MUSIC LIST/ROCK
— KING SWAMP
They’re not a cajun or creole group, though they did have their beginnings on the banks of the Mississippi. New Orleans may turn out to be the replacement for the ‘Melody Maker‘ classifieds with the number of British musicians sojourning there now. King Swamp was formed when Dave Allen, once bassist with the Gang of Four and Shriekback, and keyboard player Steve Halliwell found themselves in New York, and the two embarked on a musical partnership which was to take them to a run-down house outside New Orleans. With just the two of them, plus local musicians coming to the house to contribute to the tracks being written on an 8-track tape recorder, they were on the lookout for people with whom they could form a permanent group. Picking up World Party’s guitarist Dominic Miller in New Orleans, drummer Martyn Baker in Nassau and singer WalterWray in Belgium via Sheffield, they went into the studio to record their first LP, just called ‘King Swamp’, in the spring and summer of last year.
They have left America, butAmerica has not left them. Their robust riffs would be good music for pushing the foot down to the floor to, on a wide empty highway. Drawing on the Rolling Stones’ bequest to rock'n’roll King Swamp weartheir love of R&B prominently on their sleeves, though this might not be the rootsy blues-rock band that some of the purchasers of the album might have expected.
King Swamp’s main sound is based
on a more thoughtful variant of the radio-friendly rock that holds sway over the record business in America, and the Bob Clearmountain mix of the LP ensures that it leaps out, even through my ancient speakers and budget deck, with CD clarity.
The blues connection surtaces occasionally, but more often than not tarted up as strutting rock. At other times, highly personalised and twisted around in post-punk fashion, King Swamp sound like they‘re getting somewhere. Less overtly commercial songs like ‘Louisiana Bride’ and ‘The Sacrament’ are more interesting, and show their versatility and talent oft better than when they are lured by the temptation of easy terrace-chant choruses.
Whatever the weaknesses of the album, it does promise much for the band’s live appearances, which happen to be at the Edinburgh Venue (supported by Baby’s Got a Gun) on Wednesday 8 and Glasgow Fury Murry‘s on Thursday 9. (Mab)
I Slaughterhouse Psychos. The Decomposed and Ugly as Sin ( ‘laremont llotel. (‘laremont ('resccnt. 556 1487. lidinburgh ltardcore battd. fresh from sttpporting The Iixploited last nigltt. lteadline above thrash pttnk metal bands from l)unfertttline and lidinburgh respectively.
I Guy Clark St Bride‘s (‘ommunity ( 'entrc.
()rwell Place. A seminal figure in the new
wave of country music. 'l‘exas-born (‘lark has seen his songs covered by all the greats attd is acknowledged by the younger stars as being art important influence.
I Yes Yes Juliette ’I‘evint Row Stttdcnt l'nion. 'l'eviot Row . M7 2119]. ('atchyattd ftttt local pop group.
I Avalon Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 2203810. £1 after‘).3(lpm. Folk-rock.
the
SILENCERS
PLUS SPECIAL GUEST
THE RIVER DETECTIVES
EDINBURGH QUEENS HALL, SUN 5th MARCH GLASGOW PAVILION, TUES 7th MARCH
HUE&CRY
ABERDEEN CAPITOL, TUES Ibfh MAY DUNDEE CAIRD HALL, WED 17th MAY EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE, FRI 19th MAY
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
TICKETS FROM THEATRE BOX OFFICES AND, IN GLASGOW FROM VIRGIN AND THE OTHER RECORD SHOP. IN EDINBURGH,
FROM VIRGIN, RIPPING RECORDS 8: FROM T.O.C.T.A. THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND TEL: 031-557 6969
I The Heal Lord Darnley. West Port. 22‘) 4341. lllpm. Free.
I The Reason Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 6313. 9.45pm. Free.
SATURDAY 4 Glasgow
I New Model Army attd Fuse Queen Margaret Union. University (iardctts. 33‘) 9784. 9pm. The idea ofworking witlt Tom Dowd seemed both adventurous and interesting but the outcome seems to be the same cumbersome rock music. which isa shame really.
I Last Minute llalt Bar. lbIIWoodIands Road. 332 1210. 9pm. Free.
I Big George and the Business l.a Tanicrc. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 3pm. Free.
I Rough and Ready La Tatticre. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Excalibur Rock Cafe. Venue. ('alton Road. 557 3073. Heavy rock.
I Bluefinger Platform ()ne. (‘aledonian Ilotel. Rutland Street. Residency. Rhythm‘n'blues.
I Bulb Cormorant l.ord Darnley. West Port. 229 4341. Afternoon. Free. Residency.
I Avalon Lord Darnley. West Port. 22‘) 4341. 10pm. Free. Folk-rock.
I Texas Breaktast Preservation t Iall. Victoria Street. 226 3816.151 after‘).3(lpm. Rhythmn'n‘blues.
SUNDAY 5 Glasgow
I Paris Texas and Twin Towns The Videodrome. York Street. 8pm. And with the promise of special guest star as well.
I King Bees Duo La Taniere. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. See last Sunday.
Edinburgh
I Gary Moore Playhouse Theatre. Greensido Place. 557 2590. 7.30pm. £10. £9. The axeman cometh.
I The Silencers Queen‘s Hall. South (‘lerk Street. (>68 2019. On tour to promote the finally-released LP Blues For Btuldu/t. hopefully The Silencers will recapture some of the atmosphere that made their last gigs so memorable.
I I‘LB. The Moshpit. Venue. L‘alton
Road. 557 31173. 7.31L I lpnt. Formerly with American all-black hardcore band Bad Brains. who created a stir by introducing reggae ittto their sets. singer Joseph I. or 1 l.R.. is now doing thingsltis own way . fusing yet more styles intoa hard-hitting whole.
I Spiral Dance l’rescry ation llall. Victoria Street. 3303810. {I atter‘Ipnt. Run of the mill pop.
I Warren Peace St .lantcs ( )y stcr Bar. (‘alton Road. 0pm. Free. Residency. \tainstreatn pop.
MONDAY 6
Glasgow
I The Big Dish attd The Kevin McDermott Orchestra l’avilion‘I‘lteatre. I2l Renticld Street. 332 757‘). 7.30pm. .-\n itttportattt gig for botlt bands. The Big l)tsh.‘recently dropped by Virgin. are looking for a new record deal. attd will hopefully oy ercontc their notoriously erratic live performances of the past to show those that matter the strength of their songs. For the Kevin McDermott ()rchestra. this is their first hometown gig for years arid precedes the release of their w ondcrful debttt album. Mother Nature's Kile/It'll.
I Between The Lines l.a 'l‘atticre. I5 l-m Street. 221 4844. 0pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Randy Newman I’layhouse ‘l‘heatre. (irccnside Place. 557 25‘)“. (‘.’\N(‘l{l.l.l{l).
IJohnny Sunbeam Negociants. l.otltian Street. 225 (613. 9.45pm. Free.
I Spring Heeled Jack l’reset'y atiott l lall. Victoria Street. 22ft 3810. ‘lfillpm. Free.
TUESDAY 7
Glasgow
I The Silencers and The River Detectives Pavilion'l'hcatrc. l2l RcttticldStreet.332 757‘). 7.3(lpnt. I wonder ifthc pulling capacity of the Silencers is enough to fill the l’avilion‘.’ Repeated listening suggests that their ttew albttttt. .-1 Blues 1-m- Btuldltu. is unlikely to win them many new fans. with its largely pleasattt yet undemanding set. This howeycr. also marks the first appearance in ( ilasgow this year of the Iilectric River Detectives. attd that alone tttakcs the admission mortey worth every penny .
I The Wild River Apples 'l'l . Bandstand. Napoleons. I33 .‘ylert'ylee Road. 9pm. Ilttgely promising band. already lay ishly praised itt these pages. and dcset'y cdly so. (‘Remember wlterc you heard it first' copyright. Billy Sloan W22)
I Sneak Preview l.a 'l'anicre. l5 l-‘os Street. 22! 4844. 9pm. Free. More of the satne. See last 'I‘uesday.
Edinburgh
I The Tex Fillet Five Negociants. l.otltiatt Street. 225 0313. 0.45pm. Free. ( 'ountry. IThe Charge Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 22ft 38H». 0.30pm. Free.
I Los Supremos St .latttes()yslct' liar. (‘alton Road. 9pm. Free. Residency. (‘ountry blues.
WEDNESDAY 8 Glasgow
I Touch Fixx. 8ft Miller Street. 248 285‘). Illpm. Free. Featuring the effortlessly brilliant vocals of(‘arol I.aula. Some good songs too.
I Deaf Heights Cajun Aces and Macumba Fury Murrys. ‘)(i Maxwell Street. 221
()51 l. 10.30pm. l)caflleightsyou know and love hate; Macumba are probably the only band itt Scotland serioust dabbling irt Latin music.
I Philanders' Tricycle l.a 'l'aniere. I5 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Blue Oyster Cult l’Iayhouse Theatre.
42 The List 24 February — 9 March