Music
‘DUB REGGAE POP PREVIEW Mad Professor Huckleberry CABARET PREVlEW Neil Fraser, the man they call the Mad A well received debut album called Trout F'Shmg In Amenca Professor from his penchant for Hard Luck Stories, an appearance on , e -" electronics at school, likens his trade as MTV, a publishing deal, nationwide 3 dub reggae producer and mixer to tours . . . somewhere along the line, that of a chef. He takes basic it's all gone right for Huckleberry. ingredients and blends them into a Edinburgh music scene veterans will subtle dish. But Fraser’s genius is that probably have caught the fun-lovin' he can do that live on stage, a kind of foursome at some point over the last Gary Rhodes without the crap hairdo. couple of years. Their live shows were 'It’s made before your eyes,’ he says. always something of a riot involvmg ’lt’s like being in a restaurant and scuzzed-up sea shanties, a touch of having the food cooked in front of skanking, a ragged rootsiness and an you. You can actually order a bit more infectious good humour. While It was a salt or sugar. Except I deliver reverb!’ good night out with your mates, it Fraser's favourite trick, live, is to take was unikely to set the world alight. one ingredient — the spoken word — So Huckleberry changed. Their new and prepare it freestyle into a tune as material contains many of the same the speaker explains what is gorng on. traits and their live performances are It's a fascinating and transparent still blazing, but now there's the added explanation of his art. But when he bonus of more structured songs, a less brings the rhythms and bass lines anarchic approach, a restraint on the rumbling in, then the dancefloor itself more addled lunacy. Catch them now begins to sizzle wrth a repast worthy of before something else goes right for mention in the Michelin GUIde. them and they're touring abroad all (Thom Dibdin) the time. (Jonathan Trew) w The Mad Professor (Planet Pop) Cas E Huckleberry (Planet Pop) Cas Rock,
Rock, 229 434 I, 72 Aug, 9pm, £8.50. 229 434 7, 73 Aug, 9pm. £4.
Gone Trout Fishing in America
Little and large eat your heart out. Not only are Arkansas-based duo Trout Fishing in America considerably iittler and larger - at 5ft Sin and 6ft 9in - than the erstwhile ITV double-act. they're also several dimensions funnier, and dab-hand musicians to boot. Popularly féted and showered with awards at home, they’re one of those rare outfits who successfully straddle both adult and child audience. ‘For kids of all ages' may be a corny, over- used strap-iine, but that's the level on which TFIA engage, only theirs is a very much warts and all version of childhood: ‘Songs that treat kids as smart, cynical and obstinate . . . akin to the empowering work of Shel Silverstein and Dr Seuss.’ was one critical verdict. Notable past appearances range from the White House Easter Egg Roll to a bar gig in Waco, Texas. during the Branch Davidian siege.
There are few. after all, young or old, who could fail to appreciate a song . entitled ‘My Hair Had A Party Last Night’ or lyrics that rhyme Venus de Milo ° - ‘, . V ‘ - i r- ' ; .' - - _, - I with Hawaii Five-O. With the comedy buoyed along on a tightly delivered . .3 ’ {'1'}? ' r“ ' g 5'“ ‘ v" ' ~;- ' . musical blend of country. folk and old-time styles, their debut Fringe ' " . J.- ..” ‘ V . rAV‘V. . ’ .. d... performances promise chuckles and charm aplenty. (Sue Wilson) 1 a Trout Fishing In America (Fn’nge) The Spiegeltent (Venue 87) 558 80 20, 10, 12, ‘w W ’ l *W 'W W mm mn~~~~~~ w 14 Aug, 70.30pm; 13 Aug, midnight; 25 8r 76 Aug, 7pm, £7 ([5). Children’s
The Mad Professor: dinner's up shows, 9-16 Aug, 3.30pm, £3.
the mutton birds
THUR 27th JULY - EDINBURGH - VIRGIN MEGASTORE 6.00PM. ACOUSTIC SET FRI 28th / SAT 29th I SUN 30th JULY - EDINBURGH - THE ATTIC. DOORS 7:30PM _.
SPECIAL GUESTS - 28th JULY ELLIS 29th I 30th JULY SPLENDID TICKETS £5:oo iN ADVANCE PH: 0131 228 7010
“The Mutton Birds are a glorious timeless step back to the era when angular, melodic guitar tunes didn't need to sound like The Beatles" Tlmeout “A sweeter selection of songs hasn't been heard for a long time. Live they are a no frills delirioust tuneful experience" The Sunday Times
ANGLE OF ENTRY" - A SEMI-ACOUSTIC, LIVE RECORDING
1 £12 + £1.50 p&p AVAILABLE BY MAIL ORDER ONLY 0 NOT AVAILABLE IN RECORD STORES PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO "THE MUTTON BIRDS" PO BOX. 16936 (mi: List) LONDON N2 9WH
OVERSEAS ORDERS iNVlTED BUT PAYMENT lN STERLING (E) ONLY. email: muttonblrds@eesynet.co.uk website: http://www.muttonbirds.com Get info on tours. releases and shirts etc. by writing to PO. BOX or email
so must 6-13 Aug 1998