Thin Lizzy

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?!

Evening, peeps! Friday evening and I’m home, drinking alone, tapping my thoughts down. I could be out, you know. I could be in The Pond listening to the dulcet harmonies of Carl and Scott; I could also be wandering lost in Leith trying to locate said Pond, I’ve never been there. No, I intend to write this post, this post that I intended to write late last Friday night but was side-lined by a need for more music (til after 3 in the morning).

So last Friday night I was back in the Voodoo Rooms to see Logan’s Close supporting Black Cat Bone. Crikey, it’s almost a year since I was there for the launch of their EP Fried Bangers there. But what was this? A keyboard on stage? Ummm, not sure what to make of this development. A favourite band changing it’s line-up has connotations of a pub “being refurbished”, ummm. I remember way, way back when Thin Lizzy brought in keyboard player Darren Wharton for their Renegade album and tour in 1981 (first gig I ever saw!) I was dubious but it was the start of the 80s and keyboards were a thing. I actually quite like the Renegade album but it’s not like classic Lizzy, but hey Phil Lynott’s voice was my passion. Then I recall the last time I saw John Martyn perform around ’92, ummm, I remember wishing someone would shoot the saxophonist! I do like sax, Reuben Legge, case in point, but the saxophonist that night just would not shut up. He was up in the mix and played continuously through everything (I like my sax sparse and selective) Aargh!

So there I was, supping a half of Joker IPA, wondering if this could be the end of my crush on the Close. First number, Work, hmmm, well that worked rather well! Just enough, not too much, a nice touch. I don’t remember the name of the second song but I know it’s one that sounds like it belongs in a Tarantino soundtrack, again, keyboards like a bowl of baby bear’s porridge. New songs thrown in too, nice! A fine set, In The Morning and I Want You particularly brilliant (Scott’s vocals on I Want You are sooo good) Yes, I totally approve of the new chap, except, dude, the trouser length, no, really.

And what of the headliners Black Cat Bone? A great, bluesy, sleazy, pretty darn sexy sound, I’d reckon not so much black cat, more dirty ol’ ginger tomcat heading out on a night of fighting, f**king and caterwauling ’til dawn.

And here’s a look at the newest member of the Close, SeanKeys doing his stuff….

Bruce on the Fringe

A moose's eye view on the Edinburgh Fringe.

Let the music play

…. meanwhile at the Voodoo Rooms ….

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