I Fresh Air Fortnight La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. Whatever you think of the music - La Taniere is the only place putting bands on every night — and they all have interesting names!
I Yes Yes Juliette Queen Margaret Union. L'niversity Gardens. 339 978-1. 8pm.
2 Students and guests only. See Fri 5.
Edinburgh
I The Alarm Playhouse Theatre. (ireenside Place. 557 2590. 7.30pm. Still going strong. after some of the most
y irtiient critical abuse of the last five years. Blue Peter's idea of punk rock. Took the cause of terrace anthems back decades. I Trixx Soundcheck Rock Club. Venue. ('aiton Road. 557 3073. 7.30pm. £1 .50. Weekly heavy rock metalclub.
I The Charge Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. £1 after 9pm. More heavy rock.
I Billy Jones Schooners. Musselburgh. Fdinburgh's popular soloentertainer steps outside the city boundaries with his ow n brand of acoustic rock'n'roll.
I Cosmo .Mtisic Box. Victoria Street. 220 I708. Afternoon. Free.
I Texas Breaktast Music Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. 9.30pm. Free. See Fri5. I Live band Cavern. Cowgate. 226 5641.
MONDAY 8
Glasgow
I Balaam and The Angel/Hunter’s Club Mayfair. 490Sauchiehall Street. 10.30pm. While Mr Branson was busy ballooning. tidying up Britain (or supposed to be)and launching his range ofcondoms. the naughty execs at Virgin Records were signing dreadful bands like Balaam And
l he Anch behind his back.
I Twix La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. Sorry . 'l’wix. but 1 gave up consuming chocolate three weeks ago. Look for some fat journalists. they might help.
I Critter Hill Varmints Glasgow School of Art. Students and guests only. Hillbilly-sounding quintet based in iidinburgh. and due to be supporting The Proclaimers on their upcoming tour.
Edinburgh
I Stump and Nyah Fearties Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073. Doors open 7.30pm. IFn you can't take your music without comfortingly familiar structures and melodies then you may as well stay home with your CD collection tonight. asthesc bands break down the normal conventions each in their own way. I think Stump are tuneful as hell. and musically satisfying. if eccentric. Nyah Fcarties are rather harder to take in. but fun if you cart. Anarchy started in Lugton. Ayrshire. ya bass!
I Groove Yard Music Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. 9.30pm. Free. ()ne of the Music Box's jazz nights. but this sax-led
funk blues bop group sounds pretty interesting.
I Good And Gone Négociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9pm. Free. Gritty electric blues. Good band. about to contribute a track to Beefheart tribute album alongside such artists as XTC and Sonic Youth.
I Gyroset Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free. ‘Funky boogie' from former members of Headlamps and Border Boogie Band.
I The Volunteers Canny Man‘s. Morningside Road. 447 1484. 8.30pm. Free.
I Bon Ton Boulez Lord Darnley. West Port. 229 4341. 10pm. Free.
TUESDAY 9
Glasgow
I The River Detectives Glasgow School of Art. Renfrew Street. 9pm. The acoustic variation.
I This Is It La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. ls it‘.’ Go along and find out.
MUSIC LIST/ROCK
BAND PROFILE: THE RIVER DETECTIVES I
The last lew months at 1987 saw the River Detectives carve a niche tor
POPU '- IST! 21:35:33.8.“
circuit. Stripping their songs to their most direct and emotional lormat, Sam Corry (vocals) and Zoot (drums, vocals). embarked on a lengthy string 01 acoustic gigs, winning respect and acclaim in the process.
However, they revert to their original electric line up-adding Bernie Doris (bass) and Matty (guitar), iortheir gig at the Fixx (Miller St, Glasgow) on 111th. Sam explains: ‘1n the last lew months we were deliberater concentrating on the acoustic set. It was a way ol lindlng the strengths and weaknesses at our own songs, while trying to keep the energy ol the lull band. We have been rehearsing the electric band tor a lew weeks though and it is sounding really good. Hopelully the two formats ol the band will prove to the record company people that we have plenty songs.’
It is actually in the songwriting department that the River Detectives are most impressive. They respect old lashioned values of song structuring, seen to best etlect on ‘You Don’t Know AThing‘, ‘1 Go Falling’ and ‘Philip’, and combine them with a lyrical realism and poignancy-wherein lies much ol
their appeal.
‘I suppose we are going back to basic rock and roll roots,‘ claims Zoot, ‘where the songs are the most important thing. We have just moved to Glasgow to work, and already I think that is having an inliuence on the writing. Your environment is delinitely reflected in the songs. I was brought up in the shadow ol Bavenscraig, my lather and brother worked there, and it was part at our culture. That background will always be with us - we’re just a surrogate Glasgow band.’
The acoustic set also allowed them to try out some cover versions - Springsteen’s ‘Factory’ and Neil Young’s ‘iieart of Gold’ lilting well amongst their own songs. The acoustic set was recorded on their last demo - the source ol much interest, and recorded at a total cost at £17.50 (they stress the 50p).
‘1 was really pleased with the £17.50 tape,’ says Zoot. “We just went into a studio one alternoon with a couple 01 cans of beer, set up and got on with it. I think the tape really captured that atmosphere, and we got a really good response to it. I think the next time we record we will go into one 01 the bigger studios and spend more time and money— it was really just a phase we
went through when we wanted to get as lar away from that as possible.‘
For details 01 their many gigs in the next lortnight, see Rock Listings.
Edinburgh
I The Peristalsis Brothers Négociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9pm. Free. Fifties sounds.
I Willy Logan Canny Man's. Morningside Road.-1-17 1484. 8.30pm. Free.
I Bo'Weevil Music Box. Victoria Street. 2201708. 9.30pm. Free.
I The Illusion Lord Darnley. West Port. 229 4341. 10pm. Free.
WEDNESDAY 10 Glasgow
I The River Detectives/Boomerang Fixx. 86 Miller Street. 9.30pm. Free. This time an outing of the complete. electric version of the River Detectives. which should certainly be worth seeing.
I Snatch and The Dead La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. Imagine being in a band called The Dead. From London.
Edinburgh
I Falrport Convention Usher Hail. Lothian Road. 228 1155. 7.30pm. See Folk listings. I Tam White Négoeiants. Lothian Street, 225 6313. 9pm. Free. Edinburgh‘s best growling blues shouter. now split from The Dexters. goes his own way.
I Peristalsis Brothers Boston Bean Co, St
James Centre. 55601 1 1. 8.30pm. Free. Fifties-style sounds.
I Just Add Water Lord Darnley. \Vesi Port, 229 43-11. 10pm. Free.
I Critter Hill Varmints Green Tree. Cowgate. 9.30pm. Free. See Mon 8.
I The Kali Girls Blues Basement. Broughton Street. 556 7147.
I Live band Cavern. Cowgate. 226 56-11.
THURSDAY 11
Glasgow
I Shine Fury Murrys, 96 Maxwell Street. 2216511. 10.30pm. £3. You may remember them as 7 West. Shine are originally from Dunfermline and have already recorded an album for RCA America. This is their first major gig in Glasgow. and is of high ‘1 saw it first value‘.
I Erk Alors Bad Ass Club. Clyde Place. 9pm. Free. Erk AIors have been a good band for a long time. without every getting the recognition their ability deserves. Still good pop songs on offer — this is worth a visit.
I The River Detectives The Drawing Room. Clyde Street. 10pm. Free. Acoustic set.
I Central Cats La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. As La Taniere. The Drawing
Rootn and Fury Murry s are within yardsof each other you could have a night out and see three bands.
I Billy Mclsaac Riverside 'l'avern. Waddcll Court. 9pm. Free. Residency. I cannot help feel that Mclsaac is grossly underachieving.
I The Straight Men McNee's Bar. Eglinton 'l‘oll. 9pm. Free. Residency. The Straight Men are probably Glasgow's most popular pub rockers.
I The Speedie Ducks Hollywood Studios. Brown Street. 10pm. £ 1 .50 advance. £2.50 on door. Funk
Edinburgh
I Pussy Galore Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073 Read the thumbnail sketch in l.isten' and get there early.
I Atter Eight Mince Negociants’. Lothian Street. 225 6313 9pm. Free. Mellow jazz-funk
I Billy Jones 1 ord Dar nlcy . West Port. 229-1341 10pm Free See Sun 7
I Los Supremos ( ‘aniiy Man's. Morningside Road-14" 1484 8,30pm I‘tcc.
I Blues Brothers Mtisic Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708 9 30pm Free
I Texas Breakfast Blues Basement. Broughton Street. 556 "14" Sec Fri 5. I Live band ( .as cut. Cow gate. 226 .5641.
FRIDAY 12 Glasgow
I All About Eve/Something Happens ()ML'. I'niyersity (iardens. 339 9784. 9pm. £3.50 (£31 in adyance If All About Five wercto be judged on their presentation and intcryiews they wouldn't be worlhthe timeofday Fortunately thereissome musical substance. and a fine singer in Julianne Regan. Something Happens are a new signing to Virgin.
I Rough and Ready La I‘aniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. Residency
Edinburgh
I Mama's Boys and Tigertailz Venue. ('alton Road. 557 3073. Doorsopcn
7 30pm lop-tank Irish heavy rockers back after their last successful engagement he re. this time supported by emerging glam-rockers
I Avalon Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. £1 alter 9.30pm. Folk-rockers. once in the mists of time known as the Medium Wave Band.
I The Dan Blocker Experience Lord Darnlcy . West I’ort. 229 4341 9pm. Free. Country and rock
I Anaconda Music Box Victoria Street. 201708 £1 aitcr9pm
I The Heaters and The Kali Girls '1 he Auld Chase. Bonnyiigg. 8pm. £1 .50(£l ). Another in Iisk Valley Red Wedge's
(w rongly reported last issue actually tobe connected with the Labour Party ) seriesof gigs. this one to pay off debts run up in the last few months of theiroperations.
I Live Band Blues Basement. Broughton Street. 556 7147. Nodetails yet.
I Live band Cay crn. Cow gate. 226 56-11 .
SATURDAY 13 Glasgow
I The River Detectives 'i‘ron Theatre-.63 'I‘rongatc. 552 4267. Part of a Comic Relief benefit show ~ The River Detectives are providing acoustic entertainment in the bar.
I Billy Forbes La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. Residency.
I Zenith 1.a'1'anicre. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. Residency.
Edinburgh
I Chuck Berry Playhouse Theatre. (ireenside Place. 557 2590. 7.30pm. £8.50. £7.50, £6.50. No one deserves the title ‘Father Of Rock'n'RolI‘ more than
34 The List 5 — 18 February 1988