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NOVEMBER 2005 Into the 'Black hole' of Winter!

Wed 30 NOV @Bannermans, Edinburgh: St Andrews Night Hooley (!?)..come and celebrate w/ The Z28's, ETRANGERE, LEGLESS, SHOCK n AWE!!!, a couple of other people and the adorably dark, smoky and sultry ROSIE BELL!!! with Pipes!!!  (not the hubbly bubbly kind)

30 Nov 05 Wed MGCK Music  "Speaking of surreal expos...Yesterday"

MACROMEDIA STUDIO 8 - At the all singing all dancing East Scotland launch (Glasgé got it last week) of the new bells and whistles FLASH 8  multimedia web-design package at the Balmoral Hotel.  The greatest satisfaction, aside from learning you can transfer and stream any video files in seconds, was watching Silver Service style waiters and waitresses roaming the banquet room with trays of water and orange juice in goblets and surfing tables piled high with canapés and smoked salmon.  Macromedia have, apparently, merged with Adobe and this was an expensive event.   Surprisingly, the gift bag wasn't much to look at or look into.. a pen (amazing the pen is STILL mightier than the sword, but now challenged by the mobile phone!), some handouts on the Studio 8 package contents, a pad of paper and a key ring that no matter which way we turned and twisted it, wasn't a Swiss army knife and will not open beer bottles or save you in a tussle with a grizzly bear when hiking wireless through the Canadian wilderness.  BUT, the presentation was kinda cute and they might even convince me to fork out for the goods.

This page is no longer in any particular order.  Linearity is so September 10th... particularly after seeing the new FLASH 8 package.

Friday 25 NOV @GIG, Edinburgh: STARVATION BOX ... et al...beats the winter blues..

and

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Meanwhile.. earlier this month... 

FRIDAY 4 NOV @GIG, Edinburgh: Unoffishal Page Favourites MY ELECTRIC LOVE AFFAIR, with LAST GREAT WILDERNESS & TRANSAUDIO

5 Nov 05 Sat MGCK Music  "Spent the first five days of the month..."

in a daze... another month with another name.. shouldn't something be different?  The good news: at last night's GIG,  MY ELECTRIC LOVE AFFAIR proved why they are.

Other good news.. handed off SINDOLOR's 'Take A Ride' and JEGSY DODD 'Wake Up and Smell The Offy' CD's for review to our own Mr Van Wyck.

Saturday 5 NOV @GIG, Edinburgh: DELTA MAINLINE, a couple of other people and DJ set by none other than Big Brother winner (????!!!) and Happy Mondays man - 'BEZ'

7 Nov 05 Mon MGCK Music  ...   'Lists'.....   good god...

On Norman Lamont's recommendation (i.e. something he said on his website!) I purchased the guide-dog for the organisationally-blind book: ''Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress Free Productivity".  As far as I can tell... the book suggests a completely STRESS-FILLED life.  The blue and white paperback cover would, indeed, be the gateway to a stress free life IF it gave you good advice, but the following is the kind of shit this book suggests you take on as 'normal' day-to-day activities: "... the best way to be reminded of an 'as soon as I can' action is by the particular context required for that action - that is, either the tool or the location or the person needed to complete it.  For instance, if the action requires a computer (Editor's Note: don't ALL actions require a computer???) it should go on the 'At Computer' list.  If your action demands that you be out in your car driving around (such as stopping by the bank or copping some crack from your dealer), the 'Errands' list would be the appropriate place to track it.  If the next step is to talk about something 'face-to-face' with your partner Emily, putting it into an 'Emily' folder or list makes the most sense."

Does that shit make 'the most sense' to you??  Make an EMILY or JOHN or JENNIFER list (?????!!) when you need to have a 'chat' with your nearest and/or dearest???  An 'Errands' list when you're out in the car???  An 'At Computer' list???  A 'fuck-me-but-I fucked-up-yesterday-better-fix-it-today' list?????  

Just write the shit on the back of your hand: ".. Bank... Crack... Emily.... email Jon... text Jen..."    Enough with these self help guides to your life.  My advice after falling for this one.  Do it YOUR way and write a book about it.  OR try the 'Harald Hardrada' Project Management school of thinking; i.e. ""Fuck yeah.... let's invade England... uhh... TODAY!!!"" (no Process Mapping needed for the last of the Viking kings!).  Process-mapping is for impotent souls.. who need a lot of guidance and have no confidence in their own desires.  Believe me.. if you WANT it.. you'll get to it and/or get it done.

So....Where have all the impetuous real men gone...........

Mon 7 Nov @ Bannermans: ISLE OF ME (Lee Graham) and BLACK MEDICINE

8 Nov 05 Tues MGCK Music  ...   MORe....   good.... Oh god...

Got a shock last night: a GREAT gig at Bannerman's with three excellent bands (BLACK MEDICINE, GRAYSTAR and Lee Graham's 'RoCKno' project ISLE OF ME) playing one after the other.  When was the last time you went to Bannerman's and ALL the bands were amazing??? And the SOUND on the night.. I congratulated the engineer 'Joe' on his remarkable achievement: great sound beneath the Underworld's low stone ceiling.  

So.. a night of great musicians, making up great bands, with a great sound engineer.  Ok.. so WHY was it all great?  Musicianship comes first, for me, as the most important ingredient plus a Great Groove, in the context of Great songs and a cool front-woman with BLACK MEDICINE.  I would go so far as to say, she's the the most compelling female vocalist I've come across fronting an unsigned band in Scotland.  Emotive, evocative, sexy and strong.

And the other guys?  The bass player (John Reynolds), drummer (Jamie), guitarist (Lee Graham) the switch-skilled drummer/trombonist (Tim who also plays with The Ruffness - now you're gettin' the picture), the vocalist and the other guitarist who's names I don't know.. made a perfect package.  John Reynolds came back in the next set playing bass for GRAYSTAR (beautifully crafted songs) and Lee Graham came back in his own solo incarnation as 'ISLE OF ME' with drummer Jamie and a hard-drive for companionship as the storming last act of the night.

When I like something, I don't know when I've said enough.  IMPRESSIVE.  SURPRISING.  SHOCKING?? Where were all the people and why don't more people KNOW about these bands and show up to watch them play???  It's only 4 quid for f*ck sake. 

I wrote notes during the night.. something about Lee Graham reminding me of a vocalising Joe Satriani surfing with his own aliens.  That's probably the wrong comparison.. but there was something about the enthusiastic 'innovation' of Lee's 'ISLE OF ME' set that just was hugely compelling and satisfying.  Yeah ROCKNO!!!!... and Jamie the Drummer... can I steal all of these great musicians please.. I'd better stop talking now.. 

same night just down the road at the Holyrood Tavern's PIRANHA POETRY Open Mic Night

Stephen Barnaby (July Slam Winner) stole the event with his 50-word poems and a flip chart describing other literary discoveries he'd made while comparing Dostoevsky's pie-making with Ernest Hemingway's Fairy cake creations.  Maybe they'll have photos on:

So, Yes.. I was THERE too.. there and Bannermans.. I was doing everything last night..

12/13 Nov 05 Sat/Sun MGCK Music  ...   spent the last 5 days with....

THE FLU

Nope.. not a band.. not a concept.. just a bacterial infection.. making a raid on my sensibilities.

It's also made me a little bit grumpy and perhaps I am doomed to say something ungracious in the next paragraph or so.. so gird your loins, or shield your eyes, cuz here it comes:

"When DID mediocrity and banality become a good thing??????"

What we need is a flip-chart, some coloured pens and Stephen Barnaby's illustrations of Dostoevsky making pies and Ernest Hemingway proudly displaying his Fairy cakes.  

That's how surreal this shit is.  

Last night.. on BBC2 .. some video show highlighting Scottish bands... (maybe I should stop here... no.. the flu has loosened my tongue AND my bowels.. there's no turning back!)

Apart from the paucity that is El Poserdente, ... really... just what the fuck is it with Scottish bands like 'My Latest Novel'?  Turgid and arduous... bleak and draining.. twee and shite...  no good stories, savvy bass-lines or inspiring melodies in sight.   And why are the people so unattractive???? Mediocrity meets mundanity meets the sponge-bob square-head next door and that fuckin' whining violin every time you turn around.  I've seen their name 'everywhere' for a  while now, and like the trailer to a Megabucks Hollywood Blockbuster was convinced, by sheer repeat exposure, into thinking 'that must mean something.'  They must be good!!!  I was even looking forward to finally getting to see and hear them.

Well.. like so many other times, I GOT CONNED.  CONNED by seeing a name so many times in black and white.  CONNED by the concept of, 'if they do lotsa gigs in kinda known places they must be pretty darned good!"  CONNED all the way around.   Vox Populi and all that crap.  My beliefs are being shattered one by one.  And I won't even mention those 'Hobo' people.. like trolls under the bridge.  And here comes the rating:

Scary shit goes on up here in the far North.

Regarding misinformation: Read a headline today: “Jordan says Al-Qaeda behind bombings..”  for a second I thought they meant ‘JORDAN’.. as in huge breast implants.  Just goes to show you how seeing something in black and white so many times.. and eventually.. you start to believe something else altogether.

(no doubt someone will complain, like they did about that 'Al-ponce-oh' review and I'll have to delete my true feelings once again... oh well.. lies go on.)

Want to see some REAL talent.. visit and wait for the thing to load.  It's worth it.: http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/%7Eyugo/storage/monocrafts_ver3/03/index.html

NOTES: 17 November 2005: Saw the SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND @ THE LIQUID ROOMS.. and yes.. they were/are still SENSATIONAL.  See them at THE DOG HOUSE in DUNDEE on WED 23 NOV 05.  We LOVE the DOG HOUSE.

19/20 Nov 05 Sat/Sun MGCK Music  ...   The Most Wanted!

Have to report.. and I'm pleased about this.. in the 'Scotsman on Sunday' of the 100 most ELIGIBLE individuals in Scotland, LeithFM's own Danielle Milne is most wanted female  number 37.  She  IS, actually, a great girl and deserves the best.. Congratulations Danielle.  Very very very happy they recognised your loveliness.

Now to business.. there is none.  It's the onset of winter in Scotland.  You think anything interesting is happening?  Guess again.  SO.. with that in mind.. we're moving the reportage to New York.  SHOOTING PEOPLE in New York are having a party at The REMOTE Lounge on Tuesday 22 November.. Be there or just be a stick in the mud.. see if I care.

Ahhhh.. but for those who are more local in their activities.. LeithFM is planning a Launch day at Ocean Terminal.. 3 December 2005... fun... frolic.. handsome DJ's,  ME and music.. what more could you ask for????? (a townhouse in New York; the money to pay the taxes, utility bills, fill the fridge with food, pay someone to clean up, champagne for parties and occasionally buy a new pair of Manolos, and a winter coat designed by Miuccia Prada against the cold..... all that and more til the day I die.... )

NEW YORK... it's where it's ALWAYS happening.

25 Nov 05 Fri MGCK Music  ... And LA.....

Just had a chat with 'Alex' in LA... endless nights of clubs and bands and people from all over the world.. it's all happening all the time...Everything go 24/7/365...  

But closer to what currently passes as 'home'.. I'm a little late with this message but I recommend this gig:

Friday 25 NOV @GIG, Edinburgh: STARVATION BOX ... et al...

BE THERE...... or BE SOMEWHERE ELSE!  If you don't know how.. take lessons on COUNTERCULTURE.

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If you're looking for last month's things: THE THEME WAS SPACE and new venue in Edinburgh, GIG, go to Last month's blog: October 05

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SPACE: The FINAL FRONTIER! Always an eyeful: The Universe Today

Sites worth a visit and support are: http://www.adbusters.org and Be an 'Antipreneur' - anti-corporate - self-motivated activist: http://adbusters.org/metas/politico/antipreneur/

http://www.indymedia.org.uk

*****Want to do a good thing?!  Send an email to letters@radiosix.com with the subject line VOTE and in the body of the text just write: Song: Jonny Cash, Artist: Electra, then your name and address and press SEND.  

as always www.clearchannelsucks.org  (note: this site seems to have been closed down.. probably by some legal suit from Clearchannel themselves.

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