MUSIC LIST/ROCK
THE BIBLE
Never a band to overstate their case, the Bible‘s debut album for Chrysalis Records, Eureka, was slipped out earlierthis year with very little in the way of promotion or assistance from the company. Given that it is one of the year's strongest sets, and that the band had established a good following on the back of their indie album Walking the Ghost Back Home and its accompanying singles, Graceland and Mahalia. its performance was disappointing.
Alter the release of one single, Crystal Palace, and a brief flurry of live activity in England, it is only now that the band have got as far as Scotland, with a gig at Rooftops on 9th October. For the band, it must have been frustratingly slow progress given the amount of time and effort which went into the album. Recording commenced with producer Pete Smith, before Steve Earle took over the production.
‘We did the entire LP with Pete Smith,‘ explained vocalist and songwriter Boo Hewerdine. ‘The record company said that they really liked it, but that they wanted one more track
5 recorded as a single. We had heard
that Steve Earle really liked the first
album, so we set about contacting him i ’
with the idea of doing a single. In the end we did the other seven tracks in two weeks, and they were betterthan the versions we had spent months over.‘ ‘For us the job of producer is more like a morale booster’, he continued, ‘and with Steve we really managed to capture the spirit of the first album. At the start of recording the second album we found it incredibly frustrating, because having recorded the first album in four days we found that Pete
Smith had booked the studio for four months. He was a good and very meticulous producer, but at times it can get so involved that it stops sounding like music.‘
In the end, the simplicity of songs like Cigarette Girls and Honey Be Good (the new single) won through with a sympathetic production, while the more gloomy, moving songs that were done with Pete Smith, namely Red Hollywood, Blue Shoes Stepping and Tiny Lights make fora fine closing trio.
As for touring, the band played Scotland last year as support on the China Crisis tour, putting in a much more engaging and exciting performance than the headlining band (not necessarily a big achievement). The experience made them more determined to touron theirownthis time around:
‘We want to tour in our own right‘, said Boo, ‘as last yearwe did both a supporttour and touron our own, and we felt that we did better on our own. With the support touryou have to fight to get people’s attention every night, which can be quite difficult, no matter how well you are performing.‘ (John Williamson)
I The Close Lobsters and The Thanes'l'he Rey ue. 244 ( iallow gate. 11pm. .-\l tinienl w riting. this seems to be the gig lorthe
'l lianes. and not at Rooftops tomorrow.
'1 hanes niainman. l.enny admits that it is all ‘totally conl'using.’ ()ther newson'l‘he 'l hanes is that they haye a new singlein .‘s'oy ember called Baby (‘ome Back. and a track on a tlexi disc with Splendid International magazine in December. the band w ill be recording the track for the t‘lexi w hile in Berlin later thisinonth.
I Jive ASS 1 lalt Bar. l(ill\Voodlands Road. 332 12111.‘)pm.1‘rce.
I The Blues Bums l.a 'l‘aniere. 15 l-‘ox Street. 221 4844. 0pm. l-'ree.
Edinburgh
I Kiss Play house Theatre. ( ireenside Place. 557 25‘ll1.7,3llpm.£10.15). Kiss-mania neyer seemed to take ol'l'in Britain the way it did in the States.or .lapan. but they can still do two nightsat the Play house. perhaps emboldened by .-\lice ( ‘ooper‘s successlul comeback. 'l'he
question ot their real appeal. without the mystery of their old disguises. still hangsin the balance. Second night tomorrow.
I Avalon l’resery ation llall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. £1 at'ter‘).3tlpm. (iood local l'olk-rock band. played the Queen‘s Hall during the l-'estiya1.
I Wraygun and The Rockets Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 (i313. ‘)pm. Free. Rockabilly.
I Bulb Cormorant l.ord l)arnley. West Port. 22‘) 4341. .-\1ternoon. l‘ree. .lam atmosphere.
I Texas Breakfast l.ord Darnley'. \Vest Port. 22‘14341. ltlpm. liree. RckB groupto watch. mainly lor their two-guitar interplay.
I Just Add Water \lttsie Box. Victoria Street. 2211 17118. L1 alter‘)pm. Recommended local pop group.
SUNDAY 2
Glasgow
I The James Taylor Quartet Rico's. 2 Anne Street. (ireenock. 9pm. l‘irst west ol Scotland gig in a lairly comprehensiye tour tor the 110. who liaye just released their tirst maior label single. The Theme From Starsky and 1 lutch. See Listen.
I Burden Blues Breakers La 'l‘aniere. l5
4D the list All Sept «- 13()et 1988
l-ox Street. 221 4844.1)pm.l-‘ree. .-\uthentic. young blues act in their acoustic lorm.
Edinburgh
I KiSS Play house 'l'heatre. ( ireertsitle Place. 553 259117311an L111. Ll). SeeSat 1.
I The Tex Fillet Five Negocianls. l.othian Street. 225 (i313. ('ountry and Western. I Panic No More Presery atioii 1 tall. Victoria Street. 22h 381i). £1 aller‘lpm. I The Last Detail l.ord l)arnley . \Vest Port. 2294341. lllpm. l-‘ree. Residency. I Bluefinger .\1ttsie Box. Victoria Street. 221112118. Ll aller‘lpm. Rhythm ‘n'blues residency that's packing in the punters exery week.
MONDAY 3 Glasgow
I Every New Dead Ghost t.a 'l'aniere. 15 l-ox Street. 221 4844.1)pm. l‘reefl‘hisisa gig put back from a few weeks ago l'roma touring hand lrom Nottingham. 'l‘heir debut 12in single. Ascension. is released on Plastic 1 lead Records next week. and is distributed by Backs. There should be a local support hand as well.
Edinburgh
IThe James TaylorOuartet\'enue. (‘allon Road. 557 3073. No relation to I/ii'lantes 'l'ay lor. ot course. and neither are they a quartet. .\'ot any more. anyway. now that they '\ e added a female singer and a three-piece brass section. They can also boast Style (’ouncil drummer Steye “line now. And they 're touring topromote their new single. a \ ersion ol the Siarskxuml [lure/i theme.
I Texas Breakfast l.ord l)arnley . \Vest l’ort. 2294341. lllpni. Free. See Sat 1.
I Dual Preseryation llall. Victoria Street. 2203810.”,3t1pln.l‘ATL'C.llL'£l\Vr()Ck.
I Live band \egociants. l.othian Street. 225 0313. ‘1pm. Free. l'neonlirmed.
I Live band Music Box. Victoria Street. 2211 1‘118.‘).3llpm. l-ree. t’nconlirmed.
UESDAY 4
G asgow
I Merci Mi Bar Luxembourg. 197 Pitt Street. 332 11 1 1. lllpm. l-‘ree. An
unknown quantity.
I Beautiful Suit l.a 'l‘aniere. 15 l’ox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. l’ree. .\ good demohas already entered my possession and reports troin theironly other(ilasgow gigal Blacklriars a couple o1 months agosuggest good things.
I Bobby Wishart l lalt Bar. ltillVVoodlands
Road. 332 12111. “Pm. l-‘ree. As ex er.
Edinburgh
I Love and Money Venue. (‘alton Road. 55',7 31173. Doors open 3.3tlpni. band on stage 9pm sharp. l-"irst ot two nights. See feature.
I King Biscuit Time Blues Negocianls. l.othian Street. 225 0313. ‘)pm. l-‘ree. (iood. gritty electric blues.
I April in Paris 1 .ord l)arnlcy . West Port. 2294341. lllpm. Free.
I The Rootsie Tootsie Blues Band Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816.9.3llpm. l-‘ree.
I Tantara Blade Music Box. Victoria Street. 22“ 17118. 9311le l'ree. (ilztsgow band. whose demo and MN single show that they could well be worth investigating.
WEDNESDAY 5
Glasgow
I Grown Up Strange. The Man From Delmonte and I The Longhorns Strathcylde l'niyersity' l'nion. 011 .lohn Street. 9pm. A special bill for the Nelson Mandela Scholarship. (irown l'p Strange l'eature lan .\lc.\ab ot' the lcicle Works; The Man l-rom1)elnionteha\ e managed to keep their name despite obiections from the company w ho uses the ady ertising slogan and The l.onghorns are fast and frantic and not from l.i\erpool. but Ayrshire.
I The Cateran 'l'he Reyue. 244 (iallowgate. 9pm. l’()S'l'l’()Nlil). ()riginally adyertised as a double bill with The (’retins. this is ot‘fas The (‘ateran‘s drummer. Andy . is still recovering from the effects ol’ their recent yan crash. The ('retins say they will be play ing later in the month at Rooftops. ’l'he (‘ateran w ill not be gigging until the end of ( )ctober.
I The Tornadoes 1 lenry Alrika's. 15 York Street. 221 (i1 1 l. lt1.3llpm lt'sreyiyal time. but it you haye to go to one ol‘these
concerts. then make it tomorrow night.
I Kilt House l-‘ixx. 86 Miller Street. 248 258‘). ltlpm. Free. Kilmarnoek based band w ho come recommended.
I Jump The Gun l.a'1'aniere. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. l’ree. Hard to followthe number o1~ bands who use this name. This yariant is distinguished by their coy'erot the Proccies' l'm(ionna13e.
I Marino‘s Men 1 lalt Bar. lothVoodlands Road. 332 12111. 9pm. l-‘ree. l‘ormerly Nailan.
Edinburgh
I Love and Money Venue. (‘allon Road. 55" 31173. Doors open 7.3llpm. band on stage 9pm sharp. Second of two nights. See feature.
I The Hank Wangford Band Music Box. VietoriaStreet,221117(18. Back sosoon alter the l‘estiyal. llank'.’ 'l‘hought we‘d lorget about you'.’
I Yes Yes Juliette Student l'nion. 'l'ey iot Row. Possibly a lreshcrs-only gig.
I Willy Logan l.ord l)arnley . West Port. 2204341. lllpni. l-ree. Versatileand accurate coyer yersion artist.
I Los Supremos Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 (i313. 9pm. l‘ree.
I The Beautiful Suit. The Wendys and Good and Gone ( )ddlcllows. l‘ort‘est Road. 2211 1810. 1)pm. l‘ree. 'l'hree bands troni the lidinburgh Musicians ( ‘ollectiy e on one ol the regular showcase gigs. .\loosehead promotion night.
I After Eight Mince Music Box. Victoria Street. 2211 12118. ‘).3llpin. l-ree. .la/z-tunk.
THURSDAY 6
Glasgow I The Big Dish and The lndian Givers
Strathcylde 1 'niyersity' l'nion. ‘llllohn Street. ()pm. Should still be one ol thegig‘s ol'a yery bttsy lortnight.although theirlast sighting in Dundee w as a bit short ol the brilliance expected. in the meantime. l-‘aith llealer makes a strong claim lobe single ol the year. Buy it now. A maior added attraction is the lirst appearance of the lndian (iiyers in(ilasgow sincesigning to Virgin. Students and triendsonly.
I The Thieves 'l'he Reyuc. 244 (iallowgate. l)pm. Important gig for the 'l‘hieyes. as it is yet anothershowcase.
l lope it goes well.
I James Taylor Quartet Rooltops. l): Sauchiehall Street. 332 5883. ltlpm. See Sunday.
I Gary Numan Barrow land. 244 (iallowgate. 7.3llpm. 1n the listsol the most hated men in rock. (iary .\'uman is out there on his ow n with only a lew Ack R cxecutiyes running him close.
I The Glitter Band llenry Alrika‘s. 15 York Street. 221 (L51 1. ll1.3llpnt. ()k. soil is better than the ’l'ornadoes, but w ho would pay to .see the (ilitter Band in 1988‘.’ And why ’.’ And why do they do it 1’ ()byiotts really. it is all because they don't get to do (’up a Soupcommercials.
I Sale Houses l.a 'l'aniere. 15 Fox Street. 2214844.‘)pm. l-‘ree. A (irecnock band. I Go Go Street Bar Luxembourg. 1‘)2l’itt Street. lilprn. l‘ree. Fresh from their recent appearance at the ( ircenbelt l-'e.stiyal. and with a cassette album
as ailable. this could be quite good.
Edinburgh
I Dr Hook Playhouse 'l'heatre. ( ireenside Place. 557 25911.7.311pm. £8.5ll.£7.511.l;h. lrate tans storm out ol gigs alter realising only one original member is still in the band. the tabloids reported w hen the Dr llook tour started. lt'stoo unkindto suggest that the real reason might have been them launching into their IUSllhit ‘Sexy liyes‘. 'l'hough unwilling to go into the subject in any depth. 1 haye been repeatedly told that the band‘s early material had some quite outstanding Country-rock songs.
I Billy Jones l.ortl Darnley . \Vest l’ort. 2294341. ltlpm. l‘ree. lidinburgh's layourite acoustic rock'n'roller.