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Amy and Eric in Glasgow.... photo by Shona Thomson |
In the town name-checked in “Do
You Remember That” where the pub that (nearly) everyone said she should stay
away from her ‘winnebago driver’, Amy Rigby returned to kick off the series of
UK shows. Glasgow’s Admiral Bar resonated to a set that drew upon an incredible
canon of songs that have appeared since the advent of “Diary of a Mod Housewife”.
Her debut album was only ever available on CD until now and she’s here now
pushing copies of the vinyl. It’s my theory that the people who could really
benefit most from hearing this gal are those who have no idea that she even
exists.
Aye. I consider this lady to be family but I’m
an objective sonuvabitch when push comes to shove and some of these songs have been known to move
me to tears. I have many memories wrapped up in these songs and I was
actually present at a couple of the ‘scenes’ logged in the
aforementioned “Do You...”. Something I don't take lightly.
But I ain’t here to sell you a
pup on behalf of a pal. I genuinely believe that it’s a crime to have someone
of this calibre playing the venues that you’ll find her in during this trip
when way lesser individuals are playing bigger places. I don’t ask for much
of this world but it’s time that people made a connection with the good and the
true again. It’s always a thrill to watch someone who’s never heard Amy just totally get it. Like someone who’s maybe never seen “It’s A Wonderful Life”
before, I envy that metaphorical punch in the face.
There were shout-outs to our dear-departed, Billy Miller and Stewart Cruickshank during the show. I’m pretty sure
that the disintegration of “Dancing With Joey Ramone” was down to Krunch himself, making himself known to us in the ether. T'was utter magic
nonetheless while a crazed “Twenty Questions” conjured up Hasil Adkins. Amy
can raise quite the ruckus when she wants to while “Don’t Ever Change” is one of the most gentle hymns to these times that you’ll ever hear. I'll never forget hearing that for the first time in the studio of BBC Scotland in Aberdeen back in 2001 and it hasn't lost it's potency one iota.
Having
Eric along on to add bass and guitar here and there was a treat. And there
were new songs too that will be coming up in 2017 on her next album. To quote
one of the songs that was performed on Thursday night, “Don’t make the fatal
error that you’ll find someone better, ‘cause you won’t.”
You truly will not.