THE LIST
Despite the addition L she will not be giving up playing her distinctive acoustic rhythm guitar: ‘I enjoy playing the guitartoo much to do that.‘ she explained. ‘I would saythat \ I am a lairly bare guitar player. . . Whenltoured with John. we closed the shows together each night. and I remember saying to him at the end at one gig: “John. I reckon that between the two at us we can play guitar." '
The acoustic guitar is particularly signilicant in Griltith's musical heritage. Herinspirations were women like Lorrelta Lynn and Ddetta. temale songwriters who worked outwith the Nashville/ country and western stereotypes at women. Despite being labelled a ‘new country‘ artist. Grillith has a dilterent explanation: ‘It is good to see so many temale songwriters establishing themselves now. It is good lrom the point oiview thatwoman lolk singers don't need long dresses and boultant hairdos to progress. thanks to people like Michelle Shocked. Country music has not progressed though—20 years ago Lorrelta Lynn didn‘t get played on country radio. and now people like Patty Loveless have the same problems. it‘s as it there has been a reverse reaction to women’s lib in country music.’
Having played Carnegie Hall. and in doing so lullilling an ambition. she admits a prelerence lorthe Grand Old Oprey. and a country audience. This year‘s gig at the Govan Town Hall provided a curious mix oi an audience. irorn would be cowboys (who were probably sorely disappointed) through to genuine music tans (who
probably weren‘t).
Astor now. a new single. ‘From A Distance' has been released to coincide with the tour. Not even irom her most recent album, it looks like money tor old rope on the part otthe record company. so cash should be saved lorthe live album. Beyond working on the new studio album. Nanci wants to develop her interests in character acting. and her ‘Two at A Kind Heart‘ novel/tilm score. A busy and creative year beckons. Nanci Grillith is at the Glasgow Pavilion on 16 Oct. See Rock Listings.
JOE LOUIS WALKER
The man with thelamous name was actually christened Louis Joseph Walker. but his sister turned it around in deierence to the black boxing hero. it was another black hero. however. who latergave the young guitaristand singerhis lead. and remains his greatest inlluence.
‘Personally. liguratively and totally. my greatest inlluence is 8.8. King. i grew up hearing him. because my lather had every 78 record he ever made. I like 8.8. more than anybody. That goes personally. that goes any way.‘
Walkerhas been compared with label-mate Robert Cray (who visits Glasgow next week). and while the similarities in approach are delinitely there. Walker has a more gutsy. down-home leel to his singing and super-lluid guitar work. The groundwork olthatstyle was laid in San Francisco in the 1960s. when he played with the likes at Mississippi Fred McDowell and Earl Hooker at a club then owned by the Jellerson Airplane's Marty Balin.
‘A lot at these people helped me asa young guy trying to emulate the type at musicthey played. Altera while. you either get better oryou quit. and I got better. You know you'll never play withthe leeling olthese guys. though. ‘cause they come trom the Delta. and they playthat way because they experienced that. l wentdown there and seen it. and it's anotherworld.‘
There is certainly atrace olthe more relaxed Calilornian ethos in Walker‘s style. laced with a strong gospel inlluence. as exemplilied on the superb title track at histirstalbum on Ace. Cold Is The Night. but there is no shortage ot authentic blues leeling in his powertul music. as he will demonstrate at Queen's Hall tomorrow nightwhen he heads a blues triple- deckerwith his band. The Boss Talkers. (Kenny Mathieson)
Joe Louis Walker is at The
Dueen's Hall on 14 Oct.
See Jazz Listings.
IOmTom Club
GUEST LIST
Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth oi the Tom Tom Club have a joke thatthey should put a sticker on the bumper oi the carsaying ‘My other band isTalking Heads'. but it's not the big band that rock's great husband-and-wiie rhythm section are in Britain to play with. it's the baby one. This will probably leave more than a lew disappointed punters out on the street. as Weymouth and Frantz are big stars. and the Tom Tom Club singles ‘Wordy Rappinghood' and ‘Genius oi Love‘ were big singles. It‘s a larcrylrom the days when the Tom Tom Club was made up oi the expanded Talking Heads touring unit. These days the band is down to a tour-piece. due in part. it‘s said. totheir relusal to accept corporate sponsorship. Despite sounding oil about sponsorship in the past. Tina brushesthe subject aside. only saying. ‘We had restrictions on our budget. but sometimesthe simplest solution is the most elegant solution. Playing asa quartet leaves breathing spaces in the music. As much as I loved the Stop Making Sense touring band. llove playing with justthree
other people as well.’
This is very much the Tom Tom Club‘s ‘meet the people' tour. Relusing to cash in on their big names. Weymouth and Frantz (with guitarist Mark Route and keyboard player Gary Pozner) are promoting their single 'Don‘t Say No' and torthcoming LP “Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom‘ like any small band.
‘New bands.’ Tina continues. ‘are going out with tapes and sequencers and they don’t learn howto play live. We use samples but we don’t use sequencers. so that there‘s still room tor improvisation. It's nice to have that lreedom. where you can think. I'm not going to step up to the mike just now. I‘m just gonna letthese guys go! In a club you get instant leedback— you know straight away it you're bombing or not. You see the potentiality ot a hand. what they could be. which lthink is more exciting.’
The live band made its debut in the New York club CBGB’s. birthplace ola
whole wave at talent. including Patti Smith. Television and Talking Headsthemselves. CBGB’s was also the one-time stomping ground oithe godtatherol the NYC underground scene Lou Reed. and the Tom Tom Club pay tribute to him on the LP with a version olhis song ‘Femme Fatale‘. on which Reed himselt played guitar.
‘I didn't want to touch that song. The memory at itwas just so phenomenal. bull went back and listened to it. and thought. it‘s not that untouchable. We thought it was betterto introduce the song to a younger generation than keep it on a pedestal. It lelt good—l knew we'd get llak. but it was important to keep the thing alive.‘
‘I wantto keeptouring. keep making ourselves accessible to audiences. l‘m led up with groups on TV. lwant to play live and keep making records. i love what the kids are up to with samplers. l‘m all lor it. It's where I‘m at.‘ she says. belore cracking up with laughter at the phrase she‘s caught hersell using.
‘I leel like I‘ve justbeen unburied alter live years at being among the living dead!
And i wasn't even goinoto
ask about David Byrne. (M30)
The Tom Torn Club are at the Glasgow School at Art on Wednesday 19 Oct. See Rock Listings.
BROOKSIDE
The end at this month sees the descent at over 20 television actors scriptwriters. and technicians upon Glasgow. The onslaught emanates lrom the general direction at Liverpool and comes courtesy ol the Channel Four soap ‘Brookside'.
Mersey Television has organised a two-day seminar. only the third they‘ve ever held and the tirst in Scotland, Richard Titchner, head at Corporate Altairs with the company. explained why: ‘Phil Redmond. Brookside‘s producer tell that tor lartoo long television programmes had been shrouded in myth and mystique and that Brookside was the sort oi programme able to debunk that.‘
‘The idea was to relocate the show in a new location tor two days and then to open up the production to anyone who was interested. The trouble there is that only people actually involved in the media tend to come along. So, when we‘re in Glasgow, one day is lorthe general public and one is tor those with a
protessional or academic
interest.‘
Brookside: tragically separated
A roomtul oi lights and cameras is just as Iikelyto alienate the layman asthe tinished product on the screen however— So. to what extent can the public get involved? ‘To a very deep level I think. They will be able to participate in the script planning discussion process. work on the lighting oi scenes aand collaborate in the direction loo. Basically. all the chances are there - To work with the equipment that is being brought up lrom the Liverpool set. to talk to actors lrom the show (Sue Johnston who plays Sheila Grant will be coming along as well as Paul and Annabell Collins). Anything which helps break down the illusionsthat television creates around itsell, we will be happy to do.‘
The seminartakes place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 Dctoberatthe Scottish Film Council. 74 Victoria Crescent Road. Glasgow 612. Tickets are £8 per day (£4 unwaged). (Allan Brown)
THESADSDNG DFSALMAN
lwalked out at the storm into the middle olone. Salman Rushdie was in his room lielding calls and what had been intended as pre-Booker bookchat tumed into a sombre discussion about the banning oi books. That very alternoon the Indian High Commission had continued that his latest novel. The Satanic Verses (Viking £12.95). had been banned in India onthe say so at three lslamic members at parliament ol diflerent political parties. They had. said Rushdie. ‘made representations demanding that the book
should be banned because it will — whatever the exact wording is— ‘oltendthe sensibilities ol religious communities in India‘. One at these MPs has actually given interviews in which he has said the book is blasphemous.‘
Rushdie was notamused nor did he look surprised. He is used to his books getting a rough ride. Discounting Grimus. which its author is more than happy to do. all his books have come in iorllak. Midnight's Children. the one which made his name internationally. was. so to speak. broughtto book by Mrs Gandhi. ‘She took meto court about one sentence. l was amazed that alterall the extreme criticism at her in the novel that she should take exception to a rather mild remarkabouther ex-husband which anyway was onlya rumourand was given in the novel asa rumour. Unlortunater the law in India is very technical and it you report a delamatoryrumourthen you repeatthe delamation. But itwas nota malicious action; she did not asklor the bookto be withdrawn. She didn't ask lordamages. She simply asked lorthe record that line be withdrawn lrom luture editions and that I should
Salman Rushdie