Click poster for all the details of this shindig!

Brother Don's been out on the town in old SF....

"just back from Magic Christian at the Great American Music Hall. they opened for Tainted....excuse me... Tinted Windows. quite a night! after a pit stop up the street at the edinburgh castle (where they no longer serve belhaven... what kind of scot bar doesn't at least have belhaven? i mean, i said, "so you have no beer from scotland at all any more? and the guy says, "we have newcastle". i said, "just give me a bass and some fish n' chips please" anyways...

from there down to the music hall where MC pretty much blew the roof off the joint. drummer clem burke was particularly jazzed. for some reason he was off to the side rather than the back middle and this seemed to quite literally supercharge him... he was tossing his sticks nearly to the ceiling all night (and catching them each time). they did all heir stuff..."tomorrow never comes", "all the stars" among the originals, "anytime at all", "out in the street", among the covers. totally won over the audience which included none other than roy loney. cyril gave roy a shoutout and paul dedicated "teenage head" to him. that was a surprise! they were pretty much in control by the time they got to the DC5's "anyway you want it".

cyril had his trademark dan armstrong plexi while eddie sported a brand new dan electro longhorn bass that looks just like one you would've picked up in '58. cyril used a piggyback fender supersonic amp. paul banged a tambourine and played some great harmonica here and there. they got an encore and did "shake some action" on which they were joined by this guy Mike who came all the way from Pennsylvania. this is the cat from the Parallax Project who cut the Who's "It's Not True" with the band (i think it's on the next album but i'm not sure).

me and tom had a blast hanging with cyril and the guys backstage after. i checked out eddie's bass. it's just like my dano aside from the color and it has different knobs. and it was great talking with roy too. outside afterwards there were tons of chicks waiting for the Hanson guy (who sings for the Windows). and waiting in vain... you should've seen their faces when Cyril told them their hearthrob had long ago left the building via the back door! but Cyril-- ever the crowd pleaser -- hung around and signed everything in sight.

very successful show i thought. good turnout for MC despite the high cover charge."

Whilst we’re on the subject, score the upcoming Dirty Water release by Magic Christian here!

It's apparently "Saltire Saturday" here in the daftest wee country in the world. It all has to do with the desperate act that surrounds kicking a ball up and down a park. Something that does not impact on my planet in any way, shape or form. Well hardly ever, it's a pain in the arse travelling anywhere on a day like this. But anyway, coming back from the post office - which was completely dead - I saw this utter bampot that had a saltire motif on his napper. Evidently heading back from the hairdresser. Dearie, dearie me. True pondlife in action. No disrespect to the actual wee beasties that inhabit actual ponds intended.

Things are busy around here and tomorrow, all going to plan, some progress will be made with regard to a project that I've had whispering through my unblazoned head for a long, long time. More on this mysterious happening as and when. Amy and Davie will be continuing with their recording over the course of the week too so hopefully there'll be a whole album in the can by this time next weekend(ish).

I'll be on here trying to play catch up and meeting some of the crew from further afield. Generally doing stuff that doesn't entail heading to the salt mine for 9 whole days. This is a good thing.

You may recall me kvetching some weeks ago now about trying to get Green Day tickets for my nephew. It seems that magically some more tickets have magically appeared. Maybe they fell behind a filing cabinet or something? Aye, right. This bullshit about shows being "sold out" in addition to the inability of their systems to deal with demand is something that needs to be addressed. I urge you to boycott the fuckers that operate in this fashion in whatever way you see fit. Not that we'll actually be able to drive these maggots out of existence anytime soon but it seems like my idea of fun to at least try.

RIP - Keith Waterhouse

gummy stumps

watts of goodwill EP launch

friday 4th september 2009

8pm onwards at the GFM studio

(above the modern institute)

73 Robertson Street -

Glasgow - G2 8QD

You know how it is, I'm sure. All the best intentions to get home at a reasonable hour go futz and it's a schlep to the last train in the drizzle. I'm not entirely sure where we stand on the 40 days and nights tally but still, it's been damp even by our standards. The Allison sisters seem to be faring better weatherwise in Skye and the surrounding area but that could be down to the Talisker. That stuff has been known to perform miracles on occasion. Right Don?

Got to Stereo last night, slightly disoriented but soon got acclimatised. The thing about a Pastels show is that the event is properly curated. All gigs should be like that. This entails the dj action, opening act, the lot and this one, their first with Tenniscoats to support the imminent album was no exception. A dress rehearsal even. Anyway, it was a good turnout – pretty close to packed.

Veronica Falls kicked things off in a truly swingin' Velvets marinated stramash with a great version of the Rok's "Starry Eyes". Aside from the fact that's a good way to get me on side, their set was an exercise in exactly how to wow a crowd. Short and sharp = wanting more. This kind of mild euphoria isn't something I'm accustomed to and I’d say that the one track that’s on their myspace doesn’t come close to replicating what I’m certain I saw (and heard).

Brogues, one of the guys who put this thing on gave me a crash course in a whole slew of acts that I've never heard of. This kind of enthusiasm is entirely what it's all about and it's contagious. I'll be trawling this interweb to check out some of his suggestions in due course.

The Pastels/Tenniscoats set up is a quasi-pop orchestra with a mind to score imagined movies. Stephen's introduction to "Boats" with Katrina's interjection indicated perfectly what makes them so important in tandem with the music. These folkscapes are utterly unique and so out of kilter with these i-tuned times. The wonky brass and woodwind floating in and out just adds to that patented wooziness. I look forward to getting acquainted with the material via the vinyl when "Two Sunsets" is released this coming Monday. Had to leave to catch the train as they were easing into “The Viaduct”.

T’was well worth dragging my ancient carcass into town on a school night for. If they're appearing within travelling distance of your billet then don't miss them because the weather they bring with 'em is way more agreeable than any mere musical elements that generally pass your way. If there are any links to clips and photos, I'll add them later.

Setlist and more at the TFC message board.

Been trying to figure out this new palaver between hotmail and outlook. Why can't they just leave things alone? As they were?? Of course, that would be too easy. But it's not the end of the world just a niggle. And maybe not just directed at me. Is that feasible?? Anyway, I'm headed out to make the Pastels/Tenniscoats scene at Stereo. Or should that be in Stereo?? I'm confused. But you knew that.

This'll be short and sweet because I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle with the lurghi. Been pretty lucky this season and while sniffles and worse have been on the go all around, I've been relatively bug-free. My plan is to to not do much of anything because I want to be able to get to Glasgow tomorrow night. Plus I don't fancy being off on a week's leave and to be gubbed with any sort of virus or worse. It's getting to the point where the schnozz-blowing is making me a little Rudolph-esque.

So there's some more JD King here and another Wreckless Radio Podcast here.

More than enough to keep you amused.

Just in from Geographic HQ...

Hello,

Late summer rain here in Glasgow...

But it was beautiful a few weeks ago when we shot the video for Vivid Youth. We had a little bit of promo budget for Two Sunsets and decided it could best be used on a video which we hoped would not only capture something of the image of the song, Vivid Youth, but also show The Pastels and Tenniscoats in the same place at the same time, which is how we recorded Two Sunsets. We'd wanted to do something with Blair Young for a long time and were really happy that he was available and up for it. We decided together to use film (Super-8 and 16mm) and the main shoot took place at Loch Lomondside, about 20 miles from Glasgow, on two summer days, 2009, with Pastels, Tenniscoats and some friends. Check it out here...




Vivid Youth / About You is currently available as a super limited 7" single which can be picked up in Monorail and other good record shops and online from www.dominorecordco.com/mart.

Meanwhile the complete completeness that is Two Sunsets will finally be available from Monday, 7th September, on heavyweight vinyl (with download coupon) and on cd.

Excitingly, we are also about to embark on a few shows with Tenniscoats and hope to see you there...

2/9 Glasgow, Stereo (with Veronica Falls). 8PM. 0141 222 2254.
3/9 Leeds, Brudenell Social Club. 7.30PM. 0113 275 2411.
4/9 Birmingham, Moseley Folk Festival (with Saint Etienne and others). 0778 944 0026.
5/9 Bristol, Thekla (with The Fauns). 7PM. 0117 929 3301.
6/9 London, Bush Hall (with Veronica Falls). 7.30PM. 020 8222 6955.
7/9 Paris, Point Ephemere. 0033 1403 40248.

SP / KM

No further forward on the Reigning Sound front then and languishing in a general state of spreading oneself too thinly. These are two factors of several that are causing some reflection at the minute. I'm back at that regular pit stop of feeling like knocking it all on the head. Looking forward to being off next week and trying to recharge but fear that them batteries are at the stage where they actually need to be replaced as opposed to any simple rejuicing. If I actually arrive at any tangible way of achieving that then there will be some reason for rejoicing. It should be stated that I'm less than optimistic.

Been checking out the soundtrack to "Inglorious" as they advertise it on TV. The credits rolled too fast to catch them on screen. As with all Tarantino movies, the score is top notch and cut into the images like Aldo Ray's hillbilly Brando party piece. Full details here.

That's some fairly decent entertainment, particularly the dialogue for Christoph Waltz. He was like a completely relentlessly evil cyborg version of Norman Wisdom with shades of 'Allo Allo. Worth the price of admission for him alone.

Ongoing random mail strikes, hikes in fuel duty and a general disregard for any sort of reliable, consistent service. Sounds like a mission statement for the UK plc as a (w)hole. The wearing down process continues unabated as does the trajectory of up around the U-bend. Tried to go anyplace lately? It's a case of delay after delay and having to suffer ultra-overpopulation of railway carriages and what passes for a road system. As for Edinburgh, forget that. It's more or less closed and the rat run along one side of Princes Street surely doesn't conform to the Health and Safety legislation that's causing ever-deepening hassle on top of everything else.

So this month is our highest yet in terms of visitors and even although it's not always convenient to update daily, the spirit is at least willing even although the flesh would lollygag all the sodding time if it got way with it. However, cool things are afoot and those will become apparent in due course...

RIP - Simon Dee

Inglorious Basterds = very entertaining, David Simon at the Book Fest = great, Withered Hand at the NPG = 24 hours too late. Got the date wrong, some kind of neuron misfire no doubt. I'm beat. Hoping to get the Reigning Sound album in Glasgow tomorrow. Wish me luck....

Today in Barcelona... Festes Alt De Sants with SUZY & Los QUATTRO!

Thanks to Mia (via facebook) ...

It's time for Sounds of the Sixties... after that, some supplies to get and then off to Edinburgh for some Tarantino, Withered Hand and David Simon - in that order. Who knows what else in between? If you have any clout with any higher powers then I'd appreciate if you'd have a word that he or she might cool it with the rain.

Post office is on strike (again) so there's no point in heading down yonder...

Another day, another perspective... the news about Dean Turner threw me for a loop. 37 bloody years old? What the fuck is that all about?? I'd been thinking about Magic Dirt quite a bit lately. Even went to the extent of blogging a tirade against the denizens of Rock Radio because the band never got to be bigger than Metallica or whoever. Which, to my mind they always deserved. But anyway, the whys and wherefores and plain old should have beens are little solace when you hear about something like this. All you can really do is break out the music and play it at the considerable volume at which it was meant to be enjoyed.

Today I got an e-mail from Arlanda Express, just a newsletter thing but I took it as an omen that in any ideal situation, Dean would still be with us and I'd be on board said transport heading for the Voladoras show tonight. Reality precludes either though I'm afraid.

So let's see, couple other things here to keep you from wearying whilst I attend to other matters...

Jo Callis has now officially left the Rezillos, read his statement here.

Matt and Kimmel... or is that Got in Himmel? Wee Commando comics flashback there... but in real life, some good things do happen and Matt and Kim were on Jimmy Kimmel the other night as they continue to sweep the USA. Evidently there are kids out there that have good taste. It's time their counterparts on this sceptic isle got hip. Anyway, you evidently are hip so if you don't have satellite or super cable (like me - do we even get Kimmel here?) then you can see what we all missed. And do something about getting your tickets for the upcoming shows in November.



And to close this one, Alec Downie on "The Barra'lands" Pt. 1.

Got a full dance card tomorrow but I guess I’ll be on here in the am at some point...

RIP - Dean Turner (Magic Dirt)

Thanks to Shock magnate David Laing for the information - It's a shock alright! My condolences to his family, Adalita and the band... more later, when I get my head around this.

Pfffffff... it's getting to be that I dread logging on. Such has been the spate of people who made a difference shuffling off this mortal coil of late. In the tradition of there not being a formula for unscrambling the proverbial eggs, this practice will undoubtedly gather pace but it still blows.

My visits here will be on the DL over the next few days. I hope that the reaper will take something of a breather or at least go gather up a couple of hearsefuls of bastards that deserve to die. You know who they are and perhaps you even have your own "favourites" list? That's perfectly OK. I know that I do.

So you lucky kids in Japan, The A-Bones are in your airspace.... that has to be a great thing!

A-BONES NEWS... JAPANESE TOUR

Friday, August 28 Shimokitazawa (Shelter), TokyoWith Firestarter (ex-Teengenerate), Jackie and the Cedrics and Supersnazz

Saturday, August 29 Shinjuku (Loft), Tokyo with the 5.6.7.8’s

Sunday, August 30 Hatagaya (Heavy Sick), Tokyo Norton Records DJ Dance Party with Billy and Miriam plus DJ Daddy-O

Monday, August 31 OYS, Nagoya With Jackie and the Cedrics

Tuesday, September 1 Rock Rider, Osaka With Jackie and the Cedrics JEFF CUYUBAMBA PHOTOGRAPHY OPENING IN TOKYO – SHAKE SOME ACTION Super suave A-Bones pal Jeff Cuyubamba will have a photo exhibit of his fab rockin’ snaps on the same block as the Tokyo shows. “Little Jeff” has been documenting New York garage bands since=2 0the early days of the Dive—this gallery show will be amazing! Presented by Shinjuku Erostika. The show is called SHAKE SOME ACTION (what else?)—check this out!!!

More Norton Action here!