WTF? I posted this on blogger last night and today it had disappeared. Then I remembered it had appeared on the facedog so I actually did publish it. Anyway, if these things ain’t ging to work then please can we go back to the good old days when there was no sodding internet.
Interested to see what the EIFF has in store when the programme is launched this coming Tuesday (May 17th). The first since the organisation came together with the centre for the moving image at Filmhouse. My attendance is likely to focus on the weekends during the run. Can’t see me burning vacation days unless something really special turns up.

Of course, we’re approaching an important calendar date, Joey would have been 60 next week and Ms Line Dahlmann informs us that an unreleased song, presumably from the upcoming project augmented by various NYC luminaries, will air on the Underground Garage this weekend. The annual Birthday Bash also takes place at The Fillmore in Manhattan one week from tonight (Thursday 19th May).

I don’t know where you stand on (the) Pink Floyd and it’s none of my business really. However, looking at the “news” today that the individuals in question played together just after sorting out their contractual spat of several decades, it threw up the question of people who reportedly can’t stand one another coming together for the music. And well, maybe the money but I have no problem with that so long as they don’t milk it.

And even if they do then so what? The info machine on that particular brand is in motion. Expanded re-issues and even “lost” tracks will add to their revenue stream. I ought to get to the point… well, I like idea of people who have differences playing for the sake of the music. If they can just set aside the problem for an hour or whatever or maybe some rehearsal time then I guess that the point I’m making is that life is too short and sometimes too shite not to make an effort for something that is worth doing. This can be extended to friends too but sometimes that’s a bit more difficult/complicated so let’s stick with the bands here. You shouldn’t try to please all of the people all the time and after all why should you but think on this?

Maybe someone will twig that the band should have been setting the heather alight all along or maybe it’ll be a simple case of making the fans you do have very happy for a wee while at least. That benevolence right there is surely worthy of consideration. So yeah, that Floyd thing made me think. As does the consideration that time may well be running out. Do it for the kids of all ages because we’re a long time died (not a misprint, rhymes with heid).

Interested to see what the EIFF has in store when the programme is launched this coming Tuesday (May 17th). The first since the organisation came together with the centre for the moving image at Filmhouse. My attendance is likely to focus on the weekends during the run. Can’t see me burning vacation days unless something really special turns up.

Of course, we’re approaching an important calendar date, Joey would have been 60 next week and Ms Line Dahlmann informs us that an unreleased song, presumably from the upcoming project augmented by various NYC luminaries, will air on the Underground Garage this weekend. The annual Birthday Bash also takes place at The Fillmore in Manhattan one week from tonight.

How can there still be tickets left for the Moon Duo show in Glasgow this coming Saturday? It’s true that almost nothing sells out any more but this is ridiculous. And what’s even worse is that I am unable to attend so it’s certain to be great just to spite me.

And on Sunday, on the other side of the country –

4 great bands playing probably in this order (it may change on the night) on Sunday May 15th at Henrys Cellar Bar in Morrison Street – doors open at 7:30 first band onstage at 8

First up – VENDETTA MACHINE – 3 boys on Bass/Guitar/Drums and a girl that sings – one of the best new bands in Edinburgh, come along and see them so you can boast about it in a couple of years

Then - SHOCK AND AWE – what can be said about these good looking young pop stars ? their first proper gig for a few months see’s them playing some brand new songs for the first time in public

And then - The MURDERBURGERS – west coast punk pop so dripping in sunny melodys that you’d think it was California they were really from rather than glasweegieland

And finally - BLACK VOLVO – all the way from the Netherlands to the never neverland that is Edinburgh on a Sunday night, come and see if dutch pop punk travels well

4 quality bands for 4 quid on a Sunday night, all over at the back of 11 so you can get your bus hame – don’t sit in the house waiting for Monday morning - come and save your soul with some rock and roll !

sez Murray Ramone...

RIP - Dolores Fuller

(Thanks to Ben for the info via fb)

My (not exactly teenage) heid is in this one...

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"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

RIP - John Walker

Never saw this before... courtesy of Murray Ramone & Sandy McLean's facebook activities.

OK, less than 24 hours of the ATT Kickstarter action to go. Thanks to all of you kids that pitched in. Do I believe in miracles?
Not really but I'd love to be proven that such a beastie does exist.

Click on the image for how to attend what is quite possibly the greatest "Festival" line up ever curated.

Laura's show in Edinburgh last night went great. And the Pleasance Theatre - what a great room. The sound was crisp and clear and I was thinking that someone needs to book Dave Alvin in there. Anyway, it was LC, Mark Spencer, Jimmy Ryan and (for one night only) Francis Macdonald doing it for the most attentive audience I've been amongst in a long time.

There was no furtive phone fumbling or yattering at all that I could tell. An abject lesson in concert ettiqutte. There was even a sing along to "The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter" for chris'sakes. The run through "14th Street" was just perfect and today, I need to look out the Emily Spray version. It's too long since I heard it.

If you can get to Gateshead (tonight) or London (tomorrow) then do so.

Photo by Julie Hayward. L-R: Mark Spencer, Laura Cantrell, Francis Macdonald, Jimmy Ryan

Lenny's obit is timely. if you're on the west coast tonight, don't miss the Thanes/Poets extrav at The 13th Note in King Street. This is a taster for the upcoming appearance at The Big Stramash in Edinburgh this July.

On the east coast, I'll soon be making my way to that very city to see Ms Laura Cantrell in a venue not too far away from the spot she made her UK debut in some time ago. The old Bongo club has since been flattened.

Would appreciate a report on the Glasgow rammy if anyone is up for it?

RIP - Hume Paton (The Poets)

On Saturday April 30th in Grenada, Hume Paton, original lead guitarist of The Poets, died from a heart attack. Born October 6th 1945, Paton, alongside vocalist George Gallacher and rhythm guitarist Tony Myles, formed part of the Glasgow group’s songwriting team. As their sound began to coalesce through the early dawning of the beat boom, their originality soon became apparent. Shimmering acoustic twelve-string and short inventive runs became the guitarist’s speciality, heavily informing a brace of exceptional discs made between 1964-66. The best of these, including the breathtaking "That’s The Way It’s Got To Be", from February ’65, involved producer / manager Andrew ‘Loog’ Oldham. Signing them first to Decca in 1964, Oldham then asked them to be part of his Immediate label the following year.

That distinctive twelve-string approach lent The Poets records a disquieting edge, sufficiently different from many other groups operating on the beat scene. Some of Paton’s most effective fingerwork was displayed on "I’ll Cry With The Moon", "I Love Her Still" and "Some Things I Can’t Forget", imaginative B sides that themselves should’ve been realised as potential hits. Yet apart from a late ‘64 Top Thirty placing with the baroque-beat, atmospheric debut Now We’re Thru’, chart success eluded them. However, with the passing of time they have become revered.
Hume Paton, the last original Poet to leave, during 1967, swapped gigs for the retail business his father owned, then launched the successful Bespoke Kitchen design and supply company.

“Whilst I was sad when John died (Dawson – bass player) and more so when I lost Alan (Weir – original drummer who died last year) who was a close personal friend, it’s a deeper loss I feel due to Hume dying,” reveals Tony Myles.

“Hume was a true one off indeed”, adds George Gallacher, “a highly intelligent and creative individual, always full of energy and always with a smile on his face. He will be greatly missed.”

Lenny Helsing

I saw a great note somewhere yesterday (maybe facebook?) that reckoned with Osama being buried at sea and the radiation from the Japanese nuclear plant that the next big reality show could be a doozy. Of course the credibility of the aftermath is called into question with every passing day and it’s likely that there’ll be sightings ala Elvis and MJ any day now. With the advent of computer software beyond photoshop, I guess that Wikileaks will likely provide photographic “evidence” but being that the world is entirely bogus – who believes anything they see? Particularly with their own eyes. Real life and reality are no longer compatible. In a world where a Roky Erickson doll looks more like a BeeGee then indeed anything is passed off as being possible. Did someone swop the Roky throbblehead mould for a Barry Gibb one? See what you reckon. (Thanks Chris)

Even although the rain came on, I ventured out to vote. If that poster of wee Alex lit like Bela Lugosi wasn’t enough. The Scottish District Cooncil will be in full swing soon enough and our collective bannocks well and truly burned. That translates loosely to “goose” and “cooked” or anatomically to “arse”. I tried to find one to link to online but can’t for whatever reason. The one in Fallin has been irritating me every morning on the way through since I first clocked it. Like a cross between Brezhnev with a rumour of Ronnie Corbett imitating Tor Johnson, it's not attractive. It makes me long for Stockholm, as does this.




Säkert! - Fredrik (live at Debaser) by val3rie-live

I’ve really taken to the ruling of not switching on the computer before I leave in the morning. Don’t fret though - it’s not that the time is being used wisely or anything. There are more positive glitches on the horizon interspersed with the more common, extended bouts of gloom. Motivation is still a problem in the main.

The "alternative vote" seems likely to go the route of the similarly-monikered comedy type. Like independent and "indie", the bigger problem is getting people to vote at all and encoraging inclusion rather than disillusion. “The daftest wee country in the world” goes to the polls tomorrow as a stop off before hitting canine central altogether.

Still, perhaps you’re out enjoying the last vestiges of sun for now. They’re predicting rain for tomorrow so make that hay... if you’re in Edinburgh then both Peter Case (& The Sunshine Delay) and Greg Trooper are in town tonight. I’m conserving my energies and meagre finances for Friday though and contemplating a very quiet weekend here at the bunker. Let’s see how that pans out.

RIP - Andy Dunkley

I was just scrolling down facebook when I noticed Joly's post. What a shock.

As anyone my age who attended gigs in their formative years will be aware, this man helped shape our tastes. He would play requests in addition to educating the ears of his audience. Over the years I was lucky enough to get to know him a bit and during his time at Rockpool, he helped me get the word out on the mag and also The Skeletons. I'm genuinely stunned at hearing about this and send my condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.

Seeing as you started the day with The Dictators, go to Scott Kempner's blog and read about The Del Lords encounter with Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Real rock writing lives.

I know that you get hit up for money right, left and centre. And that you possibly don't have bags of it anyway? Still - I would ask you to consider chipping into the ATT coffers so that the film can finally be released. Even to the extent of it appearing in theatres. No sensurround required to get the maximum effect.

Anyway, there are 10 days to go before the Kickstarter campaign stops so if you could nip over there (link is right next to this) then that would be tops. If you downloaded it or had a copy burned for you by a friend then please consider giving at least 10 bucks so that future generations don't have to.

This project has come up against too many hurdles in it's short life and as labours of love go, they don't get any more true believing than this.