July 13 - SmytherJones @ Barfly

Barfly again and we were delighted that, due to The Blimp pulling out at the last minute, we had been promoted to the main stage downstairs. Other bands onstage were Groucho and The Came Music. I didn't see Groucho as I was standing outside selling tickets for the gig but Then Came Music were superb and I bought one of their eps for £2!

Everyone in the band, including me, were up for this gig especially due to the earlier promotion and it seemed to pay off with the best SmytherJones set I have certainly seen. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and the band are starting to play as more of a unit, which bodes extremely well for the future.

Special shout out to Rob and Sal from Devil Promotions who set up the evenings entertainment, nice guys and hopefully we'll be able to work with them in the future.

Al

T in the Park - TV Review

For the first time in 11 years, the coverage of this superb festival was live and not just a couple of hour long compliations of commercial and headlining bands. From 7pm to 11pm on both days, BBC3 broadcast live from Balado with live music, interview and features on loads of bands. Top stuff. The presenters have come in for some perhaps unnecessary criticism but on the whole I was happy to be watching descent music, especially as this is the first time in 4 years I haven't been there!

I'll quickly scim over Saturday for two reasons, 1. the line up was pish and 2. Sport Relief was on and I lost out 2-1 and only caught the last hour of the coverage! Firstly, The Darkness are no headliners. How can you headline a festival with only 1 album? Oh dear. Also, wioth the likes of The Black Eyed Peasand Pink on the bill it resembled more like Live and Loud than T in the P!

Anyway, it wasn't all bad, Ash looked excellent and The Cahrl;atans have a good few songs but apart from that I am struggling to be in any way positive.

Sunday started well as it was my birthday and after a day out with the wife and wean, I sat down with a fridge full of beer to watch every second of the T coverage and I was extremely excited for a couple of reasons. Number 1 - The Pixies. I saw them in 1991 at the SECC when the stage collapsed but the two full songs they managed to play were superb and 13 years on they didn't disappoint. Snow Patrol, Badly Drawn Boy, Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes were also superb.

Not the worst coverage I have ever seen but it would have been nice to see some more from the T Break and X Tents but I suppose I'll just have to buy a ticket for next year if I want it all my own way.

Al

July 10th - Strawberry Fields?

SmytherJones were supposed to be playing Strawberry Fields in central Glasgow on 10th July, but no-one turned up and we drove in and stood outside for absolutely no reason. We late discovered that the venue has gone into liquidation and had been closed all week.  Why oh why do promoters treat bands with such contempt when if it wasn't for us they'd be flipping burgers in MacDonalds?
 
Answers on a postcard.
 
Al

Bob Dylan Review - The Sunday Mail

It has come to my attention that Billy Sloan took it upon himself to slag off the legendary Bob Dylans' gig at the Barrowland in his Sunday rag. Why? Did he not agree to get his picture with you Billy? Is he not popular enough for you Billy? Have you not seen him hyped up by the NME this week Billy?

What a cock.

Yours

Al

T in the Park

Unfortunately for those who have bought tickets for T in the Park, David Bowie has pulled out of the festival due to a shoulder injury, and what have DF Concerts done about it? What gem have they pulled out of the hat to satisfy those who have already bought tickets?

Well, when I first heard, I assumed that they would break the band to get a massive act, my initial bet was The Cure who are playing the Move Festival in Manchester the day before T opens, but others had mentioned Oasis, promote Muse who recently closed Glastonbury and some even thought McCartney. However, none of these came to fruition, instead DF have decided in their infinate wisdom that The Darkness have the right stuff to fill Bowies shoes.

What is all that about? The Darkness are a joke, a pantomime act that shouldn't be anywhere near the top of the bill but lets face it, DF have saved a packed with Bowie pulling out and since the festival has sold out why should they give a shit about the paying fans? Promote The Darkness and Starsailor and count the money while the punter is left feeling short changed. Poor, poor effort.

Yours

Disgusted from Coatbridge

July 2 - E11even @ Furys

I've been to the nightclub in Furys loads of times and SmytherJones are booked to play Furys in August but I had never actually been to a gig there so I was keen to attend a gig there so Friday was ideal.

I have no idea who the band were who were on when we arrived but they were utter mince and I am glad I can't remember! The next band were called Lab 5 and looked extremely cool but again they were rank and were painful to listen to.

It hadn't been a good night when E11even came onstage and I was a bit scared that I would hate them but since hearing their first demo they have improved immensly and although Stevens vocal is not to my taste his singing has improved dramatically. Gareth, who is the driving force behind E11even, is superb, both on guitar and vocally and looks every bit a leader of the pack.

Peace

Al

The Glastonbury Festival

What a magic weekend! Although not at the festival site, I spent the majority of the weekend camped on the couch with crisps, pizza and plenty of cans of beer watching the coverage on BBC and listening on Radio 1.

There is something about Glastonbury that's different than other festival, the music almost takes second place to the other things that go on.

Musical highlights for me were......Paul McCartney, Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, Muse and Morrissey.

Special mention to Muse, 10 minutes after their set, which they described as the best of their career, the drummers father died at the side of the stage. A happy day quickly turned into a very sad one.

Rest in Peace...

Al