Music HITLIST THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
The xx Swoonsome cuts from the Mercury Prize winners on just one of three UK dates to coincide with the release of their sophomore album Coexist (see next issue for a review). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Wed 12 Sep. (Rock & Pop)
Grimes Off kilter electronica meets melodic future pop in the hands of Claire Boucher as showcased on recent ‘break up album’ Visions. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Tue 28 Aug; The Arches, Glasgow, Wed 29 Aug. (Rock & Pop) Africa Express Damon Albarn (of Blur fame) hires a train and fills it with African musicians and other musical pals for a heady mix of Afro-flavoured indie featuring Baaba Maal, Amadou & Mariam, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Noisettes, Kano and more. See feature, page 64. The Arches, Glasgow, Tue 4 Sep. (Rock & Pop)
The Lady From The Sea An adaptation of Ibsen’s play by author Zoe Strachan and film composer Craig Armstrong. See interview, page 98. King’s Theatre, Edin, Wed 29 Aug & Sat 1 Sep; Theatre Royal, Glas, Sat 8 & Sun 9 Sep. (Classical) Music Language A celebration of the underground music scene in Scotland, featuring Conquering Animal Sound (left), Happy Particles, Silk Cut and Mother Ganga. See preview, page 65. Various venues, Glasgow, Sat 1 Sep. (Rock & Pop)
Kid Canaveral Jangly feelgood tunes from the Miaoux Miaoux Bleeping electronica from Julian Corrie,
Edinburgh indie poppers, supported by The Bad Books. (KC also appear at Neu! Reekie, Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh, Fri 31 Aug). Electric Circus, Edin, Sat 25 Aug. (Rock & Pop) who brews up his own ‘spacey hypercolour indie dance pop’. Nevada Base are the excellent support on the night. Nice’n’Sleazy, Glasgow, Fri 31 Aug. (Rock & Pop)
Billy Bragg & KT Tunstall It would’ve been Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday this year. Bragg and Tunstall join forces to celebrate the great man and his legacy. O2 ABC, Glasgow, Fri 14 Sep. (Rock & Pop/Folk)
Divorce Shouty spluttering noise rock and spiky punk action as Divorce launch their debut album. See interview, page 95 and album review, page 66. Nice’n’Sleazy, Glasgow, Sat 8 Sep. (Rock & Pop)
list.co.uk/music EAT, SLEEP and BREATHE
PERFUME GENIUS The hypnotic, tender pop of Perfume Genius, aka Seattle’s Mike Hadreas has earned him support slots with soundalikes Sigur Ros and The xx. He also makes a mean sloppy joe . . . What time is breakfast? I tend to not eat breakfast, and stick it out until lunch. Tea or coffee? Neither, I drink Diet Coke. All through the morning, day and night. Trashy, but true. Smoking or non-smoking? Smoking. Sweet or savoury snacks? I don’t really snack. I like to gorge myself, so I wait for the real meals. What food do you miss when you tour? Teriyaki. In Seattle there are teriyaki take-out joints on every other block.It’s just simple grilled chicken in a sweet soy sauce over rice. Very wholesome. I didn’t realise its easy availability was a Washington State thing until I started travelling. Who’s the best cook you know? Me, let’s get real here. Meatloaf with ginger and brown sugar, sloppy joes with cabbage and balsamic vinegar. Basically I only cook trashy American foods with shit thrown in. What’s on your rider? Our tour manager suggested canned soups, which he assures me will be good in the winter – we’ll see. Seems silly at the moment, and it is sad to leave canned goods all over the world. Which country/ city has the best food? Italy. Even their services are intense. Do you eat out a lot? I do. I’m bad at meal planning – every time I make something I spend a shitload on ingredients for one meal and am left with a bunch of weird scraps that rot in the fridge. Do you drink onstage? I don’t drink anymore, onstage or off. Which is pretty strange in the music business. It’s working for me though. Not sure I would even make it to the stage otherwise. ■ SWG3, Glasgow, Tue 4 Sep.
23 Aug–20 Sep 2012 THE LIST 63