much more famous father (step forward Sofia). Perhaps in our so-called ‘post-feminist’ era this discussion feels
20 THE SKINNY March 2009
like old hat but when you look at figures that put female film directors at a single figure percentage you can’t help but feel that something just isn’t right. The Birds Eye Film Festival held between 5 – 13 March aims to address this imbalance and celebrate women in film. Here in Scotland they’ll be showing a series of shorts for International Women’s Day at the Cameo in Edinburgh on the 8 March. This is a great opportunity to explore the work of some of the most exciting and innovative female directors around at the moment, and to give you a push in the right direction, our main feature this month is an interview with Kelly Reichardt whose latest film Wendy and Lucy is a sumptuous visual treat not to be missed.
March film events There’s a whole host of film treats across Scotland in March. You’re just in time to catch the end of the Wild Japan season at The Filmhouse, selecting films that explore sex in Japanese cinema from the 50s through to the 70s. The programme includes Woman of the Dunes and the radical and explicit Realm of the Senses, both showing in early March. In Dundee you can catch a free screening of the critically praised and rarely-screened Seul Contre Tous (20 March, 20.30), to celebrate the DCA’s 10th birthday. You can also see two films as part of the venue’s ‘women’s festival’: Iranian picture It’s Winter and Kurdish flick Hejar on 12 March. There are more birthday celebrations at the Cameo which is 60 this month. They’ll be showing a Buster Keaton double bill on 7
March to commemorate. Be sure to also make it down there on 11 March for A Poet in New York: a concert centred around the city of New York and some of its most talented artists, it includes a documentary on Leonard Cohen.
Film
Watch This Space Twenty-three years after its publication, Erin McElhinney asks if the film version of Watchmen does its source material justice?
The path from graphic novel to film for Watchmen has been long and not a little convoluted, involving lawsuits, big name directors coming and going, the writer disowning the project and enough online gossiping to make any studio marketing exec wet their pants. Originally published in 1986, Watchmen was one of the titles leading the comics world into a new age of maturity – along with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and Art Spiegelman’s Maus – and respectability. Often unfairly seen as childish and clichéd, comics struggled to be taken seriously as works of art or literature; the sophisticated political and ethical debates presented by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons however, changed this perception forever. Set in an alternate 1980’s America – where Nixon is still president, the US won the Vietnam War, and nuclear annihilation is fast becoming a reality – Watchmen was deemed “unfilmable” by its one time director Terry Gilliam, and the project failed to reach the shooting stage more than once because of its bleak tone. Its ‘superheroes’ are actually – with one exception - all too fallible humans attired with interesting gadgets, now banned from plying their trade; their glory days over, they’re busy finding a life in the bottle, in naff product endorsement and dangerous levels of introspection. As Billy Crudup, the actor playing the only character with genuine powers, Dr Manhattan, describes it: “[Watchmen] imagines what people who dress up to fight crime might actually be like. What, psychologically, would be going on in someone who decided to dress up in a costume and take on thugs? There are obviously some people who are mentally imbalanced and sociopathic, and they’re not all fighting for truth and justice…” After over twenty years ‘in production’ and names
such as Darren Aronofsky and Paul Greengrass signing on and then losing out, Zack Snyder – a name created to eventually appear on a comic book movie, surely – ended up in the hot seat. His credentials – successfully bringing popular graphic novel 300 to the screen, a geeky love for the book itself – gave its legions of fans hope, after years of risible Moore adaptations (The League of Extraordinary Gentleman? Nuff said.) Snyder’s techniques of using the graphic novel as his storyboard, casting based on an actor’s talent rather than Hollywood collateral, plus his decision to keep the original setting, all boded well… but have been offset by a re-written ending that could potentially change the whole narrative. Moore himself has always been amusingly pragmatic about the adaptations of his work, refusing to be officially involved and often going uncredited. I once had the rather singular pleasure of interviewing the writer in his tenement home, on the eve of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’s release. When asked how he could bear to stand by and watch his works mishandled, he took a large pull on his spliff and smiled: “The answer I always fall back on is what Raymond Chandler said, when people asked: ‘Raymond, don’t you feel devastated by how Hollywood has destroyed your books?’ and he said ‘Come into my study’ and pointed to his bookshelf and said ‘Hollywood hasn’t destroyed my books. They’re all right there, they’re fine.’” From previews, there’s no doubt that the Watchmen movie is damn pretty to look at – and its line of associated merchandising will no doubt do well – but should it fail to live up to the graphic novel’s die-hard fans’ expectations, Moore’s words may literally provide the only refuge. www.watchmenmovie.co.uk
March 2009
THE SKINNY 21
Film
Film Reviews Marley & Me Director: David Frankel Starring: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston Released: 11 Mar Certificate: PG
Genova Director: Michael Winterbottom Starring: Colin Firth, Catherine Keener, Hope Davies, Willa Holland, Perla Haney-Jardine Released: 27 Mar Certificate: 15
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The premise of the adaptation of John Grogan’s Marley & Me will be familiar not only to its readers but to anyone who has ever seen a family pet movie. Newlyweds John (Owen Wilson) and Jennifer (Jennifer Aniston) adopt a puppy as training for a future child, but find the pooch, Marley, more of a handful than initially expected. Much of the first hour appears based on cynical assumptions: the puppy has big eyes, and is the worst (but by extension, the best) dog in the world. Sadly, this sentimentalised treatment of the dog’s relationship with his owners becomes increasingly manipulative in the film’s overwrought finale. Yet, there appears to be more here than this simple story; Marley’s exploits work as a backdrop to a wider treatment of a charming, yet surprisingly authentic image of domestic life. In this manner, at least, Marley & Me is a clear success. [Stephen Mitchell]
Michael Winterbottom’s latest film begins with a heartbreaking tragedy. Afterwards, university lecturer Joe (Firth) decides to take his two daughters, 16-year-old Kelly (Holland) and 10-year-old Mary (Haney-Jardine), to the Italian city of Genova to allow them the space to get over the tragedy. Cowritten by Winterbottom and Laurence Coriat (Wonderland), Genoa shows a father coming to terms with a huge loss while his eldest is growing up fast and attracting interest from local boys, and his youngest is racked with guilt and going through a cathartic process through the course of the film. Winterbottom opts for a naturalistic approach, using hand-held camera techniques and calling on director of photography Marcel Zyskind to give Genova an eerieness in its frequently dark and windy, narrow streets that has echoes of Don’t Look Now. Firth is truly excellent as Joe in a tender family drama commendable for its capturing of realism. [Matt Arnoldi]
www.marleyandmemovie.com
Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) Director: Tomas Alfredson Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar Released: 10 April Certificate: 18
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Two Lovers Director: James Gray Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw Released: 27 Mar Certificate: 15
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If I’d known Let the Right One In was a vampire film, I wouldn’t have bothered seeing it, which would have been very much my loss. In fact, it defies pigeonholing, blending the vampire theme with the crushing isolation suffered by a bullied 12-year-old boy. Tense beginnings move from the macabre to the darkly humorous, all against the backdrop of a snowy suburb of Stockholm. Oskar dreams of revenge, but he doesn’t have the nerve to stand up to his classmates. As his new neighbour Eli is driven to feed under cover of darkness, the local community struggles to comprehend a series of grisly murders. Scenes of blood and gore are fleeting, and all the more disturbing for it. It’s about the supernatural, yes, but it’s also a hauntingly beautiful film about very much human themes, like connections forged between outsiders, about the cruel things that kids do to each other, about love and acceptance and desperate circumstances. Under the direction of Tomas Alfredsson, the breathtaking cinematography and magical realism draw the audience in, ensuring that the film will stay with the viewer for a long time after seeing it. [Nine]
Oy vey! Is Joaquin Phoenix really giving up acting for rapping? Let’s hope not because Two Lovers is his best performance since 2005’s Walk the Line. Phoenix plays Leonard, a thirty-something depressive who moves back in with his family and starts working for his dad’s dry cleaning business. His parents fix him up with a nice Jewish girl (Vinessa Shaw) but Leonard’s the kind of guy who likes things that aren’t good for him, so when the icy blonde from upstairs (Gwyneth Paltrow) pops into his life, he’s a goner. Phoenix is fantastic, loping around corners and skulking in the shadows like a moody teenager. Director James Gray sticks to his familiar palette of twilight blues and greys but after crime thrillers The Yards and We Own the Night he finds something a lot more potent in this earnest and angst-ridden love story that despite its look is rather uplifting. [Marjorie Gallagher]
Showing as part of Glasgow Film Festival
www.twoloversmovie.com
www.lettherightoneinmovie.com
Il Divo Director: Paolo Sorrentino Starring: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto Released: 20 Mar Certificate: 15
rrr One strategy of artistically representing an elusive and enigmatic subject is to mimic that subject, to adopt its elliptical nature as the structure for the work of art. Il Divo, Paolo Sorrentino’s film about Italy’s seven-time Prime Minister, Giulio Andreotti, relies heavily on such a tactic. Not content to merely recreate documented and imagined events, or to candidly present possibly incriminating facts, Sorrentino’s film radiates the wit and larger-than-life persona of Andreotti. The overwhelming impression is not only of a man who cannot be punished for crimes he almost certainly committed, but of a man who cannot be arrested in the eyes of others, whose intentions and actions largely remain opaque even to those closest to him. The precise details of Andreotti’s doings often become convoluted here, but that hardly detracts from the carnival atmosphere of the man or the movie. [Tyler Parks] www.luckyred.it/ildivo
22 THE SKINNY March 2009
FILM
DVD Reviews MY DINNER WITH ANDRE
MY NAME IS BRUCE
4:30
DIRECTOR: LOUIS MALLE STARRING: WALLACE SHAWN, ANDRE GREGORY, JEAN LENAUER RELEASED: 2 MARCH 2009 CERTIFICATE: 12
DIRECTOR: BRUCE CAMPBELL STARRING: BRUCE CAMPBELL, GRACE THORSEN, TAYLOR SHARPE RELEASED: 2 MARCH 2009 CERTIFICATE: 15
DIRECTOR: ROYSTON TAN STARRING: XIAO LI YUAN, YOUNG JUN-KIM RELEASED: 16 MARCH 2009 CERTIFICATE: 15
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Sometimes, if you have rich, vibrant, hippy friends, you end up in conversations where half of you soaks up their traveller’s tales and marvellously skewed wisdom; and the other half just thinks “you frigging trustafarian git”. And yet you can’t stop listening. Their passion is contagious, and despite their experiences being so far out of whack with your own budget, you just can’t tear yourself away. My Dinner with Andre is the best of all those conversations, except sober and eloquent. Struggling playwright Wallace meets up with old theatre buddy Andre, whom he’s successfully avoided for years after Andre ‘dropped out.’ Set almost entirely in a restaurant, what begins like a seventies Allen-esque comedy quickly becomes an engaging, intelligent and discursive meditation on what it is to be alive. Surprisingly unpretentious and humorous, both lead characters are completely believable, and the watcher is gifted the weird and enjoyable sensation of being a third party at a fascinating meal. [Cara McGuigan]
Best known as Evil Dead’s chainsaw wielding, ass-kicking human cartoon Ash, legendary c-lister Bruce Campbell is for many the god of genre cinema. Gleefully playing himself, this film finds Campbell washed up, stinking of booze and shamelessly stumbling from one bad sequel to the next. But things change when an obsessed fan accidentally releases a vengeful Chinese god, and näively seeks the help of the only guy in the world who can possibly save the town. The many references to Campbell’s less than stellar movie career and his sarcastic disbelief in the situation are fun, but after a great start the premise runs out of steam, with a surprisingly uneven script from established comics and television writer Mark Verheiden. Despite this and some (Campbell-free) comedy sequences falling flat, “The Chin” is on form and it’s never unwatchable when he’s on screen. Unmissable stuff for his fans, but everyone else may need a few beers to get the best from it. [Scotty McKellar]
It’s early morning. A young Chinese boy climbs through the window of the Korean lodger in his family’s apartment and watches him sleep. It’s a desperately lonely act to reach out to another human being that secretly becomes a routine. In Royston Tan’s haunting tale, 11 year old Xiao Wu has nothing else. His life is an empty apartment, instant noodles and school. Jung is similarly isolated (even by language) and depressed, but both of them are wrapped up in their own worlds. Sneaking into Jung’s room while he sleeps and casting him in the role of an idealised father figure becomes Xiao’s obsession. One that ends up having tragic consequences. Filmed in impressively long takes with very little dialogue, Tan leaves much unexplained, leaving room for interpretation. The result is an accomplished low budget feature, an uncompromising experience with tortured characters who are not connecting with each other, the world around them, or perhaps (for some) the viewer. [Scotty McKellar]
SPLINTER
PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE
3-DAY WEEKEND
DIRECTOR: TOBY WILKINS STARRING: PAULO COSTANZO, JILL WAGNER, SHEA WHIGHAM RELEASED: 30 MARCH 2009 CERTIFICATE: 18
DIRECTOR: STEVEN SEBRING STARRING: PATTI SMITH, FLEA, MICHAEL STIPE RELEASED: 30 MARCH 2009 CERTIFICATE: 15
DIRECTOR: ROB WILLIAMS STARRING: CHRIS CARLISLE, JOEL HARRISON, GAETANO JONES RELEASED: 9 MARCH 2009 CERTIFICATE: 15
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Chewing the horror movie nail down to the quick has been the remit of most directors in the genre recently, with very few transcending the clichés and conventions. Brit director Toby Wilkins, however, has managed to find a fresh spin on proceedings with this crispy shocker. In under eighty minutes, we get the story of a holidaying couple carjacked by a dangerous felon, forced to hole up in all night garage when a parasitic beastie (not unlike The Thing) starts acting on impulse. Which is exactly what the characters do, and where the film succeeds. The cast are given more to play with than usual, and get the chance to respond logically and exactly as the audience would, utilising all available resources to escape their dilemma. Some brutalistic editing hides the budgetary constraints and in the end it doesn’t have much to say, but cutting his teeth on a nifty flick like this should serve Wilkins well in future. [Michael Gillespie]
Shot over eleven years, this utterly disarming documentary begins impressionistically, broadly sketching the subject’s turbulent but triumphant life in a collage of images, sounds and elusive dialogue. Soon, we realise that the standard voiceover, talking heads and linear narrative aren’t coming: this is a rockumentary closer to Jarman or Malick than Pennebaker. Dream of Life is literally that: a montage of spoken word readings, music performances, fly-on-the-wall snippets and elegiac imagery. Smith fans will be in ecstasy, but non-followers will find much to admire in the rich visual textures, gossipy snippets and unfussy guest appearances. The unconventional approach means that it can be a hit and miss affair (there are moments of self-admiring portentousness), but the hits keep coming. These include an impromptu jam with Sam Shephard, a blazing indictment of W, and an emotional duet with Philip Glass. Poet, singer, activist: you can add star of one of the most fascinating rock-docs in recent memory to that list. [Michael Gillespie]
WIN A YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION TO AVALANCHE RECORD’S ALBUM CLUB
You know what it’s like when there’s a big weekend trip coming up with your mates. Everyone’s excited about the crazy boozing, deep meaningful talks and lives that ‘won’t be the same again’, but part of you knows it’s probably just going to suck. Rob Williams’ film, billing itself as “a shaken and stirred cocktail of intrigue, humour and drama” has much the same problem. Two male couples meet up annually for a long weekend in a mountaintop cabin, and this year, to shake things up, each of them invites a good-looking single gay friend. Early on, the characters openly criticise clichéd elements of the ‘typical gay movie’ but Williams’ thin script offers nothing new. Serious topics are mentioned fleetingly, and in place of any character development it relies on tedious bedhopping to move things along. The worst part is nothing really happens to make it a worthwhile weekend. Maybe in the rush out the door someone forgot to pack a plot? [Scotty McKellar]
WIN A £50 VOUCHER!
The Skinny are pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Avalanche Records to give one reader the chance to win a year’s subscription to Avalanche Records’ Album Club. The winner will receive one Avalanche recommended album a month, some of which will added material such as free samples of local music, unreleased material, and news of upcoming special offers. Avalanche Records are an Edinburgh based record shop with another store in Glasgow. Avalanche Records are revered for their eclectic stock of local and international music with bargains galore that are also available at www.avalancherecords.co.uk. To enter, answer the following question:
Which one of the following artists has not recorded a song involving an avalanche? a)Pantera b)Leonard Cohen c) Sufjan Stephens Visit www.theskinny.co.uk/competitions before 28 March to be in with a chance! Regular Skinny T&Cs apply, available on request.
As the end of the financial year beckons and the memories of postChristmas bargains are but a distant memory, March is an opportunity to clear your wardrobe and spend your hard earned money on brighter, lighter togs. We at The Skinny understand that you might still be skint, and we’re here to help. That’s why The Skinny and the The One World Shop (100 Byres Road, Glasgow and St. Johns Church, corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road) are offering one lucky reader a £50 voucher for any product in the One World Shop, including their fantastic collection of Fair Trade jewellry! To enter, answer the following question:
In which major Scottish city is the Fair Trade Experience 2009 being held? Visit www.theskinny.co.uk/competitionsbefore 28 March to be in with a chance! Regular Skinny T&Cs apply, available on request.
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 23
Books
Poetry, Anyone? If you've any interest in poetry at all, the StAnza festival should be right up your street, writes Keir Hind
Highlights of
Aye Write! Glasgow's literary festival is back...
You should know by now that Aye Write! is Glasgow’s literary festival, which runs from the 6th to the 14th of March; it’s all held in the Mitchell Library, an excellent venue which could have been built especially to host this sort of event (in fact, it probably was). So, since you know all that, let’s just go straight into our recommendations for the festival:
Friday 6 March Scottish Poetry Slam Championship Final (9-11pm) Poetry slams have been described as professional wrestling to actual poetry’s boxing. But in a good way, honest! In both, a lot of work goes into being entertaining. Contestants from all over the country (and beyond) compete for the championship over several rounds – enjoyment guaranteed.
Saturday 7 March Atheism Panel (1.30-2.30 pm) Scientist Raymond Tallis, philosopher Julian Baggini and writer Christopher Brookmyre (who is also president of the Humanist Society of Scotland) all appear here at one of the events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. They’ll be debating religion, atheism and the meaning of life, the universe and everything - surely worth a look. Doctor Who (1.30-3pm) Appropriately, a discussion of the past, present and future of everybody’s favourite time traveller, and a preview of the forthcoming Who exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. Terrance Dicks, one of the most prolific writers on the old version of the show, joins up with Stephen Greenhorn, writer on the current show, to discuss all kinds of Whoviana.
Top: Carol Ann Duffy Bottom: Poetry Slam
StAnza is Scotland’s premier poetry festival, running from the 18th to the 22nd of March, and taking place in St Andrews. The festival aims to offer something for everyone, from the most avid poetry fan to casual passers-by. The 5-day programme is crammed with readings, performances, exhibitions and lectures, providing a large variety of poetic experiences all in the one place. The festival is launched by Alex Salmond on the 18th, and once he’s out of the way there’ll be singing, violin-playing and other sorts of pleasant chaos. The hub of the festival will be its Poetry Centre Stage events. These will include readings by some of poetry’s biggest names, such as Robert Crawford and Kate Clanchy on the 19th, Yorkshire poet and Radio 2 favourite Simon Armitage with New Zealand’s poet laureate Bill Manhire on the 20th Scotland’s own Carol Ann Duffy joined by performance poet Patience Agbabi on the 21st, rounded off by Peter Porter and Helen Dunmore on the last day. Around this solid spine will be a series of more unconventional events. If seeing Simon Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy on stage isn’t enough for you, they’ll both be performing intimate ‘Round Table’ readings, as will Thomas A Clark – book early, because space is limited. And if you’ve got any poetic ambitions yourself, then you might like to consider attending one of the poetry masterclasses, where poets will comment on work submitted by participants. Bill Manhire will be hosting one of these, as will Douglas Dunn.
24 THE SKINNY March 2009
If you have more of a taste for listening to discussions about well-known poets, then there will be a series of talks about the famous. Burns is well represented, with talks about Tam O’Shanter, about how his work will fare in the future, and about his relationship with women, in his work and otherwise. David McClay, curator of the John Murray archive, will be discussing Lord Byron, and the American poet and critic Jay Parini will be discussing Robert Frost, among many other events. Some of the most entertaining events should be the ones springing from St Andrews itself. The Inklight poets, from St Andrews’ creative writing society, present their work in late readings on the 18th. St Andrews’ performing arts group, the Mermaids, will present two (free) shows on Sunday the 22nd. And there will of course be a poetry slam on Saturday the 21st. Entries for the slam are still welcomed, if you’re feeling brave… This is just touching on some of the many events at the StAnza festival – check out their website for more details. The whole thing will be finished up with more controlled musical chaos from Heeliegoleerie late on the 22nd. If you’ve any interest in poetry at all, StAnza is bound to hold something for you, so please take a look – and, if you look closely, you’ll see that a good many of the events are free, too… The StAnza festival will run from the 18th to the 22nd of March. www.stanzapoetry.org
Ben Goldacre (3-4pm) Mr Goldacre writes the popular Bad Science column in the Guardian, and published a book of the same name, in which he attacks dubious medical claims and exposes the ways pseudoscience is used to justify everything from astrology to homeopathy. Expect arguments aplenty! Christopher Brookmyre and Mark Billingham (9-10pm) Last year, B&B (as nobody has ever called them) were one of the most entertaining pairings of the whole festival, keeping the audience in stitches for their full hour. And it’s a safe bet that their mixture of readings, banter and audience questions will get the same reaction this year.
Sunday 8 March History of The Beano (2.30-3.30pm) You have to admire the inclusiveness of a literary festival that welcomes a presentation on the history of a kids’ comic. So here it is, a look at the 71-year history of The Beano, presented by Beano insiders Morris Heggie and Euan Kerr. Alasdair Gray (7.30-9pm) Yer man Gray, already established as a great artist and a great novelist, now appears in an event focusing on his work as a playwright. Makes you sick, doesn’t it? Not only that, but this event will include two presentations from his plays, with Gray himself taking a role. Now that’s just showing off.
Monday 9 March Off the Page (3-4pm) Aye Write hosts a number of events dedicated to new writing, and this presentation by the Greater Pollok Carers’ Writing Group is just one of them. It’s scheduled to showcase not only stories and poems, as you’d expect, but songs and sketches as well. The variety, and the fact that it’s free, means it’s surely worth a visit. Days Like This Anthology (6-7pm) As featured in The Skinny, the Days Like This project asked the Scottish public to submit creative writing that was simply about a memorable day. Some of the best stories are featured in a new anthology, and two of the judges who selected these stories, Jamie Andrew and Roddy Woomble, will be here to discuss the project. Benjamin Zephaniah (7.30-8.30pm) Novelist, playwright, Aston Villa fan and talented performance poet Zephaniah comes to the Mitchell for an engrossing hour of performance. Whether writing poems as protest or entertainment, Zephaniah is always riveting. Forest Stories Café (9-10.30pm) Edinburgh’s Golden Hour, a mixture of readings and performances, is going on tour this year, and this is its Glasgow stop. Expect readings from their recent Stolen Stories collection and some live music too as they turn the Mitchell’s Café into another performance space for the night.
Friday 13 March Alan Bissett (9-10pm) In one of the stranger twists in the festival’s line-up, Alan Bissett presents his ‘one-woman show’. He’ll be performing monologues in the voice of his latest literary creation, Moira Bell, described as Falkirk’s hardest woman. Could be bizarre, could be inspired – but it’ll probably be both.
Saturday 14 March Aye Write! Awards Ceremony (8-9pm) The very last event of the festival is the presentation of the Aye Write! Bank of Scotland Prize for Scottish Fiction. Last year’s winner was Gold by Dan Rhodes. Yet more interesting is the awarding of the Sceptre Prize, the award for the best student fiction to come out of Glasgow University’s Creative Writing course. An appropriate end to a festival celebrating the best in Scottish writing. [Ryan Agee] Aye Write runs in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library on 6-14 Mar. www.ayewrite.com
Games
Resident Evil 5 It's still fun to shoot zombies ? Of course it is. Dave Cook gets to grips with Capcom's latest offering.
No bones about it, Resident Evil 4 was a shining example of how to re-invent a long-running franchise without ending up with something unidentifiable when placed next to its predecessors. The title still felt like it belonged to the series, yet re-wrote the rulebook instead of entirely depending on the merits of what had gone before. It was near-perfect and its influence is still evident in many titles today,three years later. So, how do you followup what many critics then regarded to be the greatest action game ever created? When the first trailer and in-game shots of Resident Evil 5 emerged in 2007, fans were slightly puzzled by the switch to a broad-daylight setting which raised questions of how Capcom would make the new, sunsoaked environment scary. Over a year later and as upto-date information about the game trickled through the grapevine, the developers seem to have absolutely nailed what made the predecessor so appealing. Slotted in for a March ‘09 release, the game is due to satisfy survival horror fans everywhere. Yet another example of Capcom’s recent penchant for satisfying the fans, is the return of original hero Chris Redfield. We first saw the character fending off the undead in the debut game of the series. Little nods to the him throughout the sequels and an appearance in Dreamcast title Resident Evil: Code Veronica have cemented his place as a fan favourite. The new instalment is set ten years after the first zombie encounter and Chris has since left the S.T.A.R.S. special forces unit and joined the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, sent into the heart of African province Kjuju to investigate an apparent zombie virus outbreak. Perhaps catering for the current generation’s taste for all things multiplayer, he won’t be going in alone. Chris is paired up with female lead Sheva Alomar, who provides covering fire from afar with her sniper rifle and gives her partner a boost up to hard-to-reach places. Early info hints that the computer-controlled Sheva
Reviews
is quite capable of holding her own most of the time, but if you can’t be bothered taking the risk, get a friend online, fire up co-op mode and help each other kick some zombie tail. No bickering over who gets that last health herb now... Once again the enemies here aren’t stereotypical zombies as such. Instead, they are infected humans who sprint towards you in droves, steamrolling the less headstrong player. Luckily, you’re armed to the teeth with a manner of upgradeable weapons, ranging from weak but trustworthy knives to ferocious machine guns, just right for tearing through packs of advancing foes. There’s no sign of the trader this time round though so whether or not you acquire in-game currency remains to be seen. However, some enemies won’t be so easy to take down, if recent footage is anything to go by. Videos of Chris battling a massive axe-wielding enemy surfaced late last year and look quite similar to Resident Evil 4’s encounter with the chainsaw-toting Dr. Salvador, but perhaps even more menacing. The way he advances without hesitation is enough to make you turn tail and run for your life. This is merely the tip of the iceberg of things to expect. From evading bike-riding infected zombies across dusk-lit sand dunes in a beat-up SUV truck, to the welcome return of the survival mode Mercenaries, there is plenty to get excited about. Resident Evil 5 looks set to be the successor the fourth instalment truly deserves. Also, with the re-appearance of series villain Albert Wesker, surely ripe for his long overdue come-uppance at the hands of his ex-team mate, could this be the last venture into the world of survival horror? If this does end up being the case, consider this a fitting swansong to an iconic series. Resident Evil 5 is released March 16, on Xbox360 and PS3 www.residentevil.com From Square-go.com
Reviews Street Fighter IV Capcom Out now on Xbox 360 & PS3 £49.99
rrrrr Set sometime after Street Fighter II, the world warriors lock fists and feet once more in a new tournament, which sees a handful of fresh faces enter the fight. Players advance through arcade mode by taking on a series of challengers, eventually leading up to the final showdown. It’s a simple format, it’s worked since the 80’s and it works again here. Veterans will love the familiar faces and special moves that haven’t changed one bit since the older titles. They’re all in there; Ryu’s Hadoken, Ken’s fierce Shoryureppa and Chun Li’s Spinning Bird Kick. It’s like rekindling a friendship with an old mate you haven’t seen in years.
*
What really takes you aback is how in-your-face it all looks. The colourful, larger than life characters are overblown, spouting cocky one liners and exuding charisma, while the superb pounding soundtrack really gets the blood pumping. Online is where the game really shines, with a quick and reliable lobby system and tons of people ready to fight. Depending on your actions in a battle you can unlock new titles and icons to complement your gamertag, so other fighters can see what kind of a fighter you are - bragging rights ahoy! There really is nothing to fault here - Capcom have once again continued their trend of delivering brilliant, utterly fastidious fan service. Through listening to fans and enhancing the parts of previous games that everyone loved, they have come up with one of the greatest fighting games ever developed. This is absolutely essential gaming at its very best. [Dave Cook]
...and over 55,000 people think our website rocks too! to find out more, check out
*
ABC verified as Scotland’s largest entertainment & listings magazine (32,487; 1/jul - 31/dec 2008)
March 2009
THE SKINNY 25
Theatre
Burlesque it up Exploring New
Territories
Gareth K Vile is surprised by the energy and vigour of new burlesque A decade ago, burlesque was a relic that appeared to have gone the way of vaudeville, Lancastrian clog-dance and religious conviction. Today, there are regular shows, workshops aimed at men and women, themed art classes and a community who, like superheroes, have codenames to protect their identities. This month has a workshop at Glasgow’s Dance House, led by the captivating Gypsy Charms. Its Austin Powers theme invites men and women to experience the thrill and power of teasing. Over in Edinburgh, there is TEAZE, a night raising money for Maggie’s House and Penumbra. Teniah Twisted from TEAZE explains: “Not only is our mission to help raise money for local charities, but we appeal to a wide audience because of the variety of acts, the diverse music policy, and inclusion of other arts, such as live painting and other dance. It’s for everyone.” TEAZE is one of many flourishing nights. The sophisticated High Tease is a sell-out at the Voodoo Rooms, Rock-a-burly is established at Glasgow Barfly and the massive Club Noir has brought spectacular burlesque into the mainstream. Then there is Kabarett. Promoter Lady Dee calls it “the ‘twisted little sister’ of the Variety scene. We include dark cabaret, comedy and freak show performers along with new and traditional burlesque acts.” That nights are finding such distinctive identities is a signal of burlesque’s maturity. Not that it has completed its evolution, suggests Teniah: “I feel that there are still a lot of people in Scotland who don’t really understand what burlesque is, simply because they have not been exposed to it.” Teniah is evangelical: “More than being part of ‘the burlesque community’ I see myself as helping to bring burlesque to the community! It needs to be recognised as an art form, but also be accessible.” Glaswegian performer Zuzu Petal identifies why burlesque is burgeoning. “My mother told me I should have a racy past, so I’m working on that now,” she claims. “I started classes with the wonderful Gypsy Charms because I loved dance and wanted to try a style which had the bonus of great outfits – as much sequins, feathers as you dare!” The upcoming Austin Powers workshop, she suggests, “is not really what you would expect of burlesque: not the traditional corsets and fans, peeling and posing, but go-go dancing fembots!” Driven by the enthusiasm of a generous community, contemporary burlesque has integrated elements from golden ages of British vaudeville, American posing and Berlin cabaret. Events like Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, which incorporates life-drawing and routines, prove that it is influencing and incorporating other arts. When Dee notes that it is “defined by humour,
Gareth K Vile sees New Territories make a natural evolution, as it continues to push the boundaries of performance
Ubu's Technological Phantasmagorias I, II and III
Andrea Heins
exaggeration or mischief and needn’t include a striptease or tassel twirl”, Teniah adds “it is theatre, comedy, satire and an art form in its own right.” This inclusiveness and flexibility makes it so potent. The recent High Tease made clear that burlesque is far from sleazy. It is playful, female-friendly, charming. “And yes,” Teniah concludes, “it can also be sexy!” TEAZE in aid of Maggie's Centre & Penumbra [Edinburgh], Fri 20 March @ Studio 24, Calton Rd, only £5 entry! SCHWING IT BABY! BURLESQUE PERFORMANCE BOOT CAMP with GYPSY CHARMS Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March VENUE TBC Booking: 0141 552 2442 or info@dancehouse.org £60 12.00 – 18.00 Vegas! @ Voodoo Rooms, 28 March £5 www.dancehouse.org
As programmer for the New Territories season, Nikki Millican has been responsible for bringing some of the most exciting art to Glasgow. This year, as it inhabits Tramway for a month, she reflects on what has defined this annual festival. “For me, there is no real separation between main New Territories and The National Review,” she muses. “Over recent years I’ve been merging them and there is no delineation there. Somehow, serendipitously, things merge quite naturally.” New Territories begun in the 1980s as New Moves, a dance festival. Now, it defies categorisation, incorporating music, drama and new technology, often within the same show. “Ten years ago, I was losing the sense of wanting to do just a dance festival,” she says. “I wanted so much more!” The line-up is remarkable, ranging from Sylvain Emard’s dance trilogy through Ubu’s take on Beckett to Paulo Ribeiro’s two nights of gender exploration. New Territories sketches the artistic frontier. “It’s not our job to repeat what other people are doing – it is a premiere programme as far as I can make it,” she says. Millican is utterly committed to originality and verve: “They flip between categorisations. It’s not purely dance, not purely theatre, it is interesting work. I can’t think of anywhere else in the UK that promotes those kind of artists.” “But I love it when artists play with traditional things,” Millican adds. “Like the way Cas Public dances en pointe, but makes it so much more relevant, more rock’n’roll – and still maintains wonderful technique.” This mixture of quality and radicalism is the hallmark of New Territories.
At The Arches, the RSAMD’s Into The New is a festival unto itself. Deborah Richardson-Webb, Head of Performance Pedagogy, is delighted that this annual showcase for the Contemporary Performance Practice students has integrated into New Territories. “Nikki was our first external examiner: over the years twelve artists have been selected as platform artists at the National Review. There was always cross-over.” The support of New Territories has energised and expanded Into The New: there are multiple performances, workshops, a symposium and a evening featuring the work of graduates. “It seemed a natural progression. The NRLA has been a huge influence on the development of the course,” Richardson-Webb acknowledges. “It was always our intention to have a much bigger event, one that became a platform for other artists.” She is excited about the venue. “We wanted more multi-purpose spaces, say for installations. The Arches gave us those nooks and crannies. The Arches is a gift.” Event co-ordinator and mentor Kate Stannard agrees: “This year, all this different space can be used. Some students are working site-specifically.” For Stannard, this enhances the performances. “When you make work, sometimes you don’t know where it will end up, so looking at the space, to see how it helps the work progress, is really exciting.” Aside from offering a programme that is the envy of any major city, New Territories is cultivating the next generation, offering them new opportunities. Here is a festival that sacrifices neither quality nor integrity for size and success. www.newmoves.co.uk
Going underground
Top 5 events
For the past week, I have been underground. In the depth of The Arches, The National Review of Live Art has uncovered the profound, the awkward, the incomprehensible and the trite in a festival that celebrates challenging performances. If it is academic and specialist, it has moments of sheer beauty and eloquence. At the same time, I was covering another scene – burlesque. The contrast was marked. Where the live artists are diffident, cloaking their work in obscure sentences and jargon, burlesque performers are generous and chatty, evangelical about their performances. And burlesque is utterly approachable, and fun. They mark out two extremes of the performance
The Skinny's picks for theatre across Scotland in March
26 THE SKINNY March 2009
spectrum, but their influence spreads throughout theatre. Cabaret is becoming a viable genre again, and gems from live art find their way into National Theatre staging. The energy of these Scottish scenes fuels the mainstream. Even better, they ask questions about what counts as performance, and what can be used. Burlesque reinvents sensuality, Live Art poses difficult questions. And with their shared interest in gender and identity, they share common ground. They are both communities, too: creating social connections through art, struggling to establish aesthetic and moral standards. And this is something that I desperately seek: those exciting moments when theatre actually impacts on daily life. It’s better than Facebook. Gareth K Vile
Cabaret
Wayne Sleep heads up this revival of the musical with edge. Nazis, burlesque, the man who danced with Diane. Perfect! 16 March–21 March, His Majesty's, Aberdeen 23 March–28 March, Edinburgh Playhouse 30 March–4 April, Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Times When I Bite Busy author Alan Bissett premieres his one woman show, but not in drag. Part of Aye Write. 13 March, Mitchell Library
Words Words Words Five-minute plays by the freshest writers, for free.
The Mystery of Irma Vep
30 March Traverse Bar Café.
20 February–14 March Lyceum, Edinburgh
Performed by a princess.
20 March–4 April Perth Theatre, Perth
13 March St Andrews in the Square
Check out our online review for the latest on this gothic thriller with laughs.
A Celebration of Arabic Dance
DONALD DOES DUSTY
NORTHERN BALLET THEATRE
TRON, 11-14 MARCH
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE, 17-21 MARCH
Diane Torr creates work that is humorous, intimate, accessible and serious. Emerging from her formidable intellect and compassion, Donald Does Dusty has a personal origin, but encompasses broader matters. DDD is a tribute to her brother. “He died of Aids in 1992, and was an extraordinary person, going from this housing estate near Aberdeen to be a wealthy property dealer in London,” says Torr. “He died at 43, and it seemed so unfair that he never lived to enjoy the fruits of his labour.” The show homes in on Donald’s youthful fascination with Dusty Springfield. “My brother somehow knew that Dusty was a lesbian. She was like a light for him,” she recalls. Perhaps importantly: “He performed Dusty – I’d be the one who watched him.” This was Torr’s first contact with drag. “He would dress up in my mother’s clothes – her evening dress and fur stole, long diamante earrings. Then I’d get bored, and he’d throw a tantrum.” Since Torr is most famous as a drag king, with both workshops and performances, this early encounter appears crucial. As Donald was an actor, his influence on Diane’s path seems key. “He would make jokes that he would dress up as me and I’d dress up as him, and we’d perform together – but it never happened because he died.” Donald Does Dusty is a personal work, but grapples with themes of gender identity, family relationships, inspiration and mourning. Torr’s consummate stagecraft, sensitivity and desire to communicate with the audience promises a moving and thought-provoking evening. [Gareth K Vile]
Northern Ballet Theatre reach out to their audience, as principal dancer Darren Goldsmith says, by “producing a piece of theatre, rather than a gymnastic routine of set steps”. The company produces works which dissolve the chronological and cultural barriers that deter viewers from attending ballet. Their enthusiasm to entertain is at the heart of their work, and no doubt the reason that they are celebrating their 40th anniversary. Northern Ballet Theatre return to the Festival Theatre offering programmes which, in Goldsmith’s words, “celebrate the journey they have been on”. They open with classical favourite Swan Lake, followed by a mixed programme. Artistic director David Nixon has reconfigured the Bolshoi classic; setting a wealthy young man's confusing obsession with a beautiful swan in early twentieth century New England The mixed bill includes A Simple Man, created for and dedicated to former artistic director Christopher Gable. This biography of painter Lowry is a seminal piece in the company’s repertoire, central to their Northern identity. Also included is Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture and traditional Russian ballet La Bayadare. Originally choreographed by Petipa for the St Petersburg Imperial Ballet, Nixon’s bold decision to include it is a testament to the company’s ambition and growth. This diverse programme demonstrates both the depth of NBT’s repertoire whilst highlighting their versatility. Workshops will be run alongside their tour dates, offering a rare and valuable opportunity to explore the company’s choreography. [Fiona Campbell]
18-22 March 2009 St Andrews w w w. s t a n z a p o e t r y. o r g
The festival which offers so much more… comedy, film, music, stand-up, drama and of course poetry galore… Taking part are Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Ian Rankin, Elvis McGonagall, Martin Newell & lots more.
spring09 5 January – 28 March
drop in for some flexi-time
classes and workshops for everyone from £5 0131 225 5525 CPL-Tunnel Feb Skinny Strip-PRINT.pdf
24/2/09
14:44:49
dancebase.co.uk
Charity No: SCO22512
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MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 27
THEATRE
Previews
Theatre
Previews A play, a Pie and a Pint Traverse, March and April
‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint’ – these three Ps have stolen the show for the past five years at Oran Mor, Glasgow, locking down the lunch hour with exactly what it says on the tin, for a credit-crunching, pie-munching £10. The idea has now gone east to The Traverse, Edinburgh, and they have commissioned a diverse range of some of Scotland’s finest literary talent to come on board. This season serves up the Dylan-inspired one man show, Poem in October by Robert Forrest; Lucky Box by David Harrower, who is returning to the venue that launched his first play, the ominously titled Knives in Hens; An Apple a Day by Jo Clifford, a quirky, provocative piece about a transsexual prostitute and an apple; the romantic Kyoto by David Greig; and The Ching Room by Alan Bissett, a seedy, intense power battle set in a toilet cubicle. This assortment of plays pulls together playwrights from different genres, with plenty of drama, intensity, lovers, tragedy and scandal, despite the lunch-hour viewing time. “Variety is the essence,” explains producer David Maclennan. “We look at established writers as well as younger, new talent. We like to surprise the audience and keep them guessing.” It invites guests to be fed, watered and thoroughly entertained. However, as Alan Bissett points out, “Edinburgh’s a healthier city than Glasgow, so they might have to rename it ‘A Play, a Prawn Sandwich and a Pinot’.” Fresh theatre, along with fresh food and drink. Easy as pie. [Mhairi Graham]
Helen McIntosh for A Play, A Pie and A Pint. Photo: Alastair Wight
Cryptic Nights
Reviews
CCA, Monthly
Baby Baby various venues
rrr
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Dundee Rep, 28 February- 21 March
The lines between technology and the arts are blurring at an astronomical pace: the latest laptops and computers position themselves not only as tools for business, but as home entertainment centres where anything seems possible. J Simon van der Walt, performing as part of the Cryptic Nights season, parallels this revolution yet takes it back to the ‘Bare Wires’. As Edward ‘Teddy’ Edwards and the Electr-O-Chromatic orchestra, he presents an electronic symphony of music and performance. Van der Walt’s imagination takes us on a technologically devised musical journey with improvisation, composition and electro-junk. His passion as a performer, actor, director and composer is apparent, and he strives to blend musicality, innovation and theatricality into one. Luckily, Cryptic’s creative drive lies in a similar field, making the Cryptic Nights season a perfect match for the composer. He arrestingly combines his “creative misuse of technology”, such as text-to-screetch (the warping of standard computer text-to-speech software), with reverting back to his childhood use of electronic junk as instruments. This piece could reinvent the way we experience music, and its place in a modern society. The electronic age is vibrantly creative, and with ‘Bare Wires’ the performing arts are keeping pace. [Clare Sinclair]
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is one of the most important plays of the 20th century. Back in 1998, when the National Theatre in London compiled their ‘greatest’ list of the century, Woolf ranked in the top twenty and was called the ‘play of the year for 1962’. Set in the living room of disillusioned associate professor George and angry wife Martha, it chronicles an alcoholfuelled evening when the couple ‘entertain’ the new biology professor and his mousy wife. A war of words, wits and wills leaves all four characters emotionally battered. When first premiered, the play created a stir with its profanity, frank sexual talk and daring themes of adultery, unhappiness and marriage crises. This sarcastic look at the ever-desired ‘American Dream’ became a sensation, winning numerous awards for the theatre and film versions. And it’s easy to see why. Nearing its 50th birthday, the play still feels fresh, vicious and contemporary. It has challenged many fine actors throughout the years. Taking the demanding roles of George and Martha in this production are Robert Paterson and Irene Macdougall. Recent Dundee Ensemble graduate members Alan Burgon and Gemma McElhinney take the supporting, yet equally difficult roles of Nick and Honey [Michael Cox] www.dundeereptheatre.co.uk
More theatre reviews
Hannah Donaldson(April),Ashley Smith(Pinkie). PHOTO: Vivian French
Baby Baby covers the controversial issue of teenage single mothers in an accessible and energetic production. It uses minimal set and bountiful props, and lets the two performers bounce off each other and the audience before delivering the final melodramatic, redemptive conclusion. Perhaps because it is issue-based, Baby Baby feels aimed at youth: the exaggerated mannerisms short-cut to audience sympathy but undermine realism, and the optimistic outcome is a sop to modern sensibility. Kitchen sink theatre was once tragedy and toil. It now has a positive spin that replaces Sunday School salvation with friendly understanding. Teen pregnancy is part of
ongoing self-development. The structure, with beginning, middle, end and a nice chronological circularity militates against any profound connection with life. Reality is scrappy, provocative. Meaning is hard to find and unfolds slowly. Baby Baby has a cheery farewell and some rocking tunes. Regarded as an alternative take on the gymslip mums debate, Baby Baby is a worthy hour; the sharp pace and clear characterisation are engaging. But the conclusion is obvious, the moral lessons are blunt and it fails to take advantage of contemporary theatrical innovation as much as it submits to modern sentimentality. One for the socially conscious. [Gareth K Vile]
online theskinny.co.uk 28 THE SKINNY March 2009
Comic fashion is varied and personal. Does a rumpled suit or bare feet on stage represent the person behind the jokes? Or is it all a costume?
National Tour Partner
Comedy
Comic Stylings
Book both s for and s hows ave to 25 up %
Swan Lake Tue 17 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thu 19 March 7.30pm / Thu 2.30pm ."4 SĂ´ROMANTICĂ´ADAPTATIONĂ´OFĂ´3WANĂ´,AKEĂ´ISĂ´AĂ´ MOVINGĂ´STORYĂ´OFĂ´BETRAYALĂ´ANDĂ´ALL ENCOMPASSINGĂ´LOVE Ă´ 4CHAIKOVSKY SĂ´BREATHTAKINGĂ´MUSICĂ´PLAYEDĂ´LIVEĂ´BYĂ´THEĂ´ .ORTHERNĂ´"ALLETĂ´4HEATREĂ´/RCHESTRAĂ´COMPLETESĂ´THISĂ´ INNOVATIVEĂ´TAKEĂ´ONĂ´AĂ´TRADITIONALĂ´WORK
Mixed Programme Tue 17 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thu 19 March 7.30pm / Thu 2.30pm ,AĂ´"AYAD°RE Ă´!NGELSĂ´INĂ´THEĂ´!RCHITECTUREĂ´ANDĂ´!Ă´3IMPLEĂ´-AN Ă´ AREĂ´RETURNINGĂ´BYĂ´POPULARĂ´DEMAND Ă´4HISĂ´-IXEDĂ´0ROGRAMMEĂ´ LETSĂ´YOUĂ´EXPERIENCEĂ´THREEĂ´VERYĂ´DIFFERENTĂ´SIDESĂ´OFĂ´ONEĂ´OFĂ´ THEĂ´5+ SĂ´LEADINGĂ´BALLETĂ´COMPANIES "OYĂ´"LUEĂ´%NTERTAINMENTĂ´INĂ´ASSOCIATIONĂ´WITHĂ´4HEATREĂ´2OYALĂ´3TRATFORDĂ´%ASTĂ´PRESENT
Pied Piper Wed 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sat 28 March 7.30pm
Eddie Izzard famously wears womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothes onstage. But then, he wears them offstage too. Where is the line between his personal dressing choice and his costume? And even if your idea of dress involves a jumper with holes in it, does this become elevated
Meet your blogger The Glasgow International Comedy Festival runs from 12-19 March. Comedian Susan Calman will be online throughout the festival giving us all an insight into its day to day shenanigans. Susan explains below what it is she loves about blogging.
The first rule of blogging? There are no rules! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hazy, crazy mixed up world of mundane observations and fabricated excitement. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I love it. And what could be a better way to spend every spare hour of my life than letting strangers know about my mostly dull existence. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like putting a glass to the wall of life and hearing a load of pish. And during March I will be doing everything possible to bring you a slice of pish from the Glasgow Comedy Festival. I will be spending the month watching everything from famous comics to new comics to drunk comics and most disturbingly...naked comics. Add to that the recounting of true life experiences from performing at solo gigs, big gigs and small, tiny awful gigs which will provide you with a window into a life more or less ordinary with a touch of glamour and beer mixed in. [Susan Calman] Read Susanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blog and catch up on the full Skinny coverage of The Glasgow International Comedy Festival at theskinny.co.uk
to costume status by virtue of your being onstage at the time, and thus being the object of an audienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judgement? Take someone like David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Doherty, tiny keyboarded king of musical comedy whimsy. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a man who looks as though his mum cuts his hair with a bowl and a pair of blunt shears, who wears shabby, comfortable clothing. His wit is self deprecating and modest and it would be easy to conclude that his fashion sense is nothing more than a reflection of his personality. But are his clothes in fact just like his undersized keyboard, a carefully contrived prop to go with a projected persona? As heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so busy with his upcoming show at the Glasgow Comedy Festival, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re unable to get hold of Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Doherty, so we speak to Siân Bevan (who is delaying writing her show until she's decided on what she might wear for it). For Bevan, dress is all about comfort. She started out doing gigs in bare feet, drawing enormous comfort from the sensation until she developed a quite sensible fear of broken glass and rabies. She also wore jeans until realizing that she enjoys wearing skirts more than anything, because it enables her to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;prance more effectivelyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. For her, how clothes make you feel help you to become a better performer. She acknowledges too that people will judge you no matter what you wear, so it is perhaps inevitable that your dress becomes a costume. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But once you realize that,â&#x20AC;? says Bevan â&#x20AC;&#x153;you can use it to subvert peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perceptions of your personality. Like Sarah Millican, who dresses like an office working girlyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;girl and talks about sex and relationships and all sorts of filthy stuff. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a conscious subversion of how we are supposed to view women.â&#x20AC;? In comedyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as in lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we are judged by our fashion choices, especially when we are standing on stage, where an odd tie or crease can become screaming signifiers. The comedian in the dirty shirt or the prancing skirt might not see it as a costume, but the audience, even only subconsciously, will. [Ariane Cass-Maran]
0IEDĂ´0IPERĂ´TURNSĂ´2OBERTĂ´"ROWNING SĂ´ FAMOUSĂ´POEMĂ´INTOĂ´AĂ´THRILLINGĂ´ANDĂ´ INVENTIVEĂ´STREETĂ´DANCEĂ´SPECTACULAR Ă´ 4HISĂ´GROUNDBREAKINGĂ´(IPĂ´(OPĂ´DANCEĂ´ PIECEĂ´TRANSFORMSĂ´THEĂ´STORYĂ´INTOĂ´ANĂ´EDGYĂ´ ANDĂ´CONTEMPORARYĂ´TALEĂ´WHEREĂ´THEĂ´RATSĂ´AREĂ´ TRANSFORMEDĂ´INTOĂ´gANTI SOCIALĂ´HOODIESuĂ´ ANDĂ´THEĂ´TOWNĂ´GOVERNORSĂ´BECOMEĂ´kĂ´CKLEĂ´ POLITICIANSĂ´ANDĂ´SMARMYĂ´SPINĂ´DOCTORS Ă´ 4HEĂ´RESULTĂ´ISĂ´AĂ´FUSIONĂ´OFĂ´JAW DROPPINGĂ´ DANCEĂ´MOVES Ă´ANĂ´INSPIRINGĂ´SOUNDTRACKĂ´ ANDĂ´AĂ´POWERFULĂ´TALEĂ´FORĂ´MODERNĂ´TIMES
0-/&+$Ăą1,2/Ăą Tue 31 March 7.30pm Ina Christel Johannessen, ONEĂ´OFĂ´ THEĂ´MOSTĂ´INlĂ´UENTIALĂ´ANDĂ´INSPIRINGĂ´ CREATIVEĂ´FORCESĂ´ONĂ´THEĂ´.ORWEGIANĂ´ CONTEMPORARYĂ´DANCEĂ´SCENE Ă´PRESENTSĂ´ HERĂ´kĂ´RSTĂ´WORKĂ´FORĂ´3$4 !RTISTICĂ´$IRECTORĂ´Janet Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sĂ´NEWĂ´ WORKĂ´EXPLORESĂ´OURĂ´INTERNALĂ´PULLSĂ´ANDĂ´ DIALOGUESĂ´AROUNDĂ´IDENTITY Ă´BELONGINGĂ´ ANDĂ´HOWĂ´TOĂ´BE
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thrilling and life-affirmingâ&#x20AC;? $ANCEĂ´5+
Tickets 0131 529 6000
See their shows at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
"KGĂ´&EEĂ´!PPLIES
David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Doherty: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Doherty Time!, 13 March, 8pm, The Stand. Sarah Millican, 19 March, 8pm, The Stand Siân Would Like You to be Happy (But Knows You Probably Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Be), 18 March, 8:30pm, Universal www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com
Ă´.ICOLSONĂ´3TREET Ă´%DINBURGHĂ´%( Ă´ &4 4HEĂ´+ING SĂ´ANDĂ´&ESTIVALĂ´4HEATRESĂ´AREĂ´MANAGED BYĂ´&ESTIVALĂ´#ITYĂ´4HEATRESĂ´4RUST Ă´2EGISTEREDĂ´ #HARITYĂ´3#
Groups (8+) 0131 529 6005
www.festivaltheatre.org.uk
"KGĂ´&EEĂ´!PPLIES
March 2009
THE SKINNY 29
Art
New beginnings Rosamund West caught up with The Embassy's committee as they spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon in a cloud of dust, taking up the carpeting in their new gallery in the arts complex of St Margaret's House. ON A NEW LOCATION: N: I’m very positive about this space, I mean it’s significantly bigger, and it’s a bit of a dramatic change from the old Embassy. Which is kind of good psychologically to have a break, start afresh. D: It’s a different area of Edinburgh too, so that’s dead exciting as well. It does create a different mindset. Do you think your location will be an issue? D: It’s on good bus routes! N: We’re also hoping we’ll have some sort of pull. I mean, there’s a lot of studios here, a lot of arts based things happening. Maybe people will come and join us, different organisations take space here. We’ve been scoping out the area. There’s some nice pubs. D: It’s good to try and connect with the local area. Even if it is just by drinking in it, to start with at least!
The new space is vast and light, high up in St Margaret’s house in the Meadowbank area of Edinburgh with views stretching to Fife by way of the velodrome and the industrialised hinterlands of the dockside. Windows punctuate the walls in the same way as the Ingleby’s, prompting comparisons between the rarefied surrounds of the city centre, bespoke commercial gallery and the peripheral DIY aesthetic of the artistrun space. There are also evident comparisons to be drawn between this gallery and the old Embassy, the shift in scale and location suggesting perhaps a change in mindset as well as a rejuvenated scope in terms of exhibiting potential. I asked the committee members a few questions on the new space, new plans, and the tough times they’ve had in the last few months.
ON THE COMMITTEE: How many of you are there on the committee now? Norman: There’s four of us. [Norman Hogg, Daniella Watson, Ben Fallon and Angela Beck]. John [Harrington]’s moved to London, but he’s still a kind
of unofficial committee member in terms of contacts down there. But he’s not helping us do this! There was a period of about a day when it was just me and Dani. Dani: That was scary! Is there a time limit on the committee membership?
ON THE NEW PROGRAMME:
D: Yes, it’s two years. But I think members of the first committee stayed on for three years. I joined in 2007, but didn’t really get fully on board until after the new year, so 2008. But because we haven’t had the space it’s just been paperwork involved really. Or not just paperwork, but getting back on track. Turning the Embassy juggernaut around! There’s been lots of different shifts in committee members in the meantime, because of the problems we faced. It’s not the same as just putting on shows, it’s almost like starting from scratch. Well, not entirely from scratch, because it’s got the reputation and name and everything.
N: Well the first thing’s the MFA interim show[which started on 27 Feb]. And then our programme’ll start exactly a month later. The first show’s called Boneless Box. And it’s a deliberately themeless show, with maybe about 40 or 50 artists, which we’ll be taking partly from the usual suspects, people who’ve been associated with the Embassy in the past. And partly from a broader selection of folk from across the UK.
Working for free I had an interesting conversation last month with a notoriously opinionated ECA tutor who shall here remain nameless as he was, I suppose, somewhat inebriated. His initial request to write an opinion piece for us on the subject of a performance of Jerusalem was withdrawn when he discovered I couldn't pay him, sparking the accusation that my work is "shit". Obviously the arbitrary slagging stung a bit. It did however raise interesting questions; there are a lot of people working for free in the art world, often for too long, and with no visible means of advancement. When that’s within an established, funded gallery, where the curator takes home
30 THE SKINNY March 2009
a hefty pay packet, drafting in over-qualified volunteers to invigilate or work at openings is essentially exploitation. When it’s an enterprise like the Embassy, or indeed The Skinny, where no-one’s exactly raking it in, but everyone has the drive and vision to want to make their ideas come to life, the question of financial gain becomes a little irrelevant. This means that programmes are fuelled by passion, not by capital. It means that artists and writers have the freedom to say or show what they believe, without interference from bureaucrats or commercial backers. And that crazy plans get to actually happen, because there’s nothing to lose apart from your convictions if you fail to follow through on your dreams. Call us shit if you like, but at least we’re trying.
Open submission? N: Not like a members’ show, more like a long list, submission document. See what comes of it! We’re hoping to get some proposals in from people who can work with the space. D: Because we can have a bit of flexibility with the way the space operates, we can move walls around and work with how artists want it to be. Intersect it, leave it open. It’s not just going to be a white cube, we can experiment with how it functions. We’ve got the programme planned until April 2010. Bloody hell. D: Yeah! Ben: We’ve got a show at Halloween in Glasgow, an exchange with the Studio Warehouse gallery. They’ll do a show here, we’ll do one there. Exchanging social scenes and things.
ON THE RELAUNCH:
D: We’re going to try and get a band to play in the space as part of the show. It’s a good space for a party, we can have loud music. N: Only ‘til ten mind. D: That’s plenty of time for a party! We’re relaunching the website, and have a new logo and everything. So we can post details on our blog or whatever, details of membership and events. We’re relaunching in lots of different ways. We’re becoming part of Edinburgh Contemporaries, the new umbrella organisation. It aims to be a kind of hub to share events, research.
ON THE ANNUALE: B: We’re bringing the Annuale forward to June, so it’s running at the same time as the Film Festival. For a number of reasons, a big one being space availability, it’s much easier to find a space outwith the festival. Also I don’t think the general festival crowd was the Annuale’s audience. D: Also because we have this space, in a different area. It’s important to us to have ownership over something. To really separate it from the festival. The Embassy have grand plans, and a great new space. After a worrying few months when it seemed like they might be gone forever, they’ve dealt with their financial and logistical issues to come back with a consolidated committee, an ambitious programme and a redesigned brand. Best of luck to them, Scottish art needs them. MFA Interim Show: 28 Feb - 7 mar(12-6pm daily)
Angela: We’re having a membership drive, with boxes based on the KFC takeaway box. With multiples, and a year’s membership for £9.99.
Boneless Box:28 Mar - 20 apr (Fri - Sun 12-6pm, or by appointment) www.embassygallery.co.uk
ART
Reviews LIFE IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT
COOPER GALLERY
rrrr LIFE IS OVER! If You Want It sees Tracey McKenna and Edwin Janssen use the exhibition as a space for discussion and reflection, staging various events and talks while working in situ for the show’s duration. Large-scale drawings reference the clear-eyed optimism of John & Yoko’s 1970s WAR IS OVER posters, whose black and white graphic clarity contrasts with the often fuzzy ethical questions raised around the subject of assisted suicide; the sloganeering seemingly rendered null and void when faced with such uncertainty. The artists’ recent familial experiences inform a display combining slide projections, drawings, bulletin boards and borrowed historical paintings with particular emphasis being placed on vanitas artworks from Janssen’s native Netherlands. A diverse collection of postcards, compiled during the show, references assorted art historical sources from the classical to the humble, the avant garde to the kitsch, slashes on a Fontana canvas sharing space with
Miffy the rabbit mutely contemplating a Mondrian. The wine-quaffing medic in Jan Steen’s 17th Century painting The Doctor’s Visit faces the poignant scenes depicted in the slide show Life, Death and Beauty: The Invisible Looks Back, a series made by Janssen in his parent’s home after his father’s death by voluntary euthanasia. In the projection Life, Death and Beauty: Fear, No Fear McKenna shows a series of drawings and texts developed over the course of the exhibition through dialogue with visitors, the artwork developing as discussions offer more material to document and reflect upon. Throughout the show, the extensive programme of talks and activities, the project is revealed as something open-ended, fluid and amorphous, its meaning located somewhere in the interactions between anyone who chooses to participate. Death is not presented as an event to happen to any one individual on their own. [Ben Robinson]
A MOVEABLE FEAST
Previews
SWG3
rr Outside the warehouse I could hear muffled music, which always makes me a little excited when entering a show I know nothing about. Emerging from the dark corridor into the large exhibition space I saw the room was dotted with various artists’ work: sculpture, video art, painting, sketches. TLC’s Creep was the music I heard from outside and it was coming from a television in the centre of the room. I decided to leave this piece till last as I was hoping I’d like it the most. In the meantime I took a look around the rest of the pieces. Stand out works included Manuela Gernedel’s Horse No. 3: a black, abstract sculpture of a small horse lying down. With no description of the artist’s work or biography, I was at a loss to find anything else to say about it other than that aesthetically, I
PHOTO: ALAN DIMMICK
PLACE PROJECT
liked it. In a small room off the main space there was another video piece playing, another of Manuela Gernedel’s, entitled Dinner. Her work was overshadowed, however, by the pounding beats of TLC and so I was unable to hear the conversation of the dinner guests tucking into their fish course. Slightly disappointed, I swiftly left this piece to see what all the noise was about. The television on the floor of the main room showed a group of three lacklustre dancers against a white background performing a routine to the mid-nineties hip hop classic. This work, entitled Keep it on the Down Low by Rhianna Turnbulll, was witty in its deadpan execution but not as much fun as I’d hoped. The show had a few memorable pieces but all that comes into my head thinking back on it is Creep playing over and over. [Suzanne Neilson] RUN ENDED.
THE BOWERY
Gone are the days of MTV constantly distracting us from our friends whilst at the pub, banished by the Place Project from The Bowery at least. Everyone is welcome and will be able to drink cans of Red Stripe and cocktails in teacups as per usual. However, the venue will be a little different during the Place Project week, due to a carefully selected range of work by emerging and established artists. These works should include a variety of installations and interventions, forming the backdrop for a generous number of workshops, events and performances. It is important to stress that the Place Project is not simply using the Bowery as a venue for an art exhibition: it is aiming to use art to enrich the original reason for the existence of a bar. The artists involved will take the ideas of relaxing, chatting, drinking, interacting and communicating and they will adjust and add to the existing
environment specifically with these issues in mind. If we look at the existing bar and people as chemicals in a reaction that produces sociability, Place Project would be the catalyst. The theory behind the project owes a great deal to the various reactions to Nicolas Bourriaud’s Relational Aesthetics. To summarise a whole philosophy into a single sentence, Bourriaud mooted the idea that, rather than there being a simple dialogue between a work of art and its viewer, contemporary art affects the relationships between the viewers. What better place then for art, than one deliberately designed for people to interact and relate to each other? So if you come to The Bowery expect a bar, but one that’s enhanced, enriched and without MTV. [Mark Herbert] PLACE PROJECT IS IN THE BOWERY 19 - 27 MAR. EMAIL PROPOSALS TO THEPLACEPROJECT@HOTMAIL.COM.
Instal 09 Brave New Music
20, 21, 22 March www.arika.org.uk INSTAL is an experimental music festival for people interested in un-average musical ideas and experiences. Acoustic laptops, circular singing, walkman solos, a no-input mixing desk, cello destruction, a feral choir, the natural frequency of the Arches… £10 day pass / £25 festival pass £10 accommodation offer Tickets from The Arches, Glasgow: www.thearches.co.uk / 0141 565 1000
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THE SKINNY WWW.THESKINNY.CO.UK
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 31
Music
Skye’s the Limit Atlanta’s Mastodon return this month with Crack the Skye. Dave Kerr drags Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher away from Tsarist Russia to ask what they’ve been smoking.
The future of heavy metal was dealt a bad hand the day Fred Durst strapped his Yankees cap on backwards and did it all for the nookie. Subsequently derided for a misogynistic sheen unseen since the halcyon days of spandex, it took a spell for critics to rinse the taste of nu-metal from their mouths and publicly embrace a band like Mastodon. But metal has always been the outcast’s salvation, and the real fans of the genre have always known better than the fickle music press anyway. Unsurprisingly, when asked what credence he gives to early
bird support from the big taste makers, Brent Hinds (singer/guitarist) sighs despondently: “I don’t even think I’ve ever been on Pitchfork.com. Actually, I think the only reason I went on there once was to read about me punching that guy from King Khan & Barbeque.” The Georgia quartet’s previous albums were of fire (Remission), water (Leviathan) and earth (Blood Mountain), with the latter two ranking highly in end of year polls across metal bibles and indie blogs alike. Of course, the next (and last) logical place to take a series of records based around the elements is through the
Editorial We don’t do the whole balls out rock thing very often, but by Day Lewis’s tache we make it count when it happens. There’s A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, and then there’s A Year and a Half of Trying to Get a Bloody Interview with Metallica. I hope you agree it was somehow worth the wait. Elsewhere we talk to a trio of the finest storytellers that contemporary music has to offer, although each one exists on a plateau of their own. There’s Mastodon (see above), Will Oldham (the artist alternatively known as Bonnie ‘Prince’
32 THE SKINNY March 2009
cosmos, which brings us to the surreal tale of Crack the Skye. “It’s an astral planing dream,” offers Hinds, “but it’s much more historic than Blood Mountain. I’m sure there’re some expectations behind it, of course, but I think people are going to be able to adapt to it pretty well.” Centring upon a tale largely constructed by drummer Brann Dailor, Crack the Skye is a vivid, outlandish piece of fiction depicting the travails of a paraplegic child who finds himself lost in space and allied with a Russian cult during an out of body experience. It
reaches its climax when Rasputin has a fight with the Devil for the child’s soul. Documenting the epic journey was Brendan O’Brien – hired on the basis of a personal recommendation from Bruce Springsteen, no less (“I said ‘Well, you’re the Boss, I guess I’ll go work with Brendan’” - Hinds). “He spoke right up,” Bill Kelliher (guitarist) elaborates. “He let us know what he thought about every song and he wasn’t a shy guy to tell us. He told us right off the bat ‘I’m going to be brutal on your music, are you guys cool with that? Because that’s what a producer does.’” Sonically, the album lends itself to Hinds’ hazy state of mind during an extended recovery period subsequent to a brain haemorrhage in early 2008: “I was writing much mellower stuff, but as soon as I took it to the band and we started working out the arrangements and the different riffs, it turned into a heavier album. Not necessarily a heavy metal album, but heavy, as in ‘whoa, this shit’s heavy’.” Much of the strength found in Mastodon’s barbed melodies undoubtedly lies with the contrasting styles of Hinds and Kelliher. Kelliher cites this synchronicity as Mastodon’s trump card: “We see things differently, as far as almost everything goes in life. But I think our guitar playing partnership is the thing that makes the band special - we complement each other pretty well. A lot of times when Brent comes up with some sort of crazy, chicken picking riff that’s all over the fretboard, I don’t try to mimic it because it might just get messy. I tend to lock down something that serves more rhythm.” Taking influence from, and continuing the lineage of heady stalwarts like Rush, Neurosis (Scott Kelly features on Crack the Skye) and Tool before them, Mastodon gigs are more of a spectator sport than an all-out frenzy of hair and flying pints, though the logic in standing quietly with a pint on the periphery eludes Hinds: “Usually there’s a moshpit right in the middle of the crowd, I guess they’re the hardcore Mastodon fans. But then there’re all the other people standing around staring at us like we’ve got boogers hanging out of our nose. I guess we impress them with our music but we could be disgusting them with our looks – who knows? I don’t know what’s going on with those people...” Whatever the attraction, Mastodon’s aesthetic appeal is ready made for the visual medium; might Crack the Skye see the full transition realised? “Actually, we’ve been talking about making a film - like The Wall – that goes along with the record,” reveals Kelliher. “We’ve been talking to our A&R guy over at Warner Brothers and he’s all for it, it’s just trying to get someone to back it. We have a really good treatment – a good idea – of what we want to do, and this story lends itself to being easily interpreted by film. I think that could be badass. It’s good to have such an awesome piece of art so well represented. I’ve got my fingers crossed for this movie, I think it’ll happen.” If Kelliher gets his way, it will be an ensemble cast to blow any Curtis or Tarantino vehicle clean out of the pond. “I’d be played by Tom Selleck, Troy would be Christian Slater, Tom Green as Brent, and I think Brann would have to be played by Eddie Murphy.” And Rasputin? “Steve Guttenburg.” Well, that’s one way of pulling him out of panto. Crack the Skye is released on 23 Mar via Warner. www.mastodonrocks.com
A Muso’s Top 10: Jack Black Billy), and Colin Meloy (he of Decemberists fame). There are also those who like to kiss on stage and get kicked out of India (Black Lips) and some rising home-grown talents currently carving a distinct niche of their own (Withered Hand, United Fruit and Opertor). And then, of course, in the interests of omnipresent rock action, there is Mr Jack Black... /Dave
I’ve been making some good music for my deep tissue massage lately. You don’t want to just leave it up to the masseuse, because he’ll bring some new-age waterfall sound music. You’ve got to make your own iPod massage list. Now I really like David Bowie, but it’s weird, because I was going through all his songs lately, wondering what would be a good mellow song for a massage, and I found there aren’t any. So I said "Fuck it, I don’t care, I don’t need mellow music to get a massage to! Maybe I want her to push hard?" So I put on Queen Bitch, and all of this: 1) White Stripes – Seven Nation Army 2) The Killers – Mr Brightside 3) The Strokes – Fear of Sleep 4) Queen – Killer Queen
5) T-Pain – Bartender 6) Beck – Gamma Ray 7) Neil Young – Let’s Impeach the President 8) The Who – Baba O’ Reilly 9) Arcade Fire - Intervention 10) David Bowie – Queen Bitch I also like Sandwich, a new Metallica song, have you heard it? You know the song One? We put new lyrics on there and instead of it being about a guy hit by a landmine who finds himself paralysed, deaf, dumb and blind, it’s about a delicious sandwich made out of egg salad. “Salad! Is made out of egg, with mayonnaise, it is delicious. Put it on toast, smells like a fart, but it’s delish, better than fucking fish!" We can't put that on the tape though.
Music
The coolest months
The Decemberists have never been known to take a conventional approach to their music. They recorded their third album, Picaresque, in the basement of a Baptist church. Their last effort, 2006’s The Crane Wife, was lyrically and musically based on an old Japanese folk tale. Frontman Colin Meloy explains their latest to Jeff Miranda
The Hazards of Love is no exception to the idiosyncratic style that The Decemberists have come to be known for. According to frontman and guitarist Colin Meloy, it’s heavily influenced by the British Folk Revival of the 1960s, even borrowing its title from an EP by Anne Briggs, a singer-songwriter who spearheaded the movement. Yet the band’s trademark storytelling concept remains intact, as The Hazards follows the journey of a woman named Margaret, and her encounters with a shapeshifter, her lover, a forest queen and a “rake”, the bizarre subject of the first single. Musically, the band continues to push past the quaint limitations of the folk rock genre. “Obviously there’s lots of Sabbathy riffage in there,” says Meloy. “With me being a more recent Black Sabbath fan, it’s been more present when I’ve been writing lately.” The most taxing aspect of recording the album surfaced as the band were trying to pull the technical aspect of certain songs together, something Meloy says the band has never experienced trouble with in the past. “It really became difficult when we were trying to record it and everything was set up in pieces,” he reflects. “It just came to a point about halfway through the process where everything was sort of disassembled and laying out so we could work on it, but we couldn’t actually see the forest for the trees.” For the first time, the band collaborated with Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, along with My Morning Jacket’s Jim Jones, who each lend their voice to the different characters in the album’s story. “When I was working on this project, and it was shaping up to be like my first attempt at writing a staged musical, I started casting some fellow musicians
that I thought were really good,” explains Meloy. “And so while working on the songs, Becky and Shara were in my head the entire time.” Before embarking on a nationwide tour in the US, the band is slated to play The Hazards of Love in its entirety for the first time at the annual SxSW music festival in Austin this month. “It’s going to be kind of crazy,” laughs Meloy. “It’ll be a good way to smash a bottle of champagne over it.” But the past year wasn’t just about recording new material. The band also had a brief foray into politics and campaigned for Barack Obama, where they
sarah roberts
"We Love Our Job"
played a show for the then-presidential candidate in their native Portland. Although Meloy says that he’s “not going to stand on stage at one of our shows and give a tirade about a political cause”, he says growing up with a “very politically progressive family” makes it hard not to want to share some views with fans. Mindful that time doesn’t forget the forefathers of rock and folklore who informed what his band does, Meloy sincerely hopes that the new record might encourage fans to explore music and stories of historical importance that they might not normally experience. “All that stuff is really the basis and foundation of
a lot of the music we listen to today.” He lingers for a second. “Even if it has gone through a lot of changes.” Meloy’s keen not to make an academic exercise out of it, though. “You’re not supposed to be sitting there taking notes while you listen to the record,” he says. “But if it were to be a launching point for an interest in folk music, I say that’s awesome. Or maybe someone will go out and buy their first Sabbath record. That will never stop being a good thing.” The Hazards of Love is released on 23 Mar via Rough Trade. www.decemberists.com
…And if you spent January evading authorities in India before jetting off to Berlin before a UK tour, you would too. Jason Morton talks shop with Ian Saint Pé of Black Lips Talking to Ian Saint Pé of Black Lips is like catching up with a mate about what happened at the weekend: “Whisky got the best of us. We decided to have a good time,” he says. But his tale gets more interesting by the second. “I still don’t know if they were mad about Cole pulling down his pants…they can’t like that. But the fact that Cole and I made out is, like, jail time.” Saint Pé is referencing the Atlanta quartet’s recent sojourn to India, a trip cut short by a raucous gig where their stage antics didn’t go down well with the locals. His tone is still playful as he recounts a tense situation. “We went in the back room and got word that the sponsor had pulled all the money out, the promoters were pissed, and that the cops were being called. So we high-tailed it, seven hours to get out of the state of Tamil so we couldn’t get arrested.” So much for a ho-hum tale of a weekend drunk. The Lips, a southern-fried rock band revisiting garage and doo-wop sounds of yore, have long been known for a wild live show, begging the question ‘Why India?’ — a country where public displays of affection, let alone partial nudity, can be taboo. To answer this, the group’s guitarist says he sees the band as a mode of transportation. “Being in a band, going to the club and meeting the kids afterwards, and they take you to that local bar, maybe take you to their house, maybe have sex — you see it for real. We made it part of our mission to go where bands haven’t gone.” And Black Lips have made good on that threat/ promise, so far visiting India, Brazil, Israel and Palestine, but they’re still looking for more. “Where else do we wanna go? We wanna do China next. After China, we’ll see.” But couldn’t a trip to the People’s Republic end in carnage a la India? Well, despite the
sordid circumstances, Saint Pé doesn’t chalk the visit up as a loss: “You don’t just go to India. We made it a mission to try, and it worked…we do hope that more Western bands can come through to India, keep it going.” After it “worked”, the band sought refuge with old friend King Khan in Berlin, recording an album of gospel music in the process. The project’s been dubbed The Almighty Defenders, and — though they’re currently without a label — the group hopes to have it out this year. Somewhere between Black Lips’ exploits and side-projects, they’ve also managed to work in a new LP — 200 Million Thousand — for release this month. Mining elements such as garage, southern rock and punk, the record still takes its chances. For example, late album track The Drop I Hold finds the Black Lips trying on hip-hop for size. “The foundation’s actually an old country song that we just looped, and Cole kinda scats over it,” explains Ian. “We’ve had some people say that song sounds like Wu-Tang… GZA, from Wu-Tang, is going to be on the remix. It’s going to be great.” Aside from coordinating a session with the renowned lyricist, the band plan to spend the foreseeable future gigging, where Saint Pé feels they’ve found their niche, even if they’re not quite flawless. “Nowadays, you close your eyes, and you’re hearing a goddamn CD. It’s miserable. We’re not perfect: We eat, we shit, we throw up — life’s not perfect. I don’t want to hear note-for-note professionalism…I think we’re a real band.” 200 Million Thousand is released on 16 Mar via Vice Records. www.black-lips.com
March 2009
THE SKINNY 33
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Metallica:
The Memory Re “WE’RE not trying to be something big and fancy. It’s just us, doing what we do. Let’s keep it that way.” — Cliff Burton, Cliff ‘Em All Without a doubt, Metallica’s greatest gambit was setting their sights beyond the threshold of thrash metal. Although 1991’s Black Album was a runaway success in the face of the impending grunge movement’s ubiquity, household recognition arrived at a cost. Remixed three times and stalled for almost a year, the sessions for the album reportedly cost the band $1 million and ended three marriages; a sobering period in the aftermath of the carefree hedonism they enjoyed during their early ascent. Then the Corbijn-friendly posturing, the orchestras, the all-star Skynyrd jams and the slowing of their collective hand saw to it that the by now stadiumdwelling Metallica’s following was split neatly down the middle for the remainder of the nineties. But last year’s Death Magnetic saw the San Franciscan quartet making serious moves to reconnect with what made them great to begin with, though some might say that 2003’s St Anger was a misguided lunge at achieving the same result (sans guitar solos, as the zeitgeist dictated). Of course, their immense popularity may have never waned, but the 2003 documentary Some Kind of Monster (the star of which was a polo-necked shrink who believed he was in the band by the film’s end) pulled the mask away from a band in turmoil as its members wrestled with egos, middle-age and the dissonance between a die-hard fan base with mixed feelings about the band’s direction and Lars Ulrich’s public battle with Napster. “The jury’s out on whether it helped us or not, but I’d like to think that some good came out of it,” says guitarist Kirk Hammett. “As for any other motion picture projects… there’s nothing on the immediate horizon, thank you.” So what gave Death Magnetic the edge? Enter Rick Rubin: a producer synonymous with the provision of creative guidance to fallen icons and innovative new artists alike. With Hammett’s praise for Rubin’s discography finding significance in almost everything he’s touched, the bearded mogul’s responsibility for the output of latter day Metallica cannot be underestimated: "Going into it, one of the reasons we were so enthusiastic about working with Rick is because he worked on a few metal albums around that period three or four years ago that were pretty cool in our book – the Slipknot album and the two System of a Down albums, then there’s the Mars Volta debut - that obviously elevated his status a few notches in our eyes. He’s relevant and in the present, but of course, he’s done a lot – like the Slayer albums, the Danzig albums, the Johnny Cash albums – I love them all.” Outwith the studio, Rubin preached a more leisurely recording regime than the band had become accustomed to under predecessor Bob Rock, recommending they revisit a mindset untapped for decades: “Rick had a bunch of non-musical ideas that really made a difference in the whole recording and creative processes,” says Hammett. “The one thing that he constantly stressed was to ‘just relax, have fun with all this’, and we did exactly that. He also told us that his favourite Metallica material is the stuff we did in the eighties and that whatever we were thinking of doing, listening to, eating or reading in the eighties – he asked us if it was possible to access what influenced us back then while we were creating music for now.” Whether Rubin’s infiltration of the band’s collective thought process forced them to reprise
34 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
“WE WERE LIKE KIDS IN A CANDY STORE ON OUR FIRST HEADLINING ARENA TOUR. WE HAD THE GIRLS, THE MUSIC, AND WE HAD THE CASH TO AFFORD JUST ABOUT ANYTHING WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT’VE NEEDED BACK THEN. WHO ISN’T GOING T O HELP THEMSELVES TO ALL THAT?" a lifestyle of skateboarding, Saxon records and Sherbet Dips is undisclosed, but Hammett asserts it was a worthwhile exercise that set the wheels in motion: “It started off as a bit of an experiment that we tried for two songs and the results we got were just fantastic, so we took that concept, ran with it and really used it to work with the rest of the material. From there things just got better and better, and the result is Death Magnetic.” Retrospect is a pastime Hammett engages in gladly, despite facing both corporate and mortal adversity – MTV flatly refused to play their early videos, and the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton in 1986 would take the wind out of their sails – though the eighties ultimately saw a fledgling Metallica at their innovative best and riding high on the fortunes it brought them. Speaking in a 1987 interview, drummer Lars Ulrich would famously suggest that the record to follow the seminal Master of Puppets should be called Wild Chicks And Fast Cars And Lots of Drugs. “We were like kids in a candy store on our first headlining arena tour,”
GUEST QUESTIONS SCOTT WEILAND (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS / EX-VELVET REVOLVER):
How do you keep one band together for so many years? Kirk: “There have been times when we’ve absolutely hated the sight of each other, but deep down we still care and have tremendous love for one another. We truly are a family, and with Rob in the band now we feel that with him too. The chemistry is great. It’s also a love and respect for what we’ve done in the past and knowing that makes the future look very bright and very clear now. James said the other day: ‘People want us to be together’. That to me was such a profound statement, and it’s fucking true. Certain people need us to be together and that makes it worth staying together as a band. There was a point where we were about to just fall apart, but we cared enough to go through all that we had to, to still be a band. Of course, that’s all been well documented.”
BY DAVE KERR
ANTON CORBIJN
Dave Kerr invites Kirk Hammett and Grammy award winning producer Flemming Rasmussen to take a trip down memory lane BACK in 1988, what Metallica lacked in falsettos and hairspray they made amends for with a conceptually daring masterpiece entitled ...And Justice For All. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, this month a new vinyl deluxe treatment of the album is set to recollect past glories and poke a few old wounds open. What were your first impressions of Metallica? Flemming Rasmussen: “I met the band just before Ride the Lighting, they contacted me because they were looking to find a studio where they could work because they’d done Kill ‘Em All pretty fast over two weeks in New York and wanted to try and develop their sound. I liked what they were doing, I was into that kind of shit in those days – still am. I heard them and thought ‘this is brilliant – a new, fresh band. I’ll record these guys.’” What did you set out to achieve on ...And Justice For All? Kirk Hammett: Justice was our first decision to see how progressive we could get and prove to the world that we could play intricate song structures. Yes, we can play riffs that are totally out there and based on polyrhythm and counter-rhythm and yes we can make that heavy and catchy all at the same time. It was a difficult album to record in that we ran out of time; we were recording up to the last hour of studio time and we all had to leave to go and do the Monsters of Rock tour of the States in the summer of 1988. The album was mixed while we were out on the road. You can either say that worked for it or against it. I think it’s a great album, the sound is unique – I know that if we were recording the album today it wouldn’t sound like that, because our sonic tastes and aesthetics have changed quite a bit, but I’ve come to accept the sound of that album. It was an attempt to do something new.” FR: ”We were looking for a more in your face sound. Ride and Puppets were recorded at my studio in Copenhagen and we put the drums in a huge wooden hangar-like room with a lot of ambience. Just to make it loud. Me and Lars went away for two weeks to find a studio that would be similar to the setup we had for Puppets. We struggled a bit but I think we got it in the end.” What do you feel was the finest moment on Justice? FR: “The machine gun drumming that leads into the solo at the end of One is a total highlight, and I think that guitar solo is probably some of the best work Kirk’s ever done. It’s fabulous.”
KEITH FLINT (THE PRODIGY):
Some Kind of Monster just blew me away. When you were filming it, did you realise you were making such a great documentary? When you watched it back, did it answer a lot of questions? Kirk: “When we were filming it, it wasn’t with the intention to release it as a movie. It was only in the final hours that we thought maybe we could turn it into one. But at the end of the day the joke was on us. I still have problems with how candid it is, I’m a very private person who enjoys solitude and privacy, so that was in direct conflict with how I am naturally. But, watching it back, I thought ‘this is a cool movie and it has the potential to actually help people and maybe even help other bands.’ That was the big thing that I got out of it. In the end, it really didn’t matter if it was us or if it was someone else – the message of the movie is that if you really care about something enough you can work your problems through, no matter how difficult it might seem.”
recalls Hammett. “We had the girls, the music, and we had the cash to afford just about anything we thought we might’ve needed back then. Who isn’t going to help themselves to all that? You’d have to be nuts, comatose or brain-dead not to.” MTV swallowed its pride, the underground was heard and a mainstream critical landslide commenced. Enough accolades have subsequently been showered on the band throughout its career to collapse the sturdiest of mantelpieces, but among their intimidating roll call of plaudits – nine Grammys, an upcoming induction into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of fame this April – is a rare honour bestowed upon them by the Mayor of San Francisco in 1999 when he declared the 7th of April ‘Official Metallica Day’. “It was pretty funny,” says Hammett. “We all kind of looked at each other and said ‘hey, it’s Metallica day, does this mean if I run a red light I won’t get a ticket?’” With great fame comes superhuman expectation, a curse Hammett suggests has led to the greatest misconception of all: “That we’re inaccessible. A
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Remains
Louder! Faster! Justice Revisted
lot of people think because we are who we are that we’re hard to get to, or arrogant, or standoffish, but we’re none of that. We’re a lot more approachable than people think, but our whole organisation is so professional that we need our time to focus on what we need to do, but after the show we like to hang out with everyone and have a drink, have a laugh, just like anyone else.” It’s a precious minute to socialise that the band will surely appreciate as a world tour calls time on other leisurely pursuits for the next year. And although he alludes that there’s no hurry to push another record any time soon – “well, we do have a few songs that are just kind of sitting around, but I don’t know what’s going to happen to those” - Hammett insists that living on the road until summer 2010 is quite enough to keep them occupied: “Just making it through that in one piece is the ultimate goal.” When questioned about the intangible quality that makes for Metallica’s enduring appeal, Hammett offers a simple philosophy: “First and
KH: “I really like the guitar solo on The Shortest Straw, but the stuff we did on One was great. I can remember going to the studio and knowing what I was going to do for the middle guitar solo that day, but I didn’t really have a lot of ideas for the other parts. But when I got there it all came together, just like that.” With the benefit of hindsight, are there elements of the record you’d like to revisit and polish in some way? FR: “I’d like to mix it, because it was mixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, but there’s a lot of talk about that, because it’s the notorious ‘no bass’ album. If I’d mixed it, I’m pretty sure I could have slunk the bass in there somewhere. I probably would have had to argue a lot with Lars and James, but you know, that’s the way it is. They might have been stubborn about that. It was always a battle between Lars and James.” Were you aware of any criticism of the bass – or lack thereof - at the time Justice was released? FR: “I read a lot of reviews where people were raving about how fantastic the sound was, it took a couple of months before they realised ‘hey, there’s no bass on there’. The kick drum was so loud that the low end value blurred the fact.” Do you think the stylistic changes Metallica went through between Justice and the Black Album were necessary to sustain the band’s future? FR: “By the end of Justice, we’d taken that whole idea of ‘let’s write 10,000 riffs and make one symphony in each track’ to the extreme. I thought it was a really good idea when they decided to do one song, one riff. The fact that James wanted to start singing was really good, because he’s a good singer. He never really bothered in the old days. It wasn’t on the schedule at all when we were recording Justice.”KH: “We all felt the time was right to create a bunch of shorter songs that had a more traditional format and arrangement – to make shorter versions of what we’d been doing on previous albums. We cut out all the stuff we thought might be unnecessary for the material that we were sitting on back then, with those songs being Sad But True, Sandman, Unforgiven, whatever. It was just us going into a different direction, yet again, it wasn’t because ‘alright, we’re going to write shorter songs because that’s more accessible for radio.’ We were economising because we needed to, on an artistic basis.” ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL [DELUXE EDITION] IS AVAILABLE NOW ON VINYL VIA WARNER.
foremost, it’s just the strength of the material. The songs and the music really speak for themselves; they’ve become their own entity. I mean, when we’re all dead and gone, those songs will still be speaking to people. There’s something in our music that just clicks with the human psyche. It’s just the way it is. It’s the way we play, it’s the performance, the way we say the things that we do. It’s the chemistry between us and it’s bigger than the four of us.” Although the fallout over the ‘brick-walled’ mix of Death Magnetic will undoubtedly become a bone of contention to rival the ‘no bass’ scandal of ...And Justice For All, what’s indisputable is that Metallica have rewarded the good will of their fans and proven that the redemptive, cyclical nature of guitar rock can still yield surprises. Thus, the Four Horsemen take to the world stage with heads held high. As if we ever doubted them. Ahem, as you were... METALLICA PLAY SECC, GLASGOW ON 26 MARCH. WWW.METALLICA.COM
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 35
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He Who Would Be 'Prince' Unusual and innovative music from Scotland and beyond compiled by Milo McLaughlin
As Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, actor-turned-songwriter Will Oldham has produced a remarkable body of work while remaining an elusive figure. Milo McLaughlin talks to him about the release of his latest album and his unique philosophy towards life, the music press and Britney Spears
Jeffrey Lewis Willamsburg Will Oldham Horror This month’s podcast features exclusive extracts from our interview with Will Oldham, aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, so it seems as good a time as any to big up this song by New York anti-folk hero Jeffrey Lewis. It tells the (possibly imaginary) tale of an encounter with Oldham on a train which descends into Lewis being brutally beaten and defiled by the generously-bearded indie legend. Amazingly, Oldham admits he’s a big fan of the song. The Japanese War Effort Punk Is Not Dead Another song which mentions defilement (never say we don’t treat you); in this case it’s some nasty accusations of necrophilia in relation to the endangered musical genre of punk. However, if the inclusion of the lyrics “who smells like poo” are anything to go by, then the punk attitude at least lives on in the land of Lothian Buses where the track’s creator calls home. Snowbird, his debut, is pure class and is available on tape cassette for a couple of quid, or free to download via winningspermparty.com. Keep an eye out for his new record, appearing on Fabrikant Records soon. Wake The President - Miss Tierney Infused with the unmistakable aura of the Scottish indie tradition, Wake the President have followed the route of their heroes Belle & Sebastian with debut album You Can’t Change That Boy (full review on p45), due for release on Electric Honey this month. Front-twins Bjorn and Erik have been busy releasing excellent music by other bands such as Endor and Zoey van Goey through their own Say Dirty Records in the past few years, but now it’s their time to shine. With this sublime ode to teenage lust they again invoke the ghost of Stuart Murdoch’s band at their early best, but with an added dose of guitar well worthy of a salute from Johnny Marr. FOUND - Let Fidelity Break Edinburgh electro bods FOUND seem to have gone all evil on our ass with this growling little devil of a tune, exhorting listeners to drink, drink, drink, and throw up in the sink (or something). It’s from their Fidelities EP (reviewed on p.42) which will emerge as a joint release between German label Aufgeladen & Bereit and Fence Records on 9 March. You can also do them a favour and donate a few quid for their ‘snarebrained’ compilation to help fund their trip to South by Southwest this month. Keep an eye on www.theskinny.co.uk for a diary of the band’s touring exploits in Texas and New York. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST AT WWW.THESKINNY.CO.UK OR SUBSCRIBE VIA ITUNES.
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SIMONA DALLA VALLE
WITH 17 albums recorded over 15 years under various pseudonyms, Kentucky-born Will Oldham has established himself as one of the most prolific and talented songwriters in alternative music today. That’s despite starting out as an actor – at the age of 17 he starred in John Sayles’ 1987 film Matewan but found the accompanying pressures unmanageable and instead drifted into making music. After recording a number of albums as himself and under the names Palace Brothers and Palace Music, Oldham settled on his greatest character role to date: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. The first album he recorded under that moniker, 1999’s I See a Darkness, is a masterpiece of ragged, lo-fi coal-black country-folk, his unaffected, fragile voice spitting out brutally honest poetry from depths rarely mined by other songwriters. It’s as if the protection of an alter-ego has afforded him the freedom to express a much deeper side to himself than he would feel comfortable doing under his own identity. The album’s title track has even been covered by the late Johnny Cash (with a little help from Oldham on backing vocals). Since then, the Bonnie one has forged his own distinctive musical path with follow up albums such as Ease Down the Road, Master & Everyone and The Letting Go, as well as collaborations with Tortoise, Björk and PJ Harvey. He has even appeared in videos for R‘n’B stars Kanye West and R Kelly. Following his success in music, Oldham has been able to return to acting on his own terms, taking roles in a selection of credible indie films such as Julien Donkey-Boy, Junebug and – most recently – Wendy and Lucy, out in the UK this month. However, for all his critical acclaim, it would seem that Will Oldham is not a fan of the music press. How else would he explain promotional copies of Beware, the latest Bonnie Prince album, also released this month? It was sent to reviewers containing so many excruciating spoken interruptions during each song, it rendered the album virtually unlistenable and led one journalist to recently describe it as “the worst promo CD ever”. Speaking on the phone from Hawaii where he’s due to play a gig the following night, Oldham admits that this wasn’t just some evil record company ploy, and that he was complicit in the decision. “That’s something that we agreed on. I guess it’s all well and good for reviewers to complain about something like that, but I think it’s partly the reviewer’s responsibility to figure out a process by which music can be gotten to reviewers in advance of the release of a record without
"I MEAN BRITNEY SPEARS IS SORT OF LIKE THE OASIS OF AMERICA, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEBODY WHO LIKES MUSIC CAN LOOK YOU IN THE EYE WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND SAY THAT THIS IS GOOD." it being leaked all over the internet, and when reviewers get off their asses and start taking a little responsibility for their jobs then things can go smoothly again.” In fact, he also considers the current process of doing interviews inherently screwed up. “Doing lots of press takes so much time away from playing, writing and listening to music. And I think there’s something wrong with this process of soliciting huge numbers of writers to talk to somebody about their work in a solid mass of interviews, rather than doing say, four interviews over the course of a year, which would make for ideally more interesting articles.” Oldham’s attitude towards promoting his records may seem overly antagonistic to some – and seems to have led to a reputation as something of a curmudgeon, with even his own mother describing him as “ornery” in a recent in-depth article in The New Yorker magazine. While on some levels The New Yorker piece fits into Oldham’s ideal of how the interview process should work, he also says he considered the author’s detailed description of his Kentucky home life, including his dinner with his mum, to be “a strange invasion of privacy” as he hadn’t realised the writer “would be on the clock 24/7”. This self-protective stance serves to illuminate Oldham’s entire life and career philosophy, helping to explain how he has managed to produce a discography almost as prolific and rewarding, at least to his huge and dedicated fanbase, as Dylan (to whom he is often compared) or The Fall (who he has revealed are on
his iPod). It also explains his sometimes surprising changes in musical direction. “I feel strongly about protecting my ability, enthusiasm, energy and desire to continue making music, and it seems, as with every walk of life, there are a lot of forces constantly acting against you to make you feel like it might be better and easier to stop.” Oldham goes on to spell out his strategy for dealing with such forces. “It’s a regular checks and balance system, when things do seem stupid or futile or wrong, there’s a need to not necessarily get claustrophobic, but to decide OK, this just means turn left or turn right. Just because you’re not moving straight, it doesn’t mean you’re not progressing.” It would seem it’s this approach which has led to his elusive reputation, as if he is a rarely sighted hairy man of the woods – a kind of Bigfoot of American indie. But then Oldham believes this is far better than the kind of ubiquity enjoyed by massive stars these days. “I’m satisfied with the littlest thing – if I love a song by the Greek singer Demis Roussos, I can go on YouTube and watch some strange video which looks bizarre, ridiculous and frightening, and in three minutes I’m satisfied. Then you get the extreme pinnacle example of somebody like Michael Jackson or Britney Spears, where we find out so much about them and see them so often that both they and the public become fatigued.” However, despite his love of R Kelly, who he says “has originality going for him”, the Bonnie ‘Prince’ won’t be putting Britney on his turntable in the near future. “I’ve always been kind of mystified and even offended by people’s claims to like her – I mean Britney Spears is sort of like the Oasis of America, I don’t understand how somebody who likes music can look you in the eye with a straight face and say that this is good.” Realising that I embody the twin evils of both music journalist and Britney apologist, I keep quiet and thank my lucky stars that I’ve gotten off so easily with this notoriously difficult interviewee. In fact, whilst clearly a complex man, Will Oldham is an affable character, despite what his persona would lead you to believe; unless, of course, this was just another of his many dramatic roles. BEWARE IS RELEASED ON 16 MARCH VIA DOMINO. WENDY AND LUCY GOES ON GENERAL RELEASE AT CINEMAS FROM 6 MARCH. TO HEAR MORE OF OLDHAM’S OPINIONS ON THE PRESS, BRITNEY SPEARS, R KELLY AND PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON, LISTEN TO THE I HEAR A NEW WORLD PODCAST AT WWW.THESKINNY.CO.UK. WWW.BONNIEPRINCEBILLY.COM
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The seeds of success United Fruit are currently lighting up the murky Glasgow underground with their unique brand of experimental rock. As the band continue to break the ice, just a year in, they sit down with Ryan Drever to tell the story so far ONE of several new bands currently providing the antithesis to Glasgow’s wealth of jangly indie upstarts, United Fruit — named after the controversial American corporation of the same name — have been turning heads on the local circuit in recent months. Their palette might fall somewhere in the ballpark of Sonic Youth’s experimental wiles and the visceral intensity of At the Drive-In, but they’ve a hungry, raw sound all of their own. Iskandar Stewart (vox/guitar) and Stuart Galbraith (guitar) both played in bands prior to UF and, after little success, decided to take a break. The duo spent over a year “just getting into music again”, as Stuart reminisces. “We thought it was a good way of writing. Me and Iskandar would just sit around and listen closely to a lot of sounds.” Iskandar picks up the conversation: “We’d sit and listen to great bands like Sonic Youth or Shellac and go ‘that sound is amazing! How do they do that?’ Then we’d start trying our own interpretation of it all, incorporating other elements, to try and create something else.” Judging by their recent live shows, we’d say mission accomplished. The rest of the band met through seemingly chance encounters. Having already acquired drummer Marcin Dabrowski — after the Polish student moved to Glasgow from France to study politics — the band switched from a standard three-piece (guitar, bass, and drums) set-up to using two guitars. Shortly after, Bassist Marco Panagopoulos was drafted in, completing the line-up. “It turned out Iskandar worked with
a friend of mine,” says Marco. “He told me to check out their MySpace. Where it said ‘sounds like’, it just had ‘two guitars and drums’. I jokingly asked: ‘So, I don’t suppose you’d be needing a bass player then?’ It turned out that they did, so I joined.” In the intervening months the band clicked and spent the majority of their time perfecting their set before attempting to venture on stage. “We practised a lot before playing live,” explains Iskandar. “Rather than getting gradually better as we played more gigs, we wanted a bit more impact from our first one.” United Fruit have been plugging away at the underbelly of the Glasgow scene ever since, featuring repeatedly on bills across the city whilst finding solace in an ever-expanding group of bands treading similar waters. An enthused Iskandar tells of the band’s excitement to find like minds: “It just sort of sprung up on us that there was a healthy scene going. I think Glasgow’s always had a healthy scene, but in our sort of niche we’ve found something great.” Since becoming a four-piece the band have recorded and self-released a single (Shake) and more recently a four track EP entitled Mistress Reptile, Mistress. Although it is still very much the beginning of the band’s ascent, it would appear the DIY approach suits them well. However, according to the their ever-talkative vocalist, a helping hand wouldn’t quite be batted away: “I’d love to get signed and not have to worry about anything. Ideally, we just want to keep releasing stuff until we find someone who would be willing to ‘invest’
ANDREA HEINS
in it in some way and appreciates what we’re doing.” In the meantime, the band look set to take their wares to farther points across the country for as long as is physically and financially possible, having only merely touched on this earlier last year. With a tight set, constant gigging and unwavering enthusiasm, it
seems Glasgow might not be the only city to sample United Fruit in the not-so-distant future. UNITED FRUIT PLAY THE 13TH NOTE WITH THEWS, YOUR LOYAL SUBJECTS AND HEY VAMPIRES! ON 13 MAR. WWW.MYSPACE.COM/UNITEDFRUITBAND
SONS & DAUGHTERS - JEFFREY LEWIS & THE JUNKYARD SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO (DJ) - METRONOMY - MICACHU DRUMS OF DEATH - COUNT&SINDEN (DJ) - THE INVISIBLE DINOSAUR PILE-UP - TOMMY REILLY - DAN BLACK
85 BEARS - ANSWERING MACHINE - BE A FAMILIAR - BLACK SUN - COME ON GANG! COPY HAHO - DE ROSA - DESALVO - EDIE SEDGWICK - EUGENE MCGUINNESS EUROPEAN UNION - FANGS - FINDO GASK - GALCHEN - GEORDI LA FORCE - GUANOMAN HUDSON MOHAWKE - ISOSCELES - LESSER PANDA - LITTLE MAN TATE - LOVELY EGGS MANDA RIN - MITCHELL MUSEUM - MY TIGER,MY TIMING - OH ATOMS - PANAMA KINGS PEARL & THE PUPPETS - PLUGS - PULLED APART BY HORSES PUNCH & THE APOSTLES - REMEMBER REMEMBER - ROGUES - SIRENS,SIRENS SKY LARKIN - STRICKEN CITY - SUCIOPERRO - THE LINES - THE RAY SUMMERS THE XCERTS - THESE MONSTERS - THREE TRAPPED TIGERS TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - WE HAVE BAND - WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS Y’ALL IS FANTASY ISLAND - YOUR TWENTIES - ZOEY VAN GOEY
MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
GLASGOW April 30th - May 1st
100+ live acts, 15 city centre venues 2-Day Ticket: £42, 1-Day Ticket: £23.50
Limited number of 2-day tickets priced £35 available Tickets and updates available from - www.hinterlandfestival.com
38 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
It may take a village to raise a child, but the capital city's community is raising a whole new class of urban folk musicians. Jason Morton sits down with Withered Hand to hear the benefits of keeping your peers close
MARYLOU ANDERSON
MUSIC
Beginning to Flourish
AS Dan Willson waits for this tardy interviewer in an Edinburgh city centre arts café, he leafs through a handmade zine on display near the front door. The timing of the interview, while coincidental, is fitting. An ongoing event, called Don’t DIY Alone, is spread across three days and several venues, bustling noisily throughout the room. So in order that I can hear the soft-spoken Willson pontificate on ‘doing it himself’— performing and recording under the moniker Withered Hand — we seek refuge in an adjoining stairwell. Willson considers this DIY ethic a common thread among his Edinburgh-based peers — Meursault, Les Enfant Bastard, Eagleowl and Rob St John in particular. “I wouldn’t say it’s a stylistic ‘thing’. Maybe a belief in people who do it themselves: get a PA, put on a gig somewhere.” Though Willson had already played in several local bands, it was exposure to New York’s anti-folk scene that pushed him to strike out on his own. “That was the defining thing: I went to a Jeffrey Lewis gig in Glasgow, and Kimya Dawson was playing, and I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t sing… but I can play a few chords, and I’ve got something to say’.” After this revelation, the heart and soul of Withered Hand set about crafting semi-autobiographical and self-described ‘urban folk’ ditties — replete with wry and self-deprecating lyrics — until another folk-informed local musician caught wind. “Bart from Eagleowl put on this day of music at a café in Leith. He knew I’d been writing songs but I’d been too scared to perform them. He persuaded me, in the end, to come down and play.” Willson’s self-effacing nature fits in well with the anti-folk feel, but he felt this push was a positive thing. “From there, it wasn’t so terrible,” he says. “I know I’ve got a high voice but when I got used to it, people didn’t really care. When I first heard Neil Young, I thought he was a woman.” The strained
voice of Withered Hand, coupled with Willson’s subdued but charming stage presence, goes a long way in creating an endearing experience for listeners. His songs, and the topics explored in them, remain simple and accessible. “You stole my heart/and I stole your underwear,” he admits on Religious Songs, while the layered I Am Nothing reminds us that “we’ve all got things that make us evil.” Willson also tries to keep things simple in other areas, which extends to his recording and performance. A dedicated self-recorder, he concedes that the process “can be a total pain in the ass”, though in recording his debut LP for local stalwarts SL Records he has learned to be less meticulous in order to push the process forward. To that end he was recently funded by the Scottish Arts Council to work with Mark Kramer, who has produced artists as varied as Galaxie 500, Daniel Johnston and White Zombie. This intimate approach factors into Willson’s live gigs as well where, after playing both large venues and house parties, he says: “It’s obvious which is the plum gig, which one is more fun and makes more of a connection with people.” In the world of Withered Hand, music is not just a performance, but a way to communicate with friends as well as a crowd. WITHERED HAND PLAYS THE BLUE LAMP, ABERDEEN ON 15 MAR AND THE BOWERY, EDINBURGH ON 25 MAR. WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WITHEREDHANDMUSIC
WWW.THESKINNY.CO.UK
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 39
Music
73 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3BZ Tel: 0141 221 4851 www.twistedwheelglasgow.com www.myspace.com/the_twisted_wheel
FRI 6 MARCH THE STRIKE NINETEENS & The Killing Time – 8pm, £5 SAT 7 MARCH SUPER ADVENTURE CLUB, Six People Away & Tom Snowball – 8pm, £5 THU 12 MARCH ROB MCCULLOCH, Spider Monkey, Eskimo Go – 8pm, £2 FRI 13 MARCH PARLOR MOB, White Ace, Dirty Angel – 8pm, £5, WED 18 MARCH TALKING TO STRANGERS, John Knox Sex Club, Convoi Exceptionel – 8pm, £4 THU 19 MARCH AMBER WILSON, Cancel Winter – 8pm, £2 THU 26 MARCH SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP, Vetacore, Hindle Wakes, Michael Fracasso – 8pm, £2, MON 30 MARCH OLD ROMANTIC KILLER BAND, EL DOG, – 8pm, £5, SUN 5 APRIL 6 DAY RIOT, Gideon Conn, The French Wives – 8pm, £6
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40 THE SKINNY March 2009
24/2/09
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Music
A Ghostly Presence
Subclub's Subculture turns fifteen this year. Colin Chapman finds what it takes to keep a good residency alive and grabs a word with March's Special Guests.
stephen K. Schuster
Since May 1994, the talents of Harri and Domenic have encouraged a loyal following to return time and again to the Sub Club’s in-house night Subculture. This May, Subculture celebrates its 15th birthday and it’s clear that the collaborative mix of resident DJs and promoters is a key element to keeping Subculture high on the Saturday night clubber’s agenda. As the years roll by, people’s lives change. Domenic’s move to Barcelona two years ago means he now appears at Subculture once a month, leaving an opportunity for promoters Mike Grieve and Paul Crawford to bring on a new approach. DJs Telford and Junior have been brought in to keep the regular Subculture vibe alive on the dancefloor, and promoter Barry Price has also been brought on board to help with programming newer, less-established guests including Prosumer, Gerd Janson, Guillamé and the Coutu Dumonts, with New York’s Holy Ghost! set to make their debut this month. “We’ve brought Telford and Junior on board as kind of trainee residents for Subculture,” explains Paul. “It’s very much the way we see things moving. We want to use more local talent, take a kind of organic approach to the evolution of the night. Its how we started out, and for consistency and atmosphere nothing compares to having weekly residents that know their crowd.” Alongside Mike and Paul, Barry has become a part of the Subculture material. “I think they felt I’d bring a fresh perspective and also work hard on pushing the night,” says Barry. “My role is quite broad. I’ll arrange the bookings, take on the PR role and do the day-to-day business stuff too”. So, as Subculture passes a landmark birthday and new promotional collaborations are born, Holy Ghost! – amongst a bill of other Subculture first-timers this year – appear on 7 March. Holy Ghost! are signed to the much-respected DFA label, home of LCD Soundsystem and The Juan MacLean. The Brooklyn duo of Nicholas Millhiser and Alex Frankel were originally part of live rap group
Automato whose self-titled album was produced by DFAs James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy. When the group split, Nick and Alex decided to become a partnership. “It was a six-person band and keeping six people on the same page is difficult,” Nick concedes. “We went our separate ways amicably but Alex and I kept working together. Without an MC, rap wasn’t really an option for us, so we took the opportunity to explore influences and references which were difficult to incorporate into Automato.” Naming themselves Holy Ghost!, the pair were keen to get feedback from James and Tim, who they’d become friends with while working on the Automato album. “We kept sending them whatever we were working on and even from the earliest, roughest demos they were both extremely supportive,” enthuses Nick. “James was ready to put out our first record when it was only a minute and a half long and was nothing more than the drums, bassline, synth melody and some handclaps”. Soon they were signed to the DFA label and in 2007 released the synth-disco-meets-pop single Hold On to a great reaction, which took them by surprise, as Nick confesses: “I was just stoked that DFA were going to release it, but didn’t really think people would care all that much about it. It was sort of a weird record for the label to put out… sonically, it had a lot in common with their other releases but it is pretty overtly ‘pop’ and Alex and I didn’t think that DFA fans and DJs would be so keen on something so vocal-heavy. Once Tim Sweeney played it on his Beats in Space show it seemed to just takeoff… we started getting remix requests and two years on, people are still playing it, which is awesome." Following the success of Hold On and remixes for the likes of Cut Copy, MGMT and Moby, the duo’s first album is set to come out later this year and develop the musical blueprint they set out on their first single. “We’re suckers for catchy hooks, good, thumpy drums,
“We're suckers for catchy hooks, good, thumpy drums, spooky synth melodies and dumb chord progressions" Holy Ghost spooky synth melodies and dumb chord progressions and those reoccurring elements you hear on Hold On will make frequent appearances on our LP,” Nick concedes. “The album we’re making is a pop record that leans towards the discothèque but isn’t entirely for the dancefloor,” adds Alex. “Some songs do sound like they were made for dancing and they were, but others would probably fit late-1970s AM Gold radio better.” When quizzed about what’s helped inspire them while making the record, Alex has this to offer: “Aside from hearing great DJs and talking about music with our friends, buying new gear has definitely played a part. We recently installed our first modular synth and it’s been great to have. We also just bought a French Connection, a controller for the modular that lets you play it by sliding a string around a piano’s keyboard. The effect is similar to a Theramin or a human voice, but even more haunting.” Working with other DFA acts has also probably
rubbed off on them – Alex played piano on LCD Soundsystem’s 45:33, while Nick has been part of The Juan MacLean’s live band. He’s keen to express how much being involved with the imprint means to both of them. “It’s the best thing in the world – we make music for a living on a label run by our buddies and then we all get to travel together to play records for people. As far as jobs go, it’s a pretty good one. We’re a pretty close-knit bunch… we hang out when we’re home and help out with each other’s music when need be." Their forthcoming appearance at Subculture sees them involved in a second European trip after playing gigs over here last year and Nick is positive about their DJ experiences on this side of the Atlantic. “European crowds are great. Almost all the shows have been good… I think clubbers over here tend to be more open-minded and also have a greater knowledge and appreciation for the history of dance music, probably because it’s been part of the mainstream culture for longer.” At the moment they’re both focusing on DJing rather than playing live but Nick says that they intend to move in this direction once the album’s finished. “We’ll keep DJing until the record is done and then we’ll start performing with a full band. Hopefully that’ll be soon but we’re not rushing anything.” In the meantime, what can we expect from their Subculture set? “At the moment we’re playing a lot of old disco and early house and then a handful of new edits by guys like Todd Terjé and Jacques Renault. We also play our own remixes and some of our label-mates’, like The Juan Maclean, Gavin Russom, Still Going, Runaway and Shit Robot”. Holy Ghost will play Subculture on 7 mar, 11pm - 3am, £5 before midnight, £10 after. www.dfarecords.com www.subclub.co.uk www.myspace.com/yoursubculture
March 2009
THE SKINNY 41
RECORDS
The Dirty Dozen This month's single selection includes Mancunian rock, weird folk and... Dutch soul. But is any of it any good? Nick Mitchell will be the judge... With bands like M83 and School of Seven Bells being hyped to the rafters, it looks like the lush dream-pop that Ladytron have been plying for years is suddenly the indie zeitgeist. And Tomorrow (****, 2 Mar) is a typically sultry number, revealing the Liverpudlians at the height of their powers. Contrast that with Micachu & The Shapes, who sound like practically nothing you’ve ever heard. Twenty-one-year-old Londoner Mica Levi revels in off-key tinkering, unidentified found sounds and extreme brevity, on the evidence of the 79 seconds of Lips (***, 16 Mar). If that was the sensual equivalent of someone pulling a party popper in your close proximity, Doubtful Comforts (***, 2 Mar) by Blue Roses is more like pulling on a woollen balaclava, without the connotations of violent crime. But perhaps that’s an unfair comparison - its combination of kalimba (like a marimba, but cooler) and lilting melody is actually quite effective. Not another bloody female singer-songwriter? Yep. Unfortunately Karima Francis is one of those warbler clones who stuffs their words with extra syllables in the name of ‘passion’, and Again (*, 9 Mar) – or should that be Aga-ee-eh-ee-ehn – is utterly forgettable. I refuse to believe that Jake Flowers is a real person. Touted by his PR as a new folk talent plucked from “a remote farmland dwelling in deepest rural England”, it sounds too Emmerdale to be true. And sure enough, rather than offering up anything authentic or distinctive, all Flowers gives us is Small World (**, 30 Mar), a suspiciously slick nu-folk song aimed straight at Radio 2. On a completely different sell, Alain Clark is apparently a “Dutch
soul superstar”. Why am I reminded of the ‘Dutch wine’ scene in Nathan Barley? Anyway, Father And Friend (*, 30 Mar) is a frankly laughable, gag-inducing song about, y’know, being a father AND a friend - about as soulful (and indeed traditionally Dutch) as Gareth Gates. The latest Oasis single is called Falling Down (***, 9 Mar), but, alas, stop visualising Liam Gallagher on the rampage in his local McDonald’s, because this has nothing to do with Michael Douglas’ mental breakdown. Rather, it’s a perfectly good Noel-sung number that shows how they’re mellowing with age. The same can evidently be said for fellow Manc veterans Doves. After a four-year hiatus, comeback single Kingdom of Rust (***, 30 Mar) is an elegiac, part-Morricone, part-country and western song about how it’s grim (and rusty) up north. And he’s not the only one grappling with the dark stuff. The Hours’ new song Big Black Hole (***, 30 Mar) is basically a warning to an alcoholic friend to give it up before he ends up in the titular grave. Weirdly, the music is quite jaunty and uplifting, if a tad bland. Irish indie outfit Bell X1 are band #2874 to claim Talking Heads as the major influence on their current output. Listening to The Great Defector (***, 2 Mar) any discernible similarity is hard to find, until the chorus kicks in and it’s blatantly, copyright-infringingly close to Little Creatures-era Heads. Still, it’s pretty good. This month’s unlikely collaboration is supplied by ex-Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell and beatmaker-to-the-stars Timbaland. Part of Me (**, 2 Mar) sounds exactly as you’d expect: a distinctively cigarette-stained voice and a distinctively clipped R’n’B
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
backing. But any actual tune is missing. My Girls (****, 23 Mar) isn’t this scribe’s favourite track from the ludicrously good new Animal Collective album Merriweather Post Pavillion (that honour goes to Bluish), but it’s still mind-fuckingly brilliant enough to earn them Single of the Month - like a cross between a barbershop quartet and Boards of Canada overheard through a waterfall. Far out? Damn skippy. WWW.MYANIMALHOME.NET
Single Reviews WAVVES
FOUND
THE TRAVELLING BAND
SO BORED
THE FIDELITIES EP
DESOLATE ICICLE
2 MAR, YOUNG TURKS
9 MAR, FENCE/AUFGELADEN & BEREIT
9 MAR, SIDEWAYS SALOON
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Music fans of a certain age might remember this guy from the nineties called Beck. He made fuzzy, lo-fi, lazy-sounding stoner anthems that hid a wealth of ideas behind the apathy. Fast-forward a few years, and instead of telling us he’s a loser, southern Californian multi-instrumentalist Wavves has made a fuzzy, lo-fi, lazysounding stoner anthem to tell us he’s so bored. He’s a blogger’s favourite, and does a good job of distilling a few generations of American music into a comfortingly familiar yet subtly exciting mix. Pixies nestle up with Pavement, The Beach Boys get cosy with Beat Happening, everyone’s happy. [Euan Ferguson]
It comes as little surprise that The Travelling Band are favourites of glorified Glastonbury farmer Michael Eavis. If his festival’s original ethos was all about being nice to your fellow man/flower child in a sun-soaked pastoral setting, then the Mancunian sextet’s music fits the bill snugly. The title of their latest single, Desolate Icicle, may not exactly conjure images of the Summer Solstice, but the song itself is a warm, melodic number that skirts around the edges of The Beautiful South or the affected Americana of The Thrills. So it’s not challenging but convivial, and that’s entirely the point. [Nick Mitchell]
WAVVES PLAYS NICE ‘N’ SLEAZY, GLASGOW WITH PENS ON 1 MAR.
Apparently designed to give the lie to those who say the Scottish music scene is too ponderous or introspective, Edinburgh collective FOUND are specialists in skewed, mashed-up folk-tronica. Fans of Attic Lights and Make Model already know about their digital talents thanks to some gloriously glitchy remixes, and The Fidelities EP certainly errs more on the ‘-tronica’ side of things. With its yelled chorus and pent-up electro, Let Fidelity Break is an alt.pop hit-inwaiting, Now We’ll Never Make The Playlist is a spindly slice of unabashed funk, while This Way By Design confirms FOUND as natural successors to The Beta Band. The creative well tapped by Ziggy Campbell and his cohorts shows no sign of running dry. [Nick Mitchell]
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WAVVES
WWW.FOUNDTHEBAND.COM
WWW.THETRAVELLINGBAND.COM
28 COSTUMES
THIS BAND HAS EATEN ALL OUR MONEY 2 MAR, REKORDMEISTER
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DINOSAUR PILE-UP
ENJOY DESTROY
TRAYNOR
HOLIDAY LOVER
23 MAR, FRIENDS VS RECORDS
9 MAR, SELF RELEASED
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Dicing rhythms around from start to finish, 28 Costumes are a post-Arctic Monkeys indie band (can we say that yet?) who aren’t going to offer you an increment of respite. The financial woes and dashed aspirations of these young upstarts are transcribed in 2 minutes of fast-paced variety and fingerbleeding fretwork. The only time the drums stop is to give room to a solo that lurches underwater for a few seconds before diving back into the relentless pace. They won’t get top marks for originality, but for flat-packing adrenaline, they’re up with the best - here’s a hands down winner. [Gordon Bruce]
It’s almost reassuring to know that, despite all the sonic/creative/technological innovations that some bands spend an entire career grappling with in the admirable aim of edging the artform of music that little bit further forward, there will always be bands like Dinosaur Pile-Up; bands who simply want to make a noise and have fun. Traynor singularly fails to bring anything new to the punk-rock table – it’s basically a metal-by-numbers din of brutish guitar riffs and fuzzy fingerwork – but you still have to smile in acknowledgment of the fact that Dinosaur Pile-Up are perfectly happy in their fossilised state. [Nick Mitchell]
The fact that their album has been produced by Feeder frontman Grant Nicholas gives us a clue as to Enjoy Destroy’s sense of identity. Their pop-rock sound is focused and accessible. The melodies are memorable if not gripping and the delivery is professional if a little short of unique. There are big power-pop hooks over distorted (but not too distorted) guitar, akin to the more innoffensive moments in Biffy Clyro and Foo Fighters’ catalogues: two comparisons they are likely familiar with. Holiday Lover sees four young men play adept three-minute pop in two dimensions with one ambition: the success that surely awaits them. [Austin Tasseltine]
WWW.28COSTUMES.CO.UK
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DINOSAURPILEUP
WWW.ENJOYDESTROY.COM
THE SECOND HAND MARCHING BAND
A DANCE TO HALF DEATH EP OUT NOW, CHAFFINCH
rrrr Considering their vast ranks include members of Danananaykroyd, How To Swim, Eagleowl, Q Without U, The Just Joans and a dozen or so others, The Second Hand Marching Band may regret limiting their debut EP to a hundred copies. Partly because that’s barely enough to supply a disc to each of the band’s considerable membership, let alone intrigued punters, but also because they’re far too good to be coveted only by five-score fans. Intertwining sounds bubble up and fade through each of the six tracks, producing an unsettlingly amorphous blend rich with harmonising vocals, interlaced refrains and snatches of ukulele, accordion, melodica and plenty more besides. Slotting nicely into Scotland’s blossoming alt-folk scene, they won’t outnumber their audience for long. [Chris Buckle]
42 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
BLK JKS
MYSTERY EP
BRONTO SKYLIFT
EAGLE/FALCON
9 MAR, SECRETLY CANADIAN
OUT NOW, SELF RELEASED
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The hype is building around Blk Jks, and with good reason. Imagine the zeitgeist creativity of Brooklyn transposed to the raw, head-to-head soundclash of South Africa, and without trivialising their achievement, you’re somewhere near their sound. That’s no coincidence: Blk Jks are a Johannesburg quartet produced by the Secret Machines’ Brandon Curtis, a cross-cultural marriage that proves to be an inspired one. They create a unique, haunted post-rock sound with spectral flashes of an Africa Vampire Weekend only dream of. First track Lakeside is spurred on by a fierce polyrhythm section and some twisting, elaborate Afro guitar, and the title track is a building, primal, multi-layered genre-bender that merits a TV On The Radio comparison. It all bodes well for whatever comes next. [Euan Ferguson]
What with the fashionable rise of happy-clappy dross à la the Knack-pilfering Ting Tings in recent times, it’s not often a two-piece like Bronto Skylift, for all their visceral intensity, are afforded the good will they need to progress. However, half an hour spent in the company of this savage drum ‘n’ guitar combo reveals an undeniable, primal appeal. Certainly, Eagle/Falcon is a satisfying appetiser; the jarring riffs and powerhouse drumming by turns tastefully recollecting Helmet and The Bronx. But live - where flailing arms and precise jazz-fills leave jaws on the floor - you will find this band on fire. [Johnny Langlands] WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BRONTOSKYLIFT
Collaboration
by Jamie Scott
Operator Is Go Laptop? Check. Beeps, bleeps and technical geekery? Check. Electronica's best-dressed laptop wizard is back. Rosie Davies finds out exactly what he's been doing, and just how many computers he's destroyed
eddie fisher
Kate Copeland
Hip-hop in 2009 is to be showered with releases by J Dilla and (formerly MF) DOOM. Since Dilla’s death in February 2006, all manner of album reissues have surfaced, and now, Rapster is releasing a collection of compilations designed to reinforce his legacy as one of the most influential and consistent beat-makers of the last 20 years. DOOM also returns this year, with his first new material since Dilla’s passing, and with Madlib, Ghostface Killah and Danger Mouse collaborations rumoured to be surfacing soon, it could be a busy 2009 for Daniel Dumile.
Madvillain - All Caps After five years away from music, DOOM came in from the cold with projects under various pseudonyms before releasing his defining album Madvillainy. Collaborating with Madlib, consort and friend of Dilla, the grainy flute samples, stop-start beats and gross-out rhymes of All Caps made this the stand-out track from DOOM’s finest record so far.
The Pharcyde - Runnin’ Back when he was Jay Dee, J Dilla co-produced the Pharcyde’s second album Labcabincalifornia. Despite the limited commercial success of the record – something that caused Dilla little concern throughout his career – it featured some peerless production, and Runnin’, with its skipping drums and loping guitar, is widely considered one of his finest beats.
DOOM - Lightworks Similarly to Dilla, Dumile had developed a distaste for major label life during his career with KMD, and forthcoming album BORN LIKE THIS is set to be released on independent Lex Records. Here, DOOM raps over a track lifted from Dilla’s final album, Donuts: a grainy, tuneless beat that reflects Dumile’s deteriorating voice.
KMD - Who Me? Under his Zev Love X moniker, a baby faced Daniel Dumile released this single with early-90s trio KMD. The track is notable both for the young Dumile – with an unrecognisably slight stature and relatively honeyed voice – and for the humourous B-movie samples that now litter his work as DOOM.
The appropriation of Dilla’s music is nothing new – Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes and the Roots have all taken beats from Donuts – and when the posthumous plundering of rapper’s unreleased tapes to create “new” singles seems to have regressed in its intensity, it makes perfect sense that producers should have their work reappraised, reworked, and reimagined.
J Dilla - Reckless Driving Frustrated by constant delays to his major label debut, Dilla’s relentless work ethic saw him issue the limited edition EP Ruff Draft on German imprint Groove Attack: a bold move for an artist working in the goldfish
Dillanthology is released on 30 Mar via Rapster.
bowl of American hip-hop. The EP showcased some of the prolific producer’s most experimental moments, and with numerous assertions that Ruff Draft is “for real niggers only” this remains one of his most aggressively fascinating releases.
BORN LIKE THIS is released on 23 Mar via Lex. www.myspace.com/jdilla
Lewis MacColl is a man of many faces. Most well known for his experimental electronica releases as Operator on Scandinavia and Benbecula, he also plays bass in Black International. He’s worked with Neil Landstruum on Sugar Experiment Station, and he’s the man behind side projects LeithWeapon (“grime/German pop”) and Gang Rap (“just me and some silly people”). Since he emerged on the electronica scene in 2002 there have been other collaborations. MacColl is the classic example of bedroom-DJmade-good. Armed with a laptop and the internet, Operator amalgamates electronica and IDM, coming at you from the 5am witching hour of his creativity. His live shows combine hardware and laptop with live singing. From under his sheet of shoulder-length hair, his drive towards musical experimentation has destroyed over five computers so far: “After I’ve played a gig I’ll go home and spill beer all over them. It probably doesn’t help that Apple also like to test out their hardware on the public...” April sees the long-awaited release of his latest album. A journey of bleeps and beeps, synths and soundscapes, How To Make Bombs And Influence People continues in the same computergenerated strain as his earlier work. It’s been a long time coming, though: “One of the tracks we rejected from my first EP on Benbecula. It’s one of those songs we just couldn’t get rid of. I’ve been working on other things in between, and came back to it. The title is perhaps unfortunate now but it was conceived long before the troubles in Gaza. I think electro can be political - look at the underlying atmosphere at illegal raves and warehouse parties — but I try not to be with my music.” The album found a home with Glasgow experimental electronica label Mighty Robot after being introduced by a band he was in “which we won’t mention. I think people are realising that the kind of Dutch, I-F sound — poncy electronic music, if you like — is much bigger in Glasgow than it is in Edinburgh.”
He may well be right — last November Operator’s Bad Manor featured in the Ten Tracks bundle curated by Brian D’Souza, resident DJ with Glasgow music design specialists Open Ear. Appearing alongside his collaborative muse Neil Landstrumm, as well as other artists on the Mighty Robot label including English Electric and Dirty Hospital, MacColl admits he was happy to be part of D’Souza’s selection. “It’s hard to find a scene in Edinburgh. There’s been an inglorious amount of indie bands cropping up. In Glasgow it’s nice that bedroom DJs can come out and find a community. Not that I’m slagging the town I was born in, you know. It’s just becoming a bit of a cricket jumper kind of place, that’s why I had to get out. Having said that, whenever I’m there I always go to Substance. It’s ace.” Now based in London, MacColl is working on a new project with the Sugar Experimentation Station, as well as a vocal album of his own. “It’s an odd one. I’m really interested in putting a human voice over electronic sounds. Electronic musicians might be quite aggravated that it’s so easy to make a tune now. But to be honest, some of the best stuff will probably come out of some simple machines.” He’s also playing at Nathan Fake’s album launch this March — “just a nice guy from Norwich” — in between checking out most scenes in the city, from old-school hip-hop to metal. “I’m into a label called Lo Recordings and their sub label Loaf. They have a band I saw live in London a couple of months ago called The Chap. They were amazing — the Fry and Laurie of death metal. My latest music recommendation is a new disco band called Jon Jon Slave. They’re probably the greatest band in the world. Seriously.” Something tells me we should sit up and take note Bad Manor by Operator is available via the Open Ear channel on tentracks. co.uk alongside contributions by the likes of Remember Remember, Alex Smoke, Neil Landstrumm and Ali Renault.
www.rapsterrecords.com www.myspace.com/mfdoom
March 2009
THE SKINNY 43
Records
DOOM vs. Dilla A Post-Humous
www.tentracks.co.uk
RECORDS
Album of the month MICACHU AND THE SHAPES
JEWELLERY
rrrr 9 MAR, ROUGH TRADE From grime mixtapes, learning difficulties and running experimental music nights while at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, it would be very easy for the quality of this album to be lost in the buzz of surrounding side stories. Furthermore, toy keyboards, obscure humming noises and household samples play up the veneer that covers the music of Micachu and the Shapes. But when expertly disguised melodies peer out from beneath the anarchy, the better it becomes. Last year’s mixtape, Filthy Friends - which featured a wealth of guest rappers - was a soundclash of ambience and gracelessly jarring beats;
populated by spindly samples and danceable rhythms, these better parts are carried forward to Jewellery. Besides the gurning guitars and shy prettiness of the LP, Micachu’s vocal is the clear focal point; her muttered, drunken-street-preacher singing style is easily one of the most endearing to have emerged from London in recent times. And despite this being Micachu’s debut, there’s no sense that it’s the näive defining moment that so many groups find their first album becoming, which leaves a reassuring suspicion that there’s much to this lady we’ve yet to hear. [Jamie Scott] READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MICACHU ONLINE AT WWW.THESKINNY.CO.UK.
Album Reviews U2
MASTODON
WOUNDED KNEE
NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
CRACK THE SKYE
SHIMMERING NEW VISTAS
2 MAR, INTERSCOPE
23 MAR, WARNER BROS.
9 MAR, BENBECULA RECORDS
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The band will argue vehemently that this is a departure from their previous work but the reality is there’s no way that No Line on the Horizon will alienate U2’s colossal fan base. Producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois collaborated with the Irish superstars on The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, their subsequent ‘ironic’ response to the fame brought to them by the former - in a nutshell, their best work. What they bring us now is an admirably rewarding sonic experience, multi-layered and engaging. The best material (title track, Magnificent, Stand Up Comedy and Breathe) sounds like U2 taking over the stadium and showing their recent protégés Kings of Leon how it should be done. But we’ve heard The Edge reverbing and Bono emoting over the grander themes before, so why blame them for sticking to a classic, winning formula? At least on Fez-Being Born, they stick their necks out a bit: it’s erratic, moody and reeking of Eno. [Paul Mitchell]
If you’ve been following the Mastodon hype machine you’ll no doubt be anticipating something genuinely progressive and ultra-heavy from Crack the Skye, the band’s fourth LP. But what we have here is a surprisingly conservative album: of the seven tracks, the first three fly by in a largely forgettable blur, complete with unnervingly soft-metal guitar flourishes. Having established an absurdly baroque narrative (even for a metal album) the band find their focus in the second half and manage to build towards a suitably epic finale. The astonishing, emotionally-charged title track makes good on the band’s promise of a crushing, otherwordly sound and serves as an impressive reminder of why Mastodon have attracted so many fans outwith the metal community. Ultimately Crack the Skye feels like a slave to its concept, and even though they don’t quite pull it off, it’s a thrill to watch Mastodon aiming so high. [Jay Shukla]
Before sampling, before microphones and Pro-Rools, before guitars, and before musical instruments, there was the human voice. A capella vocal delivery draws in folky romantics seeking to return to music in its ‘purest’ form as if they were moths buzzing round lights. For the music fan more accustomed to, say, The Fratellis, it conjures up images of men with beards making achinglysincere tits of themselves in traditional pubs out in the sticks. Neither folk purists nor NME readers will find much solace with Wounded Knee, a one man outfit who has effectively constructed an album out of samples of his own voice (no wait, come back!) and who welds avant-garde innovation to Scottish folksy electronica. Whether looping and harmonising single lines to the point where minimalist repetition becomes a cacophony, or creating lush, menacing soundscapes akin to Godspeed!’s cinematic oeuvre, Wounded Knee is evocative, at times witty, and, on occasion, haunting. [Ewen Millar]
WWW.U2.COM
WWW.MASTODONROCKS.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/IAMWOUNDEDKNEE
DE ROSA
CONDO FUCKS
REIGNS
PREVENTION
FUCKBOOK
THE HOUSE ON THE CAUSEWAY
2 MAR, CHEMIKAL UNDERGROUND
23 MAR, MATADOR
9 MAR, MONOTREME RECORDS
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How fitting that the artwork to De Rosa’s second album references that of their debut Mend, being as they are a band acutely aware of history and its impact, no matter how minute, on the present. There’s nothing quite so direct and scathing as Mend’s Hattonrigg Pit Disaster here, but singer Martin Henry is still looking for “communities that care and nurture” on the incongruous discofuelled Nocturne for an Absentee. Clearly the swelling from a trio to a quintet between albums reveals itself in a deeper creative pool from which De Rosa now dip into. However, Prevention is still very much a folk album, albeit one writ large. Their previous sojourns into scratchy guitar rock à la Camera have been jettisoned, giving the sense that the Lanarkshire lads are comfortable where they are, no longer subservient to ‘obvious single’ pretensions. De Rosa will remain on the fringes then. Join them. [Darren Carle]
Yo La Tengo have spent the past 20-odd years making an art form out of goofing off, and this month the trio release an album of covers (their third) under the alias of Condo Fucks. Although the sweet, limited vocals are unmistakably those of Ira, Georgia and James, they’re buried under layers of garage-punk fuzz and snarl. Fuckbook marks a departure in sound that recalls the fleeting, idiosyncratic Watch Out For Me Ronnie from 2006’s I Am Not Afraid of You And I Will Beat Your Ass with added feedback and live fuck-ups. The album’s ramshackle nature simply demonstrates that the band have a habit of falling upon brilliance while simply larking about, and while Fuckbook is unmistakeably a novelty sideline, it’s immensely enjoyable in its own right. The band retain the try-anything playfulness of youth while shunning its arrogance for a twinkly-eyed appreciation of their own ordinariness. [Gillian Watson]
The instructions on the accompanying promotional material are not far off the truth when they advise listeners not to “drive, exercise or operate heavy machinery” after listening to this album. It’s an incredibly subdued affair indeed. There are smatterings of gentle electronica, reminiscent of the direction Radiohead took with Kid A, as well as hypnotic whispers of piano. The vocals are equally mellow, in many places appearing as mildly sinister poems or bassy, Leonard Cohen-esque melancholy. Not perhaps what one might expect from PJ Harvey’s former touring guitarist Tim Farthing and his brother, Roo. Mab Crease is a particularly engaging number - throaty and sombre, it’s likely to appeal to disciples of the brilliant Enablers. Vaulted also merits close attention as a melodic slice of almost-post-rock. Taken in the right circumstances, this album is seductive and atmospheric. Just don’t expect it to soundtrack any wild summer drives along the coast. [Austin Tasseltine]
DE ROSA PLAY CAFE DRUMMONDS, ABERDEEN ON 23 MAR; MAD HATTERS, INVERNESS ON 26 MAR AND SNEAKY PETE’S, EDINBURGH ON 28 MAR.
WWW.MATADORRECORDS.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/REIGNSOFWESSEX
BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY
FRIGHTENED RABBIT
MI AMI
BEWARE
LIVER! LUNG! FR!
WATERSPORTS
16 MAR, DOMINO
30 MAR, FAT CAT
2 MAR, QUARTERSTICK
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I’m not so sure Will Oldham is as ‘Bonnie’ as his alter-ego might suggest, and the murky habitat of many songs on this album seems to confirm the suspicion. Ominousness abounds in tracks such as Beware Your Only Friend, I Am Goodbye and Death Final. As ever with the ‘Prince’, there is an opaqueness of expression which means we can never be sure whether to take him literally. The sparse Without Work, You Have Nothing (one of the highlights of the album, with a foreboding sax line offset by playful strings) is an example. ‘Move your hands faster, that’s what your man wants… and arms will hold you.” Libidinous misogyny or satire of the same - who knows - and this is half the troubadour’s charm. But where Beware falls down is in the dispiriting lack of verve it displays in several of the arrangements; Oldham doesn’t wear formulaic country well. [Paul Mitchell]
Liver! Lung! FR! is an intermediary fan-pleaser in which Frightened Rabbit serve up a no-nonsense semi-acoustic live set, rigidly following the track-listing of The Skinny’s album of 2008, The Midnight Organ Fight. So you might rightly question the worth of such an endeavour; most live albums usually wheel out an unexpected cover after all. Irrelevant, because this is a band already renowned for their near-transcendent shows, playing a superlative album to a room of real fans at Glasgow’s intimate Captain’s Rest. Ask yourself, do you really need that self-conscious Pavement cover? Still not convinced? Well, there are a couple of ‘bonus features’: Glasgow troubadour Ross Clark “pulls a mandolin from his arse” to guest on Old Old Fashioned, while Twilight Sad singer and bezzie mate James Graham scales the vocal heights of Keep Yourself Warm. Shut your eyes and you’re there, tapping your toe at the front. This may be a fan-pleaser, but only deaf hermits aren’t fans by now. [Nick Mitchell]
Forget what the damn press release says. There is no way this is a guy singing. That aside, Mi Ami is a rhythm-infatuated trio from San Francisco. Effervescent, bubbling percussion abounds on this unusual album, recorded mostly live over two days. The bass work is intelligent and complimentary to the intricate drumming. Likewise the searing guitar is carefully, and effectively, applied. However, it’s the singing that will surely prove the most contentious point. Aformentioned gender issues notwithstanding, vocalist “Daniel” is shrill, skittish and drunkenly staggers along the line between interesting and irritating (see the infuriating ending to The Man In Your House). Fans of New York’s experimental scene and bands like Oneida will very probably get off on this album. For the uninitiated, though, the lack of musical hooks and the vocals in particular might prove a little hard to swallow. [Chris Cusack]
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/PRINCEBONNIEBILLY
MYSPACE.COM/FRIGHTENEDRABBIT
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MIAMIAMIAMI
44 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
RED LIGHT COMPANY
WAKE THE PRESIDENT
PETER DOHERTY
FINE FASCINATION
YOU CAN’T CHANGE THAT BOY
GRACE/WASTELANDS
2 MAR, LAVOLTA RECORDS
9 MAR, ELECTRIC HONEY
16 MAR, EMI
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Red Light Company make no bones about the fact that they’re here “to make a huge record”. And with their debut they have fulfilled this aim: Fine Fascination is built on pounding drums, meaty riffs and the kind of hooks that tunnel into your ears and refuse to come out. Their sound is a careful concoction of American pop-metal (Scheme Eugene), Editors-style post-punk efficiency (First We Land) and choruses plucked from the Gary Lightbody school of rousing crescendos (Words Of Spectacular) – all delivered by a singer who sounds like a less androgynous Brian Molko. As such, it’s very easy to enjoy if you’re not careful. But engage your critical receptors and it turns out to be not just tiresome in its effort to be “huge” - which might fly with the odd stadium rock purist - but a faded patchwork of well-worn rock clichés. [Nick Mitchell] RED LIGHT COMPANY PLAY FAT SAM’S, DUNDEE ON 9 MAR AND NICE ‘N’ SLEAZY, GLASGOW ON 10 MAR. WWW.REDLIGHTCOMPANY.CO.UK
There’s a familiarity to Wake the President’s debut album, partly due to its relative belatedness - some songs have been in record collections and the band’s repertoire for years - and partly due to their much-remarked upon resemblance to their musical heroes. There’s no ignoring the echoes of Felt, Orange Juice and other favourits of the National Pop League - Glasgow’s sadly departed club night for those who prefer dancing to Camera Obscura in modest surroundings to braving the lairy gauntlet of Sauchiehall Street, and in whose memory the album is dedicated. But such comparisons shouldn’t be misconstrued as veiled critique - the band wear their influences lightly and with pride, as opposed to slavishly aping the tried-and-tested and hoping that similitude alone will suffice. And then there’s the record’s personable, informal brand of familiarity - the breezy intimacy by which the album is elevated into the indie-pop pantheon it aspires to. [Chris Buckle]
Peter 'Pete' Doherty and Michael Jackson have one thing in common: it’s very hard to disentangle both individuals from the music they are promoting. Both men have turned themselves into marketable commodities for the media, only to see their carefully crafted personas publicly unravel under intense tabloid scrutiny. Jackson, though, has not written a good song in over two decades; Doherty still knows how to crank out a tune. Shrewdly, he has recruited both Blur producer Stephen Street and Graham Coxon on guitar, and the result is... pretty much business as usual, albeit with a new pop sheen. To his credit, Doherty seems to realise that even if he is required to play the same bohemian part, his backing band can always shake things up, and while there’s nothing here to match Fuck Forever, Coxon and Street add pleasant hints of bubblegum-pop (Last of the English Roses) and even country (Arcadie) to a competent, eclectic mix. [Ewen Millar]
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WAKETHEPRESIDENTBAND
PETER DOHERTY PLAYS THE PICTURE HOUSE, EDINBURGH ON 27 MAR.
LE RENO AMPS
THE DECEMBERISTS
XRABIT & DMG$
TEAR IT OPEN
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE
HELLO WORLD
23 MAR, DRIFT
23 MAR, ROUGH TRADE
9 MAR, NINJA TUNE
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The desire to overcomplicate things is all too often the bane of the music world. Le Reno Amps address this problem in their mission statement: simple melody will be at the core of their music. On Tear It Open, the Aberdonian quartet have met their own criteria and delivered upon their promises, without jeopardising their most engaging quality – variety. This is an imaginative, theatrical and enjoyable album that casts its net wide, without settling anywhere long enough to be classified. Opening track Outlaws sets the tone: its tremolo-heavy guitar riff is equal parts spaghetti-western and The Shadows. The occasional dabble with electronica pays dividends too; the synthesized intro to The Gilded Road sets the record up for the grand finale its onslaught of crunching guitars duly delivers. Some tracks, like Slow Decay, don’t scale such heights, though this fails to take the sheen off a polished and entertaining listen. [Finbarr Bermingham]
Even though The Decemberists have been lobbed in the “folk rock” musical genre since they broke out with debut album Castaways and Cutouts nearly eight years ago, they’ve been pushing hard at the boundaries of that label ever since. With their fifth studio album, Hazards of Love, the quintet delivers its most focused and cohesive record to date. Despite a complicated lyrical story arc based on centuries-old folk tales – Love’s narrative is built around a cast of mythical characters – the band moves skillfully through heavy metal riffs on tracks like The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing to some accordion prowess on Isn’t It A Lovely Night? The disc also sheds a little of the quintet’s prog-rock tendencies – the longest song clocks in at just under 6 and 1/2 minutes. You might take issue with their pretentious nature (folk tales, really?) but at least they deliver what is often sorely missing in today’s rock music: the ability to take risks. [Jeff Miranda]
Rap producers are often guilty of selling their souls at the altar of the recording studio, gladly embracing the mixing desk as a means to tweak their artists until they sound like rapping automatons ready to be reeled off the major label production line. XRABIT + DMG$ certainly rhyme with the best of them, and cover all the usual bases (why they’re cooler than everyone else, ‘bitches’ shaking their ‘asses’- yawn) but do so against a backdrop of bleeps and clicks more akin to a 16-bit gaming console than the usual R’n’B tropes. Perhaps this is down to budget concerns - they do say that necessity is the mother of all invention - but this album is all the better for it. So whether or not you want to join the party they invite us to - the venue being “in their pants” - at least they’re make a cliché sound interesting, bless ‘em. [Ewen Millar]
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEDECEMBERISTS
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/XRABIT
LE RENO AMPS PLAY THIS IS MUSIC AT THE 13TH NOTE, GLASGOW ON 19 MAR AND THE TUNNELS, ABERDEEN ON 20 MAR.
1990S
RUSH
THE LONG LOST
KICKS
RETROSPECTIVE III
THE LONG LOST
23 MAR, ROUGH TRADE
2 MAR, ATLANTIC
2 MAR, NINJA TUNE
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While Kicks Kicks, 1990s’ second album, sticks to familiar lyrical territory - namely, girls and Glasgow - the band have democratised their songwriting process: drummer Michael McGaughrin’s 59 (named for the bus to Pollokshields), a breezy ‘80s pop number complete with trebly bass, rubs shoulders with guitarist McKeown’s duet with ex-Long Blonde Kate Jackson on Kickstrasse, an incendiary ode to Baader-Meinhof. They’ve also opened up their musical influences, picking out their favourite elements of everything they’ve heard and piecing them together to create endearingly off-kilter Pop Hits that seem almost machine-built... if the machine were an old Zanussi, that is. 1990s have created an album that’s enjoyably familiar, grounded firmly in pop’s pick-and-mix tradition; however, their synthesis of sounds from the past is at the same time oddly anachronistic and disorienting. A nice counterbalance between an avant-garde construction and a damn good listen - just for Kicks. [Gillian Watson]
Considering that the band place fourth after The Beatles, the Stones and Aerosmith for most consecutive platinum albums, Rush get remarkably little credit for the huge influence they had on the music of the last 30 years, including Iron Maiden, Primus and Smashing Pumpkins. Retrospective III charts the latter era of the band’s career, marking the shift back to guitars from ‘80s synth-heaven. The instrumentalism is predictably flawless and the tunes soaring. Having made their own journey from metal to prog, the genesis of Boston’s Cave In is especially easy to spot in the likes of One Little Victory and Presto. Geddy Lee’s often lambasted vocals are smooth, righteous and – yes - cheesy as hell, but it’s Rush for goodness’ sake. On the bright side, the bulk of Neil Peart’s lyrics on show are thankfully devoid of his snigger-inducing fixation on science fiction, albeit sadly due to his tragic personal circumstances in the late ‘90s. [Chris Cusack]
The romantic ideals that hippies espouse are often more appealing than hippies themselves; free love and flower power all sound fine in principle, but they’re often hard to square with long-haired old fat guys mumbling on about the Grateful Dead. The Long Lost are all about peddling the romantic ideal, with a husband/wife combo providing finger-picked acoustic guitars adorned with ethereal female vocals that pluck lyrics like “skipping like a slippery stone, ‘cross the silver sea, sailing like a silver stone, ‘cross the slippery sea” from the psychedelic ether. Profundities aside, what’s on offer here is the sonic equivalent of 44 minutes of Timotei adverts (you know, the one with the medieval girl swirling her hair in the river). Your enjoyment of this will depend entirely upon whether or not you want to be transported to The Long Lost world, but once you’re hooked on their celestial magic there’s no going back. [Ewen Millar]
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/1990SBAND
WWW.RUSH.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/FINDTHELONGLOST
STINKING LIZAVETA
BLACK LIPS
SACRIFICE AND BLISS
200 MILLION THOUSAND
16 MAR , MONOTREME
16 MAR, VICE
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In West Philadelphia, born and raised, well a basement is where they spent most of their days. Leaving out vox and guitaring old-school, Oxes go metal and pretty bloody cool. Well for a trio of guys this is really quite good - see them making racket in your neighbourhood. And so on. Six albums into their lyricless career, Stinking Lizaveta are still jamming out some excellent sounds without it getting old fast. That is no small achievement. While their jazzier instincts dictate the time changes and keep things unpredictable, it’s tempered with a love of riffage and more than one exuberant solo. We Will See is an absolute belter, utilising some hefty chuggage and the old muted cymbal trick. It’s goddamn chunky. Whereas A Man Without A Country is pacier and seems intended for high-speed car chases across pavements, through plate glass and crates of fresh fruit. Oh, and just check out that awesome whammy action. [Chris Cusack]
Black Lips aren’t one of those bands afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve. The boys seem to get their kicks from fuzzed-out garage rock, sloppy punk and 50s and 60s pop, and they’re not ashamed to admit it. On their previous effort, Good Bad Not Evil, the latter crept through the former, creating a great synthesis and a perfect primer for the band. On 200 Million Thousand, however, this vein is harder to tap. Drugs sets the tone right for a continuation of bouncy fuzz-pop with its teen-at-the-drive-in feel, but the record loses steam around the midsection, trading pop sensibilities for a psychedelic haze. Not ones to eschew experimentation, the third act turns things around by slapping the bizarre but loveable hip-hop track The Drop I Hold on the listener. This, along with latecomers Elijah and I Saw God see the Lips return to form, creating strangely magnetic dirty pop. [Jason Morton]
STINKING LIZAVETA PLAY THE GRV, EDINBURGH ON 16 MAR AND BLOC BAR, GLASGOW ON 17 MAR.
Top 5 Albums 1. MICHACHU & THE SHAPES - JEWELLERY
2. DE ROSA - PREVENTION 3. THE DECEMBERISTS -
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE
4. WOUNDED KNEE SHIMMERING NEW VISTAS 5. CONDO FUCKS - FUCKBOOK
WWW.BLACK-LIPS.COM
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 45
RECORDS
Album Reviews
Music
Live Reviews The Cribs / The Thermals ABC, 4 Feb
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Luke Winter
While singer Hutch Harris occasionally flirts with Brian Molko-whininess, tonight The Thermals confidently steer themselves from the precipice of annoyingness and into the Valley of Awesome Pop (which I believe is where all Portland bands go to find their muse). Every song fires hook after hook with immediacy and accuracy, combining Apples in Stereo’s sun-kissed college-rock with a grin-inducing chorus and the kind of crunchy guitars that have been du jour since the gold soundz of Malkmus and co. They stir emotions in the way all great guitar-rock does, and songs like No Culture Icons would sound equally perfect whether played in a sweaty basement club night or on the sort of idealised road trips that exist only in romantic minds and American teen dramas. Not that it really matters to the dedicated, rowdy bunch who have sold out The Cribs’ return to Glasgow. “Why are we on tour again? I have no idea…” jokes a Jarman midway through an exhilarating set that only lets up when they debut the makings of album number four. There’s no real change of direction, but that’s probably for the best. A knack for effortlessly pleasing their bovine public has seen the Cribs get quietly huge - Men’s Needs get a deservedly rapturous response, while they still belt out Mirror Kissers with a righteous snarl - and by continuing to play to their strengths they confirm they’re not about to botch things up now. Business as usual is rarely so exciting. [Chris Buckle]
Copy Haho
Parts & Labor
Crystal Stilts
Tricky
Sneaky Pete’s, 2 Feb
Captain’s Rest, 16 Feb
Sneaky Pete’s, 22 Feb
The Arches, 19 Feb
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Opening with their first two singles - 2006’s Bookshelf and last year’s You Are My Coal Mine - Stonehaven’s Copy Haho flow right in to the lead track from their new extended player, Pulling Push Ups. This alone emphasizes that while there is a clear development in their songwriting skill, they’ve always shown attention to detail in their integration of instrument parts; making the most of scattershot guitars, rolling drums and stuttering vocals. Yet songs never hide behind brash distortion pedal dynamics or obvious minor chords, relying instead on well ordered structures and summer sky guitar riffs - their melodies grasp at every happy idea and hold them close. And every tune races past at great speed; breathless but never exhausting, and an engaging show spills from the stage. Copy Haho don’t fear writing buoyant, punch-theair pop songs, and with the quality on show tonight they could become unstoppable. [Jamie Scott]
There’s doing it yourself and there’s doing it before the head settles on a bystander’s Guinness; tonight Brooklyn quartet Parts & Labor assemble their effects and have the amps cranked in 10 minutes. It would be fitting for a band raised on a steady diet of Minutemen and Hüsker Dü to do all things at speed, but the frenzy of earlier P&L gigs seems to have simmered in accordance with the steady rhythm of their latest drummer. Channelling the mania of their punk roots into something new by incorporating a wealth of field samples into their songs, the Captain’s Rest is left basking in the organic vibrancy of last year’s dazzling Receivers, from which Solemn Show World translates well as the euphoric centrepiece. Their experimental edge is made all the more palatable by melodies awash with Celtic-inflected charm. Of course, there’s not a set of live bagpipes in sight, but they wouldn’t sound out of place. [Dave Kerr]
Crystal Stilts are all about intensity. And in a space as small as Sneaky Pete’s (imagine your living room, minus furniture, plus 100 indie misfits), the intensity of their music – a murky blend of ‘60s psych and ‘80s shoegaze – is turned up to eleven. Whereas their acclaimed debut album Alight of Night has moments of clarity and restraint, in live mode the Brooklyn five-piece cram every second of every track full of lumbering bass, stabbing guitar, trippy organ and rushed drumming, while Brad Hargett somehow makes his unintelligible vocals waft and echo around the tiny room. Like The Doors, Joy Division or the Mary Chain, this is the kind of brooding, stormy musical terrain where you don’t so much listen for the chorus (there ain’t one) as feel the electricity in the performance. Although the set is punctuated by jokes about the dry ice machine, Crystal Stilts build the atmosphere ominously, before cracking it asunder with aptly-named set-closer Departure. [Nick Mitchell]
His trademark rasp might be buried in the mix, but stadium-aspiring pretenders would do well to emulate Tricky’s panache. Walking on to an instrumental cover of Sweet Dreams, he shakes his back at the crowd for its duration. Finally turning around to stalk the stage during Past Mistake, he barely whispers into the mic while his band carries the track. Black Steel is flawless but Tricky only dances, his eyes glued to the ceiling. Then that true, agitated demeanour progressively bubbles to the surface for a glorious embellishment on Vent, flowing seamlessly into a stunning revamp of its descendant Joseph from last year’s Knowle West Boy. Roaring now, more covers are chosen carefully; Ace of Spades is given a faithful airing and Tricky finally has us in the palm of his hand. But it’s all in the pacing as much as that voice, which, as one punter astutely observes is “just like another instrument, maan”. [Dave Kerr]
www.myspace.com/bigscarymonsters
www.myspace.com/partsandlabor
www.myspace.com/crystalstilts
www.myspace.com/trickola
Fife Kills TouR
MagazinE O2 Academy, 16 Feb
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The only band of this particular stop of the Fife Kills tour to possess a designated drummer, Rob St. John (***) deliver the most rewarding performance of the evening. The eponymous self-deprecating frontman shyly moves the band through their short set, his at times Nick Drake-like timbre complemented by sparse harmonies. Softly poignant lyrics (“sing a song my heart forgot”) and epic, organic soundscapes entertain a crowd apparently as yet unfamiliar. Eagleowl (***) bring out their strings and two-part tearjerk harmonies to much applause. Always surprisingly effective without a drummer, the band are tonight dogged by technical glitches, leaving a sense of going through the motions somewhat and lacking the unique emotional force with which they usually perform. Yet, their crescendos, sensitively intelligent lyrics, soft-spoken audience interaction and a fan-pleasing encore - with a song title too rude to name - mean that Eagleowl can satisfy even when the chips are down. [Lauren Mayberry]
After a rambling off-stage monologue, pretentiously detailing the events that have led ‘punk-not-punk’ legends Magazine here tonight, singer Howard Devoto punctures the air of feverish expectation with a humble, all too familiar truth: “But...there’s also this girl I want to impress.” At this point, a lean and resplendent Barry Adamson rumbles out the one-note bass salvo of The Light Pours Out Of Me before Devoto himself enters stage-left, wearing three-quarter length trousers, sandals and a bright pink suit jacket. Eyes are comically rubbed in disbelief. Mid-set, a pulpit is carted on-stage, allowing Reverend Devoto to preach to the converted. Part two sees a healthy dose from the seminal Real Life - notably Definitive Gaze and Shot By Both Sides - before an encore of the ominous Motorcade, where keyboardist Dave Formula strangles its chiming motif and Devoto careers around the stage, ‘conducting’ each note from thin air. Whoever the lucky lady is, she’ll be mightily impressed by this bizarre courtship ritual. [Darren Carle]
ABC2, 14 Feb
www.myspace.com/eagleowlattack
www.wire-sound.com
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theskinny.co.uk 46 THE SKINNY March 2009
Bruce Fyfe
Captain’s Rest, 15 Feb
Asobi Seksu
Tonight gets off to a shaky start with piercing feedback interrupting Asobi Seksu’s early songs. Luckily the sound-gremlins soon retire and leave the band free to deliver a set of gorgeous shoe-gaze where tracks don’t so much start and end as pulsate, shift and transform into one another, bridged by swirling synthesisers. At first Yuki Chikudate seems to have sound issues of her own, with her vocals initially buried under the wash of guitars and staccato drum rattles. But as the volume increases,
it’s clear her voice isn’t just used to prettily deliver lyrics or provide an anchor for the instrumentation to coalesce - they’re another layer of that blissful instrumentation, with sighs, squeaks and moans as emotive and harmonious as her words. And just when the band risk crossing the line from hypnotic atmospherics into hazy boredom, they leave us with a crescendo of strobes and noise. [Chris Buckle] www.asobiseksu.com
Super Adventure Club They thrilled us silly with their debut album Chalk Horror! last year, and now - ahead of their debut set at The Mill Finbarr Bermingham has a word with Super Adventure Club to find out what lies ahead
Who do they sound like and where do they fit in?
Who are Super Adventure Club? Super Adventure Club are Mandy, Bruce and Waz: a curious but dazzling trio of hyperactive noiseniks from Edinburgh. Having previously played together in a band called Stepdads, Mandy and Bruce were the founders of SAC, but hopes of early success were dashed when their drummer left after just one gig. “Bruce had enough and wanted to call it a day,” recalls Mandy, “but I was too stubborn to give up, so he left it to me to find a new drummer.” Obviously impressed with what he had heard, Waz wasn’t long in accepting the invitation extended to him by Mandy. He explains, “I was playing for a couple of other groups up until then that hadn’t taken me to where I wanted to be musically, so I agreed to come along and try out. I’m still here, so I think it’s in the bag.” With two music teachers (Waz and Bruce) and a former music student in their ranks, they’re a highly qualified bunch – a rarity in the days of MySpace superstardom. When asked about the potential to combine his two professions, Waz is philosophical: “The pupils have probably got more of the ‘rockstar’ mentality than we do. They’re young and full of the dream; we’re jaded and know the whole rockstar thing is bullshit. My favourite part of the job is telling people they’ve got it all wrong! I tell them, if they want sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, they should just go to a rock club. Anyway, a teachers’ band can’t be trendy can it?”
markus thorsen
Gordon ‘Sting’ Sumner, Jim Bowen, Ron Jeremy, Art Garfunkel, Stephen King… no, it’s not the lineup for the next Celebrity Big Brother. This illustrious lot were all schoolteachers in a past life. Not the most rock ‘n’ roll profession in the world, you may think, but there’s an Edinburgh outfit which might have something to say about that…
SAC’s debut album, Chalk Horror! came out last year and is a crazy, intense sonic assault, vacillating wildly between strung-out post-hardcore, psychedelic guitar noodling and milder bass grooves. Super Adventure Club are hands down one of the most unique and exciting new bands in Scotland – to attempt to pigeonhole them would be nigh-on cruel. Naturally, then, we gave them the opportunity to do it themselves. The range of influences the band enjoy are eclectic, not to our surprise. “I’m influenced a great deal by entertainers who put on a good show and who don’t just tear through their tunes,” says Waz. “Guys like Freddie Mercury, Alex Harvey or Bowie. I also take a lot of inspiration from the genuine on-stage intensity of bands like Sick of it All or Fugazi.” Bruce, the chief songwriter for the band, continues: “Pavement, Wilco – Nels Cline is my favourite guitarist – Frank Black, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits. At the moment I’m really into the new Zu and Farmer’s Market albums.” His sentiments are echoed strongly by Mandy, who also admits to having a soft spot for Deerhoof and The Flaming Lips. Despite having a wealth of musical know-how and no shortage of ideas, a large part of the band’s lyrical content could be perceived as tongue-incheek, perhaps unsurprisingly given that they take their name from an episode of South Park. Lyricist Bruce develops the point: “We take the music really seriously and the composing process is what I enjoy the most. But when it comes to lyric writing, I often feel compelled to use things that have annoyed or amused me as subject matter. I’ve had a pretty nice life so far, so I’d just feel like a chancer if I got all deep and meaningful in the songs.”
band having the time of their lives, but was it as much fun to make the record as it is to listen to? “Everything was recorded live except the vocals,” explains Bruce, “so it was kind of like a really intense rehearsal. I enjoy recording – it’s the mixing process that can drive you mad because you could keep striving for perfection forever, so you have to know when to leave it alone.” So what does the future hold for the band? The year gone by was a hectic one by anyone’s standards. While balancing full-time teaching jobs, the band managed to release Chalk Horror!, play radio shows and gig as though they were jobless troubadours. As Waz explains though, if it’s the quiet life they’re after, they’re unlikely to find it in ’09:“We’re still not sure if we’ll do an EP, a
Where can we hear them? The band’s aforementioned debut album came out last year and proved to be a favourite amongst critics – not least within these very sheets. “We were really pleased with the reaction we got from the album,” says Mandy. “It’s our first release and we got lots of great feedback from it. It’s all DIY; the artwork was designed by a good friend of ours; we recorded with another good friend at uni; then Bruce mixed and mastered the album. The ethos of Chalk Horror! remains, and it is a prevailing theme that’s all-too-often overlooked in today’s image-obsessed music scenes: fun. Super Adventure Club sound refreshingly like a
single, another album or maybe a children’s popup book. So 2009 is the year to make that decision and follow through on it and maybe even a little tour somewhere too. There are another couple of possible things in the pipeline as well but I’d have to kill you if I told you. The basic plan is to keep writing and keep playing our music to the people who want to hear it and hopefully that’ll keep us and them happy.” The next major date in SAC’s schedule is their debut set at The Mill. “The gigs are free which is great and they do a lot of promotion for the shows,” says Mandy. You could do a lot worse than take advantage! Super Adventure Club play The Mill @ The Caves on 19 Mar www.myspace.com/superadventureclubmusic
10 Good Reasons to Love Super Adventure Club 1. Their name is a South Park reference. 2. Their drummer Waz is amazing. 3. They have a song about over-thought no-fun Math Rock, with lines like "A new rock ‘n' roll is here, it's based on algebra". 4. You could say Super Adventure Club play Math Rock. 5. They choose fun over posturing on stage, which is obvious with bassist Mandy grinning throughout. 6. They have a song about the super obese, sung by grinning Mandy, with a chorus of: "No offence to
Rik Waller but you're not that much smaller than the state of Tennessee". 7. The lyrics are not in fact the best thing about this band, because they are musicians, not comedians. 8. Two-thirds are music teachers, and all three together are tighter than, em, Rik Waller's tights. 9. Frank Zappa might be their most obvious single forebearer, for his eclecticism, virtuosity and humour. 10. Live they're ferocious, veering between metal, punk, power pop and noise.
From April 2009 The Mill will now run every Thursday alternating between Glasgow and Edinburgh The Mill Edinburgh Will move to Cabaret Voltaire from Thursday 2 April 2009
5 Mar – Profisee, Big Toes Hi-Fi 12 Mar – Futuristic Retro Champions, Tamikas Treehouse 19 Mar – Indafusion, Super Adventure Club 26Mar – Phoenix Q, Dead Good Villians The Mill Glasgow – Oran Mor from Thursday 9 April 2009
4 Mar – Sugar Crisis, Manda Rin 11 Mar – Dorian, The OK Social Club (Formerly known as Kiddo) 18 Mar – Oscar Charlie, Boycotts 25 Mar – Emma Curran, Eoghan Colgan the mill glasgow takes place at oran mor and the mill edinburgh at the caves. for more info and to get your tickets visit themill-live.com
MUSIC
Live Music
Previews
Highlights
INSTAL 09 THE ARCHES, 20-22 MAR
OTOMO YOSHIHIDE
Despite the demise of Triptych, the experimental music scene in Scotland has gone from strength to strength in recent years. This is in no small part attributable to promoters Arika, whose flagship event Instal is a shining example of how a festival should operate. Instal makes the avant-garde exciting, fun, invigorating and accessible without ever ‘dumbing down’, condescending or trivialising music which is often parodied as of interest only to those adorned with jazz fags, polonecks and curiouslystyled goatees. Instal’s main appeal has always been the strength of its programming, which requires no former knowledge of the acts involved - a small amount of trust pays off with a slew of new favourites and amazing new ways of doing things. As always, highlights are impossible to predict, but the potential is still omnipresent: Nikos Veliotis cello sings like the most forward-thinking electronica whilst being grounded down to the dust and Joan La Barbara’s
searing abstract vocal tectonics (you’ve heard her already – she was the voice of one of the eponymous extra terrestrials in Alien Resurrection). Then there’s Seymour Wright’s deconstructed saxophone, Tamio’s full blown noise rock, needleless turntablist Otomo Yoshihide’s thrilling duo with Sachiko M and locals Usurper’s ultraminimalist psychedelia which may all or each inspire a newfound love for a new way of making music. Arika’s philosophy has always been that although you won’t like everything, you’re guaranteed to find several acts who make the ticket price more than worthwhile. As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “a mind stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimensions” – it’s time to put that theory to the test. [Ali Maloney] £10 DAY PASS / £25 FESTIVAL PASS. EVENTS WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE IN THE CCA. WWW.ARIKA.ORG.UK
DIRTY PROJECTORS
YO! MAJESTY
ABC, 29 MAR
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 27 MAR
David Byrne-endorsed Dirty Projectors encompass many of the eclectic influences into their music that Jeff Buckley did. Elements of jazz and avant-garde are distorted by the aesthetic of Beefheart and Pere Ubu, the operatic vocals strangled and cracking, sounding - as Buckley did - at once familiar and yet entirely new. Imagine Guillemots under instruction from Glenn Branca, trying their damnedest to play Kid A minus half of Radiohead’s synthesis. With two new albums promised early this year after signing a deal with Domino, here’s a chance to catch them live at their energetic - and sometimes downright baffling - best. [Stephen Toman]
Yo! Majesty are Florida’s riposte to Spank Rock, a female rap group with enough party attitude and pose to rival Baltimore’s lewdest. Rappers Shunda K and Jwl B make like the Beastie Boys, brushing aside the labels (this time, lesbian and religious) that bloggers and journalists never fail to bestow upon them, and simply get on with enjoying themselves. Last year’s Futuristically Speaking… Never Be Afraid scored mildly positive reviews, but it is in the live environment that the group come to life. Wild fluorescent hip-hop, plenty of chauvinistic posturing and the near certainty of nakedness - this is more than you could imagine in your dirtiest of dreams. [Jamie Scott]
Remember when The Darkness first emerged, and everyone went apeshit — you know, before the mother of all backlashes blew them off the face of the earth? It was good wasn’t it? Go on, admit it, they had some tunes. Well now Justin Hawkins is back with a new band, Hot Leg, and he’s on a rock ‘n’ roll mission to prove that The Darkness only failed because they weren’t quite camp or ridiculous enough. That’s the Hot Leg vibe, and if he can pull it off, well, frankly he’s a genius. Watch the insanity unfold at Cab Vol on 5 March. Having released one of the best Scottish albums of 2008 (one of three they put out that year!) Y’all is Fantasy Island are well placed to make 2009 their bitch, and they ain’t slouchin’. They play Cassette Glasgow (with My Kappa Roots) on 6 March followed by an appearance at De Rosa’s album launch at Captain’s Rest Glasgow on 20 March. With the capacity to alternate between sparse, mournful ballads and ragged, balls-to-the-wall rockers, we’ve been digging their style with a JCB for years. Describing a band’s sound as ‘country rock’ won’t exactly do them any favours, but the Broken Family Band have been lumbered with this descriptor for most of their career. However, dig a little deeper and you’ll find songs that contain a melting pot of discernable influences, songs that say more in their subtle shifts than a hundred overblown guitar riffs ever could. Flanked by Adele Bethel of Sons & Daughters, they play the JD Set at Glasgow’s ABC2 on 6 March. Led by a truly great frontman in the form of James Steel, The Brute Chorus are one of those freakish bands that come along every few years and somehow manage to make dirty, bluesy rock music sound exciting all over again. Superb, memorable lyrics and genuine likeability to boot mean this band is almost certainly going places. There’s a debut album dropping soon, so keep an eye out. They’ll be joining the Broken Family Band for the aforementioned JD Set on 6 March and playing Aberdeen Tunnels in their own right on 7 March. Don’t miss it if you’re local. Mitchell Museum are a young, hyperactive four-piece who make lush, super-dense pop music. Comparisons to Animal Collective abound, and you can see why: their sound is complex, colourful and sometimes overwhelming. Melody is at the heart of it all, however, as we witnessed when they went hell for leather at Limbo a few weeks back. They’re at Cassette Glasgow 13 March and support Joe Gideon
Y'ALL IS FANTASY ISLAND ARE WELL PLACED TO MAKE 2009 THEIR BITCH, AND THEY AIN'T SLOUCHIN' and the Shark on 21 March at King Tut’s. Anyone looking for their hit of bouncy, upbeat indie rock in March should definitely check out Little Comets when they play Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh on 15 March and Glasgow King Tut’s on 16 March. They’ve got the hooks and beats to get you dancing, and refreshingly, their lyrics are rather good too. A promising proposition. An early tip for April is Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers — this year’s guitar-destroying posterboys for tinnitus. Their brand of ultra-abrasive noise rock is dividing the critics, but we love ‘em. Sure, they wear their influences on their sleeve, but take it from us, none of your favourite bands ever played this loud before. Stereo Glasgow on 1st April. Heads up. We all know that live drums kick the ass off programmed beats, but Dan Black and his band of synth-happy laptop-ticklers may cause you to reassess your opinion on this crucial matter. With his smooth pop moves, energetic presence and eminently danceable choons, those who make it down to Sub Club in Glasgow for his Hinterland Festival appearance on 1 May (making some mends for cancelling his Cab Vol show this month) shouldn’t be surprised to witness some especially vigorous head-nodding going down. This boy is being groomed for fame and fortune, so best catch him before he’s charging megabucks for his arena tours.[Ted Maul]
7PM, £7.50 7PM, £11.50
ALSO PLAYING STEREO, GLASGOW ON 28 MAR.
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DIRTYPROJECTORS
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/YOMAJESTY4LIFE
DOVES ABC, 15 MAR
THE NOISETTES ABC2, 18 MAR
Four years since the release of Some Cities, a competent but relatively subdued album, Doves seemed to have their work cut out convincing us in 2009 that they hadn’t already given up the ghost. A low-key live return for Heavenly’s birthday celebrations got the ball rolling. But when whispers suggested that Bladerunner-esque soundscapes, Kraftwerk influences and elements of their days as club doyens Sub Sub - they of Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use) infamy - would be incorporated into the fabric of fourth LP Kingdom of Rust, we began to feel very foolish indeed for ever doubting their mettle. Decide for yourself later this month. [Chris Buckle] 7PM, £18
Glitzy guitar trio The Noisettes return to promote their forthcoming second album Wild Young Hearts. If new single Don’t Upset the Rhythm is anything to go by, they’ve successfully sidestepped the scuzzy garage buzz that their debut was built on, and are neatly skipping along with a polished, glamorous pop sound. Shingai Shoniwa’s post-diva vocals hint at something more primal, but with a lucrative car advert doing the rounds, and a May tour with Maximo Park, they seem set to become the next unavoidable radio-friendly unit shifters. Before the inevitable does happen, you can catch them here for a more intimate affair. [Jamie Scott]
ALSO PLAYING BARROWLANDS, GLASGOW ON 22 APR AND PICTURE HOUSE, EDINBURGH ON 23 APR.
7PM, £7
WWW.DOVES.NET
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/NOISETTESUK
48 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
Y’ALL IS FANTASY ISLAND WWW.KDY-SIDE.COM
Music
Metal
up your
ASS by austin tasseltine
Bronto Skylift, 18 March, 13th Note Lisa Ferri
Fittingly enough for a month named after the Roman god of war, March this year has a bit of fight about it. The 13th Note in particular seems intent on having an angry time. Local promo outfit The Wreckin’ Pit presents three separate doses of hefty racket throughout the course of the month, starting with the adrenalised punk of US quartet Off With Their Heads (4 Mar). Shortly after, Device bring some thick and swinging riffs from Milton Keynes, supported by Glasgow’s post-hardcore new arrivals Hey Vampires! (8 Mar). Also hitting up the Note: Ultimate Thrush provide some cantankerous and gruesome art punk (12 Mar) the night before the now-fairly infamous United Fruit and Dundee’s newest supergroup Thews (ex-Alamos, Laeto and Avast!) make good after that cancelled
show from a few months back and lay waste to this compact basement in the East End. Wreckin Pit’ is back again (14 Mar) when natives The Terrors launch their latest disc via some gritty, lady-fronted punk. Glaswegian two-piece riff-machine Bronto Skylift make a welcome appearance (18 Mar) and are followed but two days later by Apologies, I Have None, thanks to the consistently on-the-ball This Is Our Battlefield collective (20 Mar), with support from another highly regarded local art punk outfit, Grozny. Wreckin’ Pit puts in its third appearance when they present Canada’s Blackjacket (23 Mar) and their hardcore message at top volume. For those dwelling in our nation’s capital, the same furious Ontario export can be seen the previous night (22 Mar) at Henry’s Cellar Bar. The 13th Note’s Month o’ Fury is not quite over
there. With one last burst of bile (28 Mar) at an all-day noisefest, one might safely expect to emerge thoroughly disorientated and perhaps with a little blood trickling from the ears. Elsewhere on the metal map, March has other notable highlights. The aforementioned Henry’s Cellar Bar hosts Auld Reekie’s own visceral Secta Rouge (5 Mar) ahead of a cluster of UK dates with Celebrity Love Crisis, including an appearance at Cassette in Glasgow (28 Mar). This new venue on Sauchiehall Street will also house Glasgow’s electro-prog virtuosos Titus Gein (7 Mar) for free. Studio 24 is visited by New York’s thrash gurus Sworn Enemy (10 Mar) and later Edinburgh’s devilhorn-pumping Man Of The Hour (21 Mar), though that sadly marks the last of Auld Reekie’s stand-out riffage for the month.
Glasgow still has a fair few tricks up its sleeve however: France’s Gojira ply some prog-infused death metal at The Classic Grand (12 Mar) while, deserving of a look on the basis of their name alone, Ignominious Incarceration can be seen and applauded (for audacity if nothing else) at Ivory Blacks (13 Mar). Potentially the gig of the month, Japanese post-rock outfit Mono appear at Stereo (ironically enough) on the 23rd. Preconceptions aside, their reputation live is phenomenal, as is their volume. Then finally, rounding off the month, Josh Homme’s other band, Eagles of Death Metal, do their thing at ABC (31 Mar), with the flame-haired giant strongly rumoured to be joining his chum Jesse Hughes for this particular European trek. Oh and some band called Metallica are playing the SECC (26 Mar). That mean anything to anyone? The name sounds familiar, but...
March 2009
THE SKINNY 49
CLUBS
Evolution of the
Subcity Party
Rosie Davies takes a look at the history of Subcity events as they prepare to host their most exciting guest yet
ON Friday 20 March, Subcity Radio are hosting a party at a secret location in Glasgow. Fans will be transported in blacked-out coaches from the revamped Ivy bar to an undisclosed venue, where ghettotech legend DJ Assault will stand in position, fingers poised, ready to treat them to 100 decibels of booty, Baltimore and bassline. Only a handful of people know what else is planned for this night. But those who do are pretty excited. Officially, the party celebrates the end of FM broadcast for the online station, with presenters enjoying a month on the airwaves from February to March 20. But really, the party marks a return to form for the student-based station, who have been putting on club nights for 13 years, and it’s not always been an easy ride. Past events brought breakdancers, graffiti artists and unknown DJs to sell-out crowds at The Arches, and mixed DJs with live samba bands at venues such as the Renfrew Ferry. The station quickly gained a name for itself. From then on, there was an aura of cool surrounding the nights — the people involved seemed mysterious, talented and vibrant. In
the years when the station didn’t run regular nights, there was a sense of anticipation for the ideas that would come out of the young heads who were coming up the ranks at the station. However, Subcity depends on volunteers’ contribution of time and talent, and so excitement comes in waves depending on who is on board. The capacity crowd Block Party nights at The Arches involved covert missions of freezing flyposting and flyering outside the city’s main clubs at 3am. The nights’ success weren’t only down to being mates with the best new DJs around — and knowing how to get them playing for a few pints — but also the blood, sweat and tears of people usually attempting to get a degree at the same time. This didn’t always work but, if you were part of the team, it just didn’t seem to matter. Shaun Murphy, 24, became station manager in September 2004. His beats of choice on-air were happy hardcore, a genre balanced on the borderline of extreme naffness and ironic cool. At the FM Launch Party in February 2005, he got The Arches’ third tunnel dripping with adrenaline in an old school rave DJ battle with DJ Mayhem, aka
Editorial Chris Duncan: Red Drapes and Apes... Last month's film festival treated Glasgow to all manner of events. The festival crossed over into the club scene and offered a variety of nights aimed at exploring the link between cinema and music, often simply by ramping up the presence of visuals within each venue. The excellent Numbers night with Modeselektor featured five screens and VJs Pfanderei and Retina Glitch accompanying their set. Adding extra club visuals is a slightly stretched link for what the film festival originally set out to explore with their club nights, but not a single
50 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
complaint was uttered by anyone in attendance at Modeselektor or Death Disco - there was nothing but praise for the music, look and atmosphere of each evening. Optimo's use of film and a suitably eerie soundtrack made moves towards what the festival had set out to explore but the closing event, SHH! at The Arches was the night that best summed up how moving images and audio can work together. The high point was Holy Mountain creating a soundtrack to muted footage of Apocalypse Now, just one of the moments that sparked many conversations within the audience at what was an interesting and unique night. Our own footage of various film festival club events will be on the website soon.
Hudson Mohawke, Glasgow’s latest darling to emerge from indefinable hiphop/wonk/ dubstep stable LuckyMe. As a twenty-year-old music and engineering student, and self-confessed geek, Murphy was able to do things with The Arches’ massive soundsystem he’d only fantasised about before. The degree faded into the background, but it didn’t matter. He was now among a group of young DJs looking to challenge the Glasgow old guard. “Subcity is a community that’s always been home to incredible talent before they get big. The team and listeners are always changing, and always fresh. Optimo, Mungo’s HiFi, and Boom Monk Ben all had shows when they were starting out. I was doing a show with HudMo. Now there’s new presenters who are already on the way to big things.” This month’s event comes nestled between the monthly Subcity parties at the Research Club in Glasgow’s West End, which took off in September 2007 as the station made a fresh start after the hangover of the Block Party era. These stripped down nights attracted young promoter Matthew Craig, 21, who got on board last September. Craig, who runs One More Tune (Blackfriars) and Cheap ‘n’ Nasty (Nice ‘n’ Sleazy), as well as DJing himself, said: “It was pretty exciting to get involved when the station was doing something new. I’d been to the Block Party nights myself and always thought they were one step ahead of the game.” This month’s booking confirms the station’s obsession with the latest sounds. DJ Assault’s style of bassline heavy, booty-shaking ghetto house is sneaking into the city’s mainstream consciousness via nights such as Numbers and label Dress 2 Sweat. True to form, the station’s Research Club nights were bringing the massive sound of the Baltimore ghetto into a listed West End townhouse. Surveying the queue of Lycra-clad, electro-hungry generation-Z party people at the last event, Craig muses over the fact that most of them haven’t heard of the Arches nights. “I’m lucky to be doing this, because Subcity is a blank canvas - the brand never gets old because the team graduate, get big or just move on.”
Ben Coghill, aka Boom Monk Ben, the latest to join the Ninja Tune DJ team alongside the likes of CutCopy, DJ Food and DK, has been playing the Subcity nights since 2004, after starting out with a hip-hop show on the station. He still continues to make time for them despite increasing commitments as an international DJ, booking manager and producer. Ben, who currently hosts the Mixed Bizness nights at the Art School, is still excited after all these years: “I remember the massive nights at The Arches well but I feel these more intimate events are exactly what the station now needs. It’s free of any pretence and macho posturing that often comes with the promotion of fresh sounds. “The energy from the crowd is unrivalled and the nights always turn into an under-the-radar rave-up. I have played all over UK and Europe in recent months but these nights are still the most fun to be had.” The Research Club night on March 27 confirms it: the station’s doing good. Bassline hip-hop from Boom Monk Ben, Arches party boy Johnny Whoop, and Armed Response, residents of Symbiosis, the city’s primary drum ‘n’ bass outlet in the perfect dinginess of the Soundhaus. If there’s another dip in years to come, it’ll be a much-needed comedown from their current high. TICKETS FOR THE END OF BROADCAST PARTY ARE AVAILABLE FROM GLASGOW UNIVERSITY SRC, THE IVY AND RUB A DUB AT £9. BUSES LEAVE THE IVY (NEW VENUE AT 54 BELOW, ARGYLE ST) BETWEEN 10PM-12AM.
DJ Chart Ahead of their Scottish debut at Men and Machines on 28 March, Pop Campaign present ten of their favourite tracks. The Fall: Totally Wired (Rough Trade) Mark E Smith is a complete one-off. This song perfectly encapsulates his weird and wonderful world and is a great way to kick off any DJ set both lyrically and musically. Arab Strap: The Shy Retirer (Chemical Underground) Probably the best Scottish band ever. Aidan is a modern day Rabbie Burns. This sordid tale of a night out is arguably their most club-friendly number and aptly describes a messy night out in Glasgow. Blackstrobe: Me And Madonna (Output) Blackstrobe are one of the few acts making decent dance music in recent years. This male/ female duet is an uber-cool slice of electronic pop. LCD Soundsystem: Tribulations (DFA) The DFA brigade have reinvigorated dance music and shown that it doesn’t have to be pretentious or boring. This track has a bass line made for clubs and a vocal delivery suited to feeling a bit special in the wee small hours. Primal Scream: Swastika Eyes (Creation) By midway through a set you want to hear something that either picks it up a gear or takes it down a notch. This definitely does the former. When The Scream are on form they are
unstoppable and this epic techno monster shows them at the top of their game. Jeans Team: Keine Melodien (Kitty-Yo) Although this is now weirdly being used in a car advert, it doesn’t take away from its undeniable brilliance. The lyrics roughly translate as “I sing no melody, I sing 1, 2, 3, 4.” Tremendous. Alter Ego: Why Not? (Klang Electronik) Another act making truly inspirational dance music. Human League: Seconds (Virgin) This is a much underrated track from the tremendous Dare. There are some beautiful synth sounds in there that give it a very melancholic feel and others that make it sound like it was imported straight from Mars. Is it about JFK or John Lennon? Who knows, and with pop as perfect as this, who cares? B-52s: Private Idaho (Warner Bros) Sound like the perfect cross between post-punk and a 60s girl group number. That should endear it to anyone with a soul. Kirsty MacColl: A New England (Stiff ) It was an absolute tragedy when she died. This cover of the Billy Bragg classic is perhaps even better than the original and is a great way to end any night.
CLUBS
BREAKING BOUNDARIES IN MUSIC 36 BLAIR ST, EDINBURGH. 0131 220 6176
Quite frankly...
DUTY FREE 7th March 7pm - 10pm free entry!! sam isaac + the all new adventures of us
myspace.com/dutyfree2009
WED 4 MAR
BLACK & GOLD NIGHT WITH THE BLACKJACKS THU 5 MAR
BORN TO BE WIDE
The innovative new kids meet the celebrated big guns at The Arches' staple club night this month, Chris Duncan has a word with Frankmusik before he warns up the slabs.
FRI 6 MAR
over 14s
11th March 7pm SIDETRACKED, NO WAY BACK bebo.com/officialreemer
DUTY FREE 12th March
7pm - 10pm free entry!!
northern alliance, doug johnstone (spoken word), edward & the mccalls, al shields
SICK NOTE THURSDAY 19TH MARCH THE VIVIANS live FREE ENTRY 11PM-3AM
MOR FRIKARBASI 6 MAR
BUBBLEGUM BOOGALOO : HIDDEN MASTERS SUN 8 MAR
SOUL SURVIVOR - JAZZ & BLUES NIGHT WITH JAZZMAIN + THE MAIN STREET BLUES BAND WED 11 MAR
PLAYBACK THE BEST OF EDINBURGH OPEN MICS
WWW.OPENMICS.CO.UK/PLAYBACK
THU 12 MAR
LAPTOP LOUNGE FRI 13 MAR
ON-U SOUND PARTY WITH
ADRIAN SHERWOOD
GHETTO PRIEST + PETE LOCKETT FRI 13 MAR
DISGRACELAND SAT 14 MAR
SOUL SPECTRUM SUN 15 MAR
FRIDAY 21ST MARCH DOORS 10.30pm -3.00am
TONI JARVIS MANY club nights claim to be 'new and improved' after making the smallest of changes to their running. However, Death Disco recently underwent a significant reinvention which justifies such sloganeering, keeping their eye-catching posters and winning booking policy but putting a stronger emphasis on up and coming live acts. The Playroom is now open for every event and will present bands who sit well with the tone of the evening. Last month, as Brodinski played an energetic set that whipped the main arch into a frenzy, Filthy Dukes made their debut appearance in the Playroom to great success. This month, every possible space is being used to maximum effect in order to accommodate one of the finest line-ups the night has offered this year. Radio One's Annie Mac headlines the Main Arch along with a DJ set from the Mystery Jets. Furthermore, Glasgow's very own exceptional talent Twitch will appear with Freeform Five, who are regulars to The Arches after years of extensive touring. This month's Playroom act is Frankmusik, otherwise known as Vincent Frank from Croydon or the former beatboxer who went by the name of Mr. Mouth. Currently setting some areas of the music world alight with his bleep-laced robo-pop,
the man describes himself as an "intensely neurotic, glamorous, electroavid, self-edited, self-selected, self-focussed, madly dedicated new pop star". The former ballet school attendee and art school drop out promises to deliver a spell-binding set at his Death Disco debut where he aims to challenge the crowd. “I hate the idea of splitting music into genres," frowns Frank, "as if you can only like a certain type of music because it's in your favoured genre. What the music I love always has in common is that it works not because it's in a particular genre but because it's great pop produced in an inventive way. I don’t want to belong to a particular genre, because that seems to reduce what I do. I make pop as fantastically as I can for people who like fantastic pop of whatever style and however they hear it, buy it and play it.” What is certain is that The Arches landmark night isn't resting on any laurels over its rigid status as a popular spot on the Scottish clubbing map. By securing bold and challenging new acts such as Frankmusik to combine them with the big guns, Death Disco remains a must on a Saturday night. FRANKMUSIK PLAYS THE PLAYROOM AT THE ARCHES, GLASGOW ON 21 MAR, 11PM-3AM, £14
Joe Gideon & the Shark Paul Vickers & the Leg 23rd March 7pm
myspace.com/joegideonandtheshark
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21ST MAY 09
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NOTE
ALSO ON SALE... 04th April : 6 DAY RIOT :: GIDEON CONN 19th April : CINEMATICS 24th April : BROKEN FAMILY BAND 26th April : JENIFEREVER
DUTY FREE
03rd April : thomas truax, withered hand 20th April : we see lights - album launch TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: WWW.THECABARETVOLTAIRE.COM RIPPING RECORDS (SOUTH BRIDGE), WWW.TICKETWEB.CO.UK T: 08444 77 1000 TICKETS SCOTLAND T: 0131 220 3234
DEAN OWENS + KIM EDGAR FRI 20 MAR
MELTING POT SAT 21 MAR
SOUL FOUNDATION SAT 28 MAR
VEGAS!
From 8.30pm til 1am - £5 entry FRI 3 APR
BUBBLEGUM BOOGALOO THE PRIVATES HAMMOND ORCHESTRA SAT 4 APR
DIRTY LOVE CLUB presents DELTA MAINLINE + SWEET JANE + GUILE SUN 5 APR
SOUL SURVIVOR with WE SEE LIGHTS BLUE FLINT, RODDY NEILSON & PAT MCGARVEY + THE UNIVERSAL EXPORTS SUN 12 APR
MAGNOLIUS FRI 17 APR
ANDREW WEATHERALL seven inch rock 'n roll set SAT 9 MAY
SON OFEVERY DAVE+MORIARTY THURSDAY
LIMBO : LIVE MUSIC DANCE PARTY More info at: http://black-spring.com/limbo/
WWW.THECABARETVOLTAIRE.COM MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 51
CLUBS
Previews SOLAR DISCO PRESENTS RUNE LINDBAEK
KAPITAL PRESENTS SUPER FLU
BLACKFRIARS BASEMENT, GLASGOW, 6 MARCH
THE CAVES, EDINBURGH, 13 MARCH
Starting on Friday 6 March, Blackfriars’ Basement in Glasgow will be resonating to the sounds of the Slam boys, their cronies and counterparts. For it is this well-known Glasgow club spot and gig venue that Orde and Stuart have chosen to present their latest creation, Solardisco. Running from 11pm to 3am, this new event kicks off with a guest spot from Norwegian club wunderkind Rune Lindbaek. His mix of obscure disco and electronic has already made him a star on the Norwegian club scene. Lindbaek profile was increased last year with the release of his debut album, Klub Kebabb, named after his Oslo club night. Support comes from residents Maelstrom, Kev Stevens and Craig Moogroove. [Jonathan Robert Muirhead]
Some might think risking going out on the second ‘Friday the 13th’ in a row would be darn right foolish; just asking for trouble. But for brave souls, Kapital have again beaten the crowds, proving their forward-thinking booking ethos by welcoming Feliks Thielemann & Mathias Schwarz (aka Superflu) to the Caves. The German duo drift along the minimal side of techno, with emphasis on progressive drive, making the build-ups all the more climatic. The gig’s just in time for Dekadent to release their remix of GUM, a Jorge Ciccoli a-side, with more vinyl circulating later in the year. Heads have been turned by the likes of Luciano, Dubfire and Ian Pooley who have already been blasting out the new mix across Europe. Sure to be minimal, only musically of course, and with the same energy and cult following Kapital have fostered, it’s a must see. Unless you’re too scared that is… [Nicol J Craig]
11PM-3AM, £5 BEFORE 12, £7 AFTER
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES PRESENTS BEN SIMS
11PM-3AM, £8 PLUS B.F. OR £10 ON THE DOOR WWW.KAPITALMUSIC.CO.UK
THE GRV, EDINBURGH, 6 MARCH
With the creative vigour that the name implies, Creative Industries have bagged themselves a DJ virtuoso in the shape of Ben Sims. Known as the ‘three deck master’, he’s taken time from managing nine record labels, pushing a healthy European DJing schedule - including Frequency later this month, showcasing his seven deck mixing skills - and a demanding role as freelance producer to make his way up to Auld Reekie. To be frank, Sims is sure to slice the faces off his audience. “Literally?” I hear you cry. “Aye, literally” is the necessary response. Edinburgh regulars Wolfjazz and Stephen Brown will be up for the slice too, dropping various electronic genres subsumed by a tech driven milieu. Expect blurred senses, hands glued to the sky, and your weekday worries cured with blissful techno treatment; Sims most definitely wouldn’t let you have it any other way. [Nicol J. Craig] 11PM-3AM, £11 WWW.THEGRV.COM
RHUMBA CLUB PRESENTS: 2 MANY DJS THE ICE FACTORY, PERTH, 14 MARCH
This preview page is usually held in the vice like grip of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with the three cities offering so much for every type of clubber. But we can gladly break the trend this month with news from Perth as they gear up for Rhumba Club’s 18th birthday party. Taking place at The Ice Factory on Shore Road, Rhumba Club have secured an exclusive Scottish date from 2 Many DJs. Following their extensive Part Of The Weekend Never Dies tour of 2007, 2 Many DJs increased their already extensive fanbase and are now returning for their first Scottish date since. Resurfacing last year with a series of remix work, including the now well worn MGMT Kids single, this should be the beginning of great things for 2 Many DJs in 2009. Many happy returns to Rhumba Club, and may they continue to throw birthday bashes like this. [Anna Seale]
&
9PM-2.30AM, £20 PLUS B.F.
WWW.STAGANDDAGGER.COM
WWW.BEBO.COM/RHUMBACLUBOFFICIAL
LONDON 21 LEEDS 22 GLASGOW 23 MAY 2009
MIXTAPE: EDIT-SELECT PRESENTS LUKE SLATER SNAFU, ABERDEEN, 27 MARCH
Mixtape delivers more from the techno vaults of fame, this time the homegrown upfront rumblings of key sceneupriser Luke Slater aka Planetary Assault Systems. Hailed originally as a torchbearer for the Detroit sound’s arrival on UK shores 2009 will indeed mark the 20th anniversary of his first vinyl release. Returning from a relatively low-key couple of years his revised physical image will surely assist his firm dark roots in acid-tinged beats and his long-standing pioneering productions in what the kids insist on branding minimal. The night is hosted by Edit-Select’s Tony Scott (Percy X/Soma) whose own brand-reshuffle has boosted the namesake label (and the event’s) profile, with much of the published material making its way to the dance-floors at the forefront of the genre. There’s lots more to come from this monthly EditSelect/Snafu collaboration and the same should be said of Luke Slater whose new album will undoubtably showcase tonight. [Jaco Justice]
100 Acts | 3 Cities1 | Wristband
£10 EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW Line Up To Be Announced Soon... www.seetickets.com | www.gigantic.com | www.wegottickets.com ADVENTURES IN THE BEETROOT FIELD
SkinnyAd.indd 1
52 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
27/2/09 15:35:30
DEBAUCHED PRESENTS CAGED BABY V CLUB, GLASGOW, 20 MARCH
Glasgow’s newest nightspot The V Club continues to furrow a strong reputation for itself, and this month sees yet another big name to pull the punters in. Fresh from performing a set at nearby O’Couture just before the end of last year, Cagedbaby returns to Glasgow to offer more of the psychadelic-goes-pop electro-house that’s responsible for his ascent into the premier league of dance acts. The alias of Tom Gandey, Cagedbaby has been hard at work on a follow-up to the acclaimed debut Will See You Now for three years and will no doubt be ready to explode the venue with fresh material. Add into that his noted DJ skills - they don’t give out top slots at festivals like Rock Ness for nothing, after all - and a remixography which includes legends such as X-Press 2 and Armand Van Helden, and this is sure to be one blinding night. [Scott Ramage] 10PM-3AM, £8/£7
NEVEREVERLAND THE ARCHES, GLASGOW, 13 MARCH
Apologies, I was under the impression that there was some kind of economic crisis going on and that our culture of gross, tasteless excess would have to stop. I must have imagined it because here comes news of Nevereverland, an absolute treat of an event taking place at The Arches. Modular Records take the wheel to present a night of special guests including Afrika Bambaataa, The Bang Gang Deejays, a DJ set from Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor, Tame Ipala, Rex the Dog and Modular DJs. Any event that has Rex the Dog cobbled on at the foot of the bill as though he was some kind of young upstart is bound to be amazing. This is the only Scottish date for the Nevereverland tour and surely a rare chance to see the godfather of hip-hop, Afrika Bambaataa, in action. [Chris Duncan] 10PM, EARLY BIRD TICKETS £12, PRE SALES £15, ON THE DOOR £18. WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MODULARUK WWW.MODULARPEOPLE.COM
MELTING POT 15TH BIRTHDAY - DISSIDENT RECORDS SPECIAL THE ADMIRAL, GLASGOW,7 MARCH
Dissident Records label boss Andy Blake joins residents Andrew Pirie and Simon Cordiner to help celebrate Melting Pot’s 8th Birthday this month. With nearly fifty releases since its inception two years ago, Dissident is nothing short of prolific. Featuring output from local producers Den Haan, The Niallist and Naum Gabo (a recording alias of the night’s other guest, Optimo’s JG Wilkes), it can also lay claim to a heavy Glasgow influence. Each record’s run is limited to only 200 and they’ve quickly become collector’s items with the likes of Prins Thomas, Derrick May, Francois Kervorkian, Erol Alkan, Andrew Weatherall and DFA snapping them up. An accomplished DJ, Andy has packed the dancefloors of clubs like Horse Meat Disco, The Big Chill, Disco Bloodbath, Fabric and Matter. His heady collection of wild and exotic disco, italo, afro-cosmic, hi-nrg and acid house is sure to create the perfect party atmosphere at The Admiral. [Colin Chapman]
11PM-3AM, £8
11PM - 3AM, £10
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/EDITSELECTRECORDS
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MELTINGPOTGLASGOW
glasgow Music Tue 03 Mar Allan Y McDougall Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Traditional Scottish music
Wired Desire Showcase Night
Maggie Mays, 20:00–23:00, £5
Mixed indie
Fri 06 Mar
Fight Like Apes (Underground Railroad, Marvel Heights)
THE KILLERS
One girl, three boys. Punk
Hugh Cornwell
Eclectiv (Unmortal, Marshall Chipped, I Am Enforcer)
Rock, new wave and pop
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 19:30–23:00, £6
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly eclectic collective.
Ross Clark, Open Mic Òran Mór, 20:00–00:00, Free
Acoustic session followed by a free for all.
Wed 04 Mar
SECC, 18:30–23:00, £32.5
Indy rock
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £15
Marmaduke Duke
Glasgow School of Art, 19:00–23:00, £11
Sneak and Nitrogen Promotions Present Outcry Collective Plus Special Guests
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £8
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 19:30–00:00, £5
A tambourine clad vocal narrative from the Spektor school
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £6
Republic of Soul
Bluetones
For those who like their music spread on oatcakes.
Screamo punk
QMU, 20:00–00:00, £15
Alt. indie
TouchtheMains, Chris Crosbie, Curly’s Heroes Rockers, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Indie, acoustic and rock
Wreckin’ Pit: OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, FOUR LETTER WORD, THE HIJACKS 13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Òran Mór, 19:30–23:00, £8
A keyboard surfing, maraca duelling witty wonderboy
Mono Jazz
Mono, 20:00–23:00, Free
Weekly jazz night with the resident house four-piece, plus guests.
The Cover Up (Who the F**k is Alan, Halcyon Days, Divine Youth) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Local bands get stuck in about some rock and alt. covers.
Thu 05 Mar Dave Dominey
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
SOULCIRCUS, PASSENGER No. 6, INDIAN INK 13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Rock
Ivory Blacks, 20:00–00:00, £11
Danger Danger Run Run Run, DJ Benny Boom Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Acoustic electro
The Strike Nineteen’s, The Killing Time
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
Dumbarton four piece whose riffs have been splattered through numerous film soundtracks this year.
Wake the President (album launch)
Pollokshaws Burgh Halls, 20:00–00:00, tbc
Heavylight Darkbright (TOKYO KNIFE ATTACK, FUTURISTIC RETRO CHAMPIONS, NEVADA BASE, FINDO GASK) Stereo, 21:00–03:00, £5
Electronic synth cowbell punk rock.
Rock
Deerhunter
Stereo, 20:00–00:00, £10.50
Garage and punk
Protest The Hero
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–01:00, £5/1
Electro punk.
Concrete Campfire: French Wives, Woodenbox Brel, 20:00–23:00, Free
Regular acoustic night
Acoustic guitar
Defend Moscow, A-Lix, Any Colour Black Captain’s Rest, 19:30–23:00, £4
Electro indie pop
Alt. rock and indie
Ska and reggae
SERGEANT, THE JAPANESE MAFIA, VAL VERDE
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £6.50
Goldheart Assembly (The Balladeers, Would Be Kings)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
Electric campfire folk
The Edinburgh anti-folk revolt hits the westside and we’re praying that their dancing horse headed Bee will follow.
Sun 08 Mar Bloc, 17:00–01:00, Free
SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM The Arches, 19:00–23:00, £10
Aussie pop legends
RETROPHOBES, JACK THE WOLF, A NEW HOPE 13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Acoustic indie and rock
Eclectiv (K-15, Black Velveteens, John Neville Junior)
Acoustic session followed by a free for all.
Wed 11 Mar
The Gig Cartel present: It Bites
DF Concerts Presents Howling Bells, Chew Lips
Progressive rock
Indie, rock and electo
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £17.50
We Were Promised Jetpacks, Ross Clark & The Scarfs Go Missing Òran Mór, 19:30–23:00, £5
Baby-faced indie darlings.
Another Love Party, The Moscow Club, Pose Victorious
Maggie Mays, 20:00–00:00, £5
J-pop and rock
DEVICE, TORTURO NERVOSA, HEY VAMPIRES 13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Progressive rock
The Xcerts (Healthy Minds Collapse, Jocasta Sleeps, Wehungyourleader)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
Pop melodrama
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £tbc
36 Crazyfists
The Garage, 20:00–00:00, £15.50
Metal
GALLERIES, SPANISH BOYS NAME, TAMIKA’S TREEHOUSE 13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Concrete jungle and folk
Journeybox, The Routes, Tukoo
Maggie Mays, 20:00–00:00, £5
Acoustic and alt. rock
Pure Reason Revolution (Mr Six, Smoked Glass)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5.88
Rock from the firy belly of the classic canon
Live at The Mill (Dorian, Kiddo)
The Arches, 20:00–22:30, Free
DESPERADO Eagles tribute
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Punk Rock Rammy presents: WE ARE THE UNION, Grown At Home, The Badniks, The Hostiles Barfly, 20:00–23:00, £7
Punk rock, naturally
Mon 09 Mar Michael Simons
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
folk, blues and beyond
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
JOHN ALEXANDER Acoustic singer/ songwriter from Glasgow Mono, 20:00–23:00, Free
Weekly jazz night with the resident house four-piece, plus guests.
Gojira
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £10
Pop-ish rock
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, sold out
Reemer (What The Heroes Say, Marlow)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £4.90
Rock quartet
Electronica and techno
Collection of unsigned acts
The MeatMen
Fundraiser on behalf of Motor Neuron Disease Scotland.
Sparrow and the Workshop, Second Hand Marching Band
Maggie Mays, 17:00–20:00, Free
Country shot through with the rock and the roll
Bloc Sunday
Bloc, 17:00–01:00, Free
Mutant Music
Weekly music love-in with resident bands, open mics and happy happy times.
DF Concerts present: Doves
ABC, 19:00–23:00, sold out
Fri 13 Mar
Tiny violins my friend
BIG YIN REVISITED
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £10/9
Billy Connolly tribute
Doves
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £18
The Enemy
DANSE OR DIE
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £18
o2 Academy, 19:00–23:00, £6
Indie rock
Electro strobe fuelled riot
The XFactor Live
Man Must Die
SECC, 19:30–23:00, £28.50
The Cathouse, 19:30–00:00, £8
Hardcore metal
Ipso Facto, Hatcham Social Captain’s Rest, 19:30–23:00, £6.50
Pop
Goldie Lookin’ Chain (Eastborn And 13Th Tribe)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £10
25 piece hip hop army. If only the Charlotte Church collaboration rumour hadn’t crumbled
All of your Saturday night, couch sitting, eating dreams. Live
Detroit Social Club (The Black Hand Gang)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £7
Delicately lyrical rock. Think aloof, etheral poses in fields of ragwort
*X!@@*! (Spacejunk, XMRV, Hot Mangu) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5
original fires
Impromptu night of screeching, wailing metal.
Soul
Big Ned (The Family Club)
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
THE THEWS, UNITED FRUIT
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–23:00, £4
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Rock
Dark and twisted boys from the new Optimo music label. Dig out your Kappa.
Hour Glass Promotions Presents: DISCHARGE
Tahir Tahira, Vendor Defender
Barfly, 20:00–23:00, £9
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Hardcore punk
Spanish pop and new wave
The Parlor Mob, White Ace, Dirty Angel
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
Rattling rock.
Nevereverland (Afrika Bambaataa, Alexis Taylor (Hot chip DJ set), The Bang Gang Deejays, Rex The Dog, Tame Impala and Modular DJs) The Arches, 23:00–03:00, £18
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
folk, blues and beyond
The Enemy
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £18
Indie rock
SECC, 19:30–23:00, £28.50
Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free
Student quartet
All of your Saturday night, couch sitting, Dorito eating dreams. Live
Flatrate presents: Initial Itch
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Maggie Mays, 17:00–20:00, Free
Country shot through with the rock and the roll
LILY ALLEN
o2 Academy, 19:00–23:00, £19.50
Edinburgh based singer/songwriter
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £6
Mon 16 Mar Michael Simons
The XFactor Live
Sat 14 Mar
PM Music present: The Mixups
R&B
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
o2 Academy, 12:00–00:00, £5
SMILE! (ACIDDica, Julia and the Doogans)
James Lowe (Little Pebble)
o2 Academy, 19:00–23:00, £24.47
White Noise (The Apple Scruffs)
Sun 15 Mar
Whatevs Lily ... we know that you cut your fringe with a ruler
JOHN LEGEND
A pick ‘n’ mix bag of vaguely pop themed liquorice.
THE RED FESTIVAL
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
The MeatMen
Thu 12 Mar
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
El Dog
Weekly indie.
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Rock and blues
Acoustic singer/ songwriter
The twigs and sparks of Brel’s regular acoustic night has shifted to the Wheel for the time being. Huddle round.
Scott Walker Quartet
Death metal
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 19:30–00:00, £11.75
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £2
Revelations (The Harringtons, John Rush, Skinny Villains)
You Me at Six
Juliet Turner (Pierce Pettis)
Concrete Campfire: Rob McCulloch, Spidermonkey
The Flying Duck, 21:00–02:00, £4
The Lonely Souls ABC, 19:00–23:00, £6
Alt. rock and punk
Ross Clark, Open Mic
Ska, reggae and soul
Soul, blues and punk
Southpaw, The Fire and I, The Jaks
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Òran Mór, 20:00–23:00, Free
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
we rock like girls don’t
The Flying Duck, 20:00–00:00, unknown
Weekly eclectic collective.
Wreckin’ Pit: THE TERRORS, ADDICTIVE PHILOSOPHY, OKAY ON THE DAY Album launch for the female fronted horror punk group
Monthly alt. folk get together
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £6.86
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Pop and punk
Mono Jazz
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £6
Mumble Club: ULTIMATE THRUSH, SINGLE HELIX, FOX GUT DAATA, YOKO OH NO
The Super Adventure Club, Six People Away
Rockers, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Electroacoustic folk
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £6
Pop punk
Alt. rock
Brel, 20:00–23:00, £6
Glasgow Live Events Present The Bridal Procession, Martyr Defiled, I Sell The Dead, 7YOT
Rockers, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Reality Killed Us, Black Dog Obsession
Panda Su, De Jour, Haight Ashbury
o2 Academy, 19:00–23:00, £6
The Arches, 20:00–00:00, £16
Fife-based indie quartet
The Arches, 20:00–23:00, £8
AYE N AYE (The Special Addition, Kashmir Red)
THE DIRTY SUITS, SLOW MOTION REPLAY, WATERSHED, CROMA, CAMERON, NOT CAMERON MILLER
Elektra (A-Lix, Baby Bones, Miss Enemy, Sasha Von Thulen)
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Electroacoustic
ZOMES, THE HORSE LOOM, VOM Indie and folk
Andy Miller
Indie folk
Barfly, 20:00–23:00, £6
Experimental punk
Rough ‘n’ tumble leather-jacketed acoustic
Tue 10 Mar
Red Light Company, Grammatics, Lost In Audio
PM Music presents: AYE N AYE
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Long Way Home, Poverty Scum, Fourth Call, Edging On Ecstacy
Horse Feathers, Beerjacket, Yusuf Azak
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
numbers
Death metal
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Throw rocks against your ear drums. Weekly.
Edinburgh based outfit
Alt rock
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
QMU, 20:00–00:00, £10
o2 Academy, 19:30–19:16, £19.50
The Rumble Strips (Wet Paint)
Maggie Mays, 17:00–20:00, Free
Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free
Ivory Blacks, 20:00–00:00, £10
Thrashing metal
Twin Atlantic
‘Much More Than Love’. Yes it is Fin, yes it is
Lily Allen (Lily Allen)
Sardonic rock
No Tribe (The Black Cherry Group, Salute Mary, Sonrisas, Stowaway Blue)
Old school country rock ‘n’ roll
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £14.69
HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT
Datashock, Fritz Welch & Neil Davidson Duo, Boom Edan
Iain Carletons Public Information The MeatMen
amplifier
Seditionaries: TRANSFER AUDIO, PSYCHO CANDY, KING JAPAN
Finley Quaye (Baldego)
Massacre Cave, Minus Won, John Hailstones, Borborigmy
Showcase double-bills for the best up-and-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to:
Franz Ferdinand
Fuzzy youtube videos it is then
K-pop, metal and grunge to make your eyes weap and ears sting
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
The Arches, 20:00–23:00, £12
Sat 07 Mar
Funk and electro loops
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, sold out
Maggie Mays, 20:00–00:00, £5
Hip hop and rap headliners
Black metal
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Look Left Again, Wrongnote, Southern Remedy, Black Dog Obsession
Weekly music love-in with resident bands, open mics and happy happy times.
Live at The Mill (Sugar Crisis, Manda Rin)
Dan Smith (Louise & the Elements, Maple Leaves)
Pop rock
Bloc Sunday
Maggie Mays, 20:00–00:00, £5
Taake
Showcase double-bills for the best up-and-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Rising Son, Black Heart Fire, Servants for Serpants, We Are Rock Star
Rock and metal
The Mill Glasgow @ Òran Mór, 20:00–22:30, Free
Weekly acoustic night.
Glasgow indie powerpoppers
Fortnightly residents playing jazz classics and modern standards
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
echofela
THE JD SET PRESENTS: THE BROKEN FAMILY BAND & THE BRUTE CHORUS
Pearl And The Puppets (Rod Thomas, The Id Parade, Graeme Macdonald)
Wipe your teary eyes on the sleeve of your beige trenchcoat
Acoustic Bazooka (Mike Nisbet, Ramon, Colin Hunter, Phoenix Q)
Alt. new wave
Live Jazz
Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, sold out
Hip hop and electro pop
The V Club, 20:00–00:00, £5
The self-created surreal musical word of enigmatic Scottish duo The Atmosphere and The Dragon
The launch of this year’s JD Set Tour sees the indie gems that brought us the ‘Skins’ theme tune and the hotly tipped London four piece, The Brute Chorus, hit the stage for a collaborative orgy alongside a mystery guest.
Franz Ferdinand
Cassidy, Nevada Base
If you like your alt. grindcore with a bowl cut raise your fists and shout aye
A night of scratch performance poetry, stand-up and live music
Little Comets (Young States, Gdansk)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £6
As cute as a plinky plonky ad for a pastel-hued Citreon C3
Acoustic Bazooka (Wullae Wright, Uncle Big Bad, Latino, Jack James) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly acoustic night.
March 2009
THE SKINNY 53
Glasgow music JAMES MORRISON
Pop punk and acoustic.
Nice pout
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £4
Pumajaw
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Rootsy looping, new age folk
this Is Our Battlefield: APOLOGIES I HAVE NONE, GROZNY, CAP SANTE! 13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £3
Varying breeds of punk and indie rock
Sat 21 Mar JazzMain
Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Monthly jazz session
Regular Music presents: Stiff Little Fingers Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £15.50
Riotous pop punk
Mr Hudson, MPHO, Alan Pownall
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc
Alt. R&B
St. Patricks Day Live Music Showcase
Maggie Mays, 20:00–00:00, Free
Various bands in various shades of green
Tragedy (La Luna Del Cacciatore, Honesty Fails)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £6
A heavy metal Bee Jees assualt.
Indie rock
Electro-poppers launch their new album, Sun Moon Stars
Rockers, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Live at The Mill (Oscar Charlie, Boycotts)
The Mill Glasgow @ Òran Mór, 20:00–22:30, Free
Showcase double-bills for the best up-and-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
The Buff Club, 20:00–03:00, £5
Concrete Campfire: The Barent Sea, Amber Wilson, You take the bigger half The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £2
Indie emo
Mono Jazz
State Broadcasters Album Launch (State Broadcasters)
Drive Carefully Records: THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, FANATTICA
State Broadcasters launch new album with live set.
Rarified folk rock
Punk rock
Mono, 20:00–23:00, Free
Weekly jazz night with the resident house four-piece, plus guests.
Revelations (The Emmas, Isis, BoyGirlAnimalColor) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Sloan’s, 20:00–23:00, Free
is this music?: LE RENO AMPS, A N OTHER, NORTHERN ALLIANCE
Acoustic session followed by a free for all.
BRONTO SKYLIFT, SHIELD YOUR EYES, PNEU
CG Live present: The Gap Year Riot (Ghosts of Pegasus Bridge, Roxbury, Shadow Trax)
Alt. rock
Somalian well building powerpop
Country
DF Concerts present: Noisettes (Young Fathers, Jack Butler) ABC, 19:00–23:00, £tbc
Landaaan-based garage pop trio
Live Jazz
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Fortnightly offering of classics and modern standards
Talking to Strangers, John Knox Sex club, Convoi Exceptionel
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £4
13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £tbc
13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £tbc
Album launch for the Amps
Fri 20 Mar
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £6
Indie pop and rock
Glasgow Live Events Present Not Advised, Lost On Landing, Up For The Letdown, Make My Day, We The Fallen
Robin Grey
Pop punk, emo and rock
Thu 19 Mar Hip Parade
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £6
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £tbc
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Folk
airshi, acrylic iqon, the darien venture
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Rock
Lefty McDuff Promotions Showcase
Griever, TRAUMa INC, SeMPeR Fi
Joshua Radin
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £9.50
Acoustic singer/ songwriter
lions.chase.tigers, we hung your leader, cryoverbillionaires
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Maggie Mays, 20:00–00:00, £5
Rockers, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Pop melodrama
Indie and rock
Metal
The Boy Least Likely To (The School)
Luva Anna (Tango In The Attic, Franco Neon)
The Arches, 20:00–03:00, £16
Huggable folk pop
Folk rock
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £6.50
The Arches, 20:00–03:00, £16
8 piece delicatessen of cheese.
Ross Clark, Open Mic
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £17.50
THE ARCHES & ARIKA PRESENT: INSTAL 2009
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Protestant reformation addled with some jolly hip hop and electro. Good times.
Regular Music and AEG present: Sugarland
Indie rock
Girls Play Boys
Weekly eclectic collective.
Wed 18 Mar
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Republic of Soul
Weekly indie.
Òran Mór, 20:00–23:00, Free
kung fu
The annual new music festive comes banging on The Arches doors. Check www.arika.org.uk for more info
Eclectiv (Andripov, Shoons Thurman, Drewidpohehtree and Fee, the Urges) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Billy said ‘scuzzed-up guitars leering over nihilistic pummels of drum’, and I am more than inclined to believe the boy
Marshmallows at the ready for this week’s inspired folk.
Kalamazoo
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
THE ARCHES & ARIKA PRESENT: INSTAL 2009
The annual new music festive comes banging on The Arches doors. Check www.arika.org.uk for more info
the best gig listings
online 54 THE SKINNY March 2009
theskinny.co.uk
folk, blues and beyond
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £tbc
Sun 22 Mar Stone Gods (Black Spiders, Hate Gallery)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £12
The pouting, tatoo-ed gun touting crew from an abandoned ship named The Darkness
West of Scotland Punx presents: THE STEADY BOYS, ROSCOE VACANT, POVERTY SCUM, DAVE HUGHES 13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Punk reggae
THE ARCHES & ARIKA PRESENT: INSTAL 2009
The Arches, 20:00–03:00, £16
The annual new music festive comes banging on The Arches doors. Check www.arika.org.uk for more info
No Tribe (New Battle, Void Pleasantries) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Indie rock
Live at The Mill (Emma Curran, Eoghan Colgan) The Mill Glasgow @ Òran Mór, 20:00–22:30, Free
Showcase double-bills for the best up-and-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
Indie Irish four-piece
Mono Jazz
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
Wreckin’ Pit: BLACKJACKET, JACKIE ONASSIS, JOEY TERRIFYING Canadian hardcore
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly acoustic night.
Cancel Winter
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Indie electro
MONO
Stereo, 20:00–23:00, £10
On the cusp of the release of Hymm to the Immortal Wind
Tue 24 Mar Marta & Richard
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Mono, 20:00–23:00, Free
Weekly jazz night with the resident house four-piece, plus guests.
Revelations (Shimmer, Adventure Friends, The DieYoungs) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly indie.
Thu 26 Mar DF Concerts present: Starsailor ABC, 19:00–23:00, £16
Prozac indie
DF Concerts Presents: Kid Cudi
Classic Grand, 19:00–23:00, £tbc
Hip hop, alternative and rap
Folk fae Fife
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Acoustic
Flamenco
Metallica
Rogues (My Cousin I Bid You Farewell, The Banter Thiefs)
First gig on tartan turf in 10 years
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
SECC, 19:00–23:00, £40
Regular Music presents: Alela Diane ABC, 19:00–23:00, £8
Utterly danceable, fresh-faced pop vocals that smack of well spent childhoods listening to Robert Smith in treehouses
Americanca folk
Eclectiv (Binary Zero, The Vicounts, Politics of Time!)
Club Smith (The Maybes Goldhawks, Louise Against The Elements)
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly eclectic collective.
My Kappa Roots, Lovers Turn To Monsters, Algernon Doll
Kamelot
The Cathouse, 19:30–00:00, £14.50
Metal and rock
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
Steely faced, pulsing electro joy
Folk
next time fire, lost city lights, painfish
Ross Clark, Open Mic
Indie rock
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Òran Mór, 20:00–23:00, Free
Acoustic session followed by a free for all.
SOMMERSAULT ASSAULT, CALACAS, MALIK JOYEUX 13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £4
Ethereal winter swoops, death metal and abrasive math rock from Paisley calculists
Wed 25 Mar
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Audrey Sings Nico
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Homage
Concrete Campfire: Sparrow and the Workshop, Vetacore
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £2
Rocking, roaring, gothic and cinematic melodies huant this weeks gathering.
Funeral For A Friend
Super Secret Invite Only Party!
Indie rock
We know nothing.
Throw rocks against your ear drums. Weekly.
QMU, 19:00–00:00, £17
Switchblade Scream, Peep show, Concept of time
Jessica Lea Mayfield
Metal
American singer/ songwriter
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £3
next time fire, out of samsara, the con artists
The Coronas (The Raw Kings, Year Zero)
Acoustic Bazooka (Hercules Mandarin, Action, Stuart Christopher, As the Crow Flies)
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £6
Corrie Dick
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
PM Music present: The Black Rats Joe Gideon & The Shark (Mitchell Museum, Kochka)
A Band Called Quinn (Swimmer One)
Michael Simons
13th Note, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Crunky rockabilly
The red show, State Freed, The Empathy
o2 Academy, 19:00–23:00, £tbc
The quartet whip out some standards and new material ABC, 19:00–23:00, £6
Tue 17 Mar
Mon 23 Mar
Flav Giorgini (Squirtgun), The Murderburgers, The Plimptons, David Hughes
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £8
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, ?
LAS TUESDAY, THE DUNDERHEIDS, HOLLOWPOINT 13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £tbc
Rock
Edinburgh music Wolf Among Wolves presents Don’t Dress Up! (Psychedelic night with Gordon Brady) Stereo, 23:00–03:00, £5
Rock’N’Roll, psychedelic nights.
Fri 27 Mar
The Rifles The Garage, 20:00–00:00, £14.50
Rock punk and ska
Tue 03 Mar WONKY POP TOUR : MASTER SHORTIE, DAN BLACK
No Tribe (Hippocampus, El Bastardos, Fallen Skies, Witness the Fall)
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Marc Atkinson Trio
Sideways pop party with self-made electro boy genius and audio smelter of tomorrow.
DF Concerts present: The Sounds
Throw rocks against your ear drums. Weekly.
Alt. new wave
Static Radio, Shatterhand, The Arteries
CEILIDH CLUB (THE JIMI SHANDRIX EXPERIENCE)
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
LATE n’ LIVE (SOUL SOCIETY)
ABC, 19:00–23:00, £10
MANTA
o2 Academy, 19:00–23:00, £6
Alt rock
Hardcore punk
Wing and a Prayer
Define Pop presents: Club Overdrive (WE HAVE OVERDRIVE, HEY VAMPIRES)
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
A collection of blues inflected singer/ songwriters
Ben Lee
Stereo, 20:00–00:00, £12
Pop
The Sword
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £7.50
13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £4
Garage, punk and rock
Mon 30 Mar Wednesday 13 The Cathouse, 19:00–00:00, £14.50
Metal band from Austin, Texas
Metal
wasted radio
Michael Simons
Folky punk
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Kalla Heartshake, Wullie Swales
The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
Alt. rock and acoustic solos that hark to Buddy and his bespectacled charm.
Nacional, Dirty Cuts, Paper Planes
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Post punk and indie
Carlton Studios: ESPORANZA, CRUMPLED TENNERS, CHIEF 13th Note, 21:00–00:00, £tbc
Rock
Sat 28 Mar Corrie Dick Quintet Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free
Funk jazz newcomers
PM Music present: The Debuts ABC, 19:00–23:00, £6
Shoegazing indie rock
The New Beautiful South
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £13.50
Back from a two-year sabbatical
Yo Majesty
Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Palm Beach’s answer to Baltimore. Female rap spunk punk duo, ‘innit
Sun 29 Mar Synergy Concerts present: Dirty Projectors (Polar Bear) ABC, 19:00–23:00, £10
Nu-jazz
Dent May (& His Magnificent Ukulele)
Captain’s Rest, 19:30–23:00, £5
Mississipi bred boy, recently signed to the mighty Animal Collective’s Paw Tracks
folk, blues and beyond
Acoustic Bazooka (Marc Evans, Aames, Tragic O’Hara, Borthwicks Acoustic) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly acoustic night.
RML presents: El Dog, Old Romantic Killer Band The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £5
Post rock, punk and blues.
Tue 31 Mar Magic Carpet Cabaret Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 19:00–23:00, £2
A thick pile of musical comfort
Official Secrets Act (Coriolis, Lions.Chase.Tigers) King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–00:00, £5
Whap on your waistcoat and roll in the muddy disco headlights
Eclectiv Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:00, £5/1
Weekly eclectic collective.
Heart in Hand, Search Party The Twisted Wheel, 20:00–23:00, £4
Melodic hardcore.
Ross Clark, Open Mic Òran Mór, 20:00–23:00, Free
Acoustic session followed by a free for all.
The Airborne Toxic Event QMU, 20:00–23:00, £10
Free entry with your Don DeLillo paperback? Probably not
The Village, 19:30–22:00, £8
Firy picking and feel good riffs. The Lot, 20:00–00:00, £6
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Wed 04 Mar TOMMY REILLY
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7
If you missed him on the 1st this is your second chance to see the weegie wonder kid of channel 4’s Orange Unsigned show fame.
Buena Vista Social Club presents: Eliades Ochoa
The Picture House, 19:00–23:00, £18.50
Cuban guitarist and singer
The Council, Timebomb Soldiers The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Bluesy rock and indie.
OPEN MIC with STRETCH DAWRSON
The Jam House, 20:00–22:30, Free
Western swing from Stretch’s duo plus open mic slots for the bold, the beautiful and the drunk.
Science
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Rock
Off With Their Heads, Four Letter Word
BAD MONKEY
CEILIDH CLUB
Minimalist rock
Jungle and afro-beat.
Versus (The Foundling Wheel vs DeadBoyRobotics vs Enfant Bastard)
LATE n’ LIVE
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £5
Townhouse, Seven Deadly Sins The Ark, 21:00–23:00, £4
Hardcore metal and thrash.
LATE n’ LIVE (SKUNKFUNK) The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £5/3
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Fri 06 Mar
The Ark, 19:30–22:00, £4
Wee Red Bar, 19:30–23:00, £tbc
An entwined, hurtling crossfire of sounds in a three way tête-à-tête
Hippo, xmrv
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–03:00, £4 or invite
Hardcore metal
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Shameless
Bannerman’s, 17:00–20:00, Free
Metal
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
HIP PARADE (JAKIL, CALLEL)
The Ark, 22:00–01:00, £4
Thu 05 Mar THE RED WELL, KID CANAVERAL, CURATORS
Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–00:00, £4
Album launch
HOT LEG
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £11
Classified as ‘Man Rock’ by the Cab people, Justin ‘Dave’ Hawkins’ new troup serenade us in anticipation of their debut album “Red Light Fever”.
Live at The Mill (Profisee, Big Toes Hi Fi)
The Mill Edinburgh @ The Caves, 19:00–22:30, Free
Showcase double-bills for the best upand-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
Neverzone (Secta Rouge, Sileni, Tinpark, Mechanical Beast, Scrim)
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–00:00, £3
Hardcore punk
Limbo
The Voodoo Rooms, 20:30–00:00, £4
Voodoo’s weekly forray into the burgeoning music scene
Punk hip hop
Alt. acoustic and electronica
City Of Statues, Split Swords, Polar Haze, The Fatalists
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
Indie popper finalists from that Orange Unsigned thing on Channel 4.
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Rock, punk and indie.
Elbow
Corn Exchange, 19:00–23:00, £22.03
Alt rock
Mor Karbasi
The Voodoo Rooms, 19:30–00:00, £12
London-based Israeli singer
Wildtype, Kiltreiser, Katy Bar The Door
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:30–22:30, £4
Alt. rock and grunge
Ben Sims
The GRV, 20:00–00:00, £11
Techno and house
Black Tape (Everything Everything, Come On Gang, Epic26) Sneaky Pete’s, 20:00–03:00, £5
Indie electro
Armoured Cats, Slow Motion Replay Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Alt. rock and metal
The Brutes, The Knavemen, Chateau Greyskull
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 23:00–03:00, £5/4
Garage rock from 3 ex-Grease Monkeys
Fish Fry (Meat Pie)
The Jazz Bar, 01:00–03:00, £5/3
All manner of jazz
Sat 07 Mar The Rab Howat Band
Bannerman’s, 16:00–18:00, Free
Indie rock with shards of metal
Eric Carbonara, Ben Reynolds
Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–00:00, £tbc
Folk bending across the geographical spectrum. Heck, it’s almost electric
DUTY FREE: SAM ISAAC, THE ALL NEW ADVENTURES OF US Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, Free
Isaac acts as lynchpin to a creative gaggling troup of add-ons while multipeopled, multi-talented seven piece Tanaou bash out their musical stories.
McFall’s & Michael Marra The Bongo Club, 19:00–22:00, £8/6
Mr McFall’s Chamber is joined by singer/songwriter Michael Marra for this performance of new workings
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Wed 11 Mar REEMER (SIDETRACKED, NO WAY BACK)
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6
Echo Parade, The Small Town Diamonds
Plum
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
Signed to Reaction Records, the Manc foursome trekk north on their first headline UK tour.
Flat Iron, Ike Turner’s Fists of Fury
LATE n’ LIVE (THE FREAKY FAMILY)
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
The Lot, 20:00–00:00, £6
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Indie rock.
LATE n’ LIVE (WILLIAM DOUGLAS and THE WHEEL) Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Noah & The Whale (Jay Jay Pistolet)
Queen’s Hall, 19:00–23:00, £12.50
The Club Silncio tour, featuring film and moving-image projections curated by the band
OPEN MIC with STRETCH DAWRSON
Sun 08 Mar Ian McKelvie, Little Pebble, Mayhew, Antonia Sedgwick, James Lowe
The Jam House, 20:00–22:30, Free
McKelvie’s folky, post punky, bossa nova EP launch.
Playback: The Best of Edinburgh Open Mics
The Ark, 19:00–22:00, £4
Sergeant
Western swing from Stretch’s duo plus open mic slots for the bold, the beautiful and the drunk. The Voodoo Rooms, 20:00–00:00, £3/2
The Hive, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
An evening of music, comedy and spoken word.
SUNDAY SINGERS NIGHT
LATE n’ LIVE
Weekly showcase
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Indie pop
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
The Jazz Bar, 20:30–00:00, £4/3
The Dalry Llamas, Cranachan
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, Free
Rock
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Thu 12 Mar Duty Free: NORTHERN ALLIANCE, DOUG JOHNSTONE, AL SHIELDS, EDWARD & THE McCALLS
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, Free
A spoken word set from Johnstone, author of The Ossians, looks primed to raise the literary roof off this week’s Duty Free.
Mon 09 Mar Sebastian Dangerfield, Goldheart Assembly, Jack Butler
Live at The Mill (Futuristic Retro Champions, Tamikas Treehouse)
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Indie country.
COME ON GANG!
Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £1 before midnight/ £2 after midnight. Free before midnight if you’ve got a Trade Union flyer. £1 after midnight for students and hospitality workers
The trio bash out some dancing beats at Trade Union before they jet off to South by South West.
LATE n’ LIVE (AKI’S ‘TUESDAY HEARTBREAK’ FUNK SESSION) The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
The Mill Edinburgh @ The Caves, 19:00–22:30, Free
Showcase double-bills for the best upand-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
The Marvels, The Wynd, Richard Gray, Flora Cook The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Pop, rock and indie.
Smoked Glass, Boygirlanimalcolour, The Poison Teacups, Seven Deadly Sins, Dave Wheatley Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:30–00:00, £4
Tue 10 Mar
Charity gig
Tame Impala, Wounded Knee, Conflict Diamonds
Sworn Enemy
Studio 24, 19:00–00:00, £11
Hardcore metal
Sneaky Pete’s, 19:30–23:00, £5
Sandy Brechin and Ewan Wilkinson
Psychedelic rock
Laptop Lounge
Young Scottish accordian and guitar team set to rip up the folk scene.
International and UK electronic music and video artists
The Village, 19:30–22:00, £6
The Voodoo Rooms, 20:00–00:00, Free
March 2009
THE SKINNY 55
Edinburgh music Limbo
The Voodoo Rooms, 20:30–00:00, £4
Voodoo’s weekly forray into the burgeoning music scene
Rage (Certain Deathm Tickle) Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Rage Against the Matchine Tribute, playing in support of Zapatista health clinics in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico and the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh.
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Fri 13 Mar
Next Big Thing (The Young Fathers, The Fusilers, I Hear Echos, 4 Day Weekend, The mode, The Statler Project, Beatnic Prestige, Nine Cicles, Dead Sea Souls & The Deals) The Picture House, 18:00–23:00, £10.50
Pretty self explanatory really
Jeffree Star
Studio 24, 19:30–00:00, £13.50
Pop
Twisted & Brainfire (Scott Brown) Stereo, 19:30–00:00, £13.50
Hardcore
Answering Machine The Bowery, 20:00–00:00, £6
Indie folk
On-U Sound Party (Adrian Sherwood, Ghetto Priest, Pete Lockett)
The Voodoo Rooms, 20:00–00:00, £10
Reggae
We Rock Like Girls Don’t, Sara And The Snakes
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–00:00, £5/4
DIY rock ‘n’ toll female duo from London and Glasgow
This Is Music: RBRBR, Over The Wall, Playdate DJs Sneaky Pete’s, 20:00–03:00, £3
Gig/ club crossover with indie, pop and electro sliding into a fistful of knees in your face glory. You’ll get shin splints you’ll dance so hard
Clash Magazine & PCL Present: Answering Machine, CasioKid, Flasguns The Bowery, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Emotronica pop orgies
Firebrand Superock, Gods of Hellfire Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Punk rock
Fish Fry (Golan Heights) The Jazz Bar, 01:00–03:00, £5/3
All manner of jazz
Sat 14 Mar
Fish Fry (Das Contras) The Jazz Bar, 01:00–03:00, £5/3
All manner of jazz
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Wed 25 Mar Andy Knox
Folk, rock, pop and gothic.
Lau
Dundonian electro pop
Indie alt. rock
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Logan
Studio 24, 19:30–00:00, £7.50
Classic rock
Super Civilian, Din Eydin
Alt. indie pop
Alt. rock, indie and ppppowerpop.
Blues-ish rock’n’roll
LATE n’ LIVE
James Lowe
Switchboard Spectacular
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
ANDI NEATE, VIV GEE
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 23:00–03:00, £4
LUVA ANNA, DAVE?
WIRED DESIRE (PEEP SHOW, WHITE TRASH CIRCUS)
Kick Step, Una Fiori, Can anyone fly this plane, A torn mind, Amid Concrete And Callousness
Thu 19 Mar
Earl Grey And The Loose Leaves
Album launch for Andi’s 5th musical offering - Crows, Rooks & Ravens. Compered by comedian Viv Gee.
Punk hip hop
Pumped-up, strutting testosterone fuelled good times from this Scottish rock five piece.
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Turbo Shandy, The XoIVs, The Nature Boys, Cherenkov Drive
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–00:00, £4
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £5
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7
Shameless
Bannerman’s, 17:00–20:00, Free
LATE n’ LIVE
Indie rock
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Sun 15 Mar
The Bongo Club, 19:00–22:00, £12/10
Folk trio Lau return to Bongo HQ to celebrate the launch of their new album ‘Arc Light’ performing brand new material, with special guests
Live at The Mill (Indafusion, Super Adventure Club) The Mill Edinburgh @ The Caves, 19:00–22:30, Free
Showcase double-bills for the best upand-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
Diana Jones
The Pleasance, 19:00–23:00, £13.50
Acoustic folk
Ethereal sparks of twinkling indie magic.
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
Dean Owens, Kim Edgar
Easy listening
LITTLE COMETS
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6
The Voodoo Rooms, 19:30–00:00, £10
Scottish Americana singer/ songwriter
Heidi Talbot (Boo Hewerdine and John McCusker)
The Bongo Club, 19:30–22:00, £12/10
Irish singer Heidi Talbot [Cherish The Ladies] showcases tracks from her latest album ‘Love + Light’, with support from Boo Hewerdine and John McCusker
The Dalry Llamas, Cranachan
Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, Free
Rock
SUNDAY SINGERS NIGHT The Jazz Bar, 20:30–00:00, £4/3
Weekly showcase
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Mon 16 Mar LATE n’ LIVE (AKI’S ‘TUESDAY HEARTBREAK’ FUNK SESSION)
The Jam House, 19:00–23:00, £tbc
Limbo
The Voodoo Rooms, 20:30–00:00, £4
Voodoo’s weekly forray into the burgeoning music scene
James Carr, The Blues All-Stars
Sat 21 Mar Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–00:00, £tbc
The Edinburgh bred girls come home, fresh from their US tour, riding on the wave of their recent EP ‘Making Memories’.
LATE n’ LIVE
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £10
Remains, MV5, The Hotlips The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Alt. indie
Tunng with Tinariwen
The Picture House, 19:00–23:00, £13.50
Experimental folk trio
Flav Giorgini, The Murderburgers
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Acoustic punk
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Sun 22 Mar DICK DASTARDLY & THE LOVE BASTARDS
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, Free
Live at The Mill (Phoenix Q, Dead Good Villains)
The Mill Edinburgh @ The Caves, 19:00–22:30, Free
Showcase double-bills for the best upand-coming acts. For more information on these gigs go to: http://www.themill-live.com/gigguide. aspx
Voodoo’s weekly forray into the burgeoning music scene
Sick Of You All
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Indie Club Together
Spokes (Ninja Tune), Dupec, Havana Fayre
Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–00:00, £tbc
Post-rock indie
Khuda, The Discordian Trio, Hitcher, The Great City Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:00–22:30, £4
Mon 23 Mar JOE GIDEON & THE SHARK (PAUL VICKERS & THE LEG)
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6
Progressive psychedelic, metal
Exposure Promotion Presents : Kid Canaveral Sweet-smelling indie-pop in the Teenage Fanclub tradition. Portobello Town Hall, 19:30–23:00, £10
CEILIDH CLUB LATE n’ LIVE
Punk rock
Citrus Club, 20:00–00:00, £11
Last Republic
LATE n’ LIVE (AKI’S ‘TUESDAY HEARTBREAK’ FUNK SESSION) Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Tue 24 Mar KARIMA FRANCIS
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7.50
Hardcore
The BIG freak (Rebecca Collins, Ali Maloney, Ruby & the Emeralds, Knitty Kitty)
Medina, 22:00–03:00, £3/5 (fancy dress encouraged for cheap entry)
Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £4, £3 b4 12am
Punk
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Fri 27 Mar Yo! Majesty
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7.50
Florida’s riposte to Spank Rock
Peter Doherty
The Picture House, 19:00–23:00, £19
The hyperreal trilby clad boho promotes Grace/Wastelands
Supercharger12, The Axidents, Shock and Awe Rock.
The Dykeenies
Studio 24, 19:30–00:00, £11.50
indie pop
Lyle Lovett
Melting Pot
Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo
Oi Polloi, The Lobotomies, Poverty Scum
Indie
Country
Jazz, soul and funk
Folky country with an aussie twinge.
Punk
Queen’s Hall, 19:00–23:00, £28.50
The Voodoo Rooms, 21:00–00:00, £8
The Village, 19:30–22:00, £6
New album tour for Prevention
OXJAM MUSIC FESTIVAL
Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £tbc
The culminating weekend of the nationwide Oxjam festivals. Line up still to be announced. When have the Cab ever dissapointed your tinitus riddled ears?
The Carvel Post, Off The Rails, Sleeping Martyr The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Metal.
Transfer Audio, Dormant Figure, Night Noise Team Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:30–00:00, £5
Alt. new wave and Scottish indie
Broken Records
Bedlam Theatre, 19:30–23:00, £9.50
Paige, Me Vs Hero
Pop punk and happy hardcore beats
S math sin / Smashin
Assembly Rooms (George Street), 20:00–01:00, £15/12
Ceilidh with the renowned Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Former Cell Mates
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £5
Rock
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Sun 29 Mar
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
The Rab Howat Band
Bannerman’s, 16:00–18:00, Free
Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–00:00, £5
LATE n’ LIVE
The Hive, 20:00–00:00, £6
Not Advised
Sat 28 Mar DE ROSA, THE RED WELL, BLACK INTERNATIONAL
Dancing Mice
The Blackpool-born, Manchester-based singer continues to boldly stomp her way into the hearts of all with melody driven romps and lyrical insight which belie her fledgling status.
Progressive rock
All manner of jazz
Fresh Air’s Indie Club Together returns to the Cab, featuring DJs from Sick Note, This is Music, Limbo, Playdate and Club for Heroes and many more still to be announced...
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Studio 24, 20:00–00:00, £8
The Jazz Bar, 01:00–03:00, £5/3
Studio 24, 20:00–00:00, £6
The Voodoo Rooms, 20:30–00:00, £4
LATE n’ LIVE
Fri 20 Mar
Fish Fry (Digital Jones)
Limbo
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:30–00:00, £5
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Metalcore
Traditional European folk that subtly dry humps modern Scottish alt.
Hardcore punk
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
The Hive, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Science
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Anti Nowhere League
Wed 18 Mar
Thu 26 Mar
A ‘mongrel arts night’, including a mix of music, cabaret, art, film, vaudeville, fashion and madcap circus inspired fun.
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Balkan, gypsy and klezmer shtetl dance music
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
LATE n’ LIVE
Sick Note gets roughed up punk proper.
The band that performed on the inaugral night at LFC are back.
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, Free
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Blackjacket, Intentions, Critikill, Joey Terrifying
THE VIVIANS
North Sea Gas
The Lot, 20:00–00:00, £6
Indie rock
Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free
Soul and blues
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
The Village, 19:30–22:00, £6
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
1st birthday party for Edinburgh’s first Cupcakery, ‘Ever So Sweet’. Free cupcakes for the punctual and a charity slant in aid of Shelter - www.caketime.org.uk for more info.
Bannerman’s, 21:00–00:00, £4
Black Cat Balkan Band
Tue 17 Mar
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–00:00, £5/4
Pure Dead Brilliant
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Acoustic pop.
THE MARS PATROL (KUDOS, THE SET UP, DIRTY MODERN HERO)
Brash and tender contradictions of form find flight on the vocal chords and limbs of Gideon and his sister Viva (who may or may not sport a fin; of this we’re unsure).
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Doubts Cast Shadows, Enrapture
Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–00:00, £5
The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
Pop and electro.
Mr Manana, Paper Beats Rock Prog rock
LATE n’ LIVE
The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, various
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Mon 30 Mar The Academy Of Music concert The Ark, 19:00–23:00, £4
LATE n’ LIVE (AKI’S ‘TUESDAY HEARTBREAK’ FUNK SESSION) The Jazz Bar, 00:00–03:00, £1
Nightly sessions of live jazz, funk, soul and blues.
Tue 31 Mar The Groanbox Boys The Village, 19:30–22:00, £8
Blues, jazz and folk; peeled, mashed and thumped into shape by a banjo and a box.
Dundee music Tue 03 Mar
Sat 07 Mar
Mon 09 Mar
General Fiasco, Colour-Coded
Hip Parade
RED LIGHT COMPANY
Fat Sam’s, 19:00–23:00, £6.50
Life affirming indie hipsters
Alt rock
Indie pop foursome
The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £6
Wed 04 Mar Pearl and the Puppets, Lord Luken, Hello Pirates?, Panda Su The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5
Acoustic indie pop
Fri 06 Mar THE NEW AGE JAM
Fat Sam’s, 20:00–00:00, £tbc
Jam and Paile Weller tribute
Luva Anna, Dave?, Ewan Butler The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5
Pop and folk
Sun 08 Mar Brother Louis Collective, Woodenbox, Kaput The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5
Alt indie
56 THE SKINNY March 2009
Fat Sam’s, 20:00–23:00, £6
Fri 13 Mar The one day speakers (The Sleepwalkers, Comatoast, The Wildcards) Hustlers Snooker & Pool Hall, 20:00–00:00, £4
A pick ‘n’ mix bunch
Sat 14 Mar
Sun 15 Mar The Rumble Strips, Wet Paints
The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £7
Indie ensemble fresh from the Hollywood studio
Mon 16 Mar Akil The MC (Jurassic 5), Champs Vs The League The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £9
Hip-hop, R&B and soul
Thu 19 Mar
Fri 20 Mar The Brogues, Exile Parade, The Shermans
SERGEANT
Alt rock and indie
Fat Sam’s, 19:00–23:00, £9
The Doghouse, 20:00–20:00, £5
Thu 26 Mar
lends itslef well to the Pepper of it’s
Indie rock five piece
namesake
Fat Sam’s, 19:00–23:00, £9.50
Fri 27 Mar
Goldie Looking Chain, Eastborn
The Perils, The New Tomorrow, Team:Frances
Hip-hop and rap
Rock
Alt rock
The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5
Upbeat indie with a vocal style that
The Dykeenies
The Goodnights, Little Buddha, The Merchants, Ambersand
The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £10
Sat 28 Mar
The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5
Monrow, The Twist, The Fire & I, Day of Days
Screamo rock
The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5
Aberdeen music Tue 03 Mar CHOOSE YOUR FATE
The Tunnels, 20:00–20:00, £tbc
Heavy metal
OUTCRY COLLECTIVE
Café Drummonds, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Hardcore rock
Wed 04 Mar CAN ANYONE FLY THIS PLANE, AVOID THE MORNING Café Drummonds, 19:30–23:00, £tbc
Rock
Thu 05 Mar The Dirty Hearts Club (Steven Milne + guests) Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3
Steven Milne hosts this weekly electroindisocial that keeps the tight jeans that wee bit tighter. DJs + Live performances
PAPA MOJO
Café Drummonds, 22:00–00:00, £tbc
Blues
Fri 06 Mar Shell Friday Live
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
ABERDEEN COLLEGE BAND SHOWCASE
The Tunnels, 19:30–00:00, £tbc
Indie rock and punk mix
THE LIMITS, EROTIC FIRE, THE STANDARD
Café Drummonds, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Alt. rock
Sat 07 Mar Janice Clark
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
REEMER, THE VIPER LINES, RICOSHAY, THE LOCALS
Café Drummonds, 19:00–00:00, £tbc
Rock, pop and punk
THE BRUTE CHORUS
The Tunnels, 19:30–23:00, £tbc
Alt. garage folk
Hugh Cornwell
The Lemon Tree, 21:00–23:00, £15
The Stranglers frontman performs songs from his latest solo album, Hooverdam.
Sun 08 Mar Belhaven Sunday Jazz
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
GOLDHEART ASSEMBLY
Café Drummonds, 19:30–23:00, £tbc
Folk pop
Mon 09 Mar Aberfeldy
The Lemon Tree, 20:30–23:00, £10
Tue 10 Mar New York Poet
The Lemon Tree, 19:30–22:00, £11/ £9
Wed 11 Mar Catriona McKay & Nils Okland
The Lemon Tree, 20:30–22:00, £12.50
Thu 12 Mar The Dirty Hearts Club (Steven Milne + guests) Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3
Steven Milne hosts this weekly electroindisocial that keeps the tight jeans that wee bit tighter. DJs + Live performances
Fri 13 Mar Aberdeen Music Centre Evening
The Lemon Tree, 19:30–22:00, £8
Sat 14 Mar L-Fish
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
Glasgow Unsigned Showcase
The Lemon Tree, 20:00–23:00, £6
Sun 15 Mar Belhaven Sunday Jazz
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
Toxik Ephex 30 yrs! (The Last Divide, None Of The Above, Versificator , Fiona Keenan, Skizofrenik) Café Drummonds, 19:00–02:00, £4
Toxik Ephex headline their 30th anniversary with all monies raised going to Willows Animal Sanctuary
Logan
Moshulu, 19:30–22:00, £5
Hard rock from Glaswegian five-piece. 14+
Finley Quaye
The Lemon Tree, 20:30–23:00, £13.50
Mon 16 Mar Black Tooth Rock Lounge Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque.
Thu 19 Mar The Dirty Hearts Club (Steven Milne, Rescue party + Marionettes) Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3
Steven Milne hosts this weekly electroindisocial that keeps the tight jeans that wee bit tighter. DJs + Live performances http://www.myspace.com/dirtyheartsclubsnafu
Fri 20 Mar Scott McDonald
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
Hip Parade
The Lemon Tree, 20:30–23:00, £8
Sat 21 Mar Jing Bang
The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free
Breabach
The Lemon Tree, 20:30–23:00, £10/ £8
Sun 22 Mar Azriel + support (+ Evita + Your Fears) Moshulu, 20:00–22:30, £5
Hard rock / death metal. 14+ http://www.myspace.com/azriel
IMP presents: (Joe Gideon & The Shark, Tupelo Town Assembly + Amy Sawers) The Tunnels, 20:00–23:00, £tbc
Dark, raggedy blues coming out of the Nick Cave thought of sound. Support from two of Aberdeen’s finer exports, namely a growling, alternative band and folk soloist Sawyers.
Mon 23 Mar Black Tooth Rock Lounge Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque. http://www.myspace.com/
Wed 25 Mar The Dykeenies
Moshulu, 19:30–22:00, £9.50
Scottish, indie cadets with a bit more bite than the usual riffters. www.myspace.com/gofindthedykeenies
Thu 26 Mar The Dirty Hearts Club (Steven Milne, Shutter + Cast of the Capitol) Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3
Steven Milne hosts this weekly electroindisocial that keeps the tight jeans that wee bit tighter. DJs + Live performances
Mon 30 Mar
Howling Bells
Black Tooth Rock Lounge
Indie Globetrotters touch down in the North-east. Brilliant website to behold too. 14+
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque.
Moshulu, 20:00–22:30, £tbc
Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
GLASGOW CLUBBING Tue 03 Mar Revolution (DJ Muppet) QMU, 22:00–02:00, £3 (£2)
3 SOME TUESDAY
Common, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm
Wed 04 Mar DYSFUNCTIONAL (CHRIS MC MANUS)
Common, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm
Bamboo Fridays (Gavin Sommerville, Sose & James Gardner)
Slabs Of The Tabernacle (Scott ‘nocturne’ McGill (T-Funkshun))
R&B, hip hop, rock, indie and electro
Detroit techno, disco, electro, italo, house, space, basement party.
Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £5 (free before 11pm/ 12pm with matric)
Cheesy Pop (Red Nose Special)
QMU, 22:00–03:00, £3 (£2)
Chart Classics & Student Anthems.
BIGFOOT’S TEA PARTY
Maggie Mays, 23:00–03:00, £4
HIP HOP, HOUSE, RnB, POP & ROCK.
Techno delights with Simon Stokes, Jean Ramesse and Bigfoot resident’s.
TONGUE IN CHEEK (Gavin Sommerville, Andy Willson & Toast)
ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4), free b4 11.30pm with matric
Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
R&b, hip hop and indie
Octopussy
The Arches, 22:30–03:00, £7 (£5)
ABC Fridays (Euan Neilson) Alternative (FORMAT B ‘live’ (High Grade records), RPZ DJs) The V Club, 23:00–03:00, £10
The Twisted Wheel, 23:00–03:00, £5
Mixed Bizness (Boom Monk Ben)
Glasgow School of Art (Vic Gallery), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), £1 students free b4 12am
SOLUTe (FERGIE)
Hip hop, house, drum & bass, funk, dance hall, electro, garage, break beat and disco.
House & techno.
RPZ
The Club (69), 23:00–03:00, £10
Glasgow School of Art (Vic Gallery), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3/2/1)
Subculture (HARRI & HOLY GHOST (DFA))
Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £10, £5 b4 12am
Weekly snapshot of the ever-evolving house blueprint.
Velvet (SLEEPLESS CREW) The V Club, 23:00–03:00, £6
Minimal Tech/house.
Digital stimulation, non-stop dancing, bent disco, wrong sounds…
Fri 13 Mar AUDIO FILTH (BIG AL & ROSS MCMILLAN)
Common, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), free b4 11pm
Bleep (2562)
Pivo Pivo, 23:59–05:00, £8
FILTHY HOUSE, ELECTRO, HIP HOP & RnB.
Live techno & electro.
Easy (Harvey Kartel & DJ Pumpio)
Electro, Deep House, Techno, Minimal Dubstep.
Smashed Hits (Dirty Marc)
The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 b4 12am
Disco Badger (Domsko, Kash & Mash)
Classic and new indie
BIGFOOT’S TEA PARTY (Simon Stokes (Live), Jean Ramesse, Bigfoot Residents)
Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4), free b4 11pm/12pm with matric
Ritual (DJ Barry)
Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £5 (free before 11pm/ 12pm with matric)
Techno treats.
Rock, Metal, Punk and Industrial tunes.
The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3 The Flying Duck, 23:01–03:00, £3, £2 with cinema ticket
Thu 05 Mar COMMON ROOM (CRAIG KELMAN & CRAIG MCHUGH)
Common, 19:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm
Chart.
Elektra (A-Lix, Baby Bones, Miss Enemy, Sasha Von Thulen)
Back Tae Mine (Gavin Dunbar)
Maggie Mays, 23:00–03:00, £4
Blink (DAVID FORBES)
The Club (69), 23:00–03:00, £5
Techno & tech-house.
Damnation (DJ Barry & Dec) Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
DJ Barry and guests
Electro punk.
MNX 100 (MONOLAKE, T++, ARNE WEINBERG, DAN MONOX)
Blood Club
Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £12 (£10)
Techno.
Live show from Weenliz & theapplesofenergy followed by a live open experimental jam. Bring an instrument and join in.
Pangea
Hi-Fi (Dave Sinclair)
The Bunker Bar, 21:00–02:00, Free
Blackfriars Basement, 23:00–03:00, £7, £5 b4 12am
EQD (Alex Ash, Bobby Wilson, Truman Data, AFFI KOMAN)
Supernova (Steve Lawler, Mr. C)
Pivo Pivo, 20:00–01:00, £5/1
The Flying Duck, 21:00–02:00, £4 (£3)
Indie and rock
The V Club, 22:30–03:00, First 100 free, £3 after
A blend of disco, funk, house and techno.
Alternative Nation (BARRY & HARVEY KARTEL)
The Vic Bar, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
Drum & bass.
Solar Disco (Rune Lindbaek) Nu-disco, house.
The Arches, 23:00–03:00, £14
House & techno.
The Basement (2mankyDJs, Dirty Basement, Dance Junkie & Evil Ean) Soundhaus, 23:00–04:00, £7 (£5)
Bamboo, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm & 12 with matric
Techno, electro & house.
Benny Boom & Friends (Playdoe)
This is... (JAMES LITHGOW & MAX ASANTE)
Rock, industrial, metal, punk and electro Glasgow School of Art, 23:00–03:00, £3/4. GSA students free before midnight/ £1 after
Electro and house
Mixed Bizness (Playdoe)
Glasgow School of Art (Vic Gallery), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), £1 students free b4 12am
Hip hop, house, drum & bass, funk, dance hall, electro, garage, break beat and disco.
Norave (live sets from Fox Gut Daata, Tokamak, Louts! & The Niallist, DJing from Team Little Rock and Bitskit (aka Michael Flatline)) Stereo, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)
Live music and DJ sets for the school night clubber.
RPZ
Glasgow School of Art (Vic Gallery), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3/2/1)
Digital stimulation, non-stop dancing, bent disco, wrong sounds…
Fri 06 Mar Motown at Mono Mono, 19:00–01:00, Free
A night to celebrate 50 years of motown records which will mainly focus on the classic 60s and early 70s. 2 DJs playing 6 hours of motown tunes and motown influences such as northern soul and choice cover versions.
AUDIO FILTH (BIG AL & ROSS MCMILLAN)
Common, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), free b4 11pm
FILTHY HOUSE, ELECTRO, HIP HOP & RnB.
Fridays (Tam Coyle & Stevie) The Bunker Bar, 21:00–02:00, Free
Classic and new indie
Sat 07 Mar Common, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), free b4 11pm
ELECTRO, HOUSE, RnB & HIP HOP.
Vegas (Frankie Sumatra, Bugsy Seagull, & Dino Martini plus Nikki Nevada, The Vegas Showgirls & The Fabulous Scott Brothers) The Ferry, 21:00–01:00, £9
Saturdays (Toast)
The Bunker Bar, 21:01–02:00, Free
indie bits, rock picks and student anthems
The Bunker Bar, 21:00–02:00, Free
Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3
Sunday Session (Craig Loosejoints & Stevie Elements)
Soul, Ska, Deep Funk, R&B, Latin & Jazz.
Mon 09 Mar
Hardcore, hardstyle, techtrance.
Absolution (DJ Barry and DJ Dec)
Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)
House & techno.
ABC Fridays (Euan Neilson) ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4), free b4 11.30pm with matric
Revolution (DJ Muppet)
Glasgow School of Art (Vic Gallery), 23:00–03:00, £5
3 SOME TUESDAY
Damnation (DJ Barry & Dec)
QMU, 22:00–02:00, £3 (£2)
Common, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm
Wed 11 Mar DYSFUNCTIONAL (CHRIS MC MANUS)
Common, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm
HIP HOP, HOUSE, RnB, POP & ROCK.
TONGUE IN CHEEK (Gavin Sommerville, Andy Willson & Toast) Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
R&b, hip hop and indie
Techno, electronica, hip hop.
Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
DJ Barry and guests
Nevereverland (Afrika Bambaataa, Alexis Taylor (Hot chip DJ set), The Bang Gang Deejays, Rex The Dog, Tame Impala and Modular DJs) The Arches, 23:00–03:00, £18
Press Rec Play (Goldie Looking Chain (Aftershow Party) DJ Set, Alexoraldo & Short term lease, STICK 430 ‘live’, Aiden Travers) The V Club, 23:00–03:00, £8
Sat 14 Mar
Octopussy
This is... (JAMES LITHGOW & MAX ASANTE)
The Arches, 22:30–03:00, £7 (£5)
Easy (Harvey Kartel & DJ Pumpio)
Common, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), free b4 11pm
The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3
Smashed Hits (Dirty Marc) The Flying Duck, 23:01–03:00, £3, £2 with cinema ticket
Thu 12 Mar
The Halt Bar, 20:00–00:00, Free
Soundhaus, 22:00–04:00, £10
Soundhaus, 22:30–04:00, £10 (£8)
Ballers Social Club (Zomby)
Tue 10 Mar
Chart.
Infexious (MARK E.G. (Blackout Audio), L.E.D. (Bionic / Q-base), RASCAL)
Rectify (Jordan Suckley)
The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 b4 12am
Common, 23:00–03:00, Free
Homegrown (Big Al, Dominic Martin & Robin B)
R&B, street soul, funk, rock and pop
Cheesy Pop (DJ Toast)
Back Tae Mine (Gavin Dunbar)
OPEN HOUSE
Big room tunes.
Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5), free b4 10.30pm/12.30am students
R&B, hip hop, rock, indie and electro Chart Classics & Student Anthems.
The V Club, 23:00–03:00, Free, £3with flyer
COMMON ROOM (CRAIG KELMAN & CRAIG MCHUGH)
The Arches, 22:00–03:00, £21
Bamboo Fridays (Gavin Sommerville, Sose & James Gardner)
QMU, 22:00–03:00, £3 (£2)
Colours (Above&Beyond, Oliver Smith, Darren Emerson, Tall Paul, Guy Ornadel)
Common, 19:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm
Broadcast Beach
A night of indie, folk, country, reggae, punk rock, psych, new wave, lo-fi, riot grrrl, noise-pop and more.
ELECTRO, HOUSE, RnB & HIP HOP.
Rockaburley (Diva Hollywood)
Classic Grand, 20:00–03:00, £10
Glasgow’s only rock and roll burlesque night.
Saturdays (Toast)
The Bunker Bar, 21:01–02:00, Free
indie bits, rock picks and student anthems
CLUBLAND vs ULTIMATE NRG (ALEX K, KELLY LLORENNA LIVE PA, FLIP & FILL, FRIDAY NIGHT POSSE, FRISCO, JUMPSTYLERZ, MC DOMINO) The Arches, 22:00–03:00, £15
The Bunker Bar, 21:00–02:00, Free
Homegrown (Big Al, Dominic Martin & Robin B)
Mutant Music
R&B, street soul, funk, rock and pop
Hi-Fi (Dave Sinclair) Indie and rock
The Flying Duck, 21:00–02:00, £4
SideShow (Brian d’Souza, BICEP & ReaLiveClive)
Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5), free b4 10.30pm/12.30am students
Pins & Needles (Andy Wilson) QMU, 22:00–03:00, £3 (£2)
Indie.
A heavy alternative concoction involving styles from metal to emo, punk to industrial. Drinks offers all night to keep you absolved.
The Admiral, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 b4 11pm
ABC Saturdays
Bamboo, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), free b4 11pm & 12 with matric
Rock, industrial, metal, punk and electro
A heavy alternative concoction involving styles from metal to emo, punk to industrial. Drinks offers all night to keep you absolved.
Benny Boom & Friends
ABC Saturdays
ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£5), free b4 11.30pm with matric
Divine! (Mr. Divine)
The Vic Bar, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
Melting Pot (Andy Blake) The Admiral, 23:00–03:00, £10
Heavylight Darkbright (TOKYO KNIFE ATTACK, FUTURISTIC RETRO CHAMPIONS, NEVADA BASE, FINDO GASK)
O///D
ELECTRONIC SYNTH COWBELL PUNK ROCK.
Stereo, 23:00–03:00, £10
Stereo, 21:00–03:00, £5
Fridays (Tam Coyle & Stevie)
Sun 08 Mar
The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
House, electro, techno, punk, ska, drum and bass, reggae.
Screw Loose (Hervé) House, disco, techno.
Techno & disco.
Alternative Nation (BARRY & HARVEY KARTEL)
Glasgow School of Art, 23:00–03:00, £3/4. GSA students free before midnight/ £1 after
Electro and house
Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)
ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£5), free b4 11.30pm with matric
El Rancho Picante
The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £4
Garage, punk and rock’n’roll.
EQD (Bobby Wilson, Alexander Technique & Truman Data) The V Club, 23:00–03:00, £3
Absolution (DJ Barry and DJ Dec)
Half My Heart Beats
The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £4
A blend of disco, funk, house and techno.
Playing current and classic indiepop, ‘60s, girl groups, B-sides and album gems.
March 2009
THE SKINNY 57
GLASGOW CLUBS ONE MORE TUNE
THE VIC BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5
SUBCULTURE (HARRI, TELFORD & JUNIOR)
ALTERNATIVE NATION (BARRY & HARVEY KARTEL)
BAMBOO, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM & 12 WITH MATRIC
SUB CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £10, £5 B4 12AM
Rock, industrial, metal, punk and electro
VELVET (JIM HUTCHISON (HUM+HAW) & PADDY MAC)
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART, 23:00–03:00, £3/4. GSA STUDENTS FREE BEFORE MIDNIGHT/ £1 AFTER
Weekly snapshot of the ever-evolving house blueprint. THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £5
Minimal Tech/house.
INNER CITY ACID (PRO VINYLIST KARIM (DRESS 2 SWEAT), DEREK SMITH & ANDY PIACENTINI (DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!), MONSIEUR DELARGE (INNER CITY ACID), SEWELLY & SCOTT RADAR (RELENTLESS), SCOTT PROBLEMS, SAMBA (INNER CITY ACID)) SOUNDHAUS, 23:00–04:00, £TBC
SUN 15 MAR DISCO BADGER (DOMSKO, KASH & MASH)
BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4), FREE B4 11PM/12PM WITH MATRIC
RITUAL (DJ BARRY)
CLASSIC GRAND, 23:00–03:00, £3
Rock, Metal, Punk and Industrial tunes.
SUNDAY SESSION (CRAIG LOOSEJOINTS & STEVIE ELEMENTS) THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, FREE, £3WITH FLYER
Soul, Ska, Deep Funk, R&B, Latin & Jazz.
MON 16 MAR OPEN HOUSE
COMMON, 23:00–03:00, FREE
TUE 17 MAR 3 SOME TUESDAY
COMMON, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
WED 18 MAR DYSFUNCTIONAL (CHRIS MC MANUS)
COMMON, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
HIP HOP, HOUSE, RnB, POP & ROCK.
TONGUE IN CHEEK (GAVIN SOMMERVILLE, ANDY WILLSON & TOAST) BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
R&b, hip hop and indie
OCTOPUSSY
THE ARCHES, 22:30–03:00, £7 (£5)
EASY (HARVEY KARTEL & DJ PUMPIO)
THE BUFF CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £3
SMASHED HITS (DIRTY MARC)
THE FLYING DUCK, 23:01–03:00, £3, £2 WITH CINEMA TICKET
THU 19 MAR COMMON ROOM (CRAIG KELMAN & CRAIG MCHUGH)
COMMON, 19:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
Chart.
HI-FI (DAVE SINCLAIR)
THE BUNKER BAR, 21:00–02:00, FREE
Indie and rock
LOOK WHOCPL-Garage I KNOW
BENNY BOOM & FRIENDS
Electro and house
EQD (BOBBY WILSON, ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE & TRUMAN DATA) THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £3
A blend of disco, funk, house and techno.
MIXED BIZNESS (BOOM MONK BEN)
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART (VIC GALLERY), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), £1 STUDENTS FREE B4 12AM
Hip hop, house, drum & bass, funk, dance hall, electro, garage, break beat and disco.
RPZ
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART (VIC GALLERY), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3/2/1)
Digital stimulation, non-stop dancing, bent disco, wrong sounds…
FRI 20 MAR AUDIO FILTH (BIG AL & ROSS MCMILLAN)
COMMON, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
FILTHY HOUSE, ELECTRO, HIP HOP & RnB.
PRIMEVIL (SOU TAI (MARK WILLIAMS VS PAUL MAC))
MAGGIE MAYS, 20:00–03:00, £10, £8 B4 12AM
Techno.
FRIDAYS (TAM COYLE & STEVIE) THE BUNKER BAR, 21:00–02:00, FREE
Classic and new indie
BAMBOO FRIDAYS (GAVIN SOMMERVILLE, SOSE & JAMES GARDNER)
BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (FREE BEFORE 11PM/ 12PM WITH MATRIC)
R&B, hip hop, rock, indie and electro
CHEESY POP (DJ TOAST) QMU, 22:00–03:00, £3 (£2)
Chart Classics & Student Anthems.
SYMBIOSIS (BEAST (BIG N BASHY, EDINBURGH), DIRTY LE ROI (CENTRAL BEATZ, LEEDS), YELLOW BENZENE, D-FADE (SPLIT), CALACO JACK, ALCANE) SOUNDHAUS, 22:30–04:00, £7, £5 B4 11.30PM
Drum & bass.
ABC FRIDAYS (EUAN NEILSON) ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4), FREE B4 11.30PM WITH MATRIC
BACK TAE MINE (GAVIN DUNBAR) THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 B4 12AM
COTTON CAKE (KAVINSKY) SUB CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £10
DAMNATION (DJ BARRY & DEC) CLASSIC GRAND, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
DJ Barry and guests
DEBAUCHED (CAGEDBABY (SOUTHERN FRIED RECORDS))
FORTIFIED SESSIONS
THE VIC BAR, 23:00–03:00, £7
SEND_N_RETURN (KEVIN GORMAN, MICHAEL LOUGHRAN & CRAIG MUNRO) THE ADMIRAL, 23:00–03:00, £8
Techno.
SAT 21 MAR THIS IS... (JAMES LITHGOW & MAX ASANTE)
COMMON, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
ELECTRO, HOUSE, RnB & HIP HOP.
SATURDAYS (TOAST)
THE BUNKER BAR, 21:01–02:00, FREE
indie bits, rock picks and student anthems
step, Rave.
C
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CM
MY
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58 THE SKINNY MARCH 2009
THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, FREE, £3WITH FLYER
Soul, Ska, Deep Funk, R&B, Latin & Jazz.
MON 23 MAR OPEN HOUSE
COMMON, 23:00–03:00, FREE
TUE 24 MAR 3 SOME TUESDAY
COMMON, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
WED 25 MAR
HOMEGROWN (BIG AL, DOMINIC MARTIN & ROBIN B)
DYSFUNCTIONAL (CHRIS MC MANUS)
R&B, street soul, funk, rock and pop
HIP HOP, HOUSE, RnB, POP & ROCK.
BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5), FREE B4 10.30PM/12.30AM STUDENTS
TRONICSOLE (MILTON JACKSON (LIVE SET AND DJ SET)) THE ADMIRAL, 22:00–03:00, £10
Deep house grooves.
ABSOLUTION (DJ BARRY AND DJ DEC)
CLASSIC GRAND, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)
A heavy alternative concoction involving styles from metal to emo, punk to industrial. Drinks offers all night to keep you absolved.
ABC SATURDAYS
ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£5), FREE B4 11.30PM WITH MATRIC
DEATH DISCO (ANNIE MAC, FRANKMUSIK (LIVE), TWITCH, FREEFORM FIVE, MYSTERY JETS (DJ SET)) THE ARCHES, 23:00–03:00, £14
Electro, disco and techno at what is now pretty much Scotland’s biggest monthly club night. Exciting new music features strongly, lapped up by a diverse, gayfriendly and fun-loving crowd.
COMMON, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
TONGUE IN CHEEK (GAVIN SOMMERVILLE, ANDY WILLSON & TOAST) BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
R&b, hip hop and indie
OCTOPUSSY
THE ARCHES, 22:30–03:00, £7 (£5)
EASY (HARVEY KARTEL & DJ PUMPIO)
THE BUFF CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £3
SMASHED HITS (DIRTY MARC)
THE FLYING DUCK, 23:01–03:00, £3, £2 WITH CINEMA TICKET
THU 26 MAR COMMON ROOM (CRAIG KELMAN & CRAIG MCHUGH)
COMMON, 19:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
Chart.
WOLF AMONG WOLVES PRESENTS DON’T DRESS UP! (PSYCHEDELIC NIGHT WITH GORDON BRADY)
SATURDAYS (TOAST)
Rock’N’Roll, psychedelic nights.
HOMEGROWN (BIG AL, DOMINIC MARTIN & ROBIN B)
STEREO, 23:00–03:00, £5
FRI 27 MAR AUDIO FILTH (BIG AL & ROSS MCMILLAN)
COMMON, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
FILTHY HOUSE, ELECTRO, HIP HOP & RnB.
FRIDAYS (TAM COYLE & STEVIE) THE BUNKER BAR, 21:00–02:00, FREE
Classic and new indie
PINUP NIGHTS
THE FLYING DUCK, 21:00–03:00, £5
BAMBOO FRIDAYS (GAVIN SOMMERVILLE, SOSE & JAMES GARDNER)
BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (FREE BEFORE 11PM/ 12PM WITH MATRIC)
R&B, hip hop, rock, indie and electro
CHEESY POP (DJ TOAST) QMU, 22:00–03:00, £3 (£2)
Chart Classics & Student Anthems.
PRESSURE (DAVE CLARKE, SLAM, NATHAN FAKE (LIVE), STEVE RACHMAD, MASTER H) THE ARCHES, 22:30–03:00, £17
Hoouse & techno.
DIGITAL HARLOT (SHITMAT, FROGPOCKET, BABYSHAKER & EL BASTARDOS WITH DJS DAWNIMATRIX & THE VINYL VANDAL) SOUNDHAUS, 22:30–03:30, £10 (£8)
Breakcore, Industrial, Digital Hardcore, Jungle, Old Skool Rave, Mashup.
CLASSIC GRAND, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
House & techno.
THE FLYING DUCK, 21:00–03:00, £4
SUBCULTURE (HARRI & CARL CRAIG) SUB CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £12
Weekly snapshot of the ever-evolving house blueprint.
VELVET (MINICOOLBOYZ (M_NUS RECORDS)) THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £5
Minimal Tech/house.
‘GRAM (REALLIVECLIVE & PH1) THE VIC BAR, 23:00–03:00, £3 (£2)
Deep, disco, dub.
MONOX (JAMES RUSKIN, ROB HALL)
SOUNDHAUS, 23:00–05:00, £12 (£10)
Techno & electro.
SUN 22 MAR DISCO BADGER (DOMSKO, KASH & MASH)
BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4), FREE B4 11PM/12PM WITH MATRIC
Rock, Metal, Punk and Industrial tunes.
CROC MADAME V CROC MONSIEUR
DJ Barry and guests
Rock, industrial, metal, punk and electro
BENNY BOOM & FRIENDS
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART, 23:00–03:00, £3/4. GSA STUDENTS FREE BEFORE MIDNIGHT/ £1 AFTER
Electro and house
EQD (BOBBY WILSON, ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE & TRUMAN DATA) THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £TBC
A blend of disco, funk, house and techno.
MIXED BIZNESS (BOOM MONK BEN)
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART (VIC GALLERY), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), £1 STUDENTS FREE B4 12AM
Hip hop, house, drum & bass, funk, dance hall, electro, garage, break beat and disco.
RPZ
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART (VIC GALLERY), 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3/2/1)
Digital stimulation, non-stop dancing, bent disco, wrong sounds…
THE ARCHES, 22:00–03:00, £25
IMPACT VS. DARKSIDE (ANGERFIST, I:GOR, SIMON UNDERGROUND) SOUNDHAUS, 22:00–04:00, £12
Gabber, hard techno.
ABSOLUTION (DJ BARRY AND DJ DEC) CLASSIC GRAND, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)
A heavy alternative concoction involving styles from metal to emo, punk to industrial. Drinks offers all night to keep you absolved.
ABC SATURDAYS ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£5), FREE B4 11.30PM WITH MATRIC
CHAKRA THE VIC BAR, 23:00–03:00, £10 (£6)
Deep, hypnotic, tribal house.
60’s pop, 70’s rock.
DAMNATION (DJ BARRY & DEC)
BAMBOO, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3), FREE B4 11PM & 12 WITH MATRIC
INSIDE OUT (JULES, TIDY BOYS, RICHARD DURAND, KUTSKI, ALPHATWINS, ANDY WHITBY, SUPER8 & TAB, WILLIAM DANIEL, DANNY SMITH)
BACK TAE MINE (GAVIN DUNBAR)
Indie and rock
THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 B4 12AM
R&B, street soul, funk, rock and pop
THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 B4 12AM
THE BUNKER BAR, 21:00–02:00, FREE
ALTERNATIVE NATION (BARRY & HARVEY KARTEL)
BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5), FREE B4 10.30PM/12.30AM STUDENTS
ABC 1, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4), FREE B4 11.30PM WITH MATRIC
OPTIK (KANIO (TRAUM & NOVAKANE))
SINGLES NIGHT (ANDREW DIVINE & CHRIS GEDDES)
indie bits, rock picks and student anthems
MODERN LOVERS (CRAIG JAMIESON)
HI-FI (DAVE SINCLAIR)
THE CLUB (69), 23:00–03:00, £8
THE BUNKER BAR, 21:01–02:00, FREE
ABC FRIDAYS (EUAN NEILSON)
THE FLYING DUCK, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 B4 12AM
THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £8 RITUAL (DJ BARRY) Feb Skinny Strip-PRINT.pdf 24/2/09 14:48:19 Techno, Baltimore Club, Electro, DubTHE FLYING DUCK, 22:00–03:00, £3 CLASSIC GRAND, 23:00–03:00, £3
Indie based night.
SUNDAY SESSION (CRAIG LOOSEJOINTS & STEVIE ELEMENTS)
HUNTLEYS AND PALMERS & CURIOUS CURIOUS PRESENTS (PILOOSKI (D.I.R.T.Y. SOUNDSYSTEM, PARIS), DAVID BARBAROSSA & H&P) STEREO, 23:00–03:00, £9
MUNGO’S HI FI
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART, 23:00–03:00, £5
Dub, reggae, 80’s digital.
RICH KIDS GANG BANG (DJ DARRELL ‘LIVE’) THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £10
Electro, Baltimore Club, Hip Hop, Dubstep.
SCRABBLE (KANJI KINETIC, DIRTY HOSPITAL)
SUBCULTURE (DOMENIC, TELFORD & JUNIOR) SUB CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £10, £5 B4 12AM
Weekly snapshot of the ever-evolving house blueprint.
VELVET (IRS & THE BEING ‘LIVE’) THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £6
Minimal Tech/house.
SHIFT (GARY BECK (SOMA/ MINUS/EDIT-SELECT )) PIVO PIVO, 23:59–05:00, £5
Deep, minimal, house & techno.
SUN 29 MAR DISCO BADGER (DOMSKO, KASH & MASH) BAMBOO, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4), FREE B4 11PM/12PM WITH MATRIC
PIVO PIVO, 23:00–03:00, £7, £6 B4 12AM
RITUAL (DJ BARRY)
WRONG WEEKEND (DIRTY LARRY (ESKRIMA) & TEAMY (BONGO BUTT))
Rock, Metal, Punk and Industrial tunes.
Techno, Pop, Electronica, Italo, Electro, Afro beats.
THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, FREE, £3WITH FLYER
Techno, electro, bass.
THE V CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £3
SAT 28 MAR THIS IS... (JAMES LITHGOW & MAX ASANTE)
COMMON, 19:00–03:00, £5 (£3), FREE B4 11PM
ELECTRO, HOUSE, RnB & HIP HOP.
CLASSIC GRAND, 23:00–03:00, £3
SUNDAY SESSION (CRAIG LOOSEJOINTS & STEVIE ELEMENTS) Soul, Ska, Deep Funk, R&B, Latin & Jazz.
MON 30 MAR OPEN HOUSE COMMON, 23:00–03:00, FREE
EDINBURGH CLUBS TUE 03 MAR MOTHERFUNK (FRYER & GINO) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, FREE
SPLIT
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
WED 04 MAR CHAIRMAN MEOW (CALVERTO) SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3)
JUNGLEDUB
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–00:00, FREE
Dub, dubstep and jungle.
WE ARE ELECTRIC
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, FREE B4 12AM
The city’s leading punk-funk electrodisco party with resident electro-punk Gary Mac playing the sounds of Berlin & beyond.
THU 05 MAR JAGERBOMB (DJ DAN)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£3)
Indie, Electro, Urban, Mashups.
KINKY INDIE
CITRUS CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £2 STUDENTS/ £5 OTHERS
SICK NOTE
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
From indie and new wave to fidget house, Baltimore booty bass to nurave.
FRI 06 MAR BUBBLEGUM BOOGALOO (HIDDEN MASTERS)
THE VOODOO ROOMS, 21:00–01:00, FREE
French 60’s pop, psyche, retro.
FUNK SHUI (DJ FIONA)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £8 (£4)
Classic, chart anthems, dirty house and dance.
AZ-TECH (HEXADECIMAL) THE CAVES, 22:30–03:00, £7 (£6)
Breaks and beats.
BIG TOE’S HI-FI (WORRIES OUTERNATIONAL, BARBA POPPA CHOPPA, C-BISCUIT, PAPA LUCA AND B-DAWG) WEE RED BAR, 22:30–03:00, £5
COSMIC (ATOMGRINDER) STUDIO 24, 22:30–03:00, £6 (£5)
A night of psychedelic trance, progressive and live percussion. Resident DJs, full UV decor environment, crystal clear visuals, high vibrational, psychedelic trance dance ritual.
EVOL
FAITH, 22:30–03:00, £5
Indie, hip hop, alternative beats & rock
MUCH MORE (NASTY P & CURRIE)
CITRUS CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £2 STUDENTS/ £5 OTHERS
MUSICOLOGY (CALVERTO, SCOTT GRANGER)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £10 (£5)
FLOORPLAY
BERLIN, 22:30–03:00, £8, £7 B4 11.30PM
House, funk, soul.
JAM THE BOX (JIMMY JAMMIN’ THOMAS, JAMMIWAM & MARMALADE MASLIN) THE GRV, 22:30–03:00, £5, £3 NUS
Hip hop, jazz, new wave, dub techno.
LUVELY
FAITH, 22:30–03:00, £12 (£10)
Gay friendly house; which tends to draw girls in short skirts and the boys who follow them more than anything distinctly queer.
TEASE AGE
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £6, FREE B4 11PM
OUR HOUSE (TONY K AND LIAM G)
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£6)
Funky electro and classic house tune.
PROPER OLD SKOOL (PAUL D, JOHNNY BOY DJ AND DJ OLDSKOOL)
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £5
A night dedicated to the golden era of dance music - classic old skool rave and club anthems from the early 90s.
RETRIBUTION
STUDIO 24, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 STUDENTS
THE EGG (CHRIS AND PAUL)
WEE RED BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5, £2.50 B4 12AM
Indie / 60’s Garage / Northern Soul / Ska / 70’s / Punk / New Wave.
THE GO-GO (DJS TALL PAUL ROBINSON AND BIG GUS)
STUDIO 24, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4), £3 B4 12AM
ULTRAGROOVE (DIXON (INNERVISIONS))
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£6)
SUN 08 MAR GET FUNK’D (DOUBLE D & ISLA) MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
RISE (JOHN HUTCHISON) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, £4
Electrohouse and cherished club classics.
SHAKE (LEON EASTER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£2)
PLANET EARTH
Funky House, club classics and R’n’B with Live Sax and Percussion.
70’s, 80’s and 90’s hits
MORE (MISS CHRIS AND KAUPUSS)
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £5, FREE B4 10.30PM
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (BEN SIMS)
THE GRV, 23:00–03:00, £10
Techno.
FUSE (GUS ARMSTRONG, STU TODD, TIM JAMES) BERLIN, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
Nu wave, electronica and house.
FUSE (DICKIE DRYSDALE) BERLIN, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
NUWAVE, ELECTRONICA, TECHNO, WONKY ELECTRO, FIDGET HOUSE.
TOKYOBLU (TOKYOBLU, PLUS DJ SETS FROM TOKYOBLU RESIDENTS JOHN & IAIN)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £10 (£6)
House night with skilled house house band
XPLICIT (BROOKES BROTHERS) THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £8
Drum’n’bass evolution feat a residents special: PAUL RESET [Nerve Recordings], ENO [Parlay], TREASON [Coalition - final UK gig], MC BZ, MELDRUM + B-RAW www.myspace. com/club_xplicit
SAT 07 MAR SANCTUARY
STUDIO 24, 18:00–21:00, £7 (£5)
DEFINITION (MARK BALNEAVES, DARAGH BYRNE & MARTIN LIGHTBODY, MATT DIRT (SKINT RECORDS)) SNEAKY PETE’S, 22:00–03:00, FREE
Underground house, electro, minimal & techno.
KINKY INDIE
MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
Funky vocal house, electro and club classics.
MON 09 MAR FORBIDDEN (VDJ SCOTT GRANGER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
TRADE UNION (DJ BEEFY & WOLFJAZZ)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, (£1), FREE B4 12AM
TUE 10 MAR MOTHERFUNK (FRYER & GINO) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, FREE
SPLIT
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
WED 11 MAR
SICK NOTE
From indie and new wave to fidget house, Baltimore booty bass to nurave.
FRI 13 MAR
SUN 15 MAR GET FUNK’D (DOUBLE D & ISLA) MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
RISE (JOHN HUTCHISON) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, £4
Electrohouse and cherished club classics.
SHAKE (LEON EASTER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£2)
FUNK SHUI (DJ FIONA)
Funky House, club classics and R’n’B with Live Sax and Percussion.
Classic, chart anthems, dirty house and dance.
MORE (MISS CHRIS AND KAUPUSS)
INDEPENDANCE (DJ PREACH (EDINBURGH DEBUT), GARETH BINKS (ABSOLUTE), ROSCO, STEVIECARNIE B2B ROSS HAMMOD)
Funky vocal house, electro and club classics.
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £8 (£4)
STUDIO 24, 22:00–03:00, £8
Trance.
KAPITAL (SUPER FLU (LIVE), BARRY O’CONNELL, MICHAEL FORD, BRAD CHARTERS) THE CAVES, 22:00–03:00, £10
Techno, house.
PLANET EARTH
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £5, FREE B4 10.30PM
70’s, 80’s and 90’s hits
DIRT (BRUNO FK, THE SET UP, DEBURGH)
THE GRV, 23:00–03:00, £4, FREE B4 12AM
Techno, electro, breaks, electronic.
FOUR CORNERS (DJS SIMON HODGE, JOHNNY CASHBACK, MONKEYBOY)
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 B4 12AM
FURBURGER
GHQ, 23:00–03:00, £TBC
The club night for ‘girls who like girls who like music’ presents a bout of aural stimulation from the funki diva, dejaybird, boy toy and debi t.
GUTTERPUNK (JAYMO (RADIO ONE / MODA), CASSETTE JAM JAM (IBIZA ROCKS / CHIBUKU SHAKE SHAKE / CREAM TERRACE IBIZA), GUS ARMSTRONG (FUZE), G-MAC (HOSPITALITY / BASS SYNDICATE / UNDERGROUND SOLUTION)) CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£7)
Electro, fidget house, synth pop, disco, breaks, dubstep and jungle.
VINTAGE VIOLENCE (CHRISTOPHER & ANASTAZIYA VIOLENCE) WEE RED BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5
Garage / Girl groups / RnB / Dirty soul / Junk Shop Glam / Punk / Psych / Rockabilly.
SAT 14 MAR SANCTUARY
STUDIO 24, 18:00–21:00, £7 (£5)
FANTEASEYA BURLESQUE CLUB
TEVIOT ROW UNION, 21:00–03:00, £12
Live jazz followed by a show
MUCH MORE (NASTY P & CURRIE)
MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
MUSICOLOGY (CALVERTO, SCOTT GRANGER) SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £10 (£5)
MUSIKA (DAVE BEGG, DEREK MARTIN, JAMIE MCKENZIE, NEIL BARTLEY) FAITH, 22:00–03:00, £10
We Love Space Ibiza party.
DISKOKITTEN (ALEX ELLENGER, JASON CORTEZ) BERLIN, 22:30–03:00, £8, £7 (£6)
House, electrohouse and bootlegs.
TEASE AGE
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £6, FREE B4 11PM
BIG N BASHY (TEMPA T, DJ MAGIC)
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £8, £6 B4 12AM
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
MON 16 MAR FORBIDDEN (VDJ SCOTT GRANGER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
TRADE UNION (DJ BEEFY & WOLFJAZZ)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, (£1), FREE B4 12AM
TUE 17 MAR MOTHERFUNK (FRYER & GINO) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, FREE
SPLIT
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
WED 18 MAR CHAIRMAN MEOW (CALVERTO) SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3)
JUNGLEDUB
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–00:00, FREE
Dub, dubstep and jungle.
WE ARE ELECTRIC
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, FREE B4 12AM
The city’s leading punk-funk electrodisco party with resident electro-punk Gary Mac playing the sounds of Berlin & beyond.
THU 19 MAR
CITRUS CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £2 STUDENTS/ £5 OTHERS
SICK NOTE
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE From indie and new wave to fidget house, Baltimore booty bass to nurave.
FRI 20 MAR TEAZE
STUDIO 24, 22:00–01:00, £5
TEAZE is in aid of Maggies Centre & Penumbra Charities. TEAZE in aid of Maggies Centre & Penumbra. Burlesque show starts at 11pm.
FUNK SHUI (DJ FIONA)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £8 (£4)
Classic, chart anthems, dirty house and dance.
PLANET EARTH
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £5, FREE B4 10.30PM
70’s, 80’s and 90’s hits
COMPAKT (ROBERT BABICZ AKA ROB ACID)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £9 (£6 B4 12AM)
Deep house, minimal, tech house and rolling European techno.
RIDDIM TUFFA SOUND (DJ ARIES/COLAB, PURE VIBES)
THE GRV, 23:00–03:00, £6, £4 B4 11.30PM
SAT 21 MAR SANCTUARY
STUDIO 24, 18:00–21:00, £7 (£5)
Dub, dubstep and jungle.
WE ARE ELECTRIC
Techno, electro, bassline, house, rave
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, FREE B4 12AM
The city’s leading punk-funk electrodisco party with resident electro-punk Gary Mac playing the sounds of Berlin & beyond.
THU 12 MAR JAGERBOMB (DJ DAN)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£3)
Indie, Electro, Urban, Mashups.
MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
SNEAKY PETE’S, 23:00–03:00, FREE
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £10 (£5)
KARNIVAL (THE 3RD BIRTHDAY)
OCEAN TERMINAL, 22:00–03:00, £TBC
House & techno.
TEASE AGE
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £10 (£8)
RETRIBUTION
STUDIO 24, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 STUDENTS
THE EGG (CHRIS AND PAUL)
WEE RED BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5, £2.50 B4 12AM
Indie / 60’s Garage / Northern Soul / Ska / 70’s / Punk / New Wave.
STUDIO 24, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 STUDENTS
THE EGG (CHRIS AND PAUL)
WEE RED BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5, £2.50 B4 12AM
Indie / 60’s Garage / Northern Soul / Ska / 70’s / Punk / New Wave.
ULTRAGROOVE (LINKWOOD (FIRECRACKER), MR TODD (FIRECRACKER), THE BLESSINGS (LUCKY ME))
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £10 (£8)
SUN 22 MAR GET FUNK’D (DOUBLE D & ISLA) MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
MUSIKA (ERIC PRYDZ)
We Love Space Ibiza party.
50’s and 60’s r’n’b
WEE RED BAR, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£5)
Techno, minimal.
MODERN LOVERS (ANDY LEWIS (ACID JAZZ/PAUL WELLER)) THE GRV, 23:00–03:00, £6, £4 B4 12AM
60’s pop, 70’s rock.
TRIUMPH
HENRY’S CELLAR BAR, 23:30–03:00, £4/3
Prog, triumphant rock and cheese
MUTINY (COOH, I:GOR AND LIFE4LAND)
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:30–03:00, £TBC
Junglist breakcore and hardcore sounds.
SAT 28 MAR SANCTUARY
STUDIO 24, 18:00–21:00, £7 (£5)
SOUL SPECTRUM (FRYER & JASON STIRLAND)
THE VOODOO ROOMS, 20:30–02:00, £5
MORE (MISS CHRIS AND KAUPUSS)
THE VOODOO ROOMS, 21:00–02:00, FREE
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
Funky vocal house, electro and club classics.
MON 23 MAR
PLAYDATE
SNEAKY PETE’S, 22:00–03:00, FREE
Steven and Stewart’s electric kneesup.
MUCH MORE (NASTY P & CURRIE)
MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
FORBIDDEN (VDJ SCOTT GRANGER)
MUSICOLOGY (CALVERTO, SCOTT GRANGER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £10 (£5)
TRADE UNION (DJ BEEFY & WOLFJAZZ)
MADCHESTER!
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, (£1), FREE B4 12AM
TUE 24 MAR
FAITH, 22:30–03:00, £5
Long-running indie, brit pop and rave night.
TEASE AGE
OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, FREE
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
WED 25 MAR CHAIRMAN MEOW (CALVERTO) SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3)
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £6, FREE B4 11PM
GRAND THEFT AUDIO (BABES, MR MEEKS, BSIDES & THE BANDIT, XTRA AND MONKEY BOY)
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £3
Hip hop and funk.
JUNGLEDUB
OPTIMO (TWITCH & WILKES)
Dub, dubstep and jungle.
Diverse music policy.
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–00:00, FREE
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £10
WE ARE ELECTRIC
RETRIBUTION
The city’s leading punk-funk electrodisco party with resident electro-punk Gary Mac playing the sounds of Berlin & beyond.
THE EGG (CHRIS AND PAUL)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, FREE B4 12AM
THU 26 MAR THE BIG FREAK (REBECCA COLLINS, ALI MALONEY, RUBY & THE EMERALDS, KNITTY KITTY) MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £3/5 (FANCY DRESS ENCOURAGED FOR CHEAP ENTRY)
A ‘mongrel arts night’, including a mix of music, cabaret, art, film, vaudeville, fashion and madcap circus inspired fun.
STUDIO 24, 23:00–03:00, £5, £3 STUDENTS WEE RED BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5, £2.50 B4 12AM
Indie / 60’s Garage / Northern Soul / Ska / 70’s / Punk / New Wave.
SUN 29 MAR GET FUNK’D (DOUBLE D & ISLA) MEDINA, 22:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 11PM
RISE (JOHN HUTCHISON) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, £4
Electrohouse and cherished club classics.
SHAKE (LEON EASTER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£2)
JAGERBOMB (DJ DAN)
Funky House, club classics and R’n’B with Live Sax and Percussion.
Indie, Electro, Urban, Mashups.
ELECTROSEXUAL (LUCKY LUCIANO)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£3)
INDIE CLUB TOGETHER
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £4, £3 B4 12AM
Fresh Air’s Indie Club Together returns to the Cab, featuring DJs from Sick Note, This is Music, Limbo, Playdate and Club for Heroes and many more still to be announced...
KINKY INDIE
CITRUS CLUB, 23:00–03:00, £2 STUDENTS/ £5 OTHERS
FRI 27 MAR AUTOBAHN (MASONIC YOUTH) THE STRATHMORE, 18:00–00:00, FREE
New wave, electro, synth pop, industrial. SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £8 (£4)
PLANET EARTH
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £5, FREE B4 10.30PM
70’s, 80’s and 90’s hits
CC BLOOMS, 23:00–03:00, FREE
Dirty bootlegs and cheeky electro.
MORE (MISS CHRIS AND KAUPUSS)
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
Funky vocal house, electro and club classics.
MON 30 MAR FORBIDDEN (VDJ SCOTT GRANGER)
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£4)
TRADE UNION (DJ BEEFY & WOLFJAZZ)
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £2, (£1), FREE B4 12AM
Classic, chart anthems, dirty house and dance.
HENRY’S CELLAR BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5
INTRODUCTION
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£2)
BASICS
BASICS (JOCK O’CONNOR)
Breaks, beats, bootlegs.
Funky House, club classics and R’n’B with Live Sax and Percussion.
Electrohouse and cherished club classics.
FUNK SHUI (DJ FIONA)
60’s soul and r’n’b with Jock O’Connor
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 22:30–03:00, £TBC
SHAKE (LEON EASTER)
OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, £4
CITRUS CLUB, 22:30–03:00, £6, FREE B4 11PM HENRY’S CELLAR BAR, 23:00–03:00, £5
SUGARBEAT
VEGAS (FRANKIE SUMATRA, BUGSY SEAGULL, DINO MARTINI, SAM JOSE PLUS NIKKI NEVADA, THE VEGAS SHOWGIRLS & THE FABULOUS SCOTT BROTHERS)
RISE (JOHN HUTCHISON)
SPLIT
KINKY INDIE
MUSICOLOGY (CALVERTO, SCOTT GRANGER)
THE BONGO CLUB, 23:00–00:00, FREE
RETRIBUTION
Indie, Electro, Urban, Mashups.
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £5 (£3)
FAKE (RAFFERTIE (ON THE BRINK RECS) + FAKE DJS PUNK IN PUMPS & BUSDADDY)
JUNGLEDUB
Hip hop and funk.
MOTHERFUNK (FRYER & GINO)
A 4-deck mix of dubstep, reggae, dancehall + jungle
SHANGHAI, 22:00–03:00, £4 (£3)
THE SPEAKEASY @ CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, £3
JAGERBOMB (DJ DAN)
MUCH MORE (NASTY P & CURRIE)
CHAIRMAN MEOW (CALVERTO)
GRAND THEFT AUDIO (BABES, MR MEEKS, BSIDES & THE BANDIT, XTRA AND MONKEY BOY)
TUE 31 MAR MOTHERFUNK (FRYER & GINO) OPAL LOUNGE, 22:00–03:00, FREE
SPLIT
CABARET VOLTAIRE, 23:00–03:00, FREE
MARCH 2009
THE SKINNY 59
Dundee clubs Fri 06 Mar Headway (JAMIE ANDERSON) The Reading Rooms, 22:30–02:30, £8, £6 b4 11pm
House.
Sat 07 Mar Electrode (Eddie Halliwell)
London Nightclub, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
Electro, trance-tech night launch party
NEON NIGHTS (PLAYDOE, Team! Neon)
The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
Electro
Fat Sam’s (DJ Ricky Harrison) Fat Sam’s, 22:30–02:30
Current chart, hip hop and r&b anthems
Fri 13 Mar CTRL*ALT*DEFEAT
The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
House
Sat 14 Mar
Glasgow comedy Sat 21 Mar
HALCYON (Jono Fyda, Nick Wilson)
Flatrate presents: Initial Itch
OKUPA!, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
From Deep Funk Madam JoJo’s, London and the Powder Room in Barcelona, respectively
A night of scratch performancem poetry, stand-up and live music
Percussion from Vaal
Fat Sam’s (DJ Ricky Harrison) Fat Sam’s, 22:30–02:30
Current chart, hip hop and r&b anthems
Jungle Nation (Scratch Perverts - Prime Cuts & Tony Vegas, Dj Tez) The Reading Rooms, 22:30–02:30, £10
Drum & bass.
Fri 20 Mar PANGEA The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
Electronica
The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
Fat Sam’s (DJ Ricky Harrison) Fat Sam’s, 22:30–02:30
Current chart, hip hop and r&b anthems mixed with the usual ‘Saturday night favourites’ by resident DJ Ricky Harrison.
Sat 28 Mar CONCRETE JUNGLE
The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
Reggae, ska and dub
GLITCH (PHIL KIERAN, Bryn Williams, Jono Fyda, Paul Montague) OKUPA!, 22:30–03:00, £tbc
Electro
Zombie Disco
Snafu, 21:00–02:00, free
Martin Jay hosts the a midweek session where the finest of overground and underground gets mixed into one big eclectic pot. Student night but for the more discerning listener.
Thu 05 Mar The Dirty Hearts Club Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3
Steven Milne hosts this electroindisocial that keeps the tight jeans than wee bit tighter. DJs + Live performances
Fri 06 Mar Kamikazi (DJ ADAM) Moshulu, 22:30–03:00, £3
Kamikazi is Aberdeens longest standing champion of rock. Every Friday expect 500+ folks for one of the biggest alternative nights in the north-east.
DAN LE SAC (DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP), PLAYDOE (LIVE/SOUTH AFRICA), GILES WALKER Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £7 advance
Let it Bleed present the the beatmaster behind the popular live act.
Sat 07 Mar THE ANISEED LOUNGE Korova, 22:00–03:00, free
An evening of eletronica, shoegaze and indie tunes with DJ Mr Yogi.
The Deep End
Snafu, 22:00–03:00, £6/5
Weekend house fix from Funky Transport with new resident Iain G plus local/national/international guests stopping by.
Adventures in Stereo (Steven Milne + co) Moshulu, 22:30–00:03, £3
Classic Indie and 60s/70s rock tunes, to the latest Electro/ Dance / New Wave classics along with the latest Indie Seven Inches!
!everything else sucks! (DJ kidProquo, Calum Stuart and Talcolm X) The Tunnels, 23:00–03:00, £3
Fri 13 Mar DO IT! (Riddim, White Chocolate) Cellar 35 , 21:00–02:00, £3
Cutting edge visuals + eclecticism through-out as the hippest party in town comes out from the depths. www.myspace.com/ethicsofaristotle
Kamikazi (DJ ADAM) Moshulu, 22:30–03:00, £3
Kamikazi is Aberdeens longest standing champion of rock. Every Friday expect 500+ folks for one of the biggest alternative nights in the north-east.
Mixtape (Soiree: GILES WALKER, MINI KLAUS, M>O>C) Snafu, 23:00–03:00, varies
Weekly club sessions in the dirty side of electronic moosick.
Sat 14 Mar The Deep End
Snafu, 22:00–03:00, £6
Each and every Saturday your host Funky Transport delivers house music in its purest form. Just the good stuff for music lovers.
Adventures in Stereo (Steven Milne + co) Moshulu, 22:30–00:03, £3
Classic Indie and 60s/70s rock tunes, to the latest Electro/ Dance / New Wave classics along with the latest Indie Seven Inches!
Breaks, Beats + Baselines (UTAH SAINTS) Origin, 23:00–03:00, £10
Party legends journey north for what seems a regular outing in the darkest club in town.
Mon 16 Mar Black Tooth Rock Lounge Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque.
Fri 20 Mar
This will be the last Everything Else Sucks night to be held at The Tunnels before they move to Origin but still expect your usually madness at Everything Else Sucks with DJ kidProquo, Calum Stuart and Talcolm.
Kamikazi (DJ ADAM)
Jungle Nation (DJ Hype (True Playaz, Frontline, Ganja) with Mc Daddy Earl, DJ Tez, DJ Davy)
Mixtape (Let it Bleed: CARL CRAIG (PLANET E))
Origin, 23:00–03:00, £12
Drum & bass.
Mon 09 Mar
Moshulu, 22:30–03:00, £3
Kamikazi is Aberdeens longest standing champion of rock. Every Friday expect 500+ folks for one of the biggest alternative nights in the north-east.
Snafu, 23:00–03:00, varies
Weekly club sessions in the dirty side of electronic moosick.
Sat 21 Mar
Adventures in Stereo (Steven Milne + co) Moshulu, 22:30–00:03, £3
Classic Indie and 60s/70s rock tunes, to the latest Electro/ Dance / New Wave classics along with the latest Indie Seven Inches!
!everything else sucks! (HOSTAGE) Origin, 23:00–03:00, £6
Edinburgh’s Hostage(Nightshifters) guests with the filthiest, most thumping electro house. The likes of Felix Cartel and The Bloody Beetroots have remixed some of Hostage’s work recently - a rising global player.
Mon 23 Mar Black Tooth Rock Lounge Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque.
Fri 27 Mar Kamikazi (DJ ADAM) Moshulu, 22:30–03:00, £3
Kamikazi is Aberdeens longest standing champion of rock. Every Friday expect 500+ folks for one of the biggest alternative nights in the north-east.
Mixtape (Edit Select: LUKE SLATER (MOTE EVOLVER), TONY ‘SUNTAN’ SCOTT) Snafu, 23:00–03:00, varies
Weekly club sessions in the dirty side of electronic moosick.
Sat 28 Mar The Deep End
Snafu, 22:00–03:00, £6
Each and every Saturday your host Funky Transport delivers house music in its purest form. Just the good stuff for music lovers.
Adventures in Stereo (Steven Milne + co) Moshulu, 22:30–00:03, £3
Classic Indie and 60s/70s rock tunes, to the latest Electro/ Dance / New Wave classics along with the latest Indie Seven Inches!
Hush Hush
Origin, 23:00–03:00, £tbc
Giles Walker’s warped ride into the underworld of genres turning the kids into little crazed monsters... healthy. Dubstep, Bass, More Bass, Grime + Chris Brown batterings all round.
Mon 30 Mar Black Tooth Rock Lounge
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque.
Each and every Saturday your host Funky Transport delivers house music in its purest form. Just the good stuff for music lovers.
As well as dancefloor gems from the Fudge DJs, expect touring bands, local barnyard rockstars, groupies, dark cabaret and burlesque.
60 THE SKINNY March 2009
Bumper Value Comedy: Southside
21:30, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £8 / £6
High Quality Comedy at a knock-down price. Comperes Alan Anderson, Scott Agnew and Des Clarke introduce different line-ups of four of the Festival’s funniest acts.
Stand Up Drink Up Comedy Crawl
19:30, Thu 12th, Thu 19th, Multiple prices
Get yer walkin’ boots on as we navigate you five bars with top-class comedians, promos, ghoulish surprises and free entry to the dancin’. This festival institution always sells out fast.
20:30, 27 Mar, £12
The Deep End
Snafu, 22:00–03:00, £6
Agenda Bar
Comedy @ Alea Casino
Black Tooth Rock Lounge Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
20:00, 16 Mar, £tbc
Alea Casino
ABERDEEN CLUBS Wed 04 Mar
13th Note
PLASTIC SOUL (LUCINDA SLIM, MR WAKANDA)
Snafu, 21:00–02:00, £3/2
A night of swish stand up comedy in Alea Casino’s very own Auditorium. With Jojo Sutherland, Gary Little and three special guests.
Arta Bumper Value Comedy: World Series Challenges
20:15, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, £8 / £6
Total sellout 2006/7/8. Teams of top comedians compete to find out the funnier sex, city or nation. Glasgow/Edinburgh, Male/Female, Scotland/England.
Comedy Speed Dating: Under 35’s Week
19:30, 18 Mar, Males £9.95 / Females £19.95
They say the way to a lady’s heart is to make her laugh. Let our team of comics do the hard work whilst you embark on a series of four minute dates.
Bumper Value Comedy: West End
Multiple times, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, £8 / £6
Total sell out 2006/7/8. Each night a different line-up of four top comedians. Previous years have featured Brendon Burns, Raymond Mearns, Des McLean, Janey Godley, and Glenn Wool. Free nightclub entry.
Comedy Speed Dating: Over 30’s Week
19:30, 25 Mar, Males £9.95 / Females £19.95
They say the way to a lady’s heart is to make her laugh. Let our team of comics do the hard work whilst you embark on a series of four minute dates.
BBC Pacific Quay BBC Scotland presents The World’s Greatest Sitcom 19:30, 19 Mar, Free-ticketed
What is the greatest sitcom of all time? Comedians and prominent comedy figures use archive and argument to end the debate. However it’s the audience who have the last laugh. bbcscotlandcomedy@bbc.co.uk
The Ellis & Clarke Show
Multiple times, Fri 20th, Fri 27th, Free - tickted
This is a new kind of sketch show featuring the the ubiquitous talents of Elaine MacKenzie Ellis and stand up favourite Des Clarke. Radio Scotland will be recording two shows per evening. The first at 7pm and the second at 8.15pm.
BBC Scotland presents The World’s Greatest Stand Up 19:30, 20 Mar, Free-ticketed
Who is the greatest stand up of all time? Comedians and prominent comedy figures use archive and argument to end the debate. However it’s the audience who have the last laugh. bbcscotlandcomedy@bbc.co.uk
Bar Bacchus Four Play
20:00, 12 Mar, £5 / £4
Ever wondered how many fat guys you can get round one microphone? Four of Scotland’s largest comedians attempt the improbable. Find out how chaps and chips connect the four!
Comedy Cellar
22:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £5 / £4
Ed Byrne’s legendary Comedy Cellar is back in funny business. Satrs were born here in the early 90s. Come and see the supernovas of tomorrow alongside special guests from the past.
Billy Kirkwood & Austin Low: Smell Yer Maw 3 - Smell Another Maw! 20:00, 28 Mar, £7 / £5
They’re back! Billy Kirkwood and Austin Low unleash a new show jampacked with stupendou banter, unbelievable live sketches, awesome stand up and more!
Bar Cosmopol Happy Hour Comedy & Cocktails
19:00, Sat 14th, Sat 21st, Sat 28th, £4 / £3
Start Saturday night early with 60 fun filled minutes of tropical comedy. Three comediansand a free cocktail with every ticket.
Sinful Sundays
20:00, Sun 15th, Sun 22nd, Sun 29th, £3
Former Scottish Comedian of the Year Mark Nelson and pals bring you the kind of comedy they normally aren’t allowed to indulge in. Dark edgy and wrong.
Phil Differ: Never Felt Better 20:30, 22 Mar, £7 / £5
With age comes wisdom, aches, pains, wrinkles and cynicism. Scotland’s brightest old comedian revels in the glories of growing old disgracefully.
Gary Little: He Was Only Jail Gay 20:30, 26 Mar, £7 / £5
From sex parties with Deirdre Barlow to eBay changing his life. From gold leaf chocolate to 8 months of porridge. More bizarre tales from big Gary Little.
Funny Women Live 20:30, 27 Mar, £10 / £8
Britain’s leading female comedy brand, Funny Women, returns to Glasgow with Funny Women Live - another fantastic show presenting winners and favourites from six years of the Funny Women Awards.
Jason Cook: Joy 20:30, 28 Mar, £8 / £6
The sequel to hit show, My Confessions. About joy, how we need it, how it is all around us and we just have to look.
The Wee Man: Nedolution 20:30, 29 Mar, £7 / £5
Experience the ass scent of cult internet phenomenon The Wee Man live in the flesh as he presents a syrupy purple mixture of comedy, music, games and the possibility of some surprise guests (pending probation).
Bread and Butter Smokes & Jokes
20:30, Wed 18th, Wed 25th, £6.30
Big Yin Revisited: Billy Connolly Tribute
What smoking ban? Come to our cosy, heated, covered courtyard and the only comedy club in Britain where both the comics and the audience can light up without fear
Total sellout 2006/7/8. Stars In Their Eyes Winner, Gary Moir’s highly acclaimed show is inspired by Billy Connolly’s classics.
Keara Murphy: Lyre Burd
Barrowlands 20:00, 13 Mar, £10 / £9
Brel
Maxwell’s Fullmooners: Friday the 13th Thriller
21:00, 12 Mar, £6 / £4
Are YOU a Fullmooner? Currently the UK’s most talked about late night comedy show, hosted by Andrew Maxwell.
15:00, Sun 15th, Sun 22nd, £3
23:00, 13 Mar, £13.13 / £12.13
Blackfriars Basement Mark Nelson: Smile You Son Of A Bitch 20:30, 12 Mar, £7 / £5
Someone once said that Nelson could make anything funny. Now he’ll prove it. Total sell out 2007 and 2008. Not for the easily offended.
Wendy Wason: Things I Didn’t Know 20:30, 13 Mar, £8 / £6
The well-known Scottish comedienne and actress makes good use of her never-ending charisma to bring you a quirky and very funny insight into what you should really know about life.
The Late Show
23:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Sat 28th, £8
The very best of the Fest in the heart of the Merchant City. The cream of this year’s acts plus very special guests and a late bar to keep you laughing into the wee hours.
Pete Johansson: i’m very good at comedy 20:30, 15 Mar, £7 / £5
Awesomely funny Canadian. Irreverent, brilliant and smooth like fine jazz.
Parrot: View From The Cage 20:30, 19 Mar, £7 / £5
A one-off performance and a stroboscopic ride of images viewed between the spinning bars of Parrot’s psyche.
Susan Calman is The Last Woman On Earth 20:30, 20 Mar, £8 / £6
Recession, disaster, Russions. It’s the end of the world and you, the audience, are the only survivors. Oh, and Susan Calman,. Together we must repopulate the world. No excuses.
One burd, many voices!
Lemoncustard Comedy Afternoon silliness, returning for its 2nd year, with hosts Dee Custance and Siân Bevan.
John Cooper: The 30 Year itch 21:00, 15 Mar, £6 / £4
Debut stand up show about growing up, moving on, flaring up, flaking out, the joy of geekdom and getting by with a skin condition.
Ginger & Black 21:00, 17 Mar, £6 / £4
Chortle best newcomer nominees Ginger & Black are doing a show. Armed only with songs, ingenious concepts and musical wit.
Barry McDonald: Just A Man And His Will To Survive 21:00, 18 Mar, £6 / £4
Hilarious and honest observations from the comedian who took his time, took his chances and to make his long awaited Festival debut.
Dan Nightingale: Live! 21:00, 19 Mar, £6 / £4
No theme, no message, no over complicated slides. Just good, very funny stand up. One of the most talented comics to come out of the Northwest for a long time.
Ah Sh*t! It’s Mick Sergeant 21:00, 22 Mar, £6 / £4
The unemployed Geordie anti-hero tries to stay positive while wrestling with the notion of identity.
Daniel Rigby: The Mothwokfantastic 21:00, 24 Mar, £6 / £4
An hour of sketch, character and musical comedy, written and performed by award winning stand up, Daniel Rigby, with the help of a robot he built specially for such events.
BBC Scotland presents...Glasgow
Bob Doolally: Straight From The Bawbag
Niall Browne & Elaine Malcolmson: All Kinds Of Everything
The staple of the London comedy calendar and Edinburgh Fringe comes to Glasgow, showcasing the the circuit’s finest comedians and exposing the stars of tomorrow.
Scotland’s favourite footbal has-been debunks the beautiful game in a new multi-media show. Plus the usual mix of drink-fuelled innuendo, filth and audience participation.
They came from the land of giants and fairies. One of them is not a giant, the other is not a fairy. Together Niall Browne and Elaine Malcolmson are all kinds of everything.
19:30, 21 Mar, £5
20:30, 21 Mar, £8 / £6
21:00, 25 Mar, £6 / £4
Wil Hodgson in Chippenham On My Shoulder 21:00, 26 Mar, £6 / £4
Punk rock folk storyteller returns with more tales of Spice Girl dolls, street fighters and small town alienation. As odd as it sounds, but also funny.
Britannia Panopticon How Do I Get Up There?
20:00, 20 Mar—21 Mar, Free - ticketed
A sketch show that heralds a new era for Scottish comedy. Three young single males unlucky in love and unlucky in life in one of the most historic theatres in Scotland.
Robin Cairns: Numpties Need Love Too
19:30, 27 Mar—28 Mar, Free - ticketed
Robin Cairns demands a better quality of love life for those who were stuck in the cludgie when common sense got raffled.
Capitol Best of Ha Ha Comedy
21:15, Sat 14th, Sat 21st, Sat 28th, £8 / £6
Alan Anderson, producer of the Scottish Comedian of the Year, gives his personal selection of the very best upcoming talent at this year’s Festival.
Castlemilk Community Centre Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep
20:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, £3
Three of Glasgow’s best, Bruce Morton, Rab Brown and Susan Morrison, play on your doorstep. Top quality comedy at a bargain price.
Citizens Theatre Educating Rita
19:30, 03 Mar—07 Mar, various
Only When I Laugh
Multiple times, 12 Mar—15 Mar, £17 / £9.50
Set backstage in a 50’s variety theatre this dark comedy, written by and starring TV’s Jack Shepherd (TV’s Wycliffe, The Golden Compass) features keenly observed characters drawn from his own love of post war variety. www.loveandmadness.org. Presented by Love & Madness Theatre Company.
Classic Grand Best of Red Raw 2009
20:00, Fri 13th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £7 / £5
In association with BBC Scotland. The Stand Comedy Club presents a sizzling selection of the very best beginners from its sell-out weekly newcomers’ showcase.
Clyde Auditorium Jimmy Carr: Joke Technician 20:00, Wed 18th, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, Sun 29th, £20
Rude, crude and offensive - but those aren’t the only reasons you’ll enjoy it. One of the hottest tickets around and not to be missed.
Drumchapel Community Centre Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep 20:00, 13 Mar—28 Mar, £3
Three of Glasgow’s best, Bruce Morton, Rab Brown and Susan Morrison, play on your doorstep. Top quality comedy at a bargain price.
Gilmorehill G12 The Penny Dreadfuls 20:00, 26 Mar, £9 / £6
The most critically acclaimed sketch troupe to emerge in recent years return to Glasgow with a brand new show.
Universal Comedy: The Clinic 19:30, 27 Mar, £5
Join Universal Comedy’s stand up team plus special guests and take part in a unique comedy ‘clinic’. Check-in for some end-of-festival therapy and find out how comedy can reach the parts that badly need some TLC.
GFT Watson’s Wind Up 12:30, Fri 6th, Fri 13th, Fri 20th, Fri 27th, Free - ticketed
Starring Jonathan Watson. Topical comedy show that not so much analyses as annhilates the headlines and the headline-makers in the week’s Scottish news.
Royal Concert Hall Rob Brydon 20:00, Thu 12th, Wed 25th, £19.50 / £17.50
From Marion & Geoff to Gavin & Stacey, Rob Brydon’s credits read like a compendium of modern British comedy and he’s bringing an evening of brand new stand up to Glasgow
Gramofon D.A.M. Fine Comedy 20:30, Fri 6th, Fri 13th, Fri 20th, Fri 27th, £5/£4
Ivory Bar Best of Ha Ha Raw Comedy 20:00, Sun 15th, Sun 22nd, Free
Scott Agnew and Alan Anderson introduce the best of Shawlands legendary comedy workshops and new material night with 8 acts, some new, some famous. Free!
Kings Theatre Seven Brides For Seven Brothers Multiple times, 12 Mar—15 Mar, £27 / £12
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is brimful of hand-clappingly effervescent energy, dazzling dance routines and 16 smash hit showstoppers including Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Goin’ Courtin’ and Wonderful Day. It’s toe tappingly good!
Ed Byrne: Different Class 20:00, 23 Mar—24 Mar, £17.50 / £15
Half toff, half pikey…all comic! Comedy favourite returns with a blistering show about marriage, class, the youth of today and anything else that strikes him as humorous.
Ardal O’Hanlon 20:00, 25 Mar, £17.50
Ardal O’Hanlon returns to the festival with his unique brand of off the wall, hilarious stand up. The star of Father Ted and My Hero, Ardal also stars in the forthcoming feature film, Wide Open Spaces.
Clive James In The Evening 20:00, 26 Mar, £17.50 / £16
Writer, Broadcaster, raconteur and Australia’s finest export, Clive James with his new book and a fest of opinion. Also an exclusive Q&A session - your chance to question the master!
Jerry Sadowitz: Comedian, Magician, Psychopath II 20:00, 27 Mar, £22.50 / £19.50`
Top class magic and brutal comedy. Strictly adults only. Not for the easily offended!
Frank Carson In The Afternoon 19:30, 28 Mar, £15 / £12.50
It’s a cracker! TV satr and comedy legend Frank Carson is gauranteed to bring the house down at the King’s Theatre. Why? It’s the way he tells ‘em!
Paul Merton’s Impro Chums 20:00, 28 Mar, £19.50 / £17.50 / £15.50
Paul and his chums take audience suggestions and create cascades of fantastic tumbling laughter. Most of the time.
Knightswood Community Centre Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep 20:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, £3
Three of Glasgow’s best, Bruce Morton, Rab Brown and Susan Morrison, play on your doorstep. Top quality comedy at a bargain price.
Langside Hall Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep
20:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £3
Three of Glasgow’s best, Bruce Morton, Rab Brown and Susan Morrison, play on your doorstep. Top quality comedy at a bargain price.
Maggie Mays Teddy: Toughen Up, I’m Only Joking! 20:00, 13 Mar, £8 / £6
Scottish comedian of the Year runnerup 2008 Teddy shares dark gags and embarrassing tales
Ian Cognito
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre 20:00, 27 Mar, £10 / £8
The socks are the comedy double act that has to be seen to be believed. Songs, sketches, socks and violence, including an entire Shakespeare play (slightly abridged).
Adam Bloom: In The Premier League Of Comedy 21:15, 27 Mar, £10 / £7
‘He’s been one of my favourite stand ups for about 10 years. Adam Bloom not only has meticulously brilliant lines, but also an intense and fragile honesty.’ Ricky Gervais
Jim Hobbit Against The World 20:15, 29 Mar, £6 / £4
Last year he almost burned down The Stand. Now he’s back.
Following on from his legendary performance at the Scottish Comedian of the Year Final. Scotland’s most unique cult comedian brings us a taste of his mind.
Sir Timothy Fitzhigham
The Sunday Roast
21:15, 13 Mar, £10 / £7
20:00, 14 Mar, £10 / £7
Tim has written a book, been in a film with Sir Anthony Hopkins and undertaken many awe-inspiring, death defying, artistically questionable feats of endurance. Come and hear about the latest.
Paul Sinha & Markus Birdman: On The Road 21:15, 14 Mar, £10 / £8
Two of the finest stand ups in the UK bring their double headline show to the comedy festival.
21:30, 29 Mar, £6 / £4
In the tradition of Dean Martin, the Friar’s Club and Comedy Central our Celebrity Roastmaster leads Scotland’s Comedy Community in paying tribute (or otherwise) to a Scottish Comedy hero. Proceeds to celeb’s charity of choice.
McPhabb’s Ding Dong Comedy 20:30, 12 Mar, £5 / £4
Raymond Mearns: Shaggy Dog Stories
Featuring new acts and more experienced comedians trying out new material.
Those who know Scottish comedy, know what to expect from Raymond Mearns.
See Stirling Kane Comedy
20:15, 15 Mar, £8/ £6
Alan Anderson’s Gallus Glasgow Comedy Walk
17:30, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Sun 29th, £7 / £5
Not a ghost walk, not a history walk, it’s 70 minutes of patter, banter, craic and magic about Glasgow from comedian and architectural comedian Alan Anderson.
Martha McBrier: A Wee Bit About A Lot Of Things 20:00, 20 Mar, £10 / £8
Employing GP-like shallow expertise, misery Aunt Martha soothes troubled minds and messes heads. Rubberneck other people’s despairand/or bring your own.
Stu Who: Planet Of The Eejits 21:15, 20 Mar, £10 / £7
Celebrating the historical importance of the Village Idiot, Neds, Chaves, Pikeys, Hoodies, or, as they’re more commonly known, The Poor.
Scott Agnew: Philip & Fern Saved My Life 20:00, 21 Mar, £10 / £8
When life’s going tits up answers can be found in the strangest of places - like the This Morning Sofa. Scott Agnew discovered this long before Kerry Katona ever parked her arse there.
Andrew O’Neill’s Totally Spot-On History Of British Industry 21:15, 21 Mar, £10 / £8
Andrew O’Neill’s critically acclaimed fake history show. You’ll learn more than you ever did at school!
Alan Anderson: Compere And Contrast 20:15, 22 Mar, £8 / £6
Sick of introducing big name comics, Scotland’s premier compere takes the limelight himself. For the first time in 8 years he’ll even write some new material.
Stand Up Drink Up Comedy Crawl
19:30, Thu 12th, Thu 19th, Thu 26th, Multiple prices
Get yer walkin’ boots on as we navigate you five bars with top-class comedians, promos, ghoulish surprises and free entry to the dancin’. This festival institution always sells out fast.
The Naked Comedy Show 22:30, 26 Mar, £8 / £7
Exactly what it says on the tin. Comedians, performing in the nude. Free entry for naked punters. Half price for audience members wearing only bra and pants or just pants!
20:30, 29 Mar, £5 / £4
Presented by Ding Dong Comedy with davey See, Iain Stirling and Rob Kane.
Moyra Jane’s Comedy For Grown Ups
18:30, Sat 14th, Sat 21st, Sat 28th, £20
Forget the brash young men with their sweary words and controversial ideas. This is good clean intelligent comedy in a laid back atmosphere with asumptuous two course meal.
Netherton Community Centre Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep
20:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, £3
Three of Glasgow’s best, Bruce Morton, Rab Brown and Susan Morrison, play on your doorstep. Top quality comedy at a bargain price.
Old Fruitmarket Andrew Maxwell 20:00, 14 Mar, £13 / £11
After last year’s If.Comedy Award nomination for ‘Waxin’ Andrew returns triumphant to the Glasgow Comedy Festival with a brand new hour of comedy entitled ‘Supernatural’.
Mark Steel
20:00, 21 Mar, £14
Steel is really hilariously funny. He also likes cricket, a pint and revolutionary socialism. In other words he is the perfect human being.
Chris Addison
21:00, 26 Mar, £14 / £12
Double Perrier nominee and star of BAFTA-winning comedy, The Thick Of It, Chris Addison is back with a brand new show.
City Chambers Alan Anderson’s Comedy Coach Tour
14:30, Sun 15th, Sun 22nd, Sun 29th, £8 / £7
Alan Anderson - architectural historian and comedian - takes you on a magical, musical, mystery open-topped bus tour through Glasgow: Her buildings, inventors, murders, jokers and murkier past.
PJ Champs Four Quid Comedy Cabaret
20:30, Sun 15th, Sun 22nd, Sun 29th, £4
One compere, three comedians, just four quid. The perfect way for students to make sure those pennies stretch to a proper night out.
Platform
State Bar Purple Comedy: The Colour Of Comedy
Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep 20:00, 13 Mar—28 Mar, £3
20:00, 13 Mar, £5 / £4
Janey Godley: Domestic Godley
Obie: Living The Dream
Three of Glasgow’s best, Bruce Morton, Rab Brown and Susan Morrison, play on your doorstep. Top quality comedy at a bargain price.
20:00, 19 Mar—28 Mar, Multiple prices
The multi-award winning comedienne and Scotsman columnist Janey Godley brings her 5-star show home to Glasgow.
Ramshorn Theatre
Jump the generation gap with Scotland;s cult comedy podcast. John Burns (Old Git) & Austin Low (Man Child) present the best characters, sketches and stand up from the show. www.standupcomedy.podomatic.com 21:30, 13 Mar, £5 / £4
Obie performs his unique brand of silly stand up. He is a total natural on stage and born to make people laugh. You will love this infectious, charismatic madman’s show.
Viv Gee: Gratuitous Crudity 20:00, 14 Mar, £5 / £4
Viv wants to be an intelligent, politically motivated comedian who makes people think. But generally she just swears and talks about sex.
Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! 19:30, 16 Mar—20 Mar, £6 / £3
1974. The boom has bust and food and fuel prices are rocketing. Sound familiar?
Odds & Sods by Tom Fraser and Fraser Campbell 19:30, 21 Mar, £4
Sandy the bookmaker entertains a clientele of mug punters, wierdos and reprobates - while their money’s green. What happens when the worst loser’s luck changes? Rehearsed reading of a hystrerical new play.
Retro Sketch 19:30, 25 Mar—26 Mar, £8 / £5
Five of Scotland’s top comedians put a new spin on classic sketches. Des Clarke, Scott Agnew, Charlie Ross, Jay Lafferty and Ian Stirling….and not a dead parrot in sight. A World Premiere.
Charlie Ross’s TV Times 19:30, 27 Mar, £8 / £5
A loving family in the depression, a traveller in time, on the run with Vietnam vets, feuding oil tycoon. All lives Glaswegian Charlie Ross has had…through his telly!
Des Clarke: Live! Multiple times, 28 Mar, £8 / £5
Radio host, TV star and proud Gorbals boy returns to the stage. Expect high energy humour, surreal observations and plenty of laughs. Sellout 2006/7/8
Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre The Lighthouse Keeper 14:00, 14 Mar, £4.95 / £4.75
Delightful performance featuring Oscar, a loveable fool.
Jango The Clown 14:00, 28 Mar, £4.95 / £4.75
Jango will touch your heart with his fumbling slapstick antics, thrills, spills, surprises, magic, juggling, clowning and puppetry. AGE SUITABILITY 3+
Sloans
Patrick Rolink 21:30, 14 Mar, £6
It’s straightforward, an hour of stand up, in your face, comedy. Not for the easily offended!
David Heffron: Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself (And Monsters) 20:00, 20 Mar, £5 / £4
Death! War! Pestilence! 10p more for bread! The signs and portents of the apocalypse are at hand. Join David Heffron and prepare for humanity’s inevitable destruction.
Graham Mackie: We Don’t Need Know Education 21:30, 20 Mar, £5
A side of modern secondary school teaching that is not often see by the general public. If you think that your school days were the best of your life, think again!
Peter Aitchison: All Fact, No Fiction 20:00, 21 Mar, £5 / £4
The truth is a funny thing. What do we tell our partners? What are we told by the media? What do we tell ourselves? Come and face up to it.
The Heresy Project: Kill Your God 21:30, 21 Mar, £5 / £4
Makes Richard Dawkins look like the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Andy White: I Think Therefore I Joke 20:00, 27 Mar, £5 / £4
Comedian Andy White is supremely well qualified to deliver this idiot’s guide to philosophy. He is an idiot.
Chris Broomfield in Deaf Ram Comedy 21:30, 28 Mar, £5
Is being hard of hearing and making up what I think people say just because I can’t be bothered really a crime? Chris ponders the subjects close to his heart and groin.
The Arches Bratchpiece Family Values
Lunchtime Laffs & Lattes 13:00, 12 Mar—28 Mar, not 15th, 22nd, £8 / £7
Join award winning comics Des Clarke and Scott Agnew for a city centre lunch hour with a difference. You get soup, sandwiches, comedians, maybe celebrity guests and lots of giggles.
Comedy & Ceilidh 19:30, Fri 13th, Fri 20th, Fri 27th, £12 / £9
There will be laughter and there will be dancing. Join our team of comics for 90 minutes of laughs before heading upstairs to jig the night away
Triple Scotch
19:30, 13 Mar, £7 / £5
Scotland’s (in)famous comedic family with faither Mark, Bratchy and The Wee Man
7-Year Itch: A Retrospective By Random Accomplice 19:30, 25 Mar—28 Mar, £8 / £6
Glasgow based theatre company, Random Accomplice, take an affectionate look back over the last seven years, remembering the horrific mistakes, the joyful accidents and the part-time jobs in between.
The Buff Club Ro Campbell: Full Power 20:30, 13 Mar, £6
21:00, Fri 13th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £8 / £6
Total sell out 2006/7/8. Des Clarke & Alan Anderson showcase some of the best Scottish stand ups featuring winners and finalists from the Scottish Comedian of the Year competition.
Late ‘n’ Loud 22:45, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £7 / £6
Total sellout 2005/6/7/8. Top comedians, celebrity guests and a very late night bar - it’s Glasgow’s best late night comedy hangout, where anything can happen and probably will.
Scottish Aussie comic cowboy Ro Campbell in a tightly written show with no central theme other than ‘funny’.
Jay Lafferty: Jayded 20:30, 20 Mar, £8 / £5
After last year’s sell-out show, Jay returns with a vengeance - like a ninja with lipstick.
John Ross: Return Of The West End Ned 20:30, 21 Mar, £6
John lives in Glasgow on a diet of two donners a day, recently cut off a couple of toes to get better parking and is dyslexix not just just for the free computer. Honest.
March 2009
THE SKINNY 61
Glasgow comedy Paul Pirie: Lettuce Pirie
Wilson Dixon Rides Again
We could convince you that Mr. Pirie is a comical genius and his show’s unmissable, but we won’t insult your intellect. We know we’ll see you there.
Wilson Dixon, Country & Western legend from Cripple Creek, Colorado is back in the saddle, ready for business and is here to put things right.
20:30, 27 Mar, £6
Steven Dick: Disillusioned 20:30, 28 Mar, £6
Stand up magician, Steven Dick ponders life, love, death and art, but more importantly how these timeless notions can be transformed into trivial card tricks.
The Garage Rhod Gilbert & The Award Winning Mince Pie 20:00, 12 Mar, £11/ £9
Rhod decided to abandon his fictional tales of Llanbobl and try living in the real world for once. This is the slightly ridiculous story of how one mince pie broke the camel’s back.
Andy Parsons: Citizens! 20:00, 13 Mar—14 Mar, £15
Mock The Week Star with political comedy without the leaflets, satire without the lecture, ridicule without the sanctimony, all with a bit of showbiz glitter.
Brendon Burns: Under Educated European Tour 20:00, 20 Mar, £12 / £10
Flame throwing Ausie, Brendon Burns’ stage presence is electric, his material provocative and his insight surprisingly subtle.
Russell Kane’s Gaping Flaws 20:00, 21 Mar, £12 / £10
Old teacups. Nan’s gammy hip. Why are the British fond of all things flawed?
Benefit For Special Care Baby Unit 20:00, 28 Mar, £15
A night of stand up comedy to raise money for the Princess Royal Special Care Baby Unit. A good night out for a very good cause. Two comedians plus a very special guest to be announced.
The Stand Red Raw
20:30, Tue 3rd, Mon 9th, Tue 10th, £2/£1
New acts, new material from old acts; a classic pick and mix of comedy, costing mere pennies.
Wicked Wenches
20:30, 03 Mar—04 Mar, Multiple prices
That time of the month when the acts are all funny girls.
The Thursday Show
Multiple times, 05 Mar—26 Mar, Multiple prices
Ease yourself into the weekend with top laughs and delicious food.
The Friday Show 21:00, 06 Mar, £10/£9
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service 20:30, 08 Mar, £5/£4
John Bishop: Bishop’s Blog 20:00, 12 Mar, £8 / £7
In a world where people fill cyberspace with their thoughts and observationa, John Bishop has decided to break the mould and do it in person.
21:30, 15 Mar, £8 / £7
Alex Horne: Birdwatching 19:30, 16 Mar, £8 / £7
My Dad’s a birdwatcher. I’m not. But for one year I travelled round Britain, Bahrain, Birdworld and Bill Oddie in a bid to discover what makes him twitch.
Miles Jupp: Drifting 21:30, 16 Mar, £8 / £7
Star of things that were popular quite a time ago and winner of things at about that time now feels ambitious again.
St Patrick’s Day Irish Comedy Special 20:30, 17 Mar, £10
The only way to celebrate St Pat’s! Ireland’s finest under one roof. Excellent value showcase featuring four of the best Celtic comics you’re likely to see. Featuring Colin Murphy, Niall Browne, Eleanor Tiernan and Michael Redmond.
Colin Murphy
21:30, 18 Mar, £10 / £8
Not only is he a first class TV star, he’s one of the finest comedians working today. Armed with his razor sharp wit, Colin returns with a new full length show.
Sarah Millican 20:00, 19 Mar, £8/ £7
Sarah Millican recently returned from an incredibly successful Fringe where she received rave reviews and enjoyed sellout audiences with critics pinpointing her as a hot new talent.
Dave Fulton
20:00, 20 Mar, £10
Whoever it was who decided that Americans don’t have any sense of irony, they forgot to tell Dave Fulton. This wry Seattle wag is positively brimming over with ironic invective.
Andrew Clover’s Krazy Kids Show
Multiple times, 21 Mar, £6 / £20 family ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
Andrew Clover - dad, Perrier Nominee, writer of the Sunday Times column Dad Rules - does a special show bringing kids and parents together with explosive and hilarious results. AGE SUITABILITY 4+
Phil Nichol
20:00, 21 Mar, £10
Multi-award winning comic tour de force Phil Nichol returns to the Glasgow Comedy Festival.
Ian Billings: Out Of His Mind! Multiple times, 22 Mar, £6 / £20 family ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
Enter the wonky bonkers world of kid’s comic and author, Ian Billings, for a tickle-filled hour of chuckle puns and giggle gags. AGE SUITABILITY 7+
David Kay
19:30, 22 Mar, £8 / £7
The fireball of Scottish comedy performs a show of delightful, surreal, gentle and original ramblings. Expect the unexpected from one of the finest comic talents in the UK.
Magners Festival Club
Stewart Francis
The best of the Fest! Five top acts, late bar and snacks!
Rarely does a comedian capture an audience’s attention with such stunningly crafted, razor sharp jokes and some of the best one-liners you’ll ever hear. Until that comedian arrives, why not check out Stewart Francis?
Multiple times, Thu 12th, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Thu 19th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Thu 26th, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £8 / £7
David O’Doherty: It’s David O’Doherty Time! 20:00, 13 Mar, £12/ £10
David O’Doherty, the Irish viscount of rumpled whimsy, the marble fawn of tiny keyboard based musical comedy, returns to the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Comedy Club 4 Kids
15:00, 14 Mar—15 Mar, £7 / £25 family ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
A proper comedy club where the best comedians do their stuff without the swearing or the rude bits.
The Tony Law Show 20:00, 14 Mar, £10 / £8
Like a rolling ball of funny, Tony Law’s infectious comedy will leave you stranded in a hilarious field of ideas.
Reginald.D.Hunter 19:30, 15 Mar, £10 / £8
“Excitingly intelligent comedy from the head and the heart, delivered with charm and control” Time
21:30, 22 Mar, £8 / £7
The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III 19:30, 23 Mar, £8 / £7
First ever Glasgow Festival Show for the Reverend! He says, ‘I had one of the best knife fights of my life in Glasgow. And one of the best blowjobs. That’s what I get for losing.’
Terry Saunders: Figure 8 21:30, 23 Mar, £7 / £6
Terry Saunders comes to Glasgow with his latest show, a tale about a man who can see into the future, minor celebrities and Elliot Smith.
Sean Collins: In His Eyes 19:30, 24 Mar, £8 / £7
Taking a comic look at fatherhood and childhood, Sean uses his supremely crafted storytelling technique to transport the audience into his enigmatic world.
62 THE SKINNY March 2009
David Longley: A Joke Is Just A Joke 21:30, 24 Mar, £7 / £6
Before starting comedy, a joke was just a joke to David Longley. Then he started to do comedy and a joke was more than a joke. Now he understands comedy, a joke is just a joke.
Mickey Flannagan: What Chance Change
Dave Spikey: Best Medicine Tour 2009 - Repeat Prescription 20:00, 18 Mar, £17.50 / £16
Dave Spikey (Phoenix Nights, 8/10 Cats) tackles the old adage ‘ laughter is the best medicine’. Come along, have a laugh and burn off 200 calories - that’s a pint of lager!
19:30, 25 Mar, £8 / £7
An Audience with Tam Cowan
Simon Munnery: The Cure For Lesbianism
Broadcaster, writer and comedian Tam Cowan brings his hilarious solo show to the Theatre Royal. With white-hot topical material, fond recollections and your chance to get up close and ask Tam anything!
It’s now 2009: Mickey Flanagan is slightly upset at the cost of a latte, working as a stand up comic and living in a pretentious suburb of London.
21:30, 25 Mar, £8 / £7
Brand New Show. New to you that is; he is, if anything, over familiar with the material. Expect the unexpected. You’ll be disappointed.
Isy Suttie: The Suttie Show 20:00, 26 Mar, £8 / £7
The hottest female comic on the circuit today. Ever-quirky songs, characters and stand up from Isy who we all know as ‘Dobby’ from Channel 4’s Peep Show.
Tom Stade: Oh F*ck, Do We Need A Title Too? 20:00, 27 Mar, £10
Say people say tragedy + time = comedy. This Canadian doesn’t think we need time…
Smelly Welly Tele Show
14:00, 28 Mar—29 Mar, £6 / £20 family ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
Chik has practiced his funny stories and poyums, some brilliant acting and a wee bit of shouting so you expect him to be quite good at it by now. AGE SUITABILITY 5 - 10
American Homecoming in association with Continental Airlines 20:00, 28 Mar, £8 / £7
In Association with Continental Airlines. Join three of the hottest acts from New York as they return to the land of their ancestors. Caustic Californian Scott Capurro introduces Bernadette Pauley, Marshall Chiles and Danny Lobell.
Vladimir McTavish: The Top 50 greatest Scots Of All Time Ever! 19:30, 29 Mar, £8 / £7
An hour of irreverent satire celebrating and debunking the men and women who shaped a nation’s culture. Edinburgh 2008 sellout.
Gangster Party 21:30, 29 Mar, £12
It might look like Frankie Boyle ™ and Kevin Bridges (World Cholesterol Champion) telling jokes for an hour. It’s not. It’s a motherf******* gangster party! STRICT DRESS CODE: Men in suits, Ladies in dresses.
The State Bar Comedy@The State 21:30, 07 Mar, £5
Mixed bill comedy show with regular compere
Austin Low: Being An Adult Sucks Tonnes Of Pole… 21:30, 27 Mar, £5 / £4
The juvenile underground comic thinks becoming an adult sucks pole. He asked hundreds of adults what sucked pole for them, then wrote this show.
An Audience With Neil McFarlane Nearby 20:00, 28 Mar, £5 / £4
At time of writing, Neil has clue what this show’s going to be about. But he promises to be fragrant, presentable, funny and reasonably sober.
The Viper Bumper Value Comedy: West End
Multiple times, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, £8 / £6
Total sell out 2006/7/8. Each night a different line-up of four top comedians.
Theatre Royal Des McLean: The Big Chap 20:00, 17 Mar, £15.50 / £12
Radio Clyde’s Des McLean is back again with a hilarious new show. Featuring a brand new Billy Connolly’s Bulls**t tour of…”
20:00, 19 Mar, £15.50 / £12
Ross Noble: Things
20:00, 19 Mar—22 Mar, Multiple prices
Surfing the wave of the here and now, join ‘ the most brilliant stand up of his generation’’ Sunday Telegraph, in a free form, free wheeling ride into the way things are. Part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Boeing Boeing
Multiple times, 23 Mar—28 Mar, £23 / £11
Martin Marquez (Hotel Babylon), Susie Blake (Coronation Street), John Marquez (Doc Martin), Sarah Jayne Dunn (Hollyoaks) and Josephine Butler (Sorted)
Trader Joe’s GO Laugh
20:30, Wed 4th, Wed 11th, Wed 18th, Free
For more details see www.thegobutton. co.uk
Tron Theatre The Gentlemen’s Tea Drinking Society
19:30, 12 Mar—14 Mar, £10 / £6
Scott Capurro Goes Deeper 20:00, 27 Mar, £12 / £10
Capurro asks the tough questions that the Labour Party wants us to ignore. The questions that everyone ponders but everyone brings up. Until now.
Janey Godley: Domestic Godley
20:00, Thu 19th, Sat 28th, Multiple prices
The multi-award winning comedienne and Scotsman columnist Janey Godley brings her 5-star show home to Glasgow.
Alun Cochrane’s Nonsense And Stuff 20:00, 29 Mar, £12 / £10
A show of two halves: NONSENSE, banter, freewheeling half-ideas and bunkum. STUFF, funny stories routines and flights of comic fancy.
Tron Theatre Changing House Multiplex
19:30, 05 Mar—06 Mar, £5
The Grandees: Box Of Cricks 20:30, 20 Mar, £8 / £6
Nicodemus’s eccentric Dutch Grandma sits looking mischievious on her 100th Birthday - the day her vow of silence is finally listed.
Bruce Fummey: About Robert The Bruce 20:30, 21 Mar, £8
Let Bruce Fummey take you on a romp through Robert The Bruce’s history with the odd expletive thrown in.
Zoe lyons: Mangled Mantra Of The MessedUp Modern Mind 20:30, 22 Mar, £8 / £6
Mock The Week panelist Zoe Lyons explores some of the daily chants that ricochet round her head such as ‘Why do I procrastinate? I don’t want to think about that now….’
Uisge Beatha
A fast and funny exploration of science, friendship, sexuality and the end of the world. Four men face the truth on one fateful night. Come and join the society…one lump or two? Presented by the Ransom Theatre Company.
Half Price Comedy Club
Mark Watson: All The Thoughts I’ve Had Since I Was Born
19:30, 12 Mar—26 Mar, Multiple prices
20:00, 15 Mar—16 Mar, £13
In 2008 Mark Watson toured the world, madio his Radio 4 show and published a book. His new show describes his attempt to retain his sanity.
Joanna Neary’s Magic Hole 20:00, 18 Mar, £9 / £8
Catch a multitude of comic characters from the star of Channel 4’s Skins, BBC 2’s Ideal and BBC 2’s That’s Mitchell & Webb Look.
Robin Ince: Bleeding Heart Liberal 20:00, 19 Mar, £9 / £8
Ince’s new show mixes up stories of childbirth, astronomy and evolutionary conundrums with readings from The Secrets Of Picking Up Sexy Girls. Support from Phil Jeays.
Hans Teeuwen
20:00, 20 Mar, £12 / £10
Han Teeuwen brings his phenomenally surreal cabaret to Glasgow for the first time.
John Hegley: Beyond Our Kennel 20:00, 21 Mar, £15 / £13
Hegley’s word-wild song and ppoem spectacle with very experienced but unaided performer in his own clothes. Over 7’s welcome for much mirth.
Arnold Brown: Happiness - The Search Continues 20:00, 22 Mar, £12 / £10
The grandfather of alternative comedy still seeks the elusive- happiness. With special guest Ian MacPherson.
Bruce Morton: Third Time Lucky
20:30, 07 Mar, £6/£4
Stand Up Drink Up Comedy Crawl
Get yer walkin’ boots on as we navigate you five bars with top-class comedians, promos, ghoulish surprises and free entry to the dancin’. This festival institution always sells out fast.
Half Price Comedy Club Early
20:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £6 / £4
Scotland’s favourite comedians, in Glasgow’s finest traditional pub, at a fraction of the price. Different line-up every show.
Half Price Comedy Club Late
22:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, Sat 28th, £6 / £4
Scotland’s favourite comedians, in Glasgow’s finest traditional pub, at a fraction of the price. Different line-up every show.
Jojo Sutherland Stands Up For Herself 20:30, 25 Mar, £6 / £4
This charismatic comic takes to the stage to revel in the misery of life and to laugh in its face.
Michael Manley: A Squirrel’s Life 20:30, 26 Mar, £6 / £4
Raised by squirrels, Michael Manley is now an expert in foraging, hiding and backgammon. A true tale of a feral boy finding a place in the human world.
West Brewing Company Comedy Out WEST
21:00, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Fri 27th, £8 / £6
Superb comedy showcases at Glasgow’s classiest bar and micro-brewery. Four fantastic acts in a two hour live stand up show. Featuring our ace team of comperes, local favourites and visiting headliners. Great value at only eight quid.
West End Venue @ Hilton Grosvenor Live Comedy @ West End Venue
20:30, Sat 21st, Sat 28th, £10
Enjoy some top drawer comedy in the West End Venue @ Hilton Grosvenor. Four great acts in this Byres Road bar for only a tenner.
Òran Mór Sean Grant & Daniel Sloss and special guest 20:00, 12 Mar, £8 / £6
Three fast rising stars, one great show! Sean Grant, Scottish Comedian of the Year 2007, Daniel Sloss, teenage So You Think You’re Funny finalist 2008 and special guest
Craig Hill Makes Your Whole Week! 20:00, 13 Mar, £12 / £10
Lift your spirits as Scotland’s favourite kilted treasure brings his latest smashhit show to Glasgow.
Josie Long: All Of The Planets Wonders (Shown In Detail) 20:00, 14 Mar, £10
A silly show, full of wonder and passion for the tiny and the immense.
Rhona Cameron 20:00, 15 Mar, £15
Using her engaging candour, Rhona Cameron tackles modern life and her ridiculous struggles with it.
Will & Greg: A Sketch Show 20:00, 20 Mar, £10
Will Andrews and Greg McHugh’s fast paced sketch show will make you laugh, snot, splutter and bark. In association with the Comedy Unit.
Richard Herring: The Headmaster’s Son 20:00, 21 Mar, £12 / £10
The Plot Thickens
What’s worse than being a podgy, swotty, virginal schoolboy? How about your Dad’s the headmaster too? Herring relives childhood embarrassments and examines psychological repercussions on adult life.
A comedy improv murder mystery.
Lucy Porter: The Bare Necessities
Universal 20:30, Tue 17th, Tue 24th, £6 / £4
Siân Would Like You to be Happy (But Knows You Probably Won’t Be) 20:30, 18 Mar, £6/ £4
Hello. Siân Elizabeth Bevan would like to invite you on a guided tour of the contents of her head. There’ll be standup, stories and other such stuff as she bravely endeavours to cheer you up and make you want to buy her a pony.
Billy Kirkwood is Durty 20:30, 19 Mar, £6 / £4
20:00, 22 Mar, £12 / £10
Lucy Porter’s chirpy exterior conceals a sharp mind and a wicked streak.
Phil Kay
20:00, 26 Mar, £12 / £10
Phil Kay ‘dazzled and hypnotized the audience, presenting one of the greatest comic oddyseys ever witnessed’ Time Out.
Kevin Bridges: A Weekend In The Wild West
Billy Kirkwood takes a deliciously dirty, hugely hilarious and juvenile journey to the island of comedy, peeing on the sandcastles of maturity, and kicking sophistication right in its monkey fanny.
20:00, 27 Mar—28 Mar, £10 / £9
Jon Richardson: Dogmatic
Weird’s Way: A Tribute To Tom Weir
Music Hall Memories Goes West: The All Stars Edition
Nominated for the prestigious if.comedy Best Newcomer Award in 2007 and Chortle Breakthrough Act award winner in 2008, Jon returns to Glasgow for his second solo show.
Derek Johnston and Vladimir McTavish present an affectionate homage to the work of a Scottish national treasure. An evening in appreciation of the late Tom Weir.
This is a charity fundraiser for the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. Three course Dinner and a music hall show with a celebrity cast and vintage cabaret and burlesque revue.
20:00, 25 Mar, £9 / £8
This show takes seven seven week before the date of Bruce’s third marriage. Help this comedy stalwart pay for the buffet and the band. 20:00, 26 Mar, £8 / £6
20:30, 22 Mar, £6 / £4
Since taking to the stage at the age of 17 years old, Kevin Bridges has been tipped for the top. Five years on and he’s well on the way.
19:45, 29 Mar, £45
Glasgow Art
edinburgh comedy Jekyll and Hyde Heresy 21:00, Thu 5th, Thu 12th, Thu 19th, Thu 26th, £3
Night of dark and depraved comedy
King’s Theatre Jolson and Co 19:30, 03 Mar—07 Mar, various
The Beehive Inn Absolute Beginners 20:00, Mon 9th, Mon 16th, Mon 23rd, Mon 30th, £2/£1
Showcase of new comedy talent with a top headliner to round off your night
The Stand Wicked Wenches 20:30, 03 Mar—04 Mar, Multiple prices
That time of the month when the acts are all funny girls.
Midweek Comedy Cabaret 20:30, 04 Mar, £4/2
The Thursday Show Multiple times, Thu 5th, Thu 12th, Thu 19th, Thu 26th, Multiple prices
Ease yourself into the weekend with top laughs and delicious food.
The Stand 21:00, Fri 6th, Fri 13th, Fri 20th, Fri 27th, £10/£9
Top acts. Hot food. An altogether great night out
The Saturday Show
21:00, Sat 7th, Sat 14th, Sat 21st, Sat 28th, £13
Top acts. Hot food. An altogether great night out.
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? 12:30, Sun 8th, Sun 15th, Sun 22nd, Sun 29th, Free
Improvised comedy led by by audience suggestions, with Stu and Garry. Hot coffee, delicious food...the nation’s top hangover cure
The Sunday Night Laugh-In 20:30, Sun 8th, Sun 29th, £5/£4
Red Raw
20:30, Tue 3rd, Mon 9th, Tue 10th, Mon 16th, Mon 23rd, Mon 30th, £2/£1
New acts, new material from old acts; a classic pick and mix of comedy, costing mere pennies.
Melting Pot 20:30, 10 Mar
Watch a series of short comedy sketches, presented by top actors and comedians. Vote for your favourite, and see a longer version next month.
Best of Scottish 20:30, 25 Mar, £6/5
The Voodoo Rooms Playback: The Best of Edinburgh Open Mics 20:00, 11 Mar, £3/2
An evening of music, comedy and spoken word.
Glasgow Theatre Barfly Rockaburley 21:00, 14 Mar, £8
CCA Cryptic Nights 19:30, 05 Mar, £5
Citizens Theatre Educating Rita 19:30, 03 Mar—07 Mar, various
Willy Russell classic comedy of mutual education
Educating Rita 19:30, 03 Mar—07 Mar, various
Only When I Laugh Multiple times, 12 Mar—15 Mar, £17 / £9.50
Part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Dance House SCHWING IT BABY! BURLESQUE PERFORMANCE BOOT CAMP 12:00, 21 Mar, £60
Kings Theatre Seven Brides For Seven Brothers Multiple times, 12 Mar—15 Mar, £27 / £12
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is brimful of hand-clappingly effervescent energy, dazzling dance routines and 16 smash hit showstoppers including Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Goin’ Courtin’ and Wonderful Day. It’s toe tappingly good!
Platform
Theatre Royal
19:30, 03 Mar—10 Mar, Multiple
19:30, 03 Mar—07 Mar, various
pricesTeenage girls learn about
HMS Pinafore
Odds & Sods by Tom Fraser and Fraser Campbell 19:30, 21 Mar, £4
Sandy the bookmaker entertains a clientele of mug punters, wierdos and reprobates - while their money’s green. What happens when the worst loser’s luck changes? Rehearsed reading of a hystrerical new play.
The Arches Into The New 18:00, 12 Mar, various
RSAMD Part of New Territories
7-Year Itch: A Retrospective By Random Accomplice
19:30, 10 Mar—14 Mar, various
Boeing Boeing Multiple times, 23 Mar—28 Mar, £23 / £11
Martin Marquez (Hotel Babylon), Susie Blake (Coronation Street), John Marquez (Doc Martin), Sarah Jayne Dunn (Hollyoaks) and Josephine Butler (Sorted) in ‘the funniest show in London’ Daily Telegraph. Part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Cabaret 19:30, 16 Mar—30 Mar, not 22nd, 29th, Multiple prices
Tramway Technological Phantasmagorias Multiple times, 05 Mar—07 Mar, £9
19:30, 25 Mar—28 Mar, £8 / £6
Part of New Territories
Glasgow based theatre company, Random Accomplice, take an affectionate look back over the last seven years
Figure This, Still, Test
The Ferry
Multiple times, 17 Mar—18 Mar, £9
Climatology of Bodies- a Trilogy Multiple times, 18 Mar—20 Mar, £9
Part of New Territories
Vegas
Suites Cruelles
Multiple times, 07 Mar—28 Mar,
20:00, 21 Mar, £9
Multiple prices
Part of New Territories
Tron Theatre The Gentlemen’s Tea Drinking Society
Playhouse
Royal Lyceum
My Grandfather’s Great War
The Farewell Tour
Verve Dance Company
19:30, 03 Mar—14 Mar, not 8th
It’s a terrible thing to marry an Egyp-
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
tologist and find he’s hung up on his
19:30, 07 Mar, £10.50 19:30, 14 Mar, £10.50
Book of Beasts
19:30, 19 Mar—21 Mar, call venue for details
Festival Theatre Thriller Live
Multiple times, 03 Mar—07 Mar, Various prices: call venue for details
Spongebob Squarepants Multiple times, 11 Mar—14 Mar, call venue for details
Northern Ballet Theatre 19:30, 17 Mar—21 Mar, not 20th, various prices
Pied Piper
19:30, 25 Mar—28 Mar, Presented by Boy Blue Entertainment in association with Theatre Royal Stratford East
Dreamboats and Petticoats
19:30, 16 Mar—21 Mar, from £13
Cabaret
19:30, 16 Mar—30 Mar, not 22nd, Multiple prices
King’s Theatre Dreamboats and Petticoats
19:30, 03 Mar—14 Mar, Multiple prices
Jolson and Co
19:30, 03 Mar—07 Mar, various
Gilbert and Sullivan Society
19:30, 17 Mar—21 Mar, Call venue for Details
Oklahoma!
19:30, 24 Mar—28 Mar, Call venue for details
The Mysteryof Irma Vep 19:45, 03 Mar—14 Mar, not 8th, 9th, various prices
mummy...
Curse of the Starving Classes 19:45, 20 Mar—28 Mar, not 22nd, 23rd, £12
Studio 24
Tron Theatre Changing House 19:30, 04 Mar—07 Mar, £8
Multiplex 19:30, 05 Mar—06 Mar, £5
Donald Does Dusty Multiple times, 11 Mar—14 Mar, £8
The Grandees: Box Of Cricks 20:30, 20 Mar, £8 / £6
Nicodemus’s eccentric Dutch Grandma sits looking mischievious on her 100th Birthday - the day her vow of silence is finally listed. Part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Òran Mór Music Hall Memories Goes West: The All Stars Edition 19:45, 29 Mar, £45
This is a charity fundraiser for the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. Three course Dinner and a music hall show with a celebrity cast and vintage cabaret and burlesque revue. Part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Teviot Union Fanteaseya Burlesque Club 21:00, 14 Mar, £10
Some of the best burlesque talent in Britain
The Voodoo Rooms Vegas Multiple times, Sat 7th, Sat 28th, Multiple prices
Traverse Baby Baby 19:30, 03 Mar—10 Mar, Multiple prices
Teenage girls learn about friendship
Play Pie and a Pint
22:00, 20 Mar, £5
13:00, Mon 16th–Fri 20th, Mon 23rd– Fri 27th, Mon 30th, £10
& Penumbra Charities. TEAZE in
22nd, Free
Does what it says on the tin.
12:00, Tue 3rd–Fri 6th, Mon 9th–Fri 13th, Mon 16th–Fri 20th, Mon 23rd– Fri 27th, free
Ever Growing Never Old Multiple times, Tue 3rd–Sat 7th, Mon 9th–Sat 14th, Mon 16th–Sat 21st, Mon 23rd–Sat 28th, Mon 30th,
Recoat
Free
Rasterizing
12:00, 07 Mar—29 Mar, not 9th, 16th, 23rd, Free
International and local artists who work in the digital medium
11:00, Tue 3rd–Sat 7th, Tue 10th–Sat 14th, Tue 17th–Sat 21st, Tue 24th– Sat 28th, Free
The artist addresses the fragility of representation through photography, performance, and film
Beck’s Futures winner whose work in painting, drawing and sculpture derives from architectural forms
Tramway James Yamada - Our Starry Night 12:00, 03 Mar—29 Mar, not 9th, 16th, 23rd, Free
Sebastian Buerkner 12:00, 03 Mar—22 Mar, not 9th, 16th, Free
Edinburgh art
Frida: Viva la Vida
Teaze TEAZE is in aid of Maggies Centre
11:00, 03 Mar—24 Mar, not 8th, 15th,
Modern Institute
Neocoins
42/43 Royal Park Terrace
Designer Body 20:00, 21 Mar, £10
aid of Maggies Centre & Penumbra.
Words, Words, Words
Burlesque show starts at 11pm.
20:00, 30 Mar, Free
Modern Art Galleries Two Horizons
Donkey hostage
10:00, 03 Mar—30 Mar, Free
19:00, 26 Mar, Free
Preview of new works before her Stolenspace show in London
City Art Centre The Drawn Blank Series Multiple times, 03 Mar—19 Mar, Free
Corn Exchange Gallery Life Time 11:00, Fri 6th, Sat 7th, Tue 10th–Sat 14th, Tue 17th–Sat 21st, Tue 24th– Sat 28th, Free
Artist Rooms
10:00, 14 Mar—30 Mar, Free
At the heart of ARTIST ROOMS is the concept of individual rooms devoted to particular artists, so that their work can be seen and appreciated in depth.
Re-make Re-make
Multiple times, 07 Mar—13 Mar, Free
Royal Scottish Academy Turner and Italy
Multiple times, 27 Mar—30 Mar, £8(£6)
Edinburgh Printmakers
Sierra Metro
Bodily traces
We died to make sense of the 20th Century
10:00, 03 Mar—07 Mar
Feels Like Forever
13:00, Sun 8th, Sat 14th, Sun 15th, Sat 21st, Sun 22nd, Sat 28th, Sun 29th, Free
10:00, 03 Mar—07 Mar, Free
Fruitmarket Gallery
Installation exploring the wonder inherent in material objects, inspired by the Bjurböle Meteor, the centrpiece of the Finnish pavilion at the 1900 Pries World Exposition
11:00, 03 Mar—30 Mar, Free
Riverdance
20:00, 03 Mar—07 Mar, from £14.50
Mary Mary
Openwide
Emma
19:30, 04 Mar, £10.50
Excess beyond utility, dandified amorality and ritualistic gesture
Vaginal Specula Chandelier
19:30, 10 Mar—14 Mar, £10
Edinburgh Theatre Brunton Theatre
11:00, Tue 3rd–Thu 5th, Fri 6th, Sat 7th, Tue 10th–Sat 14th, Tue 17th–Sat 21st, Free
Grey Flannel Suits Any Man
Spider’s Web
Ramshorn
The Arches
Sorcha Dallas
Baby Baby friendship
CCA The Dirty Hands
Ingleby Gallery Sometimes making something leads to nothing 10:00, 03 Mar—23 Mar, not 8th, 15th, 22nd, Free
Institut Francais d’Ecosse Vive la Tapisserie 09:30, Tue 3rd–Fri 6th, Mon 9th–Fri 13th, Mon 16th–Fri 20th, Mon 23rd– Fri 27th, Mon 30th, Free
Seventeen of Scotland’s leading tapestry artists showing together for the first time
Inverleith House Autobuilding 10:00, Tue 3rd–Sat 7th, Tue 10th–Sat 14th, Tue 17th–Sat 21st, Tue 24th– Sat 28th, Free
Medina The BIG freak 22:00, 26 Mar, £3/5 (fancy dress encouraged for cheap entry)
Stills Urban Reflections
11:00, 03 Mar—22 Mar, Free
Responses to the urban experience.
Talbot Rice Gallery Desire Lines
10:00, Tue 3rd–Sat 7th, Tue 10th–Sat 14th, Tue 17th–Sat 21st, Tue 24th– Sat 28th, Free
Site specific works by a variety of artists across the Edinburgh University campus while the gallery’s closed.
The Drill Hall Dichromic – New Works by Paul Ballingall
10:00, 16 Mar—25 Mar, not 22nd, Free
A selection of paintings based on previous linocuts
doggerfisher 10:00, Tue 3rd–Fri 6th, Tue 10th–Fri 13th, Tue 17th–Fri 20th, Tue 24th– Thu 26th, Free
Unusual material, collage and sculptural intervention in 2 and 3D
March 2009
THE SKINNY 63