MUSIC LIST/ROCK
1988 could reasonably be put down as a bad year for Davey Scott oi Hearts and . Minds. His record deal with CBS was disintegrating due to a complete lack oi etiort on behaii ot the ASH department, there were management problems, and not a single gig or record release between February and December.
By contrast, 1989 will be a good year ior Hearts and Minds. Assuming the quick resolution oi lingering contract problems with CBS, Hearts and Minds are now in the possession oi Scott’s best ever songs, the best ever live lncamatlon oi the band (Mil Stricevic on loan irom Big Sur on bass and the ever present Jim Gash on drums are joined by two keyboard players) and their best chance 01 reaching a large record buying public yet.
How CBS, Scott’s home tor the last two and hail years have tailed to see the maturing oi his songwriting remains a long and complicated story- but Davey attempted to relive some oi it: ‘Aher the tirst single came out their whole attitude to the whole project seemed to slacken oit considerably. There was no enthusiasm there at all - not that there had been much there belorehand - and it ended up that we started bickering about the songs and what songs we ieit were right to go on the LP. it just developed into a big argument like that, and there is no way FRIDAY 1 0
Glasgow
I The Blow Monkeys and Wild Weekend Queen Margaret Union. University Gardens, 339 9784. 9pm. While the excellent duet with Kim Myzelle seems to have resurrected Doctor Robert’s career, it has to be said that the new, and much delayed album, Whoops! There GoesThe Neighbourhood, is very disappointing. Nevertheless, the good doctor's sense of camp made for a good gig at Barrowland last year, and Wild Weekend are a pleasant, if not totally inspiring or innovative pop band who have a single, Breaking Up out on EMI at the moment. I Big George and the Business LaTaniere, 15 Fox Street, 221 4844. 9pm. Free. Still no sign of his live album promised last year — but plenty of gigs to make up for that. Edinburgh
I Texas and The River Detectives Venue, Calton Road, 557 3073. Glasgow band Texas' dizzying climb of the singles chart with their very first 45, ‘1 Don‘t Want a Lover‘ is shocking a nation. But The River Detectives, with the ink barely dry on their WEA contract, are tipped to do the same kind of business when they get around to putting some product out.
I The Heaters Preservation Hall, Victoria Street, 226 3816. £1 after9.30pm. Rhythm‘n‘blues.
I Bo’Weevll Lord Darnley, West Port, 229 4341. 10pm. Free. Rhythm‘n‘blues.
38 The List 10 — 23 February
oi getting it sorted out because they are just so intransigent.’
‘It ended up that i decided to have a change oi management, to split up the band and try to restructure. At the start oi as I tried to get a new band, get some new songs together and get some new management in, but even that didn’t do any good. I am not completely out oi that situation yet- as tar as they are concerned they are not working with Hearts and Minds any more, but we have had no oiiiclal word on it yet, so it is still an ongoing situation that we are trying to resolve. But with the corporate mentality it eventually gets to the stage where you arguing over whether they will pay ioryourtraln ticket to London, you wonder why you bother.’
At the height oi a bad situation, Davey decided to reionn the live band, regardless oi the advice he was being given at the time. (‘I had been to see a
SATURDAY 11 Glasgow
I Texas and The Acoustic Hlver Detectives Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street, 332 0681. 9pm. Texas have done amazingly well in the first few weeks ofthe release oftheir I Don't Need A Lover single. Despite its great intro, the single is a bit of a disappointment, but the B-side Believe Me is rather wonderful. As are the River Detectives — all the time.
I The Shamen and The Hummingbirds and The Stretch Heads Strathclydc University Union, 52 John Street, 552 1895. 9pm. A respected and authoritative voice recently offered the opinion, ‘1 like the Shamen- they are so dumb.‘ Perhaps the appeal is caught in one. Anyway, they have a new album, in Gorbachev We Trust, and are currently looking hard for a new promotional scam. The Hummingbirds were deserved winners of The List demo competition, and the Stretch Heads, who also have an album out just now, are entertaining torture if that‘s not a contradiction in terms.
I Dexter Slim and the Pickups and The Elliots Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free. The Elliots are back! Back! The world waits with baited breath. Dexter Slim have never been away in the first place.
I Dig George and the Business LaTaniere, 15 Fox Street, 221 4844. 3pm. Free. Saturday afternoon blues - and nothing to do with Rangers.
I Rough and Ready La Taniere, 15 Fox Street, 221 4844. 9pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Cincinnati Rock Cafe, Venue, Calton Road. 557 3073. With its name abbreviated from Hard Rock Cafe, the Caff is now concentrating on the less abrasive side of metal, saving the (very popular) thrash stuff for another night.
gig and just tell so jealous ol the bands that were on stage.') This rebirth saw new llie being breathed into excellent songs like Memphis In The Rain, Trixie's Lover and i Don’t Want To Be Sacred, which show a broadening oi the small town (Falkirk) horizons which bounded many oi Davey's earlier lyrics. While Jim reckons this is wholly down to watching Neighbours, Davey has a diiterent explanation: ‘With this year, Ithlnk l have been kicked in the nuts one too many times, and you do get a sense oi world wearlness through bad experiences, which open up your mind to otherthlngs. Most ot the songs are tairly autobiographical- like i Don't Want to be Sacred is basically about the last year: it is kind oi saying I don’t want the world, but i wouldn't mind something . . . some justice. So, it is a song about trying to stand back and get some perspective on your liie.’
Having overcome the problems caused by ‘being involved with major record companies beiore l was out oi nappies almost’ Davey Scott and Hearts and Minds collectively are playing regularly in the next iew weeks, with the tlrst gig at the Cotton Club on 16th February. Their ambition ior 1989 is to achieve something that they have never done beiore, and that is to put records out. This is something their growing legion oi ians in Glasgow, and the record buying public generally should badly want. Hopetuiiy this will be the year to see it happen. (John Williamson)
Cincinnati will not make your ears bleed. I Makossa Preservation Hall, Victoria Street. 226 3816. £1 after 9.30pm. Reggae and soul. Well worth dropping in.
I Texas Breakfast Negociants, Lothian Street, 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Proficient rhythm’n‘blues combo.
I Bulb Cormorant Lord Darnley, West Port, 229 4341. Afternoon. Free.
I Charlie and Her Sheepdogs Lord Darnley, West Port, 229 4341. 10pm. Free. Rock and blues.
SUNDAY 12 Glasgow
I King Bees Duo La Taniere, 15 Fox Street, 221 4844. 9pm. Free. Acoustic blues. Fo'rmerly the Burden Blues Breakers.
I Four Bands Videodrome, York Street. 7.30pm. Line up still to be confirmed, but a short collection of songs from four relatively unknown bands.
Edinburgh
I The Shamen and The Stretch Heads Venue, Calton Road, 557 3073. Stripped down to a two-piece core, augmented by electronics and helpers, let’s see ifthey have managed to retain the strong presentation that the four-piece finally achieved just before they split up. The Stretch Heads are aptly named in this particular support slot. Reviews of both bands' new LPs should be found in this issue‘s groaningly-full Listen! section.
I Vatican Shotgun Scare Oddfellows, Forrest Road, 220 1816. Indie (though unsigned) quartet from Edinburgh. Their sparse repetition reminds me in a way of early Banshees.
I Warren Peace St James Oyster Bar, Calton Road. 9pm. Free. Mainstream
P0P-
I Jim Condie and lion Tate Negociants, Lothian Street, 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Ex~Tam White guitarist and lead
plectrum-packer from The Rootsie Tootsie Band get down to it.
I Live band Preservation Hall, Victoria Street, 226 3816. £1 after 9pm. Still to be confirmed.
MONDAY 13 Edinburgh
I Botany 500 Venue, Calton Road. 557 3073. Recent reports say that Botany 500 are the most-improved band in town, and their demo suggests that this is indeed so. Mainstream pop.
I Love and The Gun Preservation Hall, Victoria Street, 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free. I Johnny Sunbeam Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free.
TUESDAY 14
Glasgow
I Big Country and Diesel Park West Barrowland. 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601 . 7.30pm. While it is very hard to like Big Country in spite of their obvious good intentions, it is equally difficult to dislike Diesel Park West, whose album, Shakespeare Alabama is already a serious contender for the debut album of the year. Also it is available for a mere £3.99 (1p and cassette) and £6.99 (ed) until the end of February. A wise investment.
I The Beautliul Suit and The Steel Chain Fixx, 86 Miller Street, 248 2859. 9.30pm. Free. Two good Edinburgh bands, who finished second and third in The List demo competition. The Beautiful Suit are appealineg shambolic with some great pop songs along the way, while the Steel Chain are solid, professional and improving substantially.
I Fallen Hero La Taniere, 15 Fox Street, 221 4844. 9pm. Free.
I Bobby Wishart Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Martin Stephenson and Gipsy Dave Smith George Square Theatre. So is Martin Stephenson a prodigiously talented and confessional singer-songwriter, the figurehead of aspiring bedsit artistes everywhere? As the salty old sea dog said, Opinion is divided on the subject. [‘11 give you my thoughts on the matter if 1 can keep awake long enough.
I The Tex Fillet Five Negociants, Lothian Street, 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Country. I The Rootsie Tootsie Blues Band Preservation Hall, Victoria Street, 226 3816. 9.30pm. Free. Rhythm’n‘blues.
I Los Supremos St James Oyster Bar, Calton Road. 9pm. Free. Country blues.
WEDNESDAY 15 Glasgow
I Martin Stephenson Henry Wood Hail, Claremont Street. 7.30pm. Solo gig for the main Daintee in the potentially interesting surroundings ofthe S.N.O Centre. Good songwriter. but I have always found Daintees gigs a bit twee. for lack ofa better word.
I Big Country and Diesel Park West Barrowland, 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601. 7.30pm. See Tuesday.
I Live Band Fixx, 86 Miller Street, 248 2859. 9.30pm. Free. As yet unconfirmed, but I am assured it will be someone good. I She Cried La Taniere, 15 Fox Street,221 4844. 9pm. Free.
I Marlno's Men Halt Bar, 160Woodlands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free.
I Dexter Slim and the Pickups Bruce Hotel. East Kilbride.
Edinburgh
I Woodrow Wilson Negociants, Lothian Street, 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free. Blues singer making quite a name for himself around town. Worth checking out.
I Mike C. Smith Trader Vic‘s, Victoria Street, 225 6569. 9. 30pm. Free. Middle of the road singer-songwriter.