MUSIC LIVE REVIEWS
BOB DYLA
Playhouse, Edinburgh, 6 April.
‘A strange young man called Dylan/With a voice like sand and glue.’ David Bowie said that, in 1971. Even then, public concern over the inner workings of Bob Dylan’s throat was being voiced in popular song. Twenty- five years down the line, retailers of sand and glue would be well advised to consult their lawyers over whether Bowie can be sued for misrepresentation.
Finally seeing that craggy, shaggy profile in the tlesh is like walking, ’Last Action Hero’-style, into a mid- '/Os concert clip on ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’. The man of the moment looks like a psychedelic Russian peasant who’s seen better times. Even so, you soon find that you can’t take
: pedal steel - are the kind of combo
in acoustic and all-out rock mode. You
and hats that Bono and The Edge were trying so self-consciously to project
, your eyes off him, though the most
attention-grabbing thing he’s done all night has been to sway, guitarless and awkward, around the stage crooning for the first couple of numbers. Is he . really that charismatic, or is it just us, i overcome with the sense of occasion? ! The band — drums, bass, guitar and i l
you could rely on in a tight corner, and make beautiful work of Dylan’s songs
know the image with the long coats
around the time of ‘Hattle And Hum’? This lot can carry it off. Their strengths are legion; but they’re a jamming band, and the show starts to tlag when they exercise the rights of their tribe to stretch songs out with endless rounds of solos. Mostly by Dylan. Mostly as good as his harmonica playing.
But if there are ong valleys of tedium, there are peaks too. The opening burst (including an ‘All Along The Watchtower’ modelled on Hendrix’s), the acoustic sections, the thrill of hearing songs like ‘Stuck Inside Of Mobile’ and ‘Simple Twist Of Fate’ sung live by their composer. Even it the process is akin to watching diamonds being slung around in a cement mixer, it still exerts a compelling fascination. (Alastair Mabbott)
SIR BALD DIDDLEY
f?
Cas Rock Cafe, Edinburgh 15 April. Cut back a few decades to a time when rock ’n’ roll was still young, brash and perceived as a definite threat to law and order, a corrupter of the world’s youth and the scourge of moral decency. A time when The Jets still rumbled with The Sharks and two- tone college jackets were de rigueur for a spot of quiff-shaking at the Saturday night hop. Now take the music from that era and make it scuzzier, raunch it up, give it a harder edge and before you can say ‘My baby drives a brand new Cadillac’ you have arrived at the sound of Sir Bald Diddley And His Right Honourable Bigwigs.
His baldness plays a sweaty set of classics such as Richard Berry’s ‘Louie Louie’, The Trashmen’s ‘Surfin’ Bird’ and, inevitably perhaps, Oick Dale’s ‘Miserlou’. Throw in some of their own material, such as the aptly- named ‘Alopecia’ and you have all the ingredients for a barnstormin’ night at the chicken shack. Dale is reputed to work his way through several plectrums a song, the barnet bereft
46 The List 21 Apr-4 May 1995
I
l ‘2 sheer manic grind of his guitar playing ; 3 being matched only by the deep. bee”
; how to work a crowd; Chuck Berry had
BOOK NOW JAZZ
I GLASGOW CITIZENS
Concerts listed are those at major venues, for
which tickets are on public sale at time of going to press.
gROCK
I GLASGOW j BARROWLAHDS (2m
.1679) Bucketl‘ul of Bands. 7 May; Machinehead. 26 May: Silencers. 28 May; Robert Cray. 21 Jim.
I GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL ( 227 5511)
Tanita 'l'ikaram. 16 May;
l.aurie .-\lt(|c‘l.\()ll. 3 Jun
I GLASGOW GARAGE (333 l I20) Kirsty .McCill. 8
Y May; Lightning Seeds. 9
May; Babes in 'l'oyland.
l0 May; Shed Seven. [2
May; Wedding Present. 1-1 May; .-\ll\ll';lllllll Pink l-loyd. [8 May; John
Mayall. l9 May; (ilt‘c‘llllimsc’.
llooti-e and (he lilovv lish.
‘1 May:
25 May.
I GLASGOW IBROX STADIUM (227 55! l ) Rod Stevvait. 3 Jill).
I GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE (227 551 | ) l‘ats Domino. 19 May.
I GLASGOW PAVILION
(332 l8‘l61("oncert They
NCH‘I' (i;t\t‘. 22 .\|tl}'l
liltiniale Tribute Shovv, .1 Jun.
l GLASGOW PLAZA (or)! 557 6969) Apache lndian. H May; Supergrass. l9
May. _ I GLASGOW SECC (2J8 3’ : 9999) liast l7. 19 May;
Diddley can’t be far off that total, the i
sound of his sax player. . The great figures of rock ’n’ roll were all consummate showmen who knew
his duck walk, Presley’s pelvis thrusting added to his appeal and Jerry Lee Lewis’ flamboyant piano
playing style gave his performances a ; visual aspect which complemented his 3
l
songs and gave an extra dimension to his music. Diddley and his gang have
rock ’n’ roles to perfection with all the band members bar the drummer lining
of humour.
well died out now but Sir Diddley and
l taken this on board and play out their I
up for some synchronised instrument swinging. Much like Status Duo, but with a modicum of style and a sense
The sound of the big hands has pretty 1
his merry cohorts can still provide the kitsch glamour of the era, updating the sounds of the SOs and turning them into garage punk and rockabilly. All while wearing dinner jackets. Cool. (Jonathan Trew)
Page and I’lant. l2 Jul; \Vt’l \VL‘I \VL’I. 3| .lUIl Celine Dion. 27 ()ct.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (5296000) Juke Box (.iianls. H May; Concert They Never (lave. 2| May.
I EDINBURGH MURRAYFIELD (557 6969)
3 RPM. 27 .lul.
; I EDINBURGH
‘ 3 PLAYHOUSE (557 -590) i Thunder. 9 May; Magic. 2| May; Sheryl Crow. ||
Jul.
I EDINBURGH OUEEN’S HALL (668 2019) Paul Brady. 2 Jun; Boo
; Radleys. 8 Jun; .lel‘t
Buckley. 20 Jun.
; I EDINBURGH USHER HALL(228 1155)
Portishead. 22 May.
COUNTRY
I GLASGOW CONCERT
HALL (227 55l I ) Mary Chapin Carpenter. 13- H May: Crystal Gayle and Rita Coolidge. 2| May: Don Williams. 27 Sept: Joe l.ongthorne. 15 (let. I GLASGOW PAVILION (352 1846) Michelle Wright. 2| May; Joe Longthorne. 28 mil May. I GLASGOW PLAZA (.123 3077) Sean ()‘l-krrrell. 25 May.
2 I GLASGOW SECC (24s
9999) liverly Brothers. 24
()ct.
I EDINBURGH USHER
HALL (228 1155) Don Williams. 28 Sep; Joe longthorne. 2| Oct;
Everly Brothers. 25 Oct 1
THEATRE (.129 0022) 'l‘onimy Smith Se\tet.
1.\ l9 May
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 551 l ) Syd lav. rence ()rchestra. 20 Sept.
I GLASGOW MARRIOTT HOTEL (227 551 l ) Dutch vaing College Band. 6 Jul; King Pleasure. 9 Jul. I GLASGOW McEWANS OLD FRUITMARKET (227 55l l l .-\ndy Sheppard. 30 Jun: .loe Locke. l Jtil; l-‘YJl ). 2 Jul; Martin ’l'aylor. 2 Jul; Mulgrevv Miller. 2 Jul; Broadway Mtisic. 3 Jul. Ja/./. Crusaders, J Jul; Bird |.l\‘t'\. 5 Jul; Arturo Sandoval. 6 Jul; Scottish .-\||~Slat's. 7 Jul; Joltn Mclaughlin. 7 Jul; David Sanchez. 8 Jul; Roy llargrove. 8.1111; Mingus liig Band. 9 Jul.
I GLASGOW RAMSHORN THEATRE (227 5511) Scottish Jazz. Works. I -2 Jul; liurophonium. 8—9 Jill
I GLASGOW THEATRE ROYAL (227 551 l ) Carol Kidd. 30 Jun; Stephane (irappelli. | Jul.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (5296000) Andy Sheppard and John llarle. ll May.
I EDINBURGH QUEEN'S (668 2(1191Nitlll Savv ney 'l‘rio. 5 May: lilackani/ed. l2 May; Steve Williamson. 19 May: 'l'ommy Smith
Sextet. 21 May; Claire ; Martin. 26 May.
FOLK
I GLASGOW
BARROWLAND (226 4679)
The \V’olt‘etones. 13 May.
I GLASGOW CONCERT '
HALL (227 55|l)l1a|alail\a l-‘olk Group. l5 May; (‘hristy Moore. 12 ()ct.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (5296000) Christy Moore. l5 ()ct.
I EDINBURGH OUEEN’S HALL (668 2019) Paul Brady. 2 Jun; The Dubliners. 6 Jun.
LIGHT
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 551l)\\'est lind Gala. 4 Jun: lingelbert llumperdinck. 5 Jun.
I GLASGOW PAVILION (332 1816) Chas and Dave. 27 May; Brenda (‘ochrane_ 8-9 Jun.
I GLASGOW PLAZA (423 3077) VP. Night Dance. 7
Grln and bare lt: Wet Wet Wet at SECC, 21 Jul
May.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (529 6000) Klaus \Vtinderliclt. 7 May: 'l'erry Neason. 16 May; Magic of Musicals. 20 May; \"al |)ootticatt. I Jun; lingelbei't llumperdinck. 4 Jun.
CLASSICAL
I GLASGOW CITY HALL (:27 551 l ) sco. 5 May; Charity Concert. 13 May. I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 5511) Vanessa Mae. 2-l May; Cecilia ltaitoh. 7 Jun; Ravi Sizankar. 2.1ul;Jessye \oi man. 6 .lul; St Pea-ishurgli Phil. 3—4 Oct. I GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE (227 5511) Michael Nyman Band. l8 May. i
I GLASGOW SHED (227 55 l l) Britten's War Requiem. 14 May.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 3 THEATRE (5296000) Coronation Mass. 10
May; Andy Sheppard and John Harle. ll May; ( .‘ylecklenburgh Opera. 12 May; Gabrieli Consort. 13 ' May; Crystal Clear Opera.
17 May; ()rpheus CO. 23 May; Tallis Scholars. 26 May; Travelling Opera.
25 Jun; The Protecting
Veil. 2 Jul.
I EDINBURGH QUEEN’S
HALL (668 2019) Saltire Quartet. 11 May; Rouss- |.and Soglasie Choir. 29 May.
I EDINBURGH USHER
HALL (228 ll55) ERCU.
13 May.
I EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ! 1995 (225 5756) I3 Aug—2 Sept. Tickets for all concerts can be booked from the Festival Box Office. 21 Market Street. lidinburgh liHl lBW. by postal application (see I brochure (or request f l'orm). telephone (0l3l 225 5756). fax (0131 226 7669). textphone (0131 226 5668). or personal application.
I SUBSCRIPTION SEASONS Programme details and tickets for RSNO. SCO. BBC $80 and CGPO concerts are available from 'l‘icketcentre. Glasgow (227 5511); Usher Hall. Edinburgh (228 1 155); Queen's Hall. Edinburgh (668 2019). Tickets for Scottish ()pera from Theatre Royal. Glasgow (332 9000); Festival Theatre. Edinburgh (529 6000).