Chris Devotion and the Expectations - Don't you call on me

More goodness to give you an eargasm.
http://www.chrisdevotion.com/

An open letter to DF

Hi, How you doin',

Let me introduce myself. I'm Mainy and I do a blog.

It's the usual mish mash of poor writing, in jokes and rubbish that mainstream magazines wouldn't touch with a barge pole, but it does pretty well.

Quite a few people all over the world seem to like it.

Anyway. I was at your Social Distortion gig in the Garage last night.

An excellent show.

Both supports (Chris Devotion and the Expectations/Dave Hause) were as good as any headlining act that has graced that stage in my opinion.

The sound and lighting were spot on in my humble opinion to, the bar staff of the venue were very friendly and all things considered you could argue that this was the sort of gig that could be highlighted to other promoters as how a show should be put on.

So well deserved pats on the back all round.

However there was one very little thing that poured a bit of rain on what was in the main an enjoyable night.

It might be something that you are unaware of.

The problem was that on arriving the security took some flyers off me that I was going to distribute outside after the show.

I was told by the security that I couldn't advertise gigs that weren't DF concert ones.

Now this is where it gets into the realms of the Little Britain sketch where David Walliams utters the line 'computer says no'.

I was initially told that I couldn't flyer for a gig that wasn't run by DF Concerts.

I explained that the flyers were for a blog and not another gig, but that seemed to confuse the guy so he passed the buck to uber-security man who parroted the same line about not promoting other gigs.

I explained again that it wasn't for a gig and he had a look at the actual flyer.

You know the sort.

The kind that don't mention a venue, a band, a date or anything at all about another event.

Just the sort that mention a blog and provide a link for people to find it.

I also mentioned that I was here to see the bands and I would be handing the flyers out after the gig. All 21 of them.

Anyway.

Once again he said 'computer says no'.

Well he didn't.

It was really 'you can't advertise gigs that aren't run by DF'.

So I sort of walked him through what a blog was and he screwed his eyes up and it sounded like some gears were about to go into motion, but sadly they didn't and he firmly mentioned that line again.

Although this time he did say that they could keep them for me and I would get them back on leaving.

I said that was fine, but to clarify the situation asked if what he was meaning was that I wasn't going to be allowed to promote a blog that would feature a review of a DF concert and therefore promote a DF Concerts event.

Do you want to guess what he said in reply?

You know.

I don't really have to tell you do I?

Now don't get me wrong. I don't think for one second that such stringent instructions have come directly from on high to the lowly door man.

What I think is that this was an individual who couldn't make a judgement call on the situation. Someone who likes to know what the rules are and stick to them regardless.

If a fire broke out in the Garage at 9pm and he had been instructed not to leave his post until midnight then I suspect someone would be sifting through his charred remains this morning.

Rules are rules.

So is there any chance you could maybe make that judgement call on behalf of those who find it difficult and possibly pass on that flyers for blogs and such can slip through the net?

It wont have a negative impact on your business.

In fact anyone reviewing music is oiling the wheels of the machine.

I look forward to your response.

Mainy.

PS. As mentioned I loved the actual gig and a flowery praise laden review of the show will be up soon.

Do you feel lucky punk?

Well Rebellion, the much loved and equally loathed punk festival is over, and while the blood is still running hot I would think some of my Scottish brethren who were at it will be looking for something to keep the party going.

Meanwhile others who missed it will be wanting to start their own punk party, and there's a couple of good options coming up this week that they should be aware of.

First is Social Distortion supported by Chris Devotion and the Expectations playing in the ABC on Wednesday night.(22nd)

The only chance of a ticket for this is from the touts on the night or a private sale as it's been sold out for a while now.

It's a gig that I'll definitely be trying to be front and centre for.

However if anyone seen them at Rebellion and can't justify splashing the cash to see them again so soon, or if SD aint your thing then this Friday (24^th) Phoenix Promotions are at Pivo Pivo in Glasgow with the crackin' line up of Distorted Truth, Splinter, Buzzbomb and Alkotron & Haggis.

It's a mere fiver on the door and starts at 7pm.

Last time Distorted Truth were in town a mates band was having their album launch and I tossed a coin to decide where I would go and they lost lost out on the pleasure of my company.

So I'm looking forward to this chance to take a second bite at them.

Another mate has fried my brain by repeatedly telling me how good Alkotron are so this is going to be my opportunity to either agree or disagree with him instead of just telling him he talks shit without having any real evidence to back that up.

It's also going to be my first chance to see Buzzbomb since they released their latest album.

So bring on Wednesday and Friday as I'm ready.

Chris Devotion and the Expectations - Amalgamation and Capital

I could have reviewed this months ago, but I didn't want to.

The reason wont make much sense to many, but it was because I think it deserved to be reviewed once I had actually parted with cash for it rather than from mp3s sent through.

I wanted to be able to hold it in my hand, slide the disc out, place it in the tray and crank up the volume and engage with it on a physical level before uttering one word about it because that's what this album deserves.

For me this is the pop album of the year, and while some will shudder at the word pop being mentioned I should clarify what that means to me.

It's that the music on this is hugely, immensely, tremendously danceable.

It's Husker Du on a sunny day, the Ramones surfing in the warm Californain sun, it's the Pixies at a barbecue, and much more.

It's sharp and soft. It's heartbreaking and uplifting, it's losing a love and finding another.

There's slashing guitars, pounding drums and bass, songs sung from the heart, and within all that it retains a sense of a catchy tune and manages to maintain an unbreakable grip on a hook.

How do you put into words just how good something is when you are at a loss to find any that would do it justice.

That's my problem here.

Nothing I can say is going to come anywhere close to describing how completely fantastic this is in its entirety.

I could wax lyrical about this, and even throw out praise worthy comments for hours on end, and they would still all fall short of being able to convey how much I personally love this album.

CD/EX were being touted as a band to watch in 2012 by the BBC, and recently were announced as an act that will appear on the T Break stage at the globally recognized T In The Park Festival, and without feeling that I am over stating this I believe that every single plaudit that is cast their way is well deserved and now, not tomorrow, is when you should allow yourself to be beguiled by them.

Buy the album here, or if you fancy a walk then pop into Love Muisc in Glasgow and pick one up there.