Friday night footage

I was asked a few days ago if I had any footage from some of the gigs that I have put on through the blog.
I have.
Not that I filmed anything. Full credit has to go to the people who came along and done such a good job.
They are the ones who preserved some great memories.

Here's some Canadians. Lovely people and an outstanding live band. The Wooden Sky.




and equally as lovely, but from New Orleans this time. Hurray for the Riff Raff




Scabies/James/Texas Terri


Pretty much everything from the gig here

Sam Doores, Riley Downing and the Tumbleweeds – Holy Cross Blues

I have no idea what authentic means. Well that's not strictly true. Of course I know what it means, but what I'm really getting at is that when people bandy the term about I don't really get what 'they' mean.

If it's the fifties and an artist uses the technology and instruments available to him or her to record a handful of songs, then why is that strictly authentic while someone doing likewise in the present using the same technology and such, is described as 'sounding' authentic?

If it's the same process, the same approach and the same final outcome, then what is there to hang your hat on to claim a difference?

Maybe it's a pedantic point, but also maybe worth mentioning as this takes me to the debut album from Sam Doores, Riley Downing and the Tumbleweeds, a release that can't seem to shake the 'sounding authentic' tag.

I've got news for people.

It sounds authentic because it is.

Between them the band stir a pot pourri of influences and embrace their love for country, the blues and American folk music as each floats to the surface.

There's something quite magical about it all.

I can never really describe what the attraction to me is when people get together and make music that I feel this comfortable with.

I've used the term aural alchemy before, and that's exactly what I hear.

Individual musicians taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that and weaving gold out of it.

This doesn't so much sound as if it is from another time, but more so from outside time.

When music is played so well, and with this amount of heartfelt passion, then it really does transcend when it was recorded, and this is an album that does that with a great deal of aplomb.

I sincerely do hope that Sam Doores does manage to get back to the UK in 2013 with the rest of his band mates by his side this time.

If they do I'll be front and centre to experience this in all its glory.

Buy it here (European CD release coming soon)

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Hurray For The Riff Raff - Pivo Pivo - Glasgow.

I'll refrain from reviewing the gig as I never feel comfortable giving an opinion on a show that I have put on myself.
The possible opportunity of accusations of bias casts a long shadow so I prefer to let others freely express their views on the night, good or bad.
So instead this is really just a roll call of thanks.
Of course first and foremost I should say thank you to Kelly Conway who has been my partner in crime for four years now.
My love for her over that time has never faded, but instead increased.
Then there's Claire Amos and Pauline Oubari whose positive support is very much appreciated.
Of course I have to also extend my gratitude to the support acts of the evening.
The Dirt, Little Fire and Matt Scott all played sets that enthralled, and that brings me onto everyone who turned up to the gig.
From the bottom of my heart thank you.
I'm struggling to recall ever being part of such a communally supportive audience.
I'm sure I can speak on behalf of the supports and extend some gratitude from them to you for how freely you lent them your ears and how you all willingly displayed your appreciation.
It does make a difference.
Then there's the venue.
Pivo.
If I had a glass in my hand just now I would be raising it to duty manager Foley, sound man supreme Omar, all the bar staff, and of course the best doorman in Glasgow that is the legend who is Sam.
A personal thank you is also extended to friends who supported the evening and by attending sprinkled a bit of magic over it for me.
Douglas and Rochelle. It's been too long. Seriously.
Robbie and Angie, John and Angela, Johnny Fiddles and his crew, Dani and Cat, Taylor, Jamie NoMan, Chris Devotion, CJ Monk and..........
I could go on and on and on.
In fact I've probably mortally offended someone by failing to give them a shout out.
Oh. The people who I don't know who traveled from the Highlands.
They really do deserve to be lauded for their efforts.
Last, but never ever that low down in my thoughts is my son Euan, who finally reached an age where he could come along and see what the outcome is of all those nights I batter away at the keyboard, and of course my daughter Alanna who is and always will be my angel.

Mainy


PS Here's what you missed.

Hurray For The Riff Raff - Pivo Pivo, Glasgow, 30th Aug

In just little over a week I have the pleasure to be putting on Hurray For The Riff Raff on what is the first night of their headlining UK tour.

I don't think I can really convey how excited I am about this.

Whenever anyone uses the word promoter to describe me I cringe.

I'm not a business man.

The simple truth is that I'm a music fan who sometimes puts on a gig or to.

So the excitement I feel has nothing to do with any money - it's a non profit making gig with the money after my outlay going to cover the cost of Hurray for the Riff Raff, and the rest being split between the supports – and everything to do with my appreciation of the talents of the band.

Since I first heard them there's not a day goes by that I don't listen to them.

Sometimes it is the whole of one of their albums, other days it is just a song here and there as I share them out online as I promote the show.

Whenever I do listen to them I actually feel a bit of a thrill.

There's something primitively enchanting about them.

They just sound.....well real I suppose.

Lacking in the trappings of showbiz.

Part of the attraction is also that on studio recordings it is so very obvious that they are primarily a live band, and I'm literally counting down the days until they arrive.

I just now that on a stage in front of an audience they will push things onto the next level.

Friends have commented about the link with Alabama Shakes and their success (They share a producer), likewise the media attention that the band are now getting (mentions in The Sun, Sunday Times, Mojo and Uncut) as if this has anything to do with why I am looking forward to the gig.

In some peoples eyes it seems like a big deal, and it is, but the main thing for me is that I'm involved in putting on a band that I truly admire. 

The icing on the cake is that all the supports, Little Fire, The Dirt and Matt Scott are all friends.

In my head the night is going to be like a big warm family party.

So far sales of tickets have went very well, and without exaggerating to generate more sales it does look like it will sell out.

I sincerely hope it does.

The band deserve nothing less than a honestly rousing support to start their tour off.

Now listen to this with an open mind and forget what is in or out of fashion. Just listen.

Hurray for the Riff Raff/The Dirt/Matt Scott/Little Fire - The Bay - 30/18/12 (Glasgow)

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to announce that itsaXXXXthing is once again going to be dipping its toe into the shark infested pool more commonly known as promoting, and I will be putting on the utterly fantastic Hurray for the Riff Raff from New Orleans in Glasgow.If you haven't heard of them just yet, then don't worry. You soon will.
With an album that The Times and Mojo are heaping praise on, and plenty of live performances that are leaving audiences gape jawed in wonderment at the talents on display, I fully expect that by the close of this year their star will be on the rise and the name of the band will rest easily on the lips of many. Watch the footage below and I won't really have to say anything else about them, as that will say far more than I could about just how special this band are.

Oh. I was just asked what the Alabama Shakes connection is.

It's that the Alabama Shakes guitarist produced the current album Look Out Mamma.

Review of Look Out Mama

In support are three acts who I personally feel no shame in saying that I am a fan off.

Little Fire who has played with everyone from The Secret Sisters to JLS, and has a gig coming up with the legendary Joan Armatrading very graciously accepted the offer to play, and I am sure that the music fans of Glasgow will be as impressed with his music as I am.

Matt Scott is a personal friend, but our friendship has nothing to do with his name being added to the bill. 

Instead he is there because he has an uncanny knack of blowing an audience away.

Raised on classic rock music he has grown into a young man who has learned his craft at the feat of varied artist such as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Frankie Miller and others who would be credited as poetic geniuses as well as accomplished musicians. 

Last, but it is obligatory to mention, by no means least is The Dirt.

With his deep vocal range Graeme Dirt is the Johnny to Jen Dirt's June, but don't expect a jolly rendition of 'Jackson' from this pair as their hearts are of a more darker hu,e and they delve into the anti-populist genre of the murder ballad with a great deal of aplomb.

As of an hour ago when The Dirt confirmed and the whole line up was secured I felt a chill of excitement run up and down my spine. This is going to be a great gig. I can feel it in my bones.

If I wasn't putting it on I would be attending it anyway.

As for the venue itself. This will be the first time that I will have used The Bay in Glasgow and I am looking forward to working with them on this as their ethical approach to hosting bands is something that I admire.

All in this has been a good day. I hope you can all join me on the night as the entertainment will be of the highest standard, and coupled with very reasonable drink prices and the allure of food I reckon this gig will cover the needs of most music lovers looking for a special night out on the town.

Hurray for the Riff Raff - Look out Mama

Apparently I've been living under a rock.

That can be the only explanation for my ignorance of the existence of Hurray for the Riff Raff aka Alynda Lee Segarra.

My introduction to her/their talents was rather serendipitous.

A random email arrived asking if I would be interested in reviewing the album, and then it went on to say that there was an Alabama Shakes connection as it shared a producer.

While I was reading the email I had Alabama Shakes playing so while I'm not one to to claim that everything is mapped out it did seem fateful.

A stars aligning moment if you believe in that sort of thing.

Within a few minutes the music was washing over me.

It's beguiling stuff.

Midway through it I was hooked.

Describing themselves as a country folk band seems to downplay just how good they are.

It's a niche that they have one foot in, but there's far more going on.

Similarly to claim they were just another Americana act would fall short of covering the talents on display.

There's a great deal of depth in the material.

There's history there.

It's tremendously evocative of a time and place that doesn't exist in any sort of reality, and instead is a pot pourri of the sounds of the highways and byways of America, the sweat of the land, the births and deaths of generations.

There's something of the mountain tracks and fresh clean air, the vista splitting asphalt that divides deserts and runs to the point where the earth meets the sky.

It's all there.

It sounds like the slow and easy heartbeat of the US.

Not the corporate marching drum beat, but the real sound of the people.

While listening to it I'm filled with hope.

Hope for the future, hope for the generations to come.

I also hope that one day far far in the future that kids are sitting in a history class and feeling the weight of the evils of the world pressing down on them, and one comes forward and says 'I found this in a time capsule buried in my back yard' and the class listens to it and as the last note rings out a voice of a kid says 'The world wasn't as bad as the paint it eh?'

Beautiful album.

Band Website   UK Label.  Buy it here for £6

This isn't on the album, but instead it comes from a free covers album that was released as an extra for those who pledged towards 'Look out Mamma'.