BERGMAN NOW REALISES HOW PRECARIOUS LIFE CAN BE
Rer free
Triptych plays host to a number of enigmatic performers this year but none so compelling as David Berman of Silver Jews as Doug Johnstone finds out.
ilver Jews live appearances are as rare as liaberge egg ontelettes delivered by griffins riding unicorns. Until last month. musician and poet David Berman's fantastic alt.country outfit had
never taken to a stage ever. in the l7 years since their
inception. Then. in March. they toured America and now they‘re over here for a handful of shows. Why the big change of lteart'.’ Fruit. of course.
“I was walking down 'l‘anglewood Drive near my house and I asked (iod to show me some sign if going on tour was the right thing to do.‘ says Berman. ‘At the end of the street there were all these wild strawberries everywhere. Now. I walk there every day and I‘d never seen strawberries before. So I took that to mean it would be fruitful if I were to take this chance.”
Berman believes in signs. He has also recently re- discovered his Judaism. reading the Torah and observing the Sabbath. and is now living a clean life. after years of substance abuse including crack. P(‘P. prescription medication and alcohol which culminated in a suicide attempt in 2003.
‘Towards my late thirties I had this feeling I'd done everything I wanted to do in life.‘ says Berman frankly. 'There was just a natural feeling of an ending. And having passed through that I‘m now doing things I never wanted to do. like touring.’
There is a general feeling when talking to Berman of
a life saved. He sounds reborn. not iii an irritating. evangelical way. hilt rather like a man who has finally worked out that life is for living after all. He seems spiritually content. and it‘s a nice sound.
'I always used to think that if there was an answer to
be found in life that it would be found through meditation. reading and thinking.‘ he says. ‘But in reality I‘ve found great progress from the time I started seeing myself as an active participant in life and not
just a brain iii a jar.’
Berman now gets involved in volunteer work and revels in the simple things in life. like going fora walk iii the fresh air (and discovering wild strawberries). even if he laughs as he says this. realising how lame it sounds.
‘There are certain things that prevent people from making the right decisions. whether it be addiction. inability to change. personality flaws or whatever. they constantly make the wrong decisions.' he says.
‘Somehow. at some point. I started making a series of
better decisions. and that brought me around to being better able to do everything iit life. including write the songs and organise people to record the songs.'
The result is Silver Jews’ most recent album. litriglr'imml .\'umlwrs. a rowdy. rambunctious thing which sounds like a hoot to have played on. It definitely reflects Berman‘s newfound love of life. and sees him reunited with old college pals Steve Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich from Pavement. as well as long- time friend Will ()ldham.
‘I wanted people to play with vehemence and vigour. rigour and alacrity. and for it to be an extremely awake record.‘ says Berman. “It reflects who I am now. a person who acts instead of someone lost in thought.‘
Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Thu 27 Apr; Tramway Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 28 Apr.
-' Quinn, Calamateur and Ardent John Celebrating the return of eloquent electro-pop missy Quinn (pictured) and the start of Tigertest. a month-long celebration of some of the greatest underground talent around. Look out for shows by Client. Fire Engines and De Rosa this month. Caledonian Backpackers, Edinburgh, Fri 28 Apr. (Rock 8 Pop)
Mogwai Last issue's cover stars enjoy their biggest Scottish show to date in as grand a space as they could ever hope for. Usher Hall, Glasgow, Thu 27 Apr. (Rock 8 Pop)
72- Silver Jews See preview, left. Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Thu 27 Apr; Tramway, Glasgow, Fri 28 Apr. (Rock 8 Pop)
1-3 Odette Septuagenrian folk gospel godess arrives to show us how she wooed Dylan, Baez and the new folksters of the 608 with her beguiling voice. continuing to do so today. See feature. page 20. Tramway Wed 26 Apr; Queen '3 Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 30 Apr. (Folk)
:‘. Mr McFail’s Chamber, Tam White with Brian Kellock and Welsh a. Cruickshank Celebrating the return of None of the Above. McFalls reassemble with new vocalist Taylor Wilson and a new set, which monkeys around with the borders between chamber, pop, rock. jazz and folk. The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Wed 3 May. (Jag)
=1: Burt-MacDonald Quintet An Edinburgh outing for this iconoclastic Glasgow (and Falkirk) based outfit whose music ranges from melodic pop influences through to uncompromising free improvisation. Jazz Centre at The Lot, Edinburgh, Wed 70 May. (Jay)
27 Atgr—‘it Ma, 2006 THE LIST 65