18th Sept - Belle & Sebastian @ Perth Concert Hall

The word from L.A. is that the new Belle & Sebastian album is finished and should be released to an expectant public in January 2006. Recording the new album in America is a far cry from the debut Tigermilk, which was recorded by students at Stow College in Glasgow but hopefully the new offering will be good and I for one am very much looking forward to it.

Tonight's gig was to celebrate the opening of the new and very posh Perth Concert Hall. I'm not sure why a small city like Perth needs a Concert Hall but it's got one and very nice it is too.

I say it every time I see B&S that there are always surprises and tonight was no different. On the 25th of this month B&S play a special concert at The Barbican in London where they will be playing their superb album "If You're Feeling Sinister" from beginning to end and tonight was an ideal opportunity for a rehearsal. They played 6 from that album, a few classics, "Electronic Renaissance" with Stuart Murdoch singing from the back of the hall so he could hear how good the Hall sounded!, a couple of new songs and a superb cover of "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello and the crowd went home very happy.

They just seem to go from strength to strength as a live band and during the final song "Sleep The Clock Around" I counted 13 musicians delivering a wonderful finale.

After my mates Blair and Kerry's wedding the day before, this was the end of a brilliant weekend.

Al