Live music.

OK. You may not believe it. But I am about to write a real blog. Like, a real one. Wish me luck...

So I just got back from a "meeting" with a few guys from the neighbouring village who are organising a gig/mini-festival to take place in June. (The Carlops Big Party, 20th June, all afternoon/evening. Plug over.) They asked me, or more correctly, I managed to wangle for myself, a set for me and my band (apparently now known as The Dan Glover Band. Mixed feelings.) in the evening (7 'o' clock :P) in said pub. Can't wait. No idea who will be playing, no idea what we will play, fully aware that I only get back from Germany three days before, but still can't wait. [NB: Great local band Kings of Cheeze will also be playing - don't miss it!]

The last (and first!) gigs we did as a band were three 'cafe' sets at the Eastgate in Peebles, as part of their fifth birthday celebrations, and we had an interestingly mixed response. Allow me to explain.

The first day was just me switching between acoustic and piano, and Erin singing. We had some friends along, we played songs, people clapped politely in between, nothing special, nothing terrible.

The second day, though we played the same set, had exactly the same set-up, was different... For one, I broke a guitar string about halfway through the set so had to switch to piano, but it was more than that. There was no response- no-one clapped. At all. Now maybe I'm just being ungrateful, but it was kind of disconcerting to have such an incredibly different response to the same set, just the next day. Anyway, long story short, we packed up and left early. Partly embarassment, partly feeling uncomfortable, mostly because there were only so many guitar-based songs that can safely make the transition to solo piano accompaniment.

The last set we did was a Saturday morning. Same place, same set, same gear. A few minor differences: the place was reasonably full (I mean, like a whole 10 people...) and we had Katie playing the piano as well, plus some fans in the audience. But this time, right from the first song (a cover of Flume by Bon Iver, for anyone who cares), something just seemed to click. Everything just felt right. I even plucked up the courage to actually give a brief explanation/introduction to some songs, and I swear that there were even people clapping along at some points. Despite being so small-scale (OK, but in actual fact there were slightly more than 10 people there...), that has to go down as one of my favourite gigs ever. [Afterwards, we went for a celebratory (though short-lived) busking session, just because. Special mention to a Mr. Neil Costley from Edinburgh, who just so happened to have come down from Edinburgh to be our number one favourite customer. Cheers, man!]

Anyway, moving on to the real point(?), it makes me wonder- what gives a gig that special something? What are the ingredients for a good performance? 'Cos I don't think I know.

Maybe live music is an organic thing, maybe how "good" or "bad" a gig is can't really be controlled.

Or maybe it's not up to the performer to decide? Maybe the only people who really know if a gig is "good" or "bad" are the audience?

But then again, having played a fair few gigs myself, there are definitely some that go "right," and some that go "wrong." Playing jazz piano in CJB is a good example- some nights I can't do anything but read the chords- when it gets to my solo, the inspiration just isn't there. But then some nights (Arran!), ideas just come, seemingly without any effort on my part. I'm honestly not meaning to sound cocky, just trying to explain.

So if we define a 'good gig' as being one where 'inspiration flows,' what factors determine 'inspiration?' Surroundings? Rehearsal? Lack of self-consciousness? Mood? Luck? Who knows.

At the end of the day, I suppose that the beauty of music (live music in particular) is that it can't really be broken down into logical concepts.


So unfortunately, I don't think we will ever know exactly what makes a gig go well or not.


But luckily, I don't think we will ever know exactly what makes a gig go well or not.


I hope that makes some sense. Over and out.

-

P.S. I thought it might be nice to give you some interesting links to make up for all that nonsense... So here are three of my personal favourite live performances of all time. There are many more, but these are the only three I can think of right now... Enjoy!

• Rush - Tom Sawyer (Rio de Janeiro, 2002) This makes the list mostly because of the intro. And the riff. Neil Peart's virtuosic drumming perfection coupled with the tighter-than-tight band playing is the icing on the prog-rock-anthem-cake.
• U2 & "New Voices Of Freedom" Gospel Choir - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Madison Square Gardens, 1987) There is always something incredibly fearsome and special about a passionate gospel choir, but when they are singing a song like this, with this band, it is simply astonishing. I promise that this is the only time I will ever, EVER do this, but to quote a YouTube commenter: "If this does not move you, you might want to check and see if you still have a pulse" 'Nuff said.
• Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (A cappella) A bit of a hidden gem, in my opinion, I think this is the perfect example of an incredible combination of spontaneity, setting and, erm, singing (cringe...) Apparently this was the warm-up to the main "Blogotheque" gig, which is also well worth a watch. Stunning. [Hugely interesting article/background info on the Blogotheque website as well. You can thank me later...]

Update

Ok, ok, I haven't exactly been reliably blogging, but I do have a life to run. So today will just be one of the usual listening logs/recommendations, but I fully intend to bring you something new soon.

So, with that disclaimer completed, what have I been listening to recently? Oh the beauty of dysfunctional rhetoric. (WARNING: I am attempting to put pictures in today. May fail.)

Hejira by Joni Mitchell is my latest blast from the past, and I'm strangely enjoying it. Probably of more interest if you are a) a Joni fan already, or b) a poet/songwriter, because a lot of emphasis is placed on the lyrics. Nevertheless, this is still worth a listen, the musical interplay between Jaco Pastorius' sublime fretless bass playing and Joni's expressive, almost intellectual vocal delivery giving it a strange sense of lonely wanderlust, a timeless appeal. Though for first time Joni fans, I would recommend Blue or Ladies of the Canyon.

• Key tracks: Coyote, Amelia, Furry Sings The Blues, Hejira.
• Best moment: "Furry Sings The Blues" - the line "He points a bony finger at you, says 'I don't like you'," vocal impersonation included.

My personal "find" (possibly) is the debut album from Damien Rice's ex-backing singer, Lisa Hannigan. Called Sea Sew, it's possibly the most un-Damien Rice-ish record you could imagine. Think Ireland, sea, pubs, knitting (in a cool way), cosiness. All topped off with a genuinely creative band, and that voice. Sublime.

• Key tracks: I Don't Know (awesome live version through the link), Ocean and a Rock, Sea Song, Pistachio (ditto)
  
• Best moment: there really are many. The cheeky, lilting groove of "I Don't Know," the quirky drum machine backing on "Keep It All," but top of the list is "Pistachio," with some of the most weird yet heartfelt and inventive lyric-writing I have heard for while - "Sit down and fire away, I know it's tricky when you're feeling low, when you feel like your feelings have gone the way of a pre-shelled pistachio." Need I say more?
  

Unfortunately, I think I have been too kind recently, so it's time to stop gushing. I was also listening to the new Kings Of Leon album, Only By The Night, and I was genuinely disappointed. There is none of the attitude and musical power of the older albums, just a sense of never quite making the grade, aiming too high and missing. That said, the single cuts are still good- "Use Somebody" is the definitive rock anthem, and "Closer" is inventive, despite being little more than a nice effected bass riff. But the rest of the album is just a mess. Prime examples (IMO) are "Manhattan" and "17," both of which are seemingly formless attempts at accessible grandeur, but really just come off as amateur.

Don't get me wrong, they are a great band, capable of great songwriting (see "Fans," "Red Morning Light" and "Milk") but I'm afraid that this time, in my books at least, they haven't made the grade. Look- they didn't even get a picture... Neh neeh neh neeh neeh.

Soo... There are some music recommendations, perhaps it's time for a real blog some time soon? Though I could do with some ideas for what to blog about... Drop me a comment!!

Well, well, well...

So yeah, it's been a while... And the fact that I feel like I'm writing to a brick wall doesn't help (is that even a valid metaphor?), though I'm determined to write something more substantial than usual, whether anyone reads it or not.

Anyway, what with so many musical happenings and listenings, I'm not sure where to start. Let's kick off with some new bands...

• Fleet Foxes - A fascinating and distinctly American palette of folksy guitars, baroque-pop hooks and luscious stacked harmonies. Key tracks - White Winter Hymnal, Blue Ridge Mountains, Oliver James
• Bellowhead - Sticking with the folk theme, but from the opposite side of the Atlantic, Bellowhead are a bunch (collective?) from England who have taken traditional English folk music and put it on drugs that even Amy Winehouse hasn't heard of. Funk, jazz, disco, classical, you name it- they've added it to the cocktail. Key tracks - London Town, Fakenham Fair, (my personal fave - yes, it's a frying pan) Jordan
• Calamateur - Strictly local and unsigned, these guys (well, this guy really) are/is PHENOMENAL!!! (I saw them live last night - prepare for a post very soon!!) And what's more, his latest album, interestingly entitled "Jesus Is For Losers" is absolutely free off the website - www.calamateur.com/ seriously, download it now! Yes he writes from a Christian worldview, but even if you aren't of the same beliefs then this is well, well worth a listen. Bristling electronics combined with singer-songwriter acoustic sensibilities and a large dose of honesty, there is very little not to like here. Namecheck (IMO) Radiohead, Sigur Ros (live anyway), Delirious?, Elliott Smith. Key tracks (from the latest album) - Jesus is for Losers, Perfect Moment and many more...

In addition to these (relatively) new finds, I have been getting stuck into Joni Mitchell, Jeff Buckley live, Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin. Also, reading "The Philosophy of Art" by Noel Carroll - fascinating and well-written, even though it's an Undergraduate University textbook and requires commitment, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in that sort of thing. Finally, I have discovered the wonders of Spotify. I still much prefer owning albums, but for trying new stuff nothing can beat it - and I haven't even had one ad yet! Head on over to www.spotify.com and make yourself happy.

Please leave comments and emails and, y'know, read things... More followers would just be lovely. Peace out!!

Back home!

Hello again, I'm still not entirely sure whether anyone on the planet is actually following my blog, but if you are, sorry for the lack of posts over the last two weeks. I intended to write something from Florida, but never got round to it, so I'm sorry!

Though I did buy a rather nice maraca while I was there. I also tried to buy a ukulele, but the one I wanted was out of stock although, for my family's sake, maybe it was better that way.

I must doubly apologise because this post isn't going to be particularly substantial either, but I promise that after my exam on Thursday I will make an effort to write something decent. As for now, I should really be off studying. Peace out!

P.S. If anyone is actually reading anything on this blog, I would love it if you felt able to comment somewhere, or drop me an email telling me how much you love/hate it, as I'm getting a bit of a complex about the lack of followers... That cool?

A Warning!!!

AAAAAAARGH!!!!!

Let me explain - I recently decided to take advantage of emusic.com's free trial offer of 50 songs. It seemed to go well, the service was pretty good and I was able to get planty of jazz albums that I needed.

But, when I played the tracks in iTunes, it just skipped to the next track after 20 seconds of playing!! And even if I played it again and moved the seek bar past the point of skipping, it just skipped ahead anyway!!!

I haven't been able to fix the problme, despite playing with start/end times, converting to AAC and any other method you would care to use, so now all of that free music is lost.

So, in short, DON'T BUY MUSIC FROM EMUSIC.COM. Use amazon or play - no subscription, a better catalogue and they actually fecking work.

Rant over.

HOLIDAY!!!

Well, I do have some exciting news today. Tomorrow, I am getting on a plane with my family and we are going to Orlando for two weeks!! Or maybe it's only exciting if you are me... But nevertheless, I will be taking my trusty friend laptop with me, and may even get some blogging done! There must be some kind of music scene in Orlando... So I will keep you posted!

Meanwhile, this week's choice albums:

Day & Age by The Killers is on frequent rotation at the minute, and I'm loving every minute of it! They seem to have perfected the formula - there's a nice mix of the synthy glam-rock leanings of Hot Fuss and the abstract American rock of Sam's Town, but for me it's the new and inventive instrumentation that does it - harpsichord, anyone?

• Key tracks: Losing Touch, This Is Your Life, The World We Live In
• Best moment: Hmm, there are many, but I think it may have to be the brass opening figures on "Losing Touch."

I also backtracked slightly, and had a listen to Because Of The Times, the 2007 album from Kings Of Leon. I have read one review that slated it, basically suggesting that they were trying (and failing) to be the U2 of American rock. And while this is possibly true, the results of the experiment are nothing to be ashamed of - this album oozes attitude and musicality. In my opinion, Because Of The Times is seriously underrated.

• Key Tracks: Knocked Up, McFearless, Fans
• Best moment: The complex yet solid drum groove in "McFearless" (see also: bridge to "My Party.")

The best 'cover version' in the world.

Keith Jarrett - "I Loves You, Porgy" from the album "The Melody At Night, With You." I am speechless!! Only just heard any of this album now, in fact still only on track 2 but I am already in love with it!!! For all of his personal prima donna-isms and "artistic" flaws, this man is surely the only person in the universe who can channel the intense fear and longing of the lyrics to this song through an instrument. (check out http://tinyurl.com/bctwwg).

I also love the fact that there is none of the impressive though perhaps convoluted harmonic showboating that Jarrett is famous for here - just the melody, but expressed with a clarity and elegance that can never be taught or learnt. A true genius - even if you aren't a jazz fan, buy this album!!!