Roddy Woomble gets caught up in the Christmas rush.
It's a wonder this Dispatch made it at all; l thought I'd missed it. Not a very rock star confession I know, worrying about missing your column deadline. but there you go. I've been away on tour with ldlewild. Not a long tour - our days of those are over — but enough to make five 30-year-olds feel suitably exhausted. One thing that continually surprised me is how young most of our fans still seem to be. Looking out over the crowd is like some sort of human geology. The first row is made up of tB-year-olds. the second row 20-year-olds. right to the back where 40-year—old couples cuddle and reminisce about favourite gigs in the 80s. It's a nice feeling, though. all being in the room together. Like some sort of family wedding. or Christmas party.
I love Christmas, and I think I’ve said this before. but no other time of year makes me feel quite the same way. Not so much the presents and shopping (although its always a nice feeling to buy something for someone knowing that they'll love it). But just the sense of occasion. and the way it unites families. however dysfunctional, in it's own peculiar way.
Christmas time round at the Woombles, is quite a sight. not only for my father's insistence on total kitchen supremacy. and all the stress that entails, given that the family home is a tiny cottage beside the sea. This year there's eight of us staying; last year I ended up sleeping in the walk—in cupboard (not due to red wine. more lack of space). This year I've already bagsied the living room floor. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Roddy plays Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wed 24 Jan and ldlewlld play ABC, Glasgow, Tue 23 Jan, both as part of Celtic Connections.
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ROCK THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND ABC, Glasgow, Thu 14 Dec
What’s the best comparison to make? A headless chicken running around the farmyard, blood splurting from its neck? Far too harsh. A hesitant army unsure what to do after losing its beloved general? Still too harsh. The Argentinian football team, once Maradona’s been sent off? Ach, something will come to me.
Because despite legendary Scottish singer and frontman Alex Harvey dying way back in 1982 from a massive heart attack, on the day before his 47th birthday, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band are coming to town.
And not for the first time. Since that fateful day almost 25 years ago, the remaining original members of the band - ZaI Cleminson, Hugh McKenna, Ted McKenna and Chris Glen - have reformed in a number of different guises, with limited success, but this time round seems a bit different. In 2004, with new singer ‘Mad’ Max Maxwell in tow, the band decided to call it a day with a farewell
i'OLK POP
on a larger scale. This is pencilled in for early AX? Frightened Rabbt ll£l\.(} serve t’t:-st\.'e treats I)‘£t.":"(?(l ‘or then 'V'sf headli'i "t; gig at King Tut's. ‘\"\./e'\e learnea a couple of Civistn‘as songs for the SHOT. and we'll get other bai‘ds '.'l‘.().\.(}(l as we: as the usuau =ights and stut‘. \‘.‘e would also love people to (1"'."tj fflfiil'tlll‘fll‘if‘i and play along \.'.t‘.l‘. .is_' Hutchison adds. the bard i".(l' .ij: is ‘ai' ‘ron‘. i'Y‘ilf;'l(}(l. so ainei‘e can ()(1- ii‘ I if they wantf Simiitaneitg. 'ias seined thein ‘.-.‘el' thus far so '.'.’l‘.\. stot: nou'; lCainilla Pia;
tour. Ironically, the tour went so well, they decided to go on. Since then, the band have played to bigger and bigger crowds, at major rock festivals and supporting the likes of Def Leppard and Cheap Trick, as well as releasing a live album, Zalvation earlier this year.
So, what is SAHB like in 2006 compared to the vintage 705 model? Well, pretty much the same, except heavier and louder, as it happens. All the old flamboyant offbeat rock style is there, and then some. The band’s idiosyncratic mix of glam, blues, folk, vaudeville and rock is still as heady a brew as it ever was — let’s not forget that SAI-IB were voted fifth best Scottish band ever in this very magazine.
Of course, the one missing ingredient is Harvey himself. The man was such a larger than life character that the band were never going to manage to replace him, but Maxwell does a decent shift at making the songs his own, and has plenty of charisma in his own right.
So what about that comparison? How about a phoenix emerging from the flames, will that do? Yeah, that just about fits. (Doug Johnstone)
FRIGHTENED RABBIT King Tut’s, Glasgow. Thu 21 Dec, Barfly. Glasgow, Sun 31 Dec
With all the Z'iype-i'iungrf. types currently cloggii‘g up the noustnh modern pep can seem preth (:cittri\.'ed at times. A refreshing alternatixe. 'Tt‘i‘.'.’(}‘.(}l'. is this Glasg‘jov-i-based me \.'.’."i() cater :.‘. catci“, melodies. scratcr‘g.‘ nffs ai‘d compellineg honest lyrics about 'heartache. blood (I()ll£ill()" and fucking'. Yet, if it hadn't been for frontman. gaitarist and band founder Scott l-lutenzsc" I)(}(I()l‘.llllg tired of drawing after an allustration :oruse at Glasgou'.‘ S<7"()()i of Art. the world might never have been zittroduced to the beguiling s of Frightened Rabbit. ‘lt all kind of happened by acc.eei‘.t.' the oohterx. scokei‘ chap explains. "I've been playing the guitar since I was 1:": but only started writing songs when I finished my degree. l '-.'./as "eat \. aspired I)‘, ll‘e Delgados. ldlexvild and Mogwai. bands that take fok ’Yl..‘f§i(f nto 'ieu'.’ .t}""..;‘,l‘, I guess. and just didn't vain? to drax'x ‘or a naiiile'
The illustration world's l< ss is music's gaii‘ as. despite li)l'l“‘"§l less than. a
year ago. the three-piece hate already put out stui‘ningdeb..18cg i "e
Greys. a collection of songs initially :ll’.(}ll(l(}(l to be a set of genes ca“. “.'.l‘:l(II‘ have garnered so much interest that they're set for a lull. .ip and
'. but be'cre thee.