MUSIC LIST/ROCK
Edinburgh
I The Cateran and Therapy Venue. (‘alton Road. 557 3073. Edinburgh's Mastersof Rock. back in action again afterthe drummcr's ltill recovery front a recent road accident. 1 lard. fast and thrilling. The music. that is. but probably their drivingas well.
I Makossa Moray llouse Student L'nion. Holy rood Road. 5568455. £2.50 (£2). Bit early for a Halloween party. btit any excuse is good enough for getting down to Makossa‘s reggae ck sotil.
I Very Very Music Box. Victoria Street. 320 1708. £1 after‘)pm. Promising. and improving. local pop funk band. We'll report back to you on tltisone.
I Texas Breakfast Preservation l tall. Victoria Street. 2263816. £1 after‘).30pm. l)iv erting rhythm 'n' blues combo. worth stepping away from the bar to check otit. I The Charge l.ord Darnley'. West Port. 2204341. 10pm. Free.
I Live band ( 'ay ern. (‘ow'gate. 2265641. l'nconlirmed.
SATURDAY 29
Glasgow
I Origin Sins aitd Dexter Slim andthe Pickups The Rev ue. 244 (iallow gate. 552 4601. ltlprn. The tourcontinues.
I Balaam and the Angel Queen Margaret l'nion.1.'niyersity(iardcns.33‘)‘)784. ‘)pm. One of many extremely dull bands that seem to clutter tip the bowelsof Virgin Records. Fortunately they have much better than this.
Edinburgh
I Frank Chickens Mitsic Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. Japanese art terrorism duo with backing tapes and a neat line in withering wit. back for their first show here in a long while.
I Dogs D‘Amour and Baby's Got a Gun 1 lard Rock ('afe. Venue. ('alton Road. 557 3073. This. however. is the place to be to rock otit tonight. lidinburgh's Baby's(iot a (iun have apparently improved 1000 per cent. btit are still shy about sending demos otir way. (‘an't quite see them follow the Hanoi Rocks-y style of Dogs D'Amour. whose last 45 tnade the Top Three in one of the hard rock charts.
I We Free Kings aitd Very Very \Vee Red Bar. (‘ollege of Art. Lauristort Place. 22‘) 1442. ‘)pm. £2.50 (£1 .50 [I B40). Tw'o rather disparate bands join forces fora benefit in aid of Iidinburgh's Anti-Poll Tax groups.
I After Eight Mince Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 6313. ‘)pm. Free. Jazz-funk. I The Charge Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 2263816. £1 after‘).30pm.
I Bulb Cormorant Lord Darnley. West Port. 22‘) 434 l. Afternoon. Free.
I Rootsie Tootsie Blues Band l.ord Darnley . West Port. 22‘) 4341 . 10pm. Free.
I Live band ('av ern. (‘ow'gate. 226 5641. l‘nconfirmed.
SUNDAY 30 Glasgow
I Mica Paris Pavilion Theatre. 121 Renfield Street. 332 1846. 7.30pm. Mica's showcase in Glasgow earlier this year was stunning. and no doubt the subsequent success will have greatly boosted her confidence. \Vords Into Action would be (‘hristmas .\'o l contender ifanyone at the record company is reading.
I The Silencers and The McGluskey Brothers The Mayfair. 470 Sauchiehall Street. 332 3872. With special additions. the .\tc(‘luskey Brothers for this show only.
I Uriah Heep arid Glasgow Barrow'land. 244 (iallow'gate. 552 4601. 7.30pm. (‘elebrating their eighteenth year. the bat news is that the 20th anniversary. the 21st anniversary and Silver Jubilee Tours are still to come from Uriah l leep. (ilasgow
THE WEDDING PRESENT I
David Gedge of the Wedding Present, latest in a long line of Leeds cult heroes, has just spent hours slotting the band’s newsletter into envelopes. ‘This time we've got a competition in which you’ve got to guess The Wedding Present's combined weight.‘
‘I get a lot of people writing personally to me and pouring their hearts out over tour pages of loolscap. Atterthat you’re not going to get someone else to write back and say, “David Gedge is unable to reply personally, but thanks for your letter", are you? Anyway, I don't think that anyone reads any great meaning into my lyrics. I suppose the “great meaning" itself is writing about everyday things. I’m basically just one of Iile‘s observers.’
The Wedding Present's real distinguishing lealure is David Gedge’s amiablyjaundiced sense of humour. ‘I think life’s really tunny, and the situations you get yourself info. You know, like when you‘re walking through town with a strange looking object and everybody's looking at you. And even though it's boiling hot and you’re wearing your thickest coat you can't help laughing at yourself for looking so stupid. Books are pretty good too. I mean, Kalka‘s “The Trial". He goes through all that, and of course it’s obvious he’s guilty. Another one is “The Mayor of Casterbridge”. We were doing that in the sixth form, and there’s this really tragic graveyard scene, and
: v " I' loads at people in the class started to cry. All I wanted to do was laugh. It moved me to tears 100— in a way.‘
In an era of production-line pop and an age where marketing has ultimately subverted meaning in the rush to shift units, The Wedding Present and their thrash tunes remain one of the few palatable antidotes to the Eighties disease. Theirs is no petulant rejection of the established order, but instead is a working through of their desire to create something pleasing to themselves and others.
‘We are a real thriving cottage industry, and doing our own record label means that we are not divorced from the realities of actually selling records, like we would do if we were signed to a major. It’s got to the point now where I am notwilling to take this success thing to its extreme. We’ve neverdone anything that hasn’t pleased us. We are deliberately sellish. And we've never given away bubble bath with our records.“
(Adam Green)
are definitely one of the better local hard rock bands. and ltave been for many years I The Blues Bumsl.a'1'aniet-e. 15Fox Street. 221 4844. ‘)pm. Free.
I Barky Barky and Guests ('umbcrnauld [Initcd ('lub. (’timbernatild Village. 8pm £3 £2. A special benelit to help Barky Barky raise money to replace a recently stolen drum machine. Among the local bands appearing on the bill are The
Thiey es. Ave The Poll Tax (who used to be Swing The (at ). Big T ed's Party. Subterl‘uge and the Screaming Demons.
Edinburgh
I Deacon Blue Play house Theatre. (ireenside Place. 55" 2500. S011) ()1 'T. See feature.
I Bluelinger Mitsic Box. Victoria Street. 220 1208. £1 alter ‘)pm. Frlties- and Sixties—ianuenced rock. currently pulling in ftill houses every week.
I Mind's Eye and Cobra Soundcheck Rock ('lub. Venue. (‘alton Road. 557 3073. 7.30pm. £1.50. Popular weekly heavy rocl elttb.
I The Tex Fillet Five Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 6313. ‘)pm. Free. 'l'ongue in cheek country arid western. with Boonie Ratsassociations.
I Charlie and her Sheepdogs Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. £1 after 9pm.
I Live band ('avern. ('owgate. 226 5641 . L'nconfirmed.
MEYE— Glasgow
I The Rhythm and Blues Revue 'l‘lte Mayfair. 470 Sauehiehall Street. 332 3872. ‘)pm. £5. Special event featuring. among others. Spencer Davis and Zoot Money. Sectns to be a good week for revitalising flagging careers.
I Halcyon Days La Taniere. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. ‘)pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I The Varikose Veins. Vatican Shotgun Scare and The Zorch Men \‘entie. ( ‘iilton Road. 5.57 .3075. £2.50 ( £2 ). Also concessions for people in fancy dress. lidirtbtirgh Musicians ( ’ollcctrve llallowe'en party.
I King BiscuitTime Mtisic Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. ‘).30pm. l-rec. (iritty blues.
I Swing Shitt Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. ‘).30prn Free. Pttnchy rock. avoiding many of the cliches ol 'the big sound‘ that might be evpectcd. bttt jumpingheadlong intoothers.
I Johnny Sunbeam \cgociants. l.othian Street. 2256313. ‘)pm. Free.
TUESDAY 1 Glasgow
I Al Stewart and Big Bam Boo Pavilion Theatre. 121 Renfield Street. 332 1846. Another person that most people thought (and others hoped) they had seen the last of. Al has a new album and single. and it will be interesting to see the pulling power ofthis gig. Big Barn Boo are a potentialy good. but as yet unfocused fusion of cyery'thitigbtrt the kitchen sink. il'their debut single Fell Off A Mountain. is anything togoby.
I Rich Free Fall Bar Luxembourg. 1‘)? Pitt Street. 332 1111. 10pm. Free. Hard working band. if nothing else?
I Bobby Wishart l lalt Bar. 160 Woodlands Road. 332 1210. ‘)pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I The Rhythm 'n' Blues Revue Music Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. t'iimissablc line-tipof legends Spencer l)avres(w from Steve Winwood should vaguely remember). the towering Zoot Money. drumtncr Pete York (no relation ) from the
original Spencer Davies Group and guitarist Miller Anderson. whose licks have been heard on records by . among others. Keel l lartley . Savoy Brown anti T-Rex. Miss 11 not.
I Texas Breakfast \egocianfs. l.othia'i Street. 225 6313. ‘)pm. Free. See Fri 28. I The Rootsie Tootsie Blues Band Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. ‘).30pm. Free.
I Live band ( 'ay errt. ('owgate. 2265641 . l'nconlirmed.
WEDNESDAY 2 Glasgow
I The D‘Jays Pay ilioir Theatre. 121 Rettlield Street. 3.32 1846. 7.30pm. ('omeback week continues. Odds are now being placed on how many ol'thcorrginals are left.
I Rich Fisx. 86 Miller Street. 248 285‘). 10pm. Free. (iood pop soul band. with polished by e performance. Should be signed soon.
IThe Foremosls Henry Afrika's. 15 York Street. 221 61 1 1. 10pm. 11 is easicrlor Sixties musicians to get gigs in ( ilasgovv than contemporary ones. Fact
I Marino's Men 1 tall Bar. 1611\Voodlartds Road. 332 1210. ‘)pm. Free
Edinburgh
I The Wedding Present ()iicen's 1 tall. Sotith ( ’lerk Street. 668 3456. ".30pm. £5.51). See partel.
I Blue on ShDCk Mtisic Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. 9.30pm. Free. From somewhere in the Kirkcaldy area. B()S released a brassy . sadly oy erlooked single last year. slightly reminiscent of some of Spear of Destiny 's sttifl'. (‘ould be interesting.
I Jack Hammer Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 (1313.
I Live band (’avet'n. (‘owgatc. 2265641 . l'ncorrlirmed.
THURSDAY 3 Glasgow
I Win The Sub ( ~ltib. 22 .lanraica Street. 248 4600. 10.30pm. First in a regular series of Thursday evening gigs at the SlihCllll). takingover' from last year's l-itr'y Murrys' slot.gi\en that Ftrryssecm to besiaking their future irt acid (house. that is). A bit short-sighted ilyotr ask me. \Vin'snew recordings don‘t excite me unduly. btit may be lurthe r exposure w ill cony tncc.
I The Mass Lads'l‘he Revue. :44 (iallowgafe. 552 4601. 10pm. First gig ill (ilasgt m for a band vv ho rate themselves as being able to offend ever vone. Which is farrcnough it that's what you enjoy doing. I The Highlanders Napoleoits. Merry lee Road. ‘)pm. Virgin’s latest btigltt pop hopefuls. and much better than Balaam And The Angel ('tirr‘ent single. Tell Me Things. is worth investigation.
IJump The Gun l.a 'l'anier'e. 15 Fox Street. 2214844.‘)prit. Free Another regular [.a 'l'aniere band.
Edinburgh
I Dr Feelgood Music Boy. Victoria Street. 220 1708. Maximumum RtVB. Though only 1.ee Bt‘illeatix remains from the classic line-up. he knows how it'stliirie_ and there‘s nodotibl that this w ill be packed otit. It's a bit of a shock tothirtk that at one time they could get to the topof the album chart in the first w eekol' release.
I Skin Games Venue. (‘alton Road. 557 3073. See panel.
I The Dan Blocker Experience Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 6313. ‘)pm. Free. Having lost a number of their mernbersto The Proclaimers. the Blockers have recouped their strength artd continue full steam ahead. embracing both satire and truly affecting ballads. And how can you miss otit on a band that remakes 'l.ove \Vill Tear L's Apart' as a country and western duet'.’
38The List 28 ()et — 10 Nov 1988