Hello chaps, just a quickie before I away to my slumber, a sketch map so far…
So, eight days ago, down to London Town to see Logan’s Close at the New Cross Inn oh boy, that was fun and a wee bit different as Seankeys wasn’t down with them. Carl filled in some keyboard parts, it was fine, the crowd had a great time from Half and Half for a starter through to Eleanora to finish (more details later).
Friday was another day in London and as luck would have it, those Grubby Little Mitts were on at the Soho Theatre! Couldn’t resist another peep, that’s another 5☆+ performance!
Since then I’ve been in three countries and am going back to the first tomorrow. First off Belgium and Bruges, next, not Germany but Switzerland and Basel, then it was Germany but not Hamburg, Aachen instead, where I currently am until tomorrow morning when I head back to Belgium and Brussels. Then homeward bound on Tuesday 3rd, the day that this year’s Fringe programme comes out in solid form.
It’s been fun, interesting, informative, eye-opening. More about all that later, right now a large comfy bed is calling me – my only hotel stay of the trip, the rest all hostels! Well, it calls itself a hotel, it’s a tad odd.
Summer is definitely on the way, last night the bats were out to play! I went down to St Margaret’s Loch a couple of weeks ago, the day had been warm so I reckoned there’d be plenty flying things for the bats to feed up on – I saw a measly two! Bah. Yesterday evening I took myself off for a walk around Queen’s Drive, going anticlockwise from St Leonard’s Crag to catch the end of the sunset over the city. Also because I know that the bats around Dunsapie Loch (the top pond) emerge earlier than those down at St Margaret’s Loch (the bottom pond). Yep, they were out flitting about, what a joy to just stand and watch them! Oh, and there was a fine layer of evening mist drifting over the water, it was almost ethereal.
St Margaret’s Loch in Holyrood Park
There were the usual few bats darting around, between the trees on either side of the road, as I headed down the drive, but I was to be disappointed by a lack of bats at the end of St Margaret’s Loch, had some calamity befallen them? I’ve seen so many around there in the past, but not a one! Oh well, on to the next spot (there are five particular spots around the pond that the bats favour), yay, plenty! And the next two as well. By now it was getting pretty dark but my night vision is good (until a car drives past, leaving me briefly blinded); I really can just stand for ages with bats swooping around me, and the longer you stay still the closer and closer they’ll flit past, I never want to break the spell and leave, but this time after a rather spectacular acrobatic pair disappeared into the gloom, I knew I should make that the finale and plodded home. It was just after half eleven when I put the kettle on for a bedtime brew!
The light was seriously fading but still I stood
And it’s yet another hot, sunny day today (I predict a wet Fringe!), its also Eurovision today! Yay! I will admit I wasn’t bothering to be interested this year as I really wasn’t impressed by the UK’s entry; it’s been played plenty on the radio but nah, right-hand side of the scoreboard for that. Then Thursday evening I watched the second Semi-final; the UK as one of the “big five” are straight into the final but they do sing in the Semi’s. Wow, Geez Louise, watching Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened? well, blimey Charlie, I am converted! Those girls know a thing or two about how to sell a song, they nailed it! I will be very disappointed if it doesn’t finish on the left-hand side of the board (I’m not so delusional to think it could win, ‘twould be nice, but it won’t). I have listened to the contenders on the Eurovision playlist on Spotify but nothing has screamed absolute winner for me. I’ve also been checking out Accordion Ryan‘s takes on all the songs, always a joy, and pretty impressive that he sings in all the various languages, well it sounds impressive to me. Do check him out on Instagram, this is the third year he’s been doing it, Eurovision on accordion, it was meant to be.
I’ll have to pop out soon, buy some snacky stuff for the evening. I have some Birra Moretti in the fridge, and a small bottle of sparkling that been in there for ages, perfect for Song No.9 (to toast Sir Terry). This morning I picked up some of Levantine’s excellent Baba Ganoush at the Edinburgh Farmers Market and after great deliberation, a slice of the black cherry from Hometown Cheesecakes (it was between that and the mango’n’passionfruit, tough choice). I rustle up something with the hogget liver that i bought from Annanwater, something paprikary, yum.
Oh, and on the Farmers Market – there’s a new stall, and it sells the most amazing ice cream!! But, not only do Thistle & Churn make their own ice cream, the cones are all made by in house too, and they’re incredible! When investigating buying cones, the lovely man discovered the shelf life was fifteen months, like, what’s in them to last so long? So he rolled up his sleeves and came up with his own recipe; the ice cream recipes are divine, and by’eck if the cones aren’t the perfect accompaniment! Oh, I had a lovely chat with him, that’s how I know he’s a lovely, interesting chap. I like to find out a bit about new stallholders, and they’re usually very pleased when someone takes an interest. God, I’m so lucky, artisan chocolates and now ice creams!
I returned from my European Tour today last year; I’d watched Eurovision in a hostel in Vienna, it was a very different experience! This year I’ll just be watching Eurovision in my cave, but then, excitingly, I’m off down to see Logan’s Close in London (they’re playing the New Cross Inn) before jumping on the Eurostar for another train adventure! Nothing actually booked yet apart from London and the Eurostar to Brussels, yes, it begins in just nine days time, but I do have lots of ideas bashing about in my head.
This time I have my experiences from last year, and the fact I made it home in one piece! I wasn’t going to bother with the discounted offer from Interrail earlier this year, but then, I was checking through, deleting emails, on what turned out to be the last day of the offer; it dawned on me that I didn’t have to have a plan right then! So I got me a pass for five days travel in a month. A wee while later Logan’s Close announced the London gig, hmmm, just a jaunt to London would be a wild extravagance, but if I used it as a springboard to another adventure, justified, yay.
I’m thinking Brussels, Bruges, Ghent (I’ve always fancied seeing Bruges but a few folk have assured me that Ghent is better), definitely a couple of days in Hamburg, I really enjoyed my very brief visit last year, so! I had wondered about Cologne but an older sibling has recommended Aachen instead, it must have made a big impression on them – it must be thirty or so years since they were there!
The only thing I must do soon is book the Eurostar back over, along with my train back up to Edinburgh, that’s all in the one day, the 3rd June. The following morning I shall rise and pop to the Fringe office to get two copies of the Fringe 2025 programme and start perusing! Ah, nearly midnight, time I was heading to Whistlebinkies for The Scat Rats, just one more thing, there’s now plenty more in my Instagram highlights of LC on tour ’24, I’ve been reminiscing how good they were 💛
I’m blaming bad influences for losing my bank card last Monday. Was I feeling rebellious after an evening of high spirits and rockabilly rock’n’roll? Could be, the band were after all The Best Bad Influence back in Stramash, always a blast. I was stood near the stage, enjoying the tunes when they struck the first notes of Johnny B Good, I think I may have yayyed out loud because a lady close by looked at me, I looked at her, and that was us, two crazy dancin’ fools until the band finished; both of us thanked the other profusely for dancing, but no, no, thank you, I never usually get to dance. There was even hugging going on, the happy joyous type, she was there with her other half but he’s not the dancing type, and he was clearly delighted to watch her dancing without having to oblige her himself. Such a shame that they were only here on holiday, I wouldn’t mind bumping into them again, so great to let loose on the floor.
Anyhoo, so Monday afternoon I was in Holyrood Park, I went up Moose Ridge, then across to the rocky top of Crow Hill. Now, officially the path down from the Nether Hill to Powderhouse Corner is still closed, officially, but recently I’ve noticed plenty of folk using it in the evenings, so as it was after five, I decided to check it out. Turns out that after the initial stepped area at the top (still with large bags of rocks to be used), the rest is pretty much done. The horrible, scary, slidy bit is now a delight, they’ve done a brilliant job on it, sweet! Annoyingly, that didn’t stop my mother’s voice sounding in my head that closed means not to use it (I had way too much parental guidance as a child), I reasoned back that all was fine, then not half an hour later the cashpoint at Tesco’s accepted my card then shut down, bugger. I know it’s daft, but it felt like retribution for being naughty! Sorry, mother. Apparently, a swallowed bank card is treated as lost, so I’ve had to cancel it and order a new one, thank heavens I have another account as well. I’m now wary what might happen to me if I use that path again before it reopens!
A heron engrossed in finding some lunch in St Margaret’s Loch, Holyrood Park
Tuesday night was a Scat Rats midnight set at Whistlebinkies, so I checked out what was on at the cinema ’til late. Oo, a film that Edgar Wright recommended on Instagram, Sinners, blues music and vampires (anyone else immediately reminded of From Dusk Til Dawn?!). A voice-over at the start of Sinners tells of musicians “with the gift of making music so true, it can conjure spirits from the past, but it also can pierce the veil between life and death,” and alas, it can attract evil that wants such power for itself. The setting is 1930s Clarksdale, Mississippi, Sammie Moore is a blues guitarist with this particular gift, Remmick is an Irish vampire who wants it for himself, Smoke and Stack are Sammie’s twin cousins who are setting up a juke joint, inadvertently providing the setting for the big showdown.
Like From Dusk Til Dawn, Sinners is a film in two halves, the first, a story of the twins returning to their home town, reconnecting with folk as they prepare a big opening night for their venture, there’s just a few hints to what lies ahead; then, there’s the expected (well, I was totally expecting something spectacular after that voice-over) awesome scene where Sammie’s music moves the assembled in euphoric, mystical ways, causing the vampire (now with two more, freshly turned) to come a-knocking, aaand that’s the second half underway, nuff said. Oh, and the coda after the first credits very neatly ties everything up in a blue bow (I knew to watch out for it thanks to Mr Wright’s Instagram).
God, there’s a lot to enjoy in this film, the performances, the music, the cinematography; I like how it starts on one morning, then goes back to twenty-four hours previous and shows how Sammie got into the state he’s in. I also like the premise that some musicians, some music can be so sublime, transcendental – you know where I’m going with this, if you’ve read much of my blog. Maybe I should start carrying a bottle of garlic water and a pointy stick when I go see certain musicians?!
Yay! Normal service has resumed on my telly! Well, I got a man in. New aerial and cable, apparently it’s a great view from the roof of my tenement block (not sure that will ever tempt me up there). I stayed inside and watched for the cable reel when he dropped it down the front of the building (in case there was anyone passing below!), the bit when he was more outside my window than in the flat, trying to put the cable neatly by the downpipe was unnerving, honestly, I had a strong urge to grab hold of his legs, convinced that he was going to tip right out! He didn’t.
I celebrated with a Strawberry Shortbread snacking bar I bought at the Farmers Market last Saturday from the wonderful Co Co Co. Oh, my goodness, Rob has come up with another masterpiece, they are divine! White chocolate, strawberry mallow and blondie shortbread with a dash of strawberry white chocolate for decoration. All those flavours and textures in every bite!! He’s a chocolate alchemist.
I thought I could do some clever twist there, something about music alchemists turning the same old notes, instruments and voices into a magical, awesome sound. Would you have gone with that or is it only me?! I googled alchemy in music for some validation of my thoughts, hmmm, yeah, no. So anyhoo, Awkward Family Portraits played the Speakeasy at the Voodoo Rooms a couple of weeks ago.
Pure gold, an enchanting, other world atmosphere! Their sound transports you on whims of fancy, a tour through a golden age Hollywood movie lot; there’s some soft shoe shuffle on one stage, a hoedown next door, a charleston, americano, every scene a gem with light and shade, wit and melancholy. The mixture of AFP‘s upright bass, violin and guitar along with Julen Santamaria’s very distinctive voice and the harmonies, all blended to perfection in the intimate setting of the Speakeasy. Oh, my heartses 💛
I floated out afterwards with a contented grin and a need to stroll in the Edinburgh night air. My meanderings took me by the Jolly Judge and through the Grassmarket, where bless my soul, if I wasn’t catching a faint strain of Babestation somewhere nearby! Ah yes, Mr Marah was in Maggie Dickson’s, I’ve never been in before, so obviously it was time I gave it the once over! Not really my style, but I liked it and the bar staff were great, and it’s always fun to hear Carl in pub singer mode. We had a wee chat in his break, then I headed home, er, via Whistlebinkies where The Full Kitkat were in full swing rocking the joint. Yes, one more for the road. Hey, as Friday nights go, it was up there.
The following afternoon I was back in Whistlebinkies to catch the Scat Rats but not until the around the start of the second set (it was a sunny day outside). Now I regularly turn up into the second or third song of the first Scat Rats set, which, by coincidence is often Babestation, a fact that had made Friday night’s encounter extra amusing to me; so imagine my complete surprise that I walked into Binkies and they were playing, yes, you’ve guessed it Babestation! They never play it in the second set, never. I was freaked, but not as much as them…
It being a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon, Binkies was dead, so the guys decided to have fun, mix things up, play whatever came to mind (wish I’d bloody turned up earlier now!) When I still hadn’t appeared by the second set, Carl jokingly suggested they play Babestation as it was a surefire way to conjure me up. Yes, they were more freaked than me when I sauntered in, hahaha!! I was treated to In The Morning (not played in ages), Give It To Me a Logan’s Close classic that I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Rats play before, and newby White Lies played at the last Logan’s Close gig ( I’ve put a reel on my Instagram with two very bad splices between the two versions).
I’ll leave you with one more picture taken on that Friday evening, the old Bank of Scotland building has never looked lovelier. Toodle pip!
Did you watch Boardwalk Empire when it was on the telly? I didn’t, hey, I’m just fifteen years late. One of the many charity shops on South Clerk Street had the first two seasons on dvd for £2 each, hell yes! Steve Buscemi was the man! The first thing I saw him in was the film Miller’s Crossing, another mobster tale, back in 1990 (well worth seeking out if it’s still available). From then on he was forever popping up in my film choices through the ’90s, we’d give a little cheer whenever he appeared, haha.
The whole cast of Boardwalk Empire are excellent (Stephen Graham pops up as Al Capone!). Oo, the whole thing, the attention to detail, mind it is a Martin Scorcese project, so yeah. Honestly, if you even vaguely enjoy gangster stories then check it out; I’ll be keeping an eye out for more of the series. I’ve also been watching the second season of My Name isEarl, I noticed the boxset at a friend’s in a pile bound for a charity shop, it will get there, just a bit later.
Earl Hickey, such a wonderful anti-hero, he’s fallible and flawed, not the brightest spark, he can be downright selfish and mean, but he tries so hard to do good and there is a kind, generous heart in there, and he loves his brother. Earl’s trying to level up his karma by doing right by everyone he’s wronged in his past; I loved this show at the time and yeah, I still love it now (especially his ex-wife Joy, pure trailer trash). And on anti-heroes, I picked up Wreck-it Ralph in a charity shop today, such a great movie, must get me some popcorn!
Meanwhile on the big screen, I went to see Death of a Unicorn last Thursday, just the title had me. A comedy horror with unicorns, Paul Rudd and the guy who played Victor Zsasz in Gotham in the cast? Yes, please (Victor Zsasz was awesome). Hmmm, I did kinda enjoy it, the unicorns were great, but the dialogue and acting felt a tad hammy and lame in parts, such a shame considering all the acting talent involved. The idea was great but the execution was lacking, this should have been so much better; maybe a European re-make could take it there?!
Thursday night this week I saw Novocaine, I’m not really sure what enticed me to go, the film poster looked really naff to me, but hey, I have my Unlimited pass. Wow! To paraphrase Bo Diddley, you can’t judge a film by looking at the poster. Novocaine is funny, well-crafted and extremely violent, I won’t lie, I was flinching and squirming a fair bit, and occasionally just shut my eyes. Hey, the main guy doesn’t feel pain, a clear indication that the violence will be ramped up!
As I just mentioned, our guy Nathan Caine is a mild-mannered assistant manager with a disorder which prevents him from feeling pain and discomfort (including having a full bladder, he has an alarm go off on his phone to remind him to go to the bathroom every three hours). He lives life very carefully and quietly, by day in the credit union office, then straight home to game; he’s also well-versed in medical first aid in case of injury. Enter a new girl at work who persuades him out to lunch and to even try a bit of her cherry pie (Nathan hasn’t eaten solid food in years for fear he might bite his tongue without realising). Our boy feels so alive! They go on a date, have sex, he’s on top of the world! The very next day the credit union gets robbed and she gets kidnapped by the gang….
…. So, a man who doesn’t feel pain, who has just had the best 24 hours in his life, has his new love snatched away by ruthless killers (they kill a lot of cops while making their escape). You just know how this is going to go!! Oh, and one of the gang has left his place booby-trapped to the max (not really sure why, but it sets up a very painful, gory scene). This is a wonderfully madcap violent film, I fully intend to see it again, without shutting my eyes!
The past two Thursdays have also seen me at Whistlebinkies for the midnight band, the same both weeks, the Louis Crosland Trio, he’s rather good, you know. Louis is another fine blues guitarist on the Edinburgh music scene. Besides his own band, Louis has also been playing with the Moanin’ Bones recently; a few of his own compositions can be found on Spotify. The crowd in Binkies last night were loving all the Jimi Hendrix covers, I also recall some Dylan, Stones, and Zeppelin (or maybe that was last week?) As yet I find his vocals a bit lacking at times, but hey, the voice will come with experience and a few more years knocking about; definitely worth seeing if you like your blues with a tinge of rock.
It’s now very late and I notice I’ve prattled on quite enough. I shall leave the other musical notes for next time, hopefully tomorrow?! ‘Til then, a pic of Louis Crosland doing his thang in Binkies. G’night!
A couple of weeks ago I went down to Yorkshireland, but not the old hometown, first I spent a few days by the seaside, well, mainly in the Scarborough Beer and Cider Festival. Twas a rather jolly occasion, ciders, perries and the occasional beer. If you ever happen upon a Camra beer festival I would highly recommend going in, that is, if you would like the opportunity to try a wide range of beer styles (and real ciders too).
Had a quick stop in Robin Hoods Bay on the way, love it there!
At one time I would have stuck with apples and pears, but these days I like to explore some of the hoppy ales. There’s always a list with a few tasting notes to help folk navigate through the choices on offer; well, there is for the beers, ciders just have numbers between 1 and 7 to denote sweet to dry, but cider bar volunteers are usually very good with extra details to help cider novices (they will have sampled them all!) While the cider bar selection was broad and fine, nothing really stood out for me, unlike As Within, So Without a pale ale from The Meanwood Brewery in Leeds, wowzah! Grapefruity and biscuity, almost chewy, I’d definitely have some of that again!
Scarborough – it has it’s ups and downs
Then, I headed inland to deepest, dampest Yorkshire, actually apart from the day I travelled across, it wasn’t too damp. A lack of muddiness inspired me to head to Mytholmroyd to complete the Cragg Vale Coiners’ Walk, the plan was to start at the end, get up to where I copped out last time, then head to the road back down into the town. Yeah, no, that map, it’s a tad vague when you’re following it, nevermind doing the route in reverse (last attempted in 2023, you can read about it in A walk through the Vale). As last time, I didn’t quite follow the route but I was roughly in the right area; I think I found Scout Rock, well, there was a gate next to it and a bit further along was the beacon. At that point I had run out of time and had to head back to my car. Hopefully one day I’ll get to do the whole thing in one go!
That is, indeed, a beacon. Outstanding panoramic views up there
I know just where to get some great snacks for that day. Now, I’m probably wrong but I’m sure the butcher called it a naked egg, yeah, surely that’s just an egg? This was a scotch egg but instead of the breaded outer layer it’s wrapped in bacon, bloody tasty bacon – a breakfast egg? Well, there’s egg, bacon and sausage (meat), by gum, it’s substantial. In the same place I spotted a sign saying Yorkshire Scoundrels, obviously I had to enquire about them; a bit like a cross between a cake and a scone (ahem, pronounced like cone with an s in front, rhymes with stone) and there’s dried fruit in it, the man said, okay, one please (I don’t actually like scones but I was feeling daring). Yummy! Apart from the three nuts, but they were whole and very visible so easy to take out. I feel like I’ll need to find some old-fashioned cloudy lemonade to wash it all down!
Wickedly tasty (sorry, no photo of the egg)
It’s late, I must away to my bed, I shall leave you with an snippet from the letters page in last Saturday’s Times. Honestly, this is the most bizarre combination for a curry – banana and spaghetti curry. Huh? What? The letter ends “I still serve sliced bananas with curry”, sure, fine, I can go with that, but spaghetti in a curry?!? G’night.
Eight minutes left of March, quick update from yours truly. Honestly, I would have written before, but well, you know!? I was down in Yorkshireland, first deepest eastest Yorkshire. Scarborough to be precise. After that across to deepest, darkest West Yorkshireland, where I encountered a Yorkshire Scoundrel and did a little bit more of the Coiner’s Walk. I would have done more of but that map is terribly vague!
Honestly, I will fill in the details in the morning – or will I?
I notice that I haven’t mentioned seeing any films since Conclave in December, hmmm, maybe they weren’t worth mentioning? Certainly, the latest Bridget Jones film isn’t; a friend wanted to see it, how bad could it be, I wondered. Pretty bad, oh there are good moments, moments. I also saw Anora back in January, I knew nothing about it, just went on a whim, no sweat with an unlimited card.
Anora, for the first twenty minutes or so, I sat there feeling like I should be wearing a dirty old mac, ye gods, I knew it was an 18 but that was a lot of flesh (and to think I felt a bit seedy at parts of The Substance), after taking an inordinate time to set the scene and main characters, the action began. I did quite enjoy it, even as I found it a tad flawed, but yeah, it really didn’t help that I kept seeing Andy Samberg at his most slappable every time Ivan (rich Russian man-child) was on screen. And how could a streetwise girl like Ani not see what a shallow, selfish brat he was? Okay, maybe not at the start, but certainly by the time he ran off; that really irked me, it didn’t ring right; that aside, it was quite amusing, I would probably watch it again on the telly.
A few nights ago I went to see Mickey17, a film written back in 2021 and shot soon after; that it’s been released now, at this present time is wickedly funny! If you thought Mark Ruffalo was bit ott in PoorThings his character in this, hahaha. Two things though, one, at times I thought Ruffalo piled on the grotesque too heavily, maybe some subtle nuance might have been nice; two, a ridiculous villain or three (I include the wife and his assistant here) may seem comically hideous, but the power they yield is scary, know what I mean? (for those reading this sometime in the future, bear in mind I’m writing this in March 2025). Yes, Mickey17 is a wee bit clunky but worth seeing, especially on the big screen, Robert Pattinson is amazing; it’s a sci-fi action comedy on the surface with a dark, provocative and satirical undertow.
Back a few weeks for my favourite film so far this year, A Real Pain, so good I saw it three times. Okay, so two of those times I missed the beginning, part of the reason I went back again, and indeed seeing the very start did give an extra context that I’d missed, Jesse Eisenberg really makes every minute count in this movie. All the nominations and awards Eisenbreg’s won for Best Screenplay are well deserved, as are Kieran Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor awards for playing Benji, that is one complex guy.
Interestingly, Eisenberg wrote the screenplay thinking he would play Benji, thank god Emma Stone persuaded him not to! For one, he’s quite obviously more like the David character in himself, and, well, I really wonder that his Benji would just have been annoying and irritating (is that what Stone reckoned?) Then, when his sister suggested Culkin for Benji, Eisenberg took him on without meeting him, let alone auditioning him; he was vaguely “aware” of Culkin, enough to realise that Culkin had the right essence for the role (like, absolutely!). David and Benji are cousins on a trip to Poland to see to the homeland of their grandmother (recently deceased). Two guys who were really close when they were kids, now reconnecting, it’s awkward at times, caring, messy, bittersweet, exasperating. I’ve had a Benji in my life, lovely, lovely person but god, half the time I didn’t know whether to strangle or hug them!!
Whilst there is plenty of humour in A Real Pain, it does have serious and thought-provoking times, as well as a backdrop of historical trauma; Eisenberg’s excellent writing keeps the film buoyed up but also sombre and respectful. Most of the music through the film is Chopin (chosen as that’s what Eisenberg was listening to as he was worked on the screenplay), wow, it fits beautifully and sets the tone of the film so well; and then the silence during the visit to Majdanek concentration camp was stark, quite emotional. It could be some time before I see another film that will beat this as my film of the year.
Well, it’s late and my bed is hollering at me. Coming! G’night, sweet dreams.
And the world keeps turning – into what it’s difficult to say but it’s not looking very pretty right now, unlike Mr Marah who’s continuing to delight audiences across the UK with his Siren Song Single Tour. This week it’s been Birmingham on Tuesday, down to London town on Wednesday, tonight it’s Round The Corner in Liverpool, a circuitous route home! Next weekend he heads back up north to Inverness and then over to Ullapool on the west coast – if the weather’s good that will be a stunning drive! But for now, last week…
Last Wednesday evening Carl Marah took his solo show over to Glasgow, a venue called the Red Door Club. Put the name into Google and it takes you to a pub called The Old Toll Bar, a bit confusing initially (especially when you’re glancing through the details without your reading specs!) The pub itself is a real gem with the original Victorian decor and a good range of beers, while the club is down in the basement with a wee stage and walls covered with murals of famous Scots, though it’s a tad odd to have Billy Connelly constantly looking over a performer’s shoulder at you!
See what I mean? It’s a tad distracting
It was originally Julen Santamaria as the support, but he had to pull out (a shame as I’d been looking forward to seeing him playing solo), so instead it was one Adam Thom who I thoroughly enjoyed, a worthy replacement. A great voice, some cracking lyrics and a country sound, all nicely set up a warm vibe in the room; and after another drink up in the pub, it was back down for the man.
Really, I’m looking at this thinking, but what can I actually write about it? Yes, I know that sounds daft, but for me Carl’s music is so right, the sound grabs me, swamps me, defying me to describe it adequately. I can’t but here’s a few moose musings….. first off, his voice has such wonderful tone and timbre, occasionally reminiscent of Bobby Goldsboro. And when Carl performs You’re Always Right it’s like hearing an old Gilbert O’Sullivan song, sweet, quirkily honest with a teensy plaintiveness. Lost and Found would make a great second single, at least a studio recording (on an album?), it is rather scrumptious; Cat’s Eyes would be a fine edition to anyone’s driving playlist, especially in summer, hint, hint!
On a more serious note, Carl’s song 39 is his tribute to the 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in a refrigerated trailer in Grays, Essex in 2019. Such a beautiful song, Carl’s poignant lyrics will still you, and the ending, the room paused, before a warm applause. How to follow that and bring the mood back up? A harmonica, apparently sales have soared since a certain recent biopic in the cinemas! And Mr Marah couldn’t possibly not play some blues, come on, so there’s I Don’t Wanna Love You No More (potentially an LC song when it was first written some years back, when the boys were beatniks) with some juicy, snappy lyrics along with some shredding.
A big favourite of mine is Stags and Hens another fine example of Carl’s lyric-writing, it may be based on Edinburgh pubs but the pictures he paints will be familiar in many towns (I did find that particular song popping in my head a lot as I walked around Newcastle on Saturday). Siren Song is like the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake by the end. Yes, this show is too good not to be seen a third time – I went to Newcastle at the weekend.
I’ve only ever been to Newcastle once before (passed through plenty times on the train), that was many years ago to see Stevie Ray Vaughan at the City Hall. Time for another visit, cheapest trains there and back, a bunk in a hostel, breakfast, just about sixty quid; oh, and Nando’s before the gig, sweet. Had a great time wandering round, admiring the architecture, browsing in shops, chancing upon Newcastle’s vampire rabbit. Yup, a vampire rabbit!! How have I not heard of it before?! How is it not famous, or infamous? Neither was I particularly aware that there’s a castle in Newcastle, well, the keep and gatehouse are still there, worth a look round.
Behold, the Vampire Rabbit!
The gig was in the Head of Steam a fine boozer close by the train station. Again, like in Glasgow, the gig room was in the basement. Support was AJ Potter, a good northern lad complete with flat cap and a pocketful of great tunes, one of which I’ve found on Spotify One Night, loving the studio arrangement! Interestingly, two other bands, from London and Spain, who had been due to play at a sister pub to Head of Steam were shifted over and played after Carl, four bands in one evening! The London band were good, a tad eclectic for me, they didn’t seem to gel right to me, they seemed to be off in different directions at times, but it was fascinating to watch. Unfortunately the final band had the drums way, way too loud which was a shame as the female singers/guitarists were all very enthusiastic and bubbly, it would have been nice to hear them.
It was another fine performance from Carĺ. This time it was the catchy World Keeps Turning that really snuck into my head, snippets of it still keep popping out! I love the in-between patter of musicians, when some bits will be almost word for word the same every time and other stories may be expanded on or cut to barely more than the title; this is the mark of a relaxed, self-assured performer, this is the Carl Marah who’s worked hard to get to where he is. The lad’ll go far.
Bruce on the Fringe 