MUSIC LIST/ ROCK
WIN
Davy Henderson will hate me tor saying it, but Win are back.
‘A lot ol the time,’ he says, ‘there were huge gaps between releases when we were with London Records. It was nearly a year between “You’ve Got the Power” and the next single “Shampoo Tears”, and there were various re-releases and remixes oi “You’ve Got the Power”. A year between singles is not a good way to build up any kind of profile. Every time we release something, it’s “Win are back”, as it we’ve been away somewhere.’
The bugs aren't all ironed out yet. The release at the torthcomlng Virgin LP, ‘Freaky Trigger’, has been put back to
March, despite being linlshed five months ago, and containing the best music Win have yet laid down on tape. out the track ‘Love Units’ has been released as a taster, and Win headline at Glasgow Dueen Margaret Union on Friday 27 and Edinburgh Dueen’s Hall on Sunday 29. At any rate, there’s less likelihood ot a recurrence of the situation that lett ‘one at the tew jewels that shine out in this bad bad world’ with a top-selling LP in Scotland but absolutely no recognition nationwide.
‘It was just stupid,’ says Davy now ot the band’s alliance with London Records. ‘They spent about quarter ot a million pounds on us, and have nothing to show tor it.’
Maybe so, but there was a while then that Win seemed to be trying to be too clevertortheir own good. The album in question, ‘Uh! Tears Baby’, could be seen as an extended comment on consumerism, with tongue lodged tlrmly in cheek, and tunes merely occurring as a by-product at The Message. Davy agrees, but only up to a point.
‘A while ago we were trying to do a certain kind ol thing. Like on our last album, which was purely designed to get into the charts, I suppose. Crafted. out the songs had some quite mundane melodies— or not mundane, more sort ot nursery rhyme jingles, like in adverts. All that’s past now. It’s a wrapper that’s been disposed ol.’
’The new stutt tor me is a lot rougher, it’s got more edge and more guitars. We did more things we want to on this
album than betore. We had a lot more control and got a lot more agressive in the studio with the people we were working with. We’re happier with the songs. They’re simpler and they’re more c’ontident and there’s a lot less ideas in them.“ There’s not a lot ot really pompous bullshit in there, which was basically just uncontidence.’
Win’s last live outing was as opening act to The Proclaimers, a strange combination tor audiences there to hear ’Letter From America’.
’People say that. ldidn't really see that at all. The Proclaimers are a chart success, they’re a pop band, although they’ve certainly been labelled a tolk band. ljust see them as a Scottish pop band, and I thought it would be really good because they have a cross-the-board audience. And we got a really good response. I didn'tthink it was strange at all. They’ve been on "Top ot the Pops”, Christ, they've been on kids TV. That’s where I want to be.’
From the days when Win was the studio-bound trio ot Davy, Russell Burn and tan Stoddart Win has expanded to a six-piece live band, augmented by a microcomposer, but alter this crop ot dates they plan to put the computer back in the cupboard and get a real bassist.
’Then we want to get about 15 singers. That was the initial idea: to have at least 25 people on a stage and sing songs, but it costs a belt at a lot of money.’ (Mab)
year‘s Next Big Thing, but no one wanted to know. Still. the big record company money is behind them, so here they come for another go.
I April in Paris Preservation Hall, Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free.
I Johnny Sunbeam Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free.
I Mark Parry Trader Vic‘s. Victoria Street. 225 6569. 9.30pm. Free. Cover versions.
TUESDAY 31
Glasgow
I Willard Grace La Tanicre, 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. Any possible explanations ofthe name should be sent on a self addressed envelope to . . .
I Bobby Wishart Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free. Someone who is guaranteed to be playing every week in Glasgow
Edinburgh
I Good and Gone Oddfellows, Forrest Road. 220 1816. Their most recent recordings show them still ploughing their furrow of electric Waits-ian blues. Enjoyable band.
I Tex Fillet Five Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Tongue-in-cheek country and western, not for the purists.
I Blueprint Preservation Hall, Victoria Street, 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free.
WEDNESDAY 1 Glasgow
I Live Band Fixx, 86 Miller Street. 248 2859. 10pm. Free. As yet no act confirmed, though.
I Philander’s Tricycle La Tanicre, 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. Adifficult name - hopefully the music/performance is more accessible.
I Marino’s Men Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free. Formerly
Naifan - this is another long standing residency at the Halt.
Edinburgh
I Hitzer Ebb Venue, Calton Road. 557 3073. Beneficiaries of the short-lived Balearic boom. and getting a lot of press in their own right. Nitzer Ebb specialise in electronic dance music. Their planned tour last month had to be called offwhen their backing tapes were stolen.
I Dave Robb Negociants. Lothian Street. 2256313. 9.45pm. Free. First ofa stringof gigs this fortnight by the local folk singer with an impressive clutch ofsongs. His stint on The Proclaimers' recent tour resulted in a demo tape with bass and drums backing up his chiming bouzouki-playing to good effect. Watch this man.
I Mike C. Smith Trader Vic‘s. Victoria Street, 225 6569. 9.30pm. Free. Acoustic singer-songwriter. also plays Eagles. Beatles. etc. and requests.
THURSDAY 2 Glasgow
I Hitzer Ebb Fury Murrys. 96 Maxwell Street. 221 6511. 10.30pm. Followingthe cancellation of their pre Christmas gig at the Revue due to the theft of theirbacking tapes. here they are in Glasgow at last with a new single, Hearts and Minds. and an album, Belief. in your friendly neighbourhood record store now.
I Swing Shift La Tanicre, 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free.
I Circus Club Cotton Club. 10.30pm—2.30am. £2.50. Rich, Slice and Woodrow Wilson and, special guest from the Funny Farm. Parrot.
Edinburgh
I Boxing Clever Venue. Calton Road, 557 3073. £2 (£1 with ticket). Contrary to what we may have claimed last issue, Boxing Clever have just signed a publishing. not a
recording deal. with BMG Music. The latter is probably not too far away. Undemanding but pleasant local pop.
I The Dan Blocker Experience Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Adaptable and very proficient country group. the Blockers are worth trying even ifyou‘re not normally partial to that kind of music.
I The Brothers Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9.30pm. Residency.
I Dave Robb St James Oyster Bar. Calton Road. See Wed 1.
I Johnny Steele Trader Vic‘s. Victoria Street. 225 6569. 9.30pm. Free. Australian singer-songwriter. recently finished a tour with The Platters.
FRIDAY 3
Glasgow
I James Taylor Quartet Glasgow College of Technology, 70 Cowcaddens Road. 332 0681. 9pm (to be confirmed). Had the promise to be a Booker '1” and the MGsfor the 1990s before being diverted by the rather futile exercise in acid jazz around the time of their patchy debut album. Wait A Minute. Now that acid jazz has had its two minutes of hipness. where does that leave them? Hopefully a change for the better.
I Darky Darky La Tanicre, 15 Fox Street. 2214844.9pm. Free. I seem to remember
' their tape being one ofthe betterentrants
in the recent List demo competition, so hopefully that promise can translate into the live context.
Edinburgh
I Jesse Rae Venue, Calton Road, 557 3073. Yes, 1 know it barely seems a week since Jesse announced his retirement from the biz, but he‘s got good reason forthis comeback: a live (all-female, all-Scottish) backing band, which is really what he’s been crying out for after all those personal appearances relying on unsatisfying video
backup. Expect a rejuvenated Rae. I The Kitchen Devils Preservation Hall, Victoria Street. 226 3816.121 after 9.30pm.
SATURDAY 4 Glasgow
I Rough and Ready La Tanicre, 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. More blues based music. a mixture oforiginals and covers of Carl Perkins/Jimi Hendrix songs.
Edinburgh
I The James Taylor Duartet Zoot Cub. Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073. Anyone who didn‘t happen to hear Taylor‘s (no relation) version of the Srarsky and Hutch theme. with its masterly horn arrangement. should pick up a copy ofhis current LP Waira Minute forthwith. And then pop on down here for some swingin‘ stuff. Should be a busy and sweaty gig.
I Avalon Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 2263816. £1 after9.30pm. Folk rock.
I Vatican Shotgun Scare Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Leading lights in the Edinburgh Musicians Collective. their martial tread and experimental female vocals occasionally recall early Banshees.
SUNDAY 5 Glasgow
I Hollow Horse and She Cried The Videodrome. York Street. 7.30pm. Hollow Horse promise me that they have overhauled their previous live set to good effect. Already having a few good songs, notany Obsession, to work on. this should be a good gig.
I King Bees Duo La Tanicre. 15 Fox
Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. See last Sunday.
Edinburgh
I Bluetinger Music Box, Victoria Street, 2201708.“ after9pm.
I Jim Condie and Ron Tate Negociants, Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. See Sun 29.
I Dave Robb Young‘s Bar, Leamington Terrace. See Wed 1.
I Blues Crew Preservation Hall, Victoria Street. 2263816. £1 after9pm.
MONDAY 6 Edinburgh
I Death by Milktloat, Archbishop Kebab (to be confirmed) and Vatican Shotgun Scare Venue. Calton Road, 557 3073.
I Light Preservation Hall, Victoria Street, 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free.
I Johnny Sunbeam Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free.
I Mark Parry Trader Vic‘s, Victoria Street. 225 6569. 9.30pm. Free. Cover versions.
Glasgow
I Change in the Weather La Tanicre, 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. An exciting name. eh ’viewers‘? Described as ’light rock‘. which may or may not be abad thing.
I Bobby Wishart Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free. Asalways.
Edinburgh
I Dave Robb Oddfellows, Forrest Road, 2201816. Free.See Wed 1.
I The Tex Fillet Five Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. See Tues 31 .
I The Rootsie Tootsie Band Preservation Hall. Victoria Street, 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free. Bluesy.
Rock Listings continue on next spread
42 The List 27 January — 9 February