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 💛
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!
As promised last time, my musings on the LC gig, I just didn’t think it would take me so long to write it! I have no good reasons for my tardiness, only feeble excuses that even I’m not buying. I’ve signed up for a hypnotherapy course in an attempt to address things, we should be able to tell if its working in a couple of months. Anyhoo…
So 17th January was the fourth time I’ve seen Logan’s Close headline at The Caves, it is a rather fine venue, very Edinburgh. The first time was way back in November 2017 for the release of their single Girl; second time was for the release of Lost In You in February 2020; third time in May ’23, er, just because?? There had been several single releases in the previous months from the upcoming album Heart-shaped Jacuzzi, momentum? The Close have played in plenty of the music venues around town over the years,
Rather fitting that this headline show was at the start of a new year; setlists can gently morph through time, then wallop, a seismic shift, a new landscape, which in turn will bobble along awhile, yes indeed, this gig showed a new vista to the fans. The Heart-Shaped Jacuzzi songs are now beloved LC classics already, and the lads have a load of new stuff they want to play (yay), so, no Lost In You or Eleonara (fair enough, let her rest, she’s been very busy), and no I Want You! Hey, even as The Scat Rats, Marah and Rough have put Listen to your Mother and In the Morning on the shelf (I do hope they’ll get brought down and dusted off from time to time as both are pure gold). Fair do’s, we were treated to five newbies, eight HSJ toons, and one re-vamp, oh, and Carl doing a bit of crowd surfing!
Local bands Puppy Teeth and Bernstrum and the Men were the supports; I haven’t seen either band play but recognise their faces from Whistlebinkies the last couple of years. Of course, I was in Sneaky’s early on, so still haven’t seen the Pups but did catch BatM’s set, psychedelic garage rock, I think is the right description. The crowd loved them and were having great fun, I watched from up on the balcony taking in the whole dynamic. Whilst not really my bag, I certainly see their appeal, and there’s some interesting stuff going on, worth keeping an eye on, methinks. When the place cleared a tad as folk disappeared outside and to the bar, I mosied down to grab a spot near the front and middle (I’m usually to one side at gigs, not tonight) – no great lummoxes came and stood in front of me! Yay! And then it was time…
They sauntered on to rapturous applause, the atmosphere was electric, ooo, straight in with Hot Blondes In Your Area Tonight, no messing about! Interestingly, to me anyway, last time in this venue they ended with Hot Blondes and began with Lost In You which they’d finished with the previous time; I am rather good at seeing accidental patterns, you know. From blondes to babes, Babestation wove it’s seductive groove around the room, I love Carl’s singing on this, always gives me the chills; which is what the band literally gave us next. Chillz is a newby, and incidentally one that I’ve heard the Scat Rats playing in Whistlebinkies (I have clips of both, so watch out for something!)
Gav always looks chill
Scott was getting hot after Chillz so removed his jacket to exuberant hoots and cheers from the crowd, SeanKeys was in stitches playing through the intro to Dans Le Jardin until Scotty had sorted himself out (he did make rather a palaver of it). I couldn’t help wondering why there was a huge pot plant placed in front of Sean!? Didn’t stop me getting a great shot or two.
From lush loungeyness to the sparser intensity of Half & Half and on to the second new number CostumeChanges, where the guitar break conjures up half-formed images of ott theatrics (okay, I have a clip of it that I’ve watched, a few times). Back again to HSJ and the brooding baroque majesty of Curious Terrain followed by some Gouching On The 33. Oh, my heartses!
Mind blown?!
The room was buzzing from euphoric bliss, riding high on the sounds and energy emanating from the stage, and boy, what an excellent spot I had to take it all in! (I would love to know how someone with synesthesia would experience an LC gig, epic or overload?)
As the band could do no wrong, time to bring out more new untested tunes, White Lies tripped poppily along, and by Femme Fatale Carl was feeling the need to bask in the waves washing over the room – the fans obliged and kept him high on a wee crowd surfing.
I think I let out an audible guffaw when Scott introduced the next “new” song, Gallus Laces, it’s been re-vamped from the previous pre-covid version, apparently. So not new to some of us, definitely not if you’ve heard their LimbicTV CD. I still have no idea what the song’s about but I love how it comes across both edgy and lackadaisical at the same time! Falling In Slow Motion completed the set, well, you know, the lads left the stage for a few minutes, as bands do, the crowd hoolers, stamps, claps…. and they’re back on.
After such a great gig, the encore had to be something big – it doesn’t get much bigger than the grand opus that is Mock Marble Linoleum a wild ride to raise everyone up for the final tune Heart-Shaped Jacuzzi. The room sang it’s hearts out, a bloody magnificent end to the evening ❤️
I didn’t go on anywhere afterwards, just took a slight meander home, in the dark, to savour the feelings of unadulterated bliss before they ebbed away. Oh, my heartses.
Errr, Happy New Year everyone! Yes, I know, it’s appalling, ten days into the new year, sorry! I’ve kept meaning to write something, but Gotham keeps getting in the way. I reclaimed my three season boxset from a sibling at Christmas; it’s actually impossible to only watch one episode I’ve decided. No matter how determined I am, it can’t be done. So I’ll at least start something now before I stop for tea and the Scat Rats at Stramash at seven.
It’s now only a week to go until the next full Logan’s Close outing at The Caves, yay. The last update this afternoon said there’s 20 tickets left so I doubt there’ll be any left on the night, just sayin’. On ticket sales, did I mention that the talented Mr Marah has announced a small solo tour, tickets now available? Well, more like quick darts around Scotland and England, so far; if anyone has a sweet local space where he could do his thang, just let him know, help him spread the gospel according to Carlos!
It’s a solo single tour – his first single Siren Song is coming out on St Valentine’s Day, five days before the first show at Sneaky Pete’s (where else!?). You could pop along to Carl Marah on social media and pre-save it, why not? And it turns out, my Instragram reel of Carl playing in the Auld Hundred in December is the Siren Song! See, I just know a great song when I hear it.
More music news, the band previously known as Ol’Times will be back over in Edinburgh next week. Now known as Amos Moses they’ll be supporting Edinburgh band High Fade on their UK tour, but before that starts Amos Moses will be playing in Whistlebinkies on Tuesday night before the Scat Rats at midnight, sweet!! Well, at least that’s what Binkies are saying, for now, you know why I’m a little dubious.
Why the change of name? A slight change in line-up, sadly Gabriele (singer) has moved on, it looks like Colm, guitarist and occasional singer has taken over on lead vocals. But will the new sound move me like the Ol’Times did? Gabriele was charismatic with a raffish charm, exciting to watch; Amos Moses will be a very different band. AC/DC after Bon, Van Halen after Dave, Marillion after Fish; for me, once amazing bands that then barely registered in my ears. But kudos to the band for the name change, it’s a good way to underline the fresh start. Yeah, I’m quite keen to see this new band!
Anyhoo, it’s getting on (did you spot where I broke off for tea?). I could just fit in one episode of Gotham before I turn in. I’ll leave you with my customary New Year Arthur’s Seat pic, my meeting a snowbaby as I headed back down, and Carl Marah‘s tour dates.
My slightly delayed start to the New Year
Even a slight smattering of snow and they appear!!
It’s just after midnight on Christmas Eve, I really should already be tucked up asleep, big day tomorrow. Well, I’m not, so just a few quick words; I meant to write something earlier but there was a good Christmas movie on telly, Die Hard, so naturally I had to watch it (oh yes it is). I did get some presents wrapped while I watched, not really last minute as they’re for relatives I won’t see until the 27th.
I’m back down in Yorkshireland, it was a long grey drive down, buoyed up by festive tunes from South Park and Michael Bublé. In fact that was the first time I’ve played my Bublé christmas cd this year, up until then I’d mainly been listening to The Piano man at Christmas by Jamie Cullum (the double cd edition). They’re both fine musical feasts, then so is Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics, honestly Eric Cartman’s version of Oh Holy Night is something else (once heard never forgotten).
On musical feasts, Blue Christmas on Sunday night was very sumptuous. Once again, Jed Potts and friends played through many old classics (23 in all); and how great to hear Christmas Island, it was one of my mother’s favourites. I’ll put up a couple of clips on Instagram, there is one already up in my Advent Calendar highlights (day 22). That was fun looking back over the year for favourite clips, needless to say Messrs Marah and Rough turn up a lot! The final one tonight was taken at the gig in Munich in May, it was a close call between the clip I used and Scotty throwing shapes to hardcore German techno. Maybe one day, I’ll show those!
Anyhoo, it’s even later now. Goodnight and have yourself a lovely Christmas 💛
Oo, November’s almost gone – can I write a quick post before it runs out? Just a few musical notes 🎶 Two quickies for those in Australia: I happened to spot on Instagram that Lord Rochester, an awesome rock’n’roll trio I saw in September are on your shores just now, if they’re near you check them out; and Accordion Ryan is taking his Pop Bangers to Perth, WA, for Fringe World 2025, boy, does that guy travel around!
Jed Potts and Nicole Smit are back playing Whistlebinkies regularly, a real mixed bag of treats depending how the mood takes them, country, soulful, playful, bluesy, always a pleasure! A real treat back in October was seeing The Best Bad Influence playing in Stramash, I do hope they come back again soon, I love me a bit of rockabilly.
November saw the Miracle Glass Company playing the Ballroom in The Voodoo Rooms to a capacity crowd (which included yours truly). A welcome return, an awesome evening. I will get round to putting a reel or two on Instagram, at some point.
Oo, for the first time in aaages, Jed Potts and the Hillman Hunters played Stramash, honestly it has been a long while (and it’s been some time since I saw Nicole and the Back-up Crew there, ahem, just sayin’). They were bloody good, of course. And thanks to Mr Potts diligent media posts, I’m debating whether to head to the Jazz Bar for 9pm Wednesday 9th December to see Blueswater play (ticketed, but there’s usually some at the door); also, tickets are available for this year’s Blue Christmas 2024 at La Belle Angele on Sunday 22nd December. If you’re in Edinburgh it’s a sure way to get into the Christmas spirit with plenty of festive favourites performed by some of the best blues musicians around these parts!
Yes, I know there’s a lot to spend your money on in December but don’t forget to buy a ticket to see Logan’sClose in January. While you’re at it, why not buy another for your best pal’s Christmas present? Really, that gloves and scarf set is a lousy present and you know it!
Who’s Winfrey? And is a Winfrey feel something I’d like?! Does Winfrey ask permission before he goes feeling around? I guess that would be an improper Winfrey feel. Anyhoo, it’s late Monday evening, I’m debating whether to go see The Scat Rats later in Stramash, later as in after midnight. I am still up and for once spotted Stramash’s Facebook post for the week’s line-up before Monday ends. See, despite the line-up poster for the month and the website both saying it’s the Gorms playing tonight, it isn’t, yet again it’s The Scat Rats, they’ve played the slot for a wee while now but I’ve either been away or not seen the Facebook post til too late. Okay, so the poster has a time when it has to be printed, so the odd change afterwards will happen, but what’s the excuse for not correcting the website, huh?
The lads will be back at Stramash at a very respectable seven o’clock on Friday, oh, and at Whistlebinkies tomorrow midnight. Should I stay or should I go? Will it be all bangers tonight or might they stick in a new number? Oh yes, there’s plenty of new LC tunes coming in the near future and the lads told me back at the end of September that they’d be trying some out at Scat Rats gigs, so far I’ve caught one (with being away so much). And did I ever mention the Logan’s Close gig in January? No, I don’t think I did; originally it was to be in December at Summerhall, but with all the problems ongoing there, the show has been moved to The Caves on 17th January. If you’re gonna be in Edinburgh then, treat yourself to a ticket for Christmas!
Also out and about with new songs is Mr Marah! Yes, Carl Marah has decided to do something with all his other non-LC music, watch this space!! And if you’re very lucky, you may catch the odd one during his solo sets around town. I happened to catch him in the Auld Hundred on Rose Street some weeks ago; it wasn’t particularly busy so he played about four of his own, and boy, they were good! The Auld Hundred is a fine wee pub about halfway along Rose Street, there’s often live music on from nine o’clock and an Open Mic night on a Sunday.
You know what? I’m just going to pop out a while! G’ night!
My inner night owl loved that! It feels so long since I’ve been in Stramash for the late night band, but tonight was a wonderful return. If you’re quick there’s a story on my Instagram. So glad I chose to go. Just do it!!
It’s Sunday evening of the second Fringe week, I’m feeling somewhat peeved as I’ve just lost two days fringing to a lurgy! Oh, it’s my own personal lurgy that likes to pop up and lay me low at the most annoying times. It wasn’t going to stop me seeing Logan’s Close last evening though, oh no, an afternoon dozing on the couch sipping lemon and honey was just enough to pep an old moose up.
The lads along with two other acts were meant to be playing on a stage on an open area at the top of St James Quarter, but this is Edinburgh in August. Yeah, no, that wasn’t going to happen, of course the weather was not going to play ball! So the bands played on the third floor, but hey, it was grand, the Close were on top form; a lush intro going into Babestation and they were off. Previous LC drummer Alex was filling in for Gavin, busy elsewhere at the Fringe. What’s happening in the pic? Check it out on Instagram! What an utter joy, a mid Fringe dose of Elsie. A much-needed tonic 💛
I’ve done absolutely zilcharoony today, so now as my head is starting to clear, a few more Fringe musings…
First up The Grim a darkly comic piece of theatre. I really enjoyed it, the banter between the two undertakers, one a real geezer type and the other a more timid Irish Catholic lad, was great but one couldn’t help looking at the covered over corpse on the table and wondering… This is the second play I’ve seen by Edmund Morris, I very much look forward to his third. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Surreal: The Mind-Reading Show From Berlin! is something very different. Even as we sat waiting for the show to begin the animated vintage-style projections were incredibly beautiful and set the tone (at the end of the show we learnt that they were created by Vivian). Roman Von Thurau and Vivian Sommer are like creatures from another era, almost otherworldly, their storytelling pulled the audience in and their mind-reading kept us all enthralled. I like to think myself as open-minded with a healthy dose of cynicism; that was some show, quite unnerving ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Musical theatre, anyone? The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Murdered is performed in the round (or, more square in this case), and impressively without mics. Centre stage is the musical accompaniment, keyboards played by the writer/composer Lily Blundell who also plays a character too! She is Josephine, wife of Tony Morino, owners of a bar in 1930s America. Business is not good, Tony comes up with a plan to get some money, but Death has other ideas. A little different to my usual fare but again my Fringe-dar hit the mark, a deliciously dark, funny tale, brilliantly performed by all ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
It’s late, I need my bed. I’ll leave you with one last mention, John Robertson: The Human Hurricane quite simply, bloody awesome!! The last time he did free Fringe show he had an old guitarist to accompany him, this time he’s playing an electric ukulele himself. John is as brilliant and gleefully manic as ever. The evening I saw him there was a dog in the audience (he is all inclusive) and a gentleman who kept John supplied with shots of whisky – a fine, fine show for us, quite what The Dark Room would have been like after it is another matter! I’ll definitely go see The Human Hurricane again ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s only twenty-four days until the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 previews start. Any other year I’d have my previews organised, cut-outs in piles of definites, maybes, half price huts, short runs; my Fringe calendar would be printed out with around fifteen shows already marked up in pen. I’m distracted, my thoughts are often elsewhere, I ain’t committing myself to anything that I can’t drop in an instant (I do have a few tickets, friends may get lucky!)
My tales of travels and troubadours in Europe have also been a casuality of my current uncertainty and concern (mother moose was taken into hospital almost three weeks ago). I’ve always found it difficult to shut worrisome thought out of my head and get on with other stuff. To complicate things further, I have my places where I sit and write, and Yorkshireland where I’m headed back to in the morning, isn’t one of them; so getting anything down on paper (er, tablet) in the next week will be a challenge.
I do now have my Logan’s Close European Tour goodies, they may help inspire me! Or I could actually go through the Fringe programme properly and write about Fringey things, maybe. Meanwhile keep smiling, be good, and tell someone you love how much you love them 💛
Admiring my tour poster, signed by the lads
That bit of newspaper stuck on the top corner of the frame, just a little something I tore out to remind myself….
So, that little trip I did – three countries, six gigs, ten stops, in twenty days. The postcard blog posts idea started well, then kind of, erm, but I did keep it going – with excuses. Next time I’ll do better. Oh yeah, there will be a next time, when the stars align again.
I’d only stayed one night at an Airbnb before this trip, and that was a BnB that advertised through Airbnb, so this was my first real experience of Airbnb-ing; and so many different experiences! Boy, my comfort zone felt terribly faraway at times! I also stayed a few nights in hostels, also very varied experiences from exceptionally good to godawful. More on all that later…
I did have some trepidation about how well I’d eat on my trip. Oh, not that I wouldn’t like the food, but how I’d figure out what things were and how to pronounce the words. My awkwardness and embarrassment almost swallowed me whole a few times! (that also includes being in strangers’ kitchens). Plenty of the time I lived off yoghurt, bananas, ham, cheese, and bread, bread, bread, ha, and individually wrapped pieces of Yorkshire Parkin I’d baked to take with me (for sustenance when I had nowt else). Oh, I did eat plenty from the food counters at all the train stations; so much bread – how I managed to misplace half a stone over there is a mystery!
Did you ever see a wurst croissant?
The whole Interrailling thing went fine, just a few blips. The app is extremely good (mind I was keeping things relatively simple, not bothering to reserve seats or any overnight journeys with sleeping requirements). Different options and itineraries can be looked at and saved until you’re ready to make a final choice and book it in, and then the app asks twice whether you definitely want to go ahead and book. Sometimes I was literally about to step on a train when I booked it – ok, so that was in case plans went awry.
My train travels were certainly enlightening! I’m happy to report that German trains are not as perfect as they are perceived to be, oh, not by much but how nice to see some flaws (it’s a British thing to unfavourably compare our train services in particular to Germany’s). You humans are so fascinating to observe, and yes, different nations do have different traits, or stereotypical behaviours (oo, that word stereotype does upset some folk). Train passengers were one thing, but pedestrians in Germany and Austria, wow, I definitely wasn’t in the UK (traffic still oncoming round the corner when the green man is on – I flinched every time!)
Linz, Austria.
My wandering feet did a lot of wandering and exploring. Some days I probably walked for five, six hours, just taking in the sights and sounds, admiring the different architecture. Statues and sculptures on walls became a thing for me, especially the ones flashing a knee (honestly, there were some many). Lovely parks over there too, I strolled through plenty between bed and venues. Venues, ah yes, the actual reason for being over there, Logan’s Close on their European Tour.
Yes, ostensibly it was for a friend’s party andLC, but really it was almost like a cover story that excused me also romping around Germany. Then, sadly, the party had to be cancelled; my journey to Bremen was quickly rearranged. Somehow it seems that our friendship was cancelled too, not a peep since – not that I haven’t tried! Okay, so be it, but, if I had known, then I might have forgone the Munich gig and headed off for Logan’s Close’s next gig in Trento. Hmm, Ingolstadt to Trento, then two days later up to Vienna just for my flight home – bet that’s some stunning scenery! Bloody humans!
Oh, the Munich gig was good, the guys were on fine form, but, there’s a certain hostel I’d not bother with again (later). Sure, I would have missed Eurovision, but then, Logan’s Close or Eurovision? No contest! The gigs I did get to, Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague, Ingolstadt and Munich were amazing. Time and time again, just little touches would blow me away, the attitude, the grand swirls, the spaces in their sound, the sheer exuberance, the obvious joy and shared smiles – all of it together, so potent, such an incredible high!!
God yes, I’ll be doing that again, just next time a little more aware! I shall leave you with a few aftershow pics in Ingolstadt…
