Music ROCK&POP
Alex Winston and Jonny Downie King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £8. Detroit- born alternative singer/songwriter tipped for crossover success. FREE Blacklisters and Shapes Bar Bloc+, 117 Bath Street, 574 6066. 9pm. Epic, angular, bludgeoning riffola from this double bill of touring bands.
Profile CASS MCCOMBS
Name: McCombs. Cass McCombs. Or ‘Combs’, as his close friends call him (we like to think).
He’s that Californian alt- country nomad, right? Correct. The harmonious, folk-rocking ‘Combs’ has spent most of his adulthood travelling America, writing songs. He’s worked in stables, building sites and bookshops, and slept by campfires, on buses, on couches and in cars along the way. The wandering pop sage shows little sign of settling down. Indeed, he has said he wishes his gravestone inscription to read, ‘home at last’.
I really like that song, ‘California Dreaming’. That’s Mama Cass. ‘The Sound of Violence’ was good too. That’s Cassius.
So what does Cass McCombs sound like then? He’s the dude whose enduring reference points are American folk and The Beatles; who John Peel once described as ‘unobtrusively brilliant’; who has been releasing folksy poetic vignettes since 2001, on albums such as last year’s dulcet two- pronged attack Humor Risk and Wit’s End (Domino). It is likely these recent works will feature when McCombs plays in Glasgow. But we can’t be sure. Can you phone him and find out? Not really. McCombs’ self- honed mythology is big on question marks, shadows and general mystery. He is reluctant to discuss himself or his music, and last year he allegedly enforced a moratorium on most face-to-face, phone and email interviews. Handwritten postal consultations were considered. The List has written to McCombs, to ask if he will partake in an interview via carrier pigeon, but thus far there has been no reply. (Nicola Meighan) ■ Stereo, Glasgow, Tue 6 Mar.
Edinburgh Black Stone Cherry and Rival Sons The HMV Picture House, 31 Lothian Road, 0844 847 1740. 7pm. £16. Over- 14s show. Southern fried rock meets timeless metal in this Kentucky band’s set. Faculty The Third Door, 45–47 Lothian Street, 225 6313. 8pm. £5. Will Pickvance continues his series of musical lectures. This month’s subject is ‘Modern Languages’ with guests Jonny Hartley, Balazs Hermann and Woodstock Taylor. Jericho Bay Bannerman’s, 55 Niddry Street, 556 3254. 8pm. £4.50. EP launch for this euphoric rock band of brothers from Glasgow.
Thursday 22
Glasgow Spiritualized O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £17.50. Over-14s show. Jason Pierce and his fellow spacemen beguile with their heartbreaking gospel symphonies and acid garage rock interludes. The Wave Pictures Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 7.30pm. £8. Indie pop with an anti-folk/country edge from this London trio. FREE I Am Blip and Satellite Dub Black Sparrow, 241 North Street, 221 5530. 8pm. Downtempo electronica. FREE Jam Session Samuel Dow’s, 67–71 Nithsdale Road, 423 0107. 8.30pm. See Thu 1. The Minutes King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £6. Good, old fashioned Irish rock’n’rollers playing from latest album Marcata. With support from the Britpoppy All the Young, Blindfolds and Sonic Thrill. FREE The Rudiments Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, 548 1350. 9pm. See Thu 1. Edinburgh FREE Henry Ibbs The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. See Thu 1. FREE Henry Ibbs Captains Bar, 4 South College Street, captainsedinburgh.webs.com 9pm. See Thu 1. Hailey Beavis and The Gillyflowers The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 7pm. £4 (£3). Acoustic showcase as singer-songwriter Hailey Beavis launches her new EP Collide. The Industry Studio 24, 24–26 Calton Road, 558 3758. 7pm. £tbc. Single launch for this melodic indie-rock five-piece from Edinburgh. Wiley The Liquid Room, 9c Victoria Street, 225 2564. 7pm. £12. See Wed 21. FREE Bleeps’n’Beats The Third Door, 45–47 Lothian Street, 225 6313. 7.30pm. Bring your laptop for this new electronic open mic night. Censor Thoughts, Thank You So Nice, Jen and the Gents, The Spook School, Little Love & The Friendly Vibes, Universal Thee and Alex Foottit Henry’s Cellar Bar, 8-16 Morrison Street, 228 9393. 7.30pm. £3. Indie pop line-up at this PDSA fundraiser. Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 7.30pm. £8. Solo venture from the Wonder Stuff singer, with vocal/violin backing from his partner Nockalls. FREE Jade & The Jacks Whistlebinkies, 4-6 South Bridge, 557 5114. 9.30pm. See Sun 4. Future Heroes The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2–£3. See Thu 1.
Friday 23 Glasgow HXC Factor Classic Grand, 18 Jamaica Street, 847 0820. 6pm. £6. Over-14s show. Unsigned bands competition. Inspiral Carpets O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £18.50. Over-14s show. For those who can’t afford Stone Roses tickets, you can
98 THE LIST 1–29 Mar 2012