Music Rock&Pop
5 REASONS TO GO SEE
tUnE-YaRdS 1. She’s well monikered Yes, that lower-case/upper-case thing is kind of annoying, but we’ll forgive tUnE-YaRdS because her real name is just great: Merrill Garbus sounds like she’s stepped straight out of the script of a Coen Brothers film, no?
2. She’s as DIY as they come She recorded album BiRd-BrAiNs (yup, that again) using a dictaphone and the sound editing shareware program, Audacity. Live, she layers up sounds using a looper pedal, and yes we know that everyone’s doing that these days but we like how she does it. 3. She’s got tunes. By the yard With her incredible voice that can go from soulful R&B purr to deranged snarl in the space of a line, she’ll sing you wonky, acerbic nursery rhymes (‘JumpingJack’), some kind of voodoo chant (‘Hatari’) and the most anthemic use of a ukulele we’ve heard in a long time (‘FIYA’).
4. She’s bonkers In her own words, she sounds like: ‘Your mom when she gets really mad but instead of whoopin’ yo’ ass she starts making crazy-ass beats with the pots and pans AND yo’ ass.’ 5. Indie cred points It’s the perfect way to impress your hipster Valentine. And don’t worry, we won’t hold it against you if you don’t let on you heard it here first. (Laura Ennor)
www.myspace.com/tuneyards ■ Captain’s Rest, Glasgow, Sun 14 Feb.
■ Make Sparks and Atlas Cabaret Voltaire, 36–38 Blair Street, 220 6176. 7.30pm. Free but ticketed. Alternative rock in a Biffy/Twin Atlantic mould from Make Sparks at The Mill. Free tickets from www.themill-live.com. ■ Matanuska Bannerman’s, Niddry Street, 556 3254. 8pm. £4. Deep heavy metal. ■ Nightlight The Ark, 3–7 Waterloo Place, 623 7147. 8pm. £4. Electro-indie- pop. FREE Out of the Bedroom The Tron, 9 Hunter Square, High Street, 226 0931. 8pm. Open mic session. The only rule is no cover versions. Sign up from 7pm. ■ The Freaky Family The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). Organic hip hop and jazzy grooves. Dundee ■ Detroit Social Club, The Phase and I Drive Home The Doghouse, 15 Ward Street, 01382 206812. 8pm. £5. Over-14s show. Tyneside garage
68 THE LIST 4–18 Feb 2010
Niki King Cool Edinburgh jazz vocalist Niki King continues her tribute to one of the true greats of jazz, Billie Holliday. ‘The time of prejudice that she worked through, the hardship and awful situations
endured growing up; all of this pain and vulnerability comes through in her songs.’ explains King. ‘But it is also her personal strength, courage, kindness and, of course, talent that makes her such a unique voice. Billie Holiday will always be remembered through her music. This show is a celebration of that music and of Holiday as a songwriter.’ ■ Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Sat 6 Feb.
rock’n’rollers headline. FREE Merkin, Abbi, Lauri and Edwin Muirhead The Bread, 33 Constitution Road, 01382 200005. A mixed bill covering everything from Merkin, ‘Dundee’s one and only pubic hair metal band’, to the piano-led blues and pop of singer/songwriter Edwin Muirhead. Friday 5
Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and Glasgow ■ Blackberry Jacks, Old Town Rebels, Tasty Jailbait and The Dirty Violets O2 ABC2, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £5. Alt.punk pop from The Dirty Violets. ✽✽ The Maccabees, Bombay The Drums Barrowland, 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601. 7pm. SOLD OUT. Not the most inspiring line-up for the annual NME Awards Tour of up- coming indie acts but arrive early to catch New York surf pop quartet The Drums. See preview, page 62. ■ One Night of Queen Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £18.50–£20. Tribute to Freddie Mercury et al, starring Garry Mullen – winner of ITV’s Stars in their Eyes – and his band The Works, bringing you all the Queen hits. FREE The Deals, The Tenements, Esperanza and Ming Ming & the Ching Chings Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 8pm. Mixed bill, including ska punk band Esperanza and blues rockers Ming Ming. ■ Limehouse Lizzy The Ferry, Anderston Quay, Broomielaw, 01698 360 085. 8pm. £14. Tribute to Thin Lizzy. ■ State of Quo Rockers, 14 Midland Street, 221 0726. 8pm. £tbc. Quo tribute band. ■ The Storm Society, The Zonules of Zinn and Jamie Flett Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 8pm. £6. The headlining
quartet sport an abundance of goth, psychedelic and new wave influences on their Interpol/Editors-like sleeves. Off- kilter indie pop from ZOZ. ■ Master Slave, Moon Unit, The Radiation Line and Tacoma Narrows Bridge 13th Note Café, 50–60 King Street, 553 1638. 9pm. £tbc. Heaviosity. ■ Les Bof! Blackfriars, 36 Bell Street, 552 5924. 10pm. £5 (£4). French language garage rockers from Edinburgh play Eyes Wide Open. ■ Etienne de Crécy O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 11pm–3am. £10. CANCELLED. ■ Traquair, Underwood and Desoto Firefly Stereo, 22–28 Renfield Lane, 222 2254. £tbc. Mixed indie sounds. Edinburgh ■ Rossco Galloway The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. Donation. The singer-songwriter-guitarist is regularly joined by a selection of special guests. ■ Detroit Social Club Sneaky Pete’s, 73 Cowgate, 225 1757. 7pm. £7.50. Tyneside garage rock’n’rollers. ■ Gap Year Riot, The Void and A Day Overdue The GRV, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 7pm. £5–£6. A night of power pop punk from Gap Year Riot. ■ Isa & the Filthy Tongues Cabaret Voltaire, 36–38 Blair Street, 220 6176. 7pm. £10. Former members of Goodbye Mr MacKenzie, with lead singer Stacey Chavis offering fiery rock chick appeal as they launch new album Dark Passenger. ■ Miyagi, NeoViolet and Herman Death Willy Trail Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, 229 1442. 7pm. £4. High energy dance soul types Miyagi. ■ Maeve O’Boyle, Rose Cousins and Kat Healy The Caves, Niddry Street South, 557 8989. 7.15pm. £7.50. Intelligent and creative indie folk from O’Boyle, a previous winner of the Danny
Kyle Award at Celtic Connections. ■ Red Light District, We’re Not Iguanas, Mr Wishart, Lewd and Stewart Rose The Ark, 3–7 Waterloo Place, 623 7147. 7.30pm. £tbc. Rock showcase. ■ Led Astray and Black Rose Corn Exchange, 11 New Market Road, 477 3500. 8pm. £8. Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy tributes. ■ The Plight, Shields Up and Departures Bannerman’s, Niddry Street, 556 3254. 8pm. £5. Heavy rockers from Leeds. ■ Soundings 09/10: Annual Festival of Sonic Art Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 8pm. £5 (£3); weekend pass £16 (£10). The second of three weekends showcasing the best of Scottish and international electroacoustic music. This time featuring Matthew Adkins (Fri 8pm), new video work from Andrew Connor (Sat 6pm), video works and music by Simon Emmerson and Simon Atkinson (Sat 8pm) and new work composed and performed by students at the University of Edinburgh (Sun). FREE The Hanley Trio Elbow, 133–135 East Claremont Street, 556 5662. 9pm. Covers and originals. ■ This is Music Sneaky Pete’s, 73 Cowgate, 225 1757. 11pm–3am. £3 (members free). The indie club/gig crossover night with a new weekly slot from DJs i-Tallah Disco and Bargain Harold (live acts tbc).
Bathgate ■ Lena Martell Regal Community Theatre, 24–34 North Bridge Street, 01506 433634. 7.30pm. £14 (£12). The veteran Scottish vocalist, who has performed on Broadway, the West End and Las Vegas and has recorded over 30 albums. Dundee ■ An Evening with Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire Dundee Rep, Tay