Tribute to John Peel

Today at the age of 65, legendary DJ John Peel died suddenly of a heart attack. He was on holiday with his wife in Peru when the tragedy struck and a waves of sadness was sent round the musical world as soon as the news broke.

Johns radio career was spent playing his favourite music and championing new bands that he felt passionate about, giving them a name and making people notice them simply bacuase he liked them. I honestly can't remember him playing something that I felt he had been told to and I firmly believe that the only music he played for that he was moved by and felt deserved played to the world.

On a personal level, he endorsed many of my favourite artists like Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura and only last year invited my frineds John and Anthony who make up The Sluts of Trust to London to record a famous Peel Session, which was broadcast with his unique enthusiam some weeks later. I was proud that friends of mine had made it to his show and inclusion in his Festive 50 capped a breakthrough year for them that I am sure they will never forget.

I know exactly what his family are going through as I lost my own father just over a year ago and the next few months will be extremely difficult for them, but I hope the thousands of messages on message boards all over the world will give them strength and remind them to celebrate the memory that will live on in the legacy that John set throughout his remarkable career that was his life.

His simple honesty as a broadcaster will be missed and in my opinion its the end of an era and I doubt his show will find a strong enough character with enough power in the musical world to remain pushing unsigned acts and helping build careers efore being shelved and replaced by some faceless DJ playing tunes from the Radio 1 playlist. Its the end of an era but without a shadow of a doubt, no one will ever forget the greatest ever radio DJ.

Thanks John and rest in peace.

Al

24 Oct - SmytherJones @ Fury Murrys

Tonight was the "King of Bands" competition at Fury Murrys. I hate battle of the band comptetions, which "King of Bands" essentially is, but we decided to play as the band are getting tighter onstage and the more live shows the better.

We had strictly 20 minutes so we rehearsed 4 songs, which timed at 19 minutes and although not close to the best live show we've done it was enough to get into the semi final on the 27th November. Do come along, tickets £4!

cheers

Al

16 Oct (matinee) - Franz Ferdinand @ Glasgow Barrowlands

Yes you read it right, this was the matinee gig for under 18s and their parents. The tickets strangely said no under 5s, which I thought was a bit obvious but how wrong I was, the number of kids aged 6/7 was incredible. I have the feeling that these kids were there for the accompanying adults benefit and not their own love of indie pop but I always have been a bit of s cynic.

This was the strangest gig I have ever been to by a country mile. I've never been in the Barrowlands in the afternoon and with so many kids it was difficult to believe it wasn't Steps or some other ghastly pop act taking to the stage. I've also never seen a glow stick at the Barras or been unable to have a pint. However on the positive side the usual drinks prices were no where to be seen, £120 for a pint of diet coke and only £1 for a bottle of water! I'm digressing but I want you to share my Twilight Zone feelings.

What about the gig, the actual music, that's what its all about is it not? Franz Ferdinand are an excellent live band and have perfected a tight live show during their years of gigging in Glasgow before they achieved their phenomenal success. That can't be denied and they did a strong set to a very enthusiastic audience.

Look, I've been a big fan for some time, but a gig for kids? That's just plain odd, they looked like the musical equivalent of the Chuckle Brothers. Especially when they had some audience participation when they asked the weans to help them write a song, it was like panto time at the Barras. I was embarrassed for them as was my ten year old who said she preferred them at Leeds when there were no wee neds to annoy her!

Surely when kids attend a gig they are playing at being older and surely the last thing they want is to be made to feel their age or younger? Maybe I am wrong but the whole thing left me bewildered and with a real hope that this was a one off and that FF et al will not begin playing to more kids and extending their merchandising stands that are already full of overpriced rubbish.

Come back to the right age band guys, Saturday afternoon did nothing for your street cred and coolness, and for a band whose entire image is that of cool hipsters, beware or it could all come crashing down as fast as it arrived.

Al

15 Oct - Ian Brown @ The Carling Academy Glasgow

The crowd was buzzing for this gig and it was clear as soon as we got into the Academy that something special was going to happen. The venue was full of energy and excitment and the roof was nearly blown off when Ian Brown walked onstage.

As if things couldn't get any better, he blasted out a string of Stone Roses classics to the delight and almost insane reaction from the 2500 fans who had been given what they had hoped. To let you understand, since The Stone Roses split, Ian Brown has not performed any Stone Roses songs. There were rumours that this tour would be different but untill the opening bars of "Sally Cinamon" it was only a rumour, a dream but occasionally dreams do come true.

"I Wanna Be Adored", "Waterfall", "Sugar Spun", "Made of Stone", "She Bangs The Drum" - yes it was more than most had hoped but add the cream of his solo back catalogue, culminating in my personal favourite The FEAR and it was an unforgetable night.

I won't forget the sight of Ian Brown tonight, standing like a witch doctor shaking his tambourine staff towards the adoring fans and its clear that he is in his prime and has a good few years in him yet.

Oh yes we adore.

Al

8 Oct - Thanksgiving, Thee Moths, Beerjacket @ Tchai-Ovna, Glasgow.

I was really looking forward to this gig, although it was always going to be different - 3 acoustic acts in a tea shop in the south side of Glasgow, one from Coatbridge, one from Dundee and one from the USA! All three were superb and below is a wee bit on each performace;

First up was Beerjacket. I've written loads about Peter and don't really have to add much more here (see below). A superb set as usual and the new stuff continue the winning formula. Check out the new stuff at http://www.beerjacket.co.uk

Next up was Thee Moths, which is currently made up with just Alex Botten. This was a band that I had wanted to see for some time and Alex short set was excellent and very well received by the small audience and I for one look forward to seeing them again soon. http://www.theemoths.co.uk It was also great to talk to Alex after the gig and the new cd single is heartely recommended.

The finale of the night was Adrian Orange, or Thanksgiving as he is know, all the way from Portland in the North West corner of the USA. His first few hours in the UK had been plagued with transport problems but luckily he arrived on time (after going a little too north on the train - Inverness!) and played a brilliant set. The end involved the audience humming the chorus and Adrian sitting at the front of the stage, simply stunning.

I left the gig 2 cds the better and with the realisation that desite the rubbish and nonsence crammed into the charts, small corners of the world can spring musical talent of an extremely high calibre.

Al