And the crowd went wild

Oh boy, that was a great evening last night! I knew the early part would be good but expected to be home by ten-ish, ha. First port of call, Whistlebinkies to catch the first set from Jed Potts and Nicole Smit, mighty fine as usual. Just a shame that once again there were a couple of very loud folk spoiling the music, so good on Jed for his public service announcement that there were other areas of the bar for people who just wanted to natter. They didn’t bother to move but at least they quietened down. They did leave after the first set, but so did I, I had a ticket for Sneaky Pete’s.

The headline was Callum Ford but my ticket was primarily to see Carl Marah on second support. My timing was just nice to get down there, grab a pint and manoeuvre into a good spot (Sneaky’s was heaving, it wasn’t sold out it was very close to it!) Marah and moustache took to the stage (I mention his moustache because, it’s there, a double-taker on first meeting, I think it might be staying around awhile), no fancy looping this time, just straight forward man with a guitar.

What a cracking set! Opened with the wonderful Roll the Dice and ended with the awesome Cats Eyes. In-between, Carl gave Cold Cold Christmas one more play, the crowd joined in the dah-dah-dahs to Oban, while Stags and Hens somehow sounded better than ever (how is that even possible?). There was more, but I wasn’t taking notes, didn’t video much either, I just blissed out on the sound, especially Cats Eyes at the end, oh, my heartses.

To be honest I wasn’t sure earlier if I’d hang around for the headline band but being there, yeah, plus it was a fairly quick changeover. Callum Ford and his band were worth staying for, engaging and witty songs; with a fiddle-player and one song set in Captains Bar, definitely a folky leaning. The crowd had been lovely and enthusiastic with Mr Marah, now they were turned up to ten and buzzing. Oh my, when the band started the final song the place went wild, Fairytale of New York no better to end a gig at Christmas, the band and audience gave it everything.

Back out on the Cowgate just going home didn’t seem right, so I decided I’d pop back to Whistlebinkies for one more pint. The second band should gave been on at that point, nope, huh? Ah, they’d double booked themselves or something and Binkies took second place, who could they call on? Oh yay, the Louis Crosland Trio, how sweet could one evening get?! It may have been because Max, who occasionally plays drums with LC3 was working behind the bar so only two more bodies were needed.

The man himself, Louis Crosland turned up first, the room started to fill more as folk wanting some live music rolled in. A cheer like a mexican wave heralded the arrival of bassist Rob Henderson to the stage, no time to waste, the band cracked on and the crowd, yes, indeed, did go wild. Wow, I’ve seen LC3 plenty of times, that was one of the best, kind of like a giddy joie de vivre from unexpectedly playing; it definitely put Max in top spot of my favourite of the band’s various drummers. The evening really could not have ended any better, well, unless the final band had cancelled too and the Scat Rats were called in, oh yeah (hey, I can dream!)

I’ll be seeing the Rats tomorrow midnight, yes, it’s one of those Tuesdays, I can survive til then. It’ll be a very late night, so maybe having no definite plans for Hogmanay is a blessing, after all, I’ll want to be doing my usual scamper up to Arthur’s Seat bright and early New Year’s Day. I was up there on Christmas Day, I did mean to put something on here about it, just like I’ve been meaning to say how totally epic Logan’s Close were in Glasgow. I’ll circle back round to that next.

Toodle pip!

A siren song to haunt you evermore

It’s already the last Tuesday in February, whaaat! Not a late one tonight, well, not too late, no midnight rats at Binkies, a rather more reasonable half past nine at Stramash for The Scat Rats. They played that slot last week, naturally I went along, always a pleasure, but oh my, an extra treat – first track as the lads went off for a break, Siren Song! Blimey Charlie! Hearing it like that, totally filling Stramash, just intoxicating! I do hope it gets another play tonight; headphones are fine but through a powerful system in a large room is even finer.

For those unaware, new to my musings (where have you been?!) Siren Song is the debut solo single by Carl Marah co-founder member of Logan’s Close (Scottish psychedelic pop) and one half of The Scat Rats (edgy and dynamic). This is it, Carl has hung up his apron, no more frothing coffees Up The Junction (his mum’s cafe in Leith), it’s music all the way from here on in (in case there’s a biopic in some future year, can I be the first to say, it was a pivotal moment towards his destiny). He’s decided it’s high time that something be done with all his other songs (the nonelsie material), oh yay, even more Marah music, sounds fine to me!

So yeah, Siren Song was released on the usual music streams on Valentine’s Day and there’s also a cd of it available from Carl’s website – yes, of course I bought one. Besides the full studio version, the cd also has an acoustic version, an instrumental version and a wee chat about the song from the maestro himself. His inspiration came from a Roald Dahl short story The Landlady, a tale that spirals down from slight unease to sinister; the sort of thing Edgar Wright could re-visit with style, Siren Song would be the perfect motif through it.

Siren Song has a beautiful haunted quality to it, starting out sparse and eerie, it slowly builds and builds to a glorious, full-on mosh, then ends as it began leaving a feeling of melancholic despair. The production is excellent, such an atmosphere and Carl’s vocals will send a few shivers down your spine. Oh, and there’s a creepy video too, with a great narrative, do check it out.

And besides the single, the lad has a tour to promote it, already two dates in. Naturally, the first gig was in Edinburgh and where else could it be but Sneaky Pete’s, last Wednesday night. You could feel the love in the room! Carl regaled the crowd with the songs’ background stories; he really is a lovely guy, a gentle, unassuming soul with a quiet, easy confidence that’s quite charming. There’s vibes of country, some folksiness, and of course, plenty rhythm’n’blues throughout his songs, all bloody marvellous. The evening ended with Siren Song, and then the crowd called out for more, but what could possibly encore after that? Only getting Scotty out of the crowd to lend backing vocals to Babestation, hell yeah!

… And that was where I ducked out last night to see The Scat Rats, I ran out of time! Sadly no Siren Song in the break but it was a very eclectic mix from Ace of Base to AC/DC. This afternoon I’m off to Glasgow for Carl’s third show, it’s at the Red Door Club (thank heavens for Google maps). Yes, indeed, and why not? Possibly because I’ll see him again on Thursday night?! There’s a thing happening at Leith Arches with good sounds and good food; the sounds are definitely gonna be good as it’s Carl Marah, Jed Potts n Jon Mackenzie and The Moanin’ Bones for a line-up! Yay!

Must dash, more later. Well, hopefully tomorrow. Toodle pip!

Holy Moses!

I’d pondered on how much I’d enjoy the Amos Moses sound; did a change in lead singer also point to a change musically? Ha, never fear, the lads are every bit as cracking as they were before, different but still the same.

Whistlebinkies was fairly quiet when I rolled in, the band were just setting up, em, not quite all the band, they were one short, one guitarist. No matter, Colm stepped up and played a mixture of both guitar parts. Oh, it was grand, basking in that late 70s rock sound again. It fair took me back to another place and time of heads down, no-nonsense, mindless boogying; friends long gone felt very close by.

The usual Tuesday night eleven o’clock one set suited Amos Moses for a run through of their set on the High Fade tour. The lads were quite obviously enjoying being back in Binkies, almost as much as I enjoyed having them back?! I had thought it would be my one opportunity to see them (not being a big fan of HF I hadn’t bought a ticket), but, well, sometimes, just being my own sweet, unassuming self can bring unexpected joy – reader, I got to see them again on the Friday night in Sneaky Pete’s!

How good was that? Amos Moses before The Scat Rats late Tuesday night in Binkies, then early Friday evening Amos Moses in Sneaky’s before popping along to The Caves for Logan’s Close!! Oh, my heartses!! Manuel arrived in town from Argentina on the Wednesday in time for the HF gigs, so it was a complete Amos Moses that I saw on the Friday. Oh boy, that was such fun! So exhilarating! Some mighty fine rockin’ and rollin’ going on there; really, if you get the chance to see them live, go!!

I couldn’t leave without buying their new cd Live At Oran Mór (from another AM/HF gig in Glasgow last year). Six live tracks to keep me going ’til next time, including my favourite of the band’s new stuff The Lobster it’s a whole heap of fun, I was pleased to see it on there (maybe the next single? Hmm?!) Oh, and new on Spotify is Amos Moses‘ latest single Rock n’ Roll, a great song for that, just waitin’ on summer playlist.

Toodle pip! Next time, that Elsie gig.

I blame Gotham

It’s been awesome watching Gotham again, but it is way too moreish. One episode is never enough, despite best intentions to just watch one while I eat, yes, I’m weak. I’m also still mightily impressed by the band Amos Moses, previously known as Ol’Times. More on that tomorrow – it’s one in the morning, another day gone when I fully intended to write (this is just a quick scribble just now).

So, until tomorrow, three pics from the last week…

Delivery by chopper – path repairs in Holyrood Park require lots of rocks

Amos Moses warming up the crowd in Sneaky Pete’s
Band gear, potted plants, carpet, standard lamp – ready to go!

A new year, hello

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!!

See, there’s room to squeeze in a few more!

Passionfruit buns and other highlights

There’s a mutton tagine and pork cheeks slow cooking in my oven. No, not in the same dish, that would be too weird. I prepared the pork cheeks first and put them in for an hour on a low heat (long and low for melt-in-the-mouth tenderness). In that hour I started my mutton tagine on the hob, and had time to make some bun mixture for my latest experiment in baking….

Buns with passionfruit pulp inside! A good dollop of bun mixture slightly hollowed out, some passionfruit innards dropped in, another dollop of bun mix on top. Popped in the oven along with the tagine (cheeks taken out, temperature raised), once the buns were nicely baked they came out, temperature lowered and the cheeks went back in. I tried one immediately, well, I had to be sure they were cooked right through, it was and bloody yummy too – a success!

Oo, that’s reminded me, literally just this second, the pear sponges I made last summer, they were so good! But where did I find the passionfruit and mango coulis to drizzle on top? The combination was quite a highlight of my culinary year, and speaking of highlights – any more from 2022? Well, The Scat Rats as mentioned in my last blog post; rewatching all my vid clips as I attempted to prune my collection recently, my god, the lads are sooo brilliant now, a recorded live set would be awesome!

Just the amount of time spent seeing great local bands last year was amazing, late nights in Stramash and Whistlebinkies, sunny afternoons watching The Kennedy’s Project playing on Waverley Bridge; the Miracle Glass Company in the Old Royal High. Of course, a particular highlight of 2022 for me was seeing local favourites Logan’s Close a few hundred miles away in Nottingham! The whole day was such fun trawling round some great little boozers with an old friend before heading to the Running Horse and seeing the new line-up for the first time (yeah, and the rest of it!)

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival was back almost to old normalcy, shame how they screwed up with the Half Price Hut and no app, but apart from those hiccups it was rather good. I did write about my highlights shortly afterwards, but now with some months gone by, what are the bits that still really stand out in my head?

Crybabies: Bagbeard immediately springs to mind (err, possibly assisted by the fact I follow them on Instagram), clever, fun, stylish and utterly charming; Mr Sullivan Brown in red shirt and shorts in Grubby Little Mitts a darkly bonkers sketch show with partner-in-comedy Rosie Nicholls (and lots of eyeballs); The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much, sharp, stylish physical theatre and a wide-brimmed red hat; Blueswater playing The Wizard by Black Sabbath, truly astounding!! A rat-arsed Rat performing in Binkies after two in the morning; and lastly, but by no means least, a guy with show that is so much what the Fringe is all about, Accordion Ryan’s Pop Bangers.

Back with Elsie, there was the triumphant gig at the Voodoo Rooms on their return from southern parts in March. Like, wow, brilliant, but, for me, then topped by two awesome gigs in Sneaky Pete’s in December, the perfect way for Logan’s Close to end such a great year! But, still not my top highlight….

That plaudit goes to the CD of 2021’s top highlight, Logan’s Close on LimbicTV (Live from Aluhpasonics), an hour of raw, exuberant energy in the time of Covid. I’ve been listening to it for just over a year now, still love it to bits. And you too can grab a copy of Logan’s Close Live at LimbicTV by going to their website, just £10 GBP (+postage). No doubt their album Heart-shaped Jacuzzi will be a highlight this year.

It’s late, yes, I remembered to turn the oven off. I may edit in a couple of pics later, I need my bed just now but if you check out my Instagram I’ll put up a lovely, sweet moment from Stramash in August, the two dancing are the other two original members of the Close 🧡

Ridiculously Sublime

I may have been putting off writing this post, yeah, I have – what can I say about Monday and Tuesday evenings?! I thought leaving it a day might help, give time for my mind to form something. Nah, it’s still just a swirl, a very giddy, exhilarating swirl, I can give you single words, snippets, the set list. No, I can do slightly better than that.

It was sooo good to see Logan’s Close playing together again, and in Sneaky Pete’s, the first time there for the new line-up. I also clocked another new line-up within LC, Carl, Scott and Stu all have Gretschs, there’s a sweep across clip of the start of I Want You that I’ve stuck on Instagram. Yes, one of my favourite older numbers was included, very happy about that! Worked A Treat and Give It To Me made it in too, and, of course, Listen To Your Mother finished things off (ah, the first night Treat had the honour, due to time miscalculations).

Of course, some numbers I’m more used to hearing the stripped down Scat Rats versions, but don’t ask me which I prefer! Every version is perfect in its own sweet way; thinking about it, I’d love to hear a Rats version of Merry-go-round (pretty please?!), it’s a great song but there’s something it really reminds me of, something just out of reach in my head, argh! Oo, possibly a Monkees song, maybe.

Sneaky’s was packed out, bouncing along, it really is a great venue if a tad warm, as the lads always comment, but there’s a new marker as to how hot it’s getting – when Stu throws off his hat. SeanKeys was brilliant as ever, I reckon the second night he positioned his keyboard slightly differently to have more space to jump around.

Two nights of awesomeness, truly they were. Christmas come early! Scott’s voice just keeps getting better and better, and the harmonies, achingly good. Logan’s Close are so in sync with each other, so tight, yet loose, the combined energy, well, it grabs me to my core. The words, the music, the performance, ridiculously sublime! Okay, so I have always had huge, huge love for music that moves me (yes, I know it’s a tad odd, that’s just how I’m made), but nothing has ever grabbed me like the LC sound. Can’t wait for the album! Oh, my heartses!

Well, must go, need to eat and Potts & Smit will be starting in Whistlebinkies shortly. Coming up next time, a christmas shopping jaunt up to Bruntsfield and the odd snowman. I’ll leave you with a pic of Mr Rough from the end of Tuesday night ❤️

I’m just a tad excited

It’s finally here!! Logan’s Close are back in Sneaky Pete’s tonight! Yay! And what a build-up to it over the weekend, couldn’t move without bumping into good music! Friday was the Scat Rats in Binkies, plenty folk were in after office parties, so plenty dancing, myself included.

Saturday evening was back to Binkies for The Moanin Bones on excellent form. After their first set I headed down to Stramash for Black Cat Bone, they were fine but I just wasn’t feeling it so back to Whistlebinkies I headed to catch more of the Bones. As if that wasn’t enough of the talented Mr Buckley, I caught his second set in Stramash the following evening, solo this time. There’s a clip of a rather fine bit of California Dreamin’ on Instagram.

After he was done I nipped over the road to Bannermans for Jed Potts and Nicole Smit playing in the front bar. Yay, another pub with Stewart’s ales and they had Kilted Kiwi on, sweet! (much preferable to Stewart’s festive offering this year). Bannermans is not a place I go in much, I’ve seen the odd band there and if you like your’s metal it’s definitely worth a visit. It was quite a cosy setting on Sunday evening, not metal instead blues and honky tonk, marvellous.

Sometime after ten I trotted back over to Stramash for The Buccaneers, see it pays to keep a watchful eye on social media for who’s playing where. I noted Mr Marah had a new shirt on, apparently he found it in Armstrong’s an emporium of vintage clothing, well-known in Edinburgh for the place to look for something with style.

Well, it’s time to have a nibble or two before I head along to Sneaky’s. Do check out my Instagram @bruceonthefringe for clips of my favourite Edinburgh bands. I’ll leave you with the lovely Nicole and Jed….

Christmas is coming ….

…. the goose is getting fat, but this moose is keeping trim. After lapsing somewhat from my daily walks, I’m getting back in the swing, after all it’s just three weeks to my annual NYD hike up to Arthur’s Seat. Well, that and the smattering of snow we had yesterday morning enticed me out, so two days on the trot I’ve been up in Arthur’s foothills. There is more snow forecast over the next week, yay. I do hope there’ll be enough for sledging. One time recently when I was down in Yorkshireland, I snaffled the old tray sled from the garden shed, well, no-one else uses it; bought years ago it was, in Aviemore when I was but a wee calf.

Christmas plans seem to be going well, cards all sent, presents mostly bought, the date is set for heading to the mothership. I’ve decided not to make a christmas cake this year – shock, horror! I know! Instead I’ll make plenty of parkin, it’ll be good sustenance when I’m freezing in the bleak midwinter! And, a cake is in the process down Yorkshire way, so I will get some of that (yeah, it won’t be a patch on mine, but I applaud the effort).

At the cinema they’ve reissued Elf, you know I’ve never actually sat down and watched it all the way through. I must have seen all of it over the years, bits here and there when it’s on telly, so I reckon this maybe I should take the opportunity to see it – I was going to add with no distractions, but, have you been to the cinema recently?! I went to see The Menu last week, a brilliant, dark film but the amount of noises from rustling various food packaging, folk unwrapping sweets, aargh, atmosphere flattened time and time again!! They obviously not really into it that their attention was on putting something it their mouth, rather than was what about to happen next. And breathe, rant over.

I’m almost tempted to see The Menu again, hope for a better crowd. I do fancy seeing Matilda at the flicks too, I wasn’t bothered about it but then I went to see Tim Minchin: Back when it was in cinemas last month – wow, he’s so good, and he wrote the songs for Matilda, I’m going! Back is bloody excellent, the man is so sickeningly talented and brilliant. I got home after seeing it, wondering what I put in my Fringe diary when I saw him, I had the feeling it wasn’t an outstanding review….

Ah, yeah. Thinking back that may well have been more about other stuff than Mr Minchin. Bud and I had just seen Aeneas Faversham Forever by our favourites the Penny Dreadfuls earlier that evening, the night before included Dead Cat Bounce … Late Night Radio. Our Fringe starter had been Sammy J‘s brilliant first Edinburgh Fringe appearance; the bar was set very high, our fourteenth and last show of the opening week, I was probably pooped out at that point (oh, it was 2008).

There’s also Violent Night in cinemas, I’ve enjoyed the preview clips and it is a christmas movie. I’m one of the few who quite enjoyed the other Hellboy film starring David Harbour and not Ron Perlman, I recognised him immediately, even under the Santa garb. Yeah, it looks like fun, switch your brain off time. I probably won’t be making it to the cinema until next midweek, mind.

There’s way too much good music around this weekend to go to the pictures! Tonight The Scat Rats are at Whistlebinkies at seven (well, the website says that, time enough to go see something if not, I suppose). The late afternoon slot at Whistlebinkies tomorrow is Jed Potts with Jon Mackenzie, followed by The Moanin Bones at seven. Annoyingly, Black Cat Bone are playing Stramash at eight, what to do?!

On Sunday Chris Buckley is back at Stramash doing a solo set at seven, then just a minute down the road, Jed & Nicole will be at Bannermans from eight thirty. Another slight overlap with The Buccaneers in Stramash from ten. So many good sounds, a great build-up to Monday and Tuesday when Logan’s Close finally play again in Edinburgh at Sneaky Pete’s. Sooo looking forward to that!

I’ll leave you with a pic I took this morning in Holyrood Park, adieu!

Strictly can wait – I have a date

It’s been a week since Logan’s Close released Heart-shaped Jacuzzi, today I realised I’d been whistling it as I headed home from the Farmers Market (just a couple of bits from it over and over and over again). Oh, I inadvertently hum and whistle a lot, only realising I’m doing it when someone gives me a look. People don’t whistle so much anymore, at least not around here, hardly at all I’d say, which is a shame, well, I think it is.

This week saw more new Edinburgh music splash into the streams, yesterday Jed Potts & The Hillman Hunters released a new album Swashbucklin’ (also available in solid form, CD and vinyl). Their gig next week that’s part of the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival Autumn Series is now the official album launch show, coincidental timing I gather, at least it saves on organising another show for it (it does seem that the album release date is possibly a tad earlier than expected?) The show is at Leith Dockers Club on Thursday 3rd November; I have no idea where Leith Dockers Club is, presumably in Leith, but am definitely considering getting a ticket.

Mr Potts will be playing at Stramash this evening as part of Nicole & The Backup Crew, unusually they’re playing the seven o’clock slot, yes, I shall be trotting along. I’ll be back there on Sunday evening too for the Handsome House Jam; the Handsome House Band play on the first and last Sundays of the month and invite a guest musician to jam with them – on Sunday it’s Carl Marah, yay! So glad I wondered who the guest was this week, I often don’t think to check.

And as if that wasn’t enough fun for one weekend, Monday night Stramash have the Moanin’ Bones on at ten o’clock at their Hallowe’en Haunted House Party. It’s been a wee while since I last saw them, well looking forward to that! I may even get spookified for the occasion.

Meanwhile back at the Close …… their December show at Sneaky Pete’s sold out a few days ago, but our lads aren’t going to have anyone miss out on their juicy goodness – Logan’s Close will be back in Sneaky’s the following evening (so thats Tuesday 13th) to do it all again!

Must go eat. Toodle pip!