Stewart Beers

Let the music play

bruceonthefringe 2024, Live bands in Edinburgh, Live music venues, Pubs, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Where there’s a will there’s a way for a band to play. If you read my previous post you’ll know I had a sweet evening lined up on Thursday. Those rock’n’roll larrikins Ol’Times were back in Edinburgh playing the Mash House, well they were until a power failure late afternoon! If only there was somewhere else nearby ……. like down the steps and along the alleyway?

Half six, tea demolished, I checked my phone for the latest update – the gig had been switched to Stramash, ah well, I was heading there around seven anyway (originally intending to catch the Scat Rats first set). Haha, yes, that hunk of Irish, Kai (see pic alongside) was stood by the corner of Stramash at bottom of the alley leading up to the Mash House to catch any folk unaware of the change of venue. A quick chat with him and other band members revealed that the Scat Rats had been sent up the road to Whistlebinkies, naturally I followed on.

Once in Binkies with a tasty pint of Stewart’s beer in front of me, I spotted that the sound and lighting wizz John Mackie was also up from Stramash; of course, musical chairs all round! The Rats had a new cover (or one they rarely play?) of Funnel of Love by Wanda Jackson, a beautiful understated number, another class choice by the boys. Oh, there’s a short reel of it on my Instagram if you’re wondering how it goes. A quick chat after the set, I was told the latest Logan’s Close news and oh boy, wow, it’s a real doozy, that’s all I’m saying.

Nice timing back to Stramash, another pint of Stewart’s, found a good spot to park myself, Ol’Times strolled on stage, perfect. Oh, the exhilaration of pure, timeless rock! Their sound harks back to rock bands of the late 70s and I definitely heard a nod to Thin Lizzy in one number, nothing wrong with that! Lead singer Gabriele Scarale is just brilliant, high-octane with a wink and a smile, reminds me of the likes of Bon Scott and Dave Lee Roth.

Thursday was the first night of a nine date UK tour that goes all the way down to Brighton. If you like your rock old school then join Ol’Times on a Midnight Ride – you’ll be dancing in the moonlight all the way home.

A last note on the evening, hats off to whoever chose the music selection after Ol’Times finished, I mean, Bad Company’s Rock’n’roll Fantasy!! Wow, I haven’t heard that in years and a few tracks later XTC were Making Plans for Nigel, oh my giddy aunt! Enough to wonder if we did all travel back to 1979?!

Gimme some Ol’Times rock’n’roll

bruceonthefringe 2023, Bands, Live bands, Music in Edinburgh, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

They came, they rocked, they conquered, and now they’re about to storm down across England, Newcastle first. Ol’ Times gave Binkies another night never to be forgotten, talk about the passion, baby! Going on for three hours, until half past midnight – I had no prior knowledge of the extended time slot, so it came as a most excellent surprise!

The place was buzzing in anticipation, busy with folk trying to grab a good space to seeing the band, when in walked three beanpoles, skinny but wide-shouldered, they hovered about at the back looking around. They seemed harmless enough, but just a look between myself and the chap I was chatting to, we both already knew where they’d decide to stand, and indeed, just six foot from the stage!! Yes, I’ve ranted about this before, but jeez, come on! They stood like a mini mountain range with peaks around 6’6″, the folks immediately behind had no chance of seeing anything. And breathe.

I had my eye on a good side spot which I sidled into once the band were onstage doing the soundcheck. I had a fresh pint of Stewart’s Harlequin (another good brew from them), I was ready. First song, Ol’ Times started with a bang, All The Way To The Top written just 28 days previous (I know this because Kai, the drummer, mentions it before he gets the crowd chanting). Straight into the classic Walking The Dog, sung by one of the guitarists Colm, how to keep the temperature rising!

It was during the first set that I noticed Gabriele’s voice reminding me of Marc Bolan, there was one song in particular where I really heard it. He is a brilliant frontman and whilst I’ve likened his singing to others, Gabriele has a unique voice with a mischievous edge that immediately entranced me from the first time I heard it.

The band were obviously enjoying themselves, having a blast, as much as the crowd were. We got sleazy rock, funky beats, rolling jams; all delivered with easy, laidback confidence and irresistible charm. Think Bad Company but take out all the so-seriousness and angstiness and add some of the nonchalance of early AC/DC aussie boogie woogie (the start of Give It To Me is so this).

The second set included a real blast from the past for me, Come On In My Kitchen, apparently they used to play it regularly but hadn’t for about a year until that afternoon when they were busking. As it was back in their consciousness, the band picked it up and made a tasty bluesy jam with it. I’ve since dug out The Joker by The Steve Miller Band from my record collection (side 2 track 3), well, I had to give it a spin! It’s the only other time I’ve heard it, used to love howling along with it (check it out, you’ll get why). Apparently it’s an old Robert Johnson song; that’s my one thing learnt today!

The jams got longer in the second set, Gabriele just put words to them on the spot, a true showman, and as is traditional there was a drum solo, two words that used to strike fear and boredom into many hearts, but, I dunno, have the new generations of drummers figured out something the previous didn’t? I enjoy them now, and Kai doing that thing (as the band call it), oh my, ’tis a fine thing to behold. The crowd vibed along with the grooves, I don’t think anyone wanted the music to end, if Whistlebinkies had a beating heart it would’ve been stolen by Ol’ Times last Friday night.

Tonight Ol’ Times are in Geordieland, that’ll definitely be one mighty fine time for all. One word of advice to anyone planning to see Ol’ Times as they head south, take a pen so you can get the guys to sign their CD (you’ll be wanting to buy one be the end of the gig!) as they probably won’t have remembered to have pens with them. These guys are definitely gonna be big so catch them now if you can!

I’ll leave you with shots from Friday night in Binkies, no, I didn’t manage to get a clear pic of the bassist, sorry!

from top left clockwise, Gabriele, Manuel, Colm and Kai

I’m just a tad excited

bruceonthefringe 2022, Bands, Edinburgh bands, Logan's Close, Pubs, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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….