I’ve Been to a Gig

M. John Henry

 After my last pity party post I’m pleased to report that I’ve actually been to a gig. Only my third one this year which is nothing short of ridiculous.

Saturday night saw me at the Old Hairdressers in Glasgow’s Renfield Lane along with 30 or so others for two album launches.

The artists and albums in question were M.John Henry with Strange is the Way  (available on Bandcamp  from the splendidly named Gargleblast Records) and Robert Dallas Gray with The Vallum ( Bandcamp)

I have long been an admirer of Martin John Henry as a solo artist, as part of De Rosa, Henry & Fleetwood and Jewel Scheme but probably less so in Whin. He was on first and his set was mesmerising.

Robert Dallas Grey was what I would describe as more experimental . It is largely solo improvised guitar music with a fair amount of feedback. Really not my thing at all but he seems to be a lovely person.

David McGregor aka Broken Chanter was sitting behind me so I introduced myself on the way out and we had a brief chat. He told me that he is doing a live recording at the Glad Cafe on 22nd November. 

My ticket has been ordered!

M.John Henry - You Show Me Ways

M John Henry -I'll Watch From Here

I am Tired, I am Weary ...

 

I have a lot of family stuff going on at the moment which is taking up most,  if not all, of my time and energy.

Whenever possible I am trying to keep the Blog going as it is a good stress buster for me.

In the meantime apologies for all the lazy, short and somewhat similar  three song posts. It is just about all I can muster at the moment.

The Velvet Underground -Venus in Furs

The Harmonizing Four of Richmond, VA - I'm Tired

The Louvin Brothers -Weary Lonesome Blues

Saturday Shuffle 105

 

105 weeks into the Shuffle and it looks like the legend that is Iggy Pop is finally making his debut with The Passenger from his Lust For Life album which was later immortalised in the film Trainspotting. A long time coming but well worth the wait.

Another band making their debut on the Shuffle with a song from the same period as Lust for Life .I say the same period but the original version of I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Gladys Knight and the Pips was from as far back as 1967. Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Creedance Clearwater Revival and Michael McDonald have also recorded this classic by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Today you are being treated to the version by The Slits

Brian Setzer is no stranger to the Shuffle either as part of the Stray Cats or as a solo artist. Let's Shake is taken from his 2014 studio album Rockabilly Riot! All Originals

Stay tuned to shake with another riot next Saturday

Iggy Pop - The Passenger

The Slits - I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Brian Setzer - Let's Shake

Radio Radio 8

 

As far as I am aware the BBC doesn't have a Radio 8 channel but no doubt somebody will tell me differently

A quick Google searh tells me that there are Radio 8 or 8 Radio stations in Bosnia, the Ardennes, Frosinone (near Rome), Ireland and todays featured picture Uganda. No doubt there are many more.

All of which is merely an excuse to feature a further three radio related songs. The plan is to get to ten and then call it a day.

We start this week with Paisley's finest Paolo Nutini, or as we like to call him Wee Paulo, with Radio from his dark album Last Night in the Bittersweet.

Jackpot are (or more probably were) an Americana band who were signed to the Dutch label Munich Records. They have appeared here a couple of times before but not with the song Radio Robots.

Last, but certainly not least we have the Edinburgh band Josef K with Radio Drill Time from the legendary NME  cassette compilation Indie City 1

Please come back to twiddle your dials next Friday.

Paolo Nutini - Radio

Jackpot - Radio Robots

Josef K - Radio Drill Time

The Eyes Have It - 6

 

Three more eye related songs for you today slightly later than usual .I'm blaming it on my Tired Eyes something that the Cowboy Junkies can relate to.

There is no obvious connection between the three songs today other than eyes in general and the fact that they were bunched together when I put eyes into the Music file search box. I suppose they can also be described as Country songs in the broadest sense

Mark Olson & Gary Louris weigh in with yet more Black Eyes whereas Waylon Jennings is more content to sing about the Grey Eyes You Know.

Unless in the very unlikely event that I come up with something more inspired there will be more eyes next week

Cowboy Junkies - Tired Eyes

Marc Olson & Gary Louris - Black Eyes

Waylon Jennings -Grey Eyes You Know

Starry Sunday

 

The eagle-eyed among you will notice this is the same picture as yesterday.  That's ok as it is deliberate.

Yesterday's inclusion on the Shuffle of Starry Skies had me thinking about bands with Stars in their name.As a reward they get to feature again.

The next band that sprung to mind were Star Trip from Valencia aka The Spanish Teenage Fanclub.

Starless have been described as the lushy orchestrated brainchild of Paul McGeechan, keyboard player of Love and Money. They have released a couple of collaborative musical projects on Last Night From Glasgow. They are not really my thing but I can appreciate the musicianship.

The Hanging Stars are one of my current most favourite bands and are no strangers to this place. I've delved further into their back catalogue for todays offering.

Some Blues from the North Mississippi All Stars  and some Soul from Junior Walker & the All Stars concludes the set.

Let's face it they are all Stars.

Starry Skies -I Was Lost

Star Trip - Disimuler

Starless -Earthbound

The Hanging Stars - On a Sweet Summers Day

North Mississippi All Stars -Meet Me in the City

Junior Walker & the All Stars - What Does It Take (To Win Your Love?)

Sorry Five Star - you failed to make the cut.

Saturday Shuffle 104

 

I Want You to Know sings Warren McIntyre and his band Starry Skies. What is it they want you to know? Why it's Saturday Shuffle time of course.

And as The Who point out you can listen to it Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere.

What Did You Come Back Here For? asks Zoe Muth. Why the Saturday Shuffle of course.

Remember to come back next Saturday for episode 105

Starry Skies - I Want You To Know

The Who - Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere

Zoe Muth - What Did You Come Back Here For