Morrissey Tour May 2006

5 dates in Scotland, including 3 in very easy reach, and I've only got tickets for Greenock, now thats what I call self control!

25th Jan - Beerjacket @ Bar Bloc, Glasgow

Tonight was the official album launch of Beerjacket's third album "Accident History" and the first that Beerjacket would headline. It was good to see so many people turn up on a cold Wed night and shows the regard in which he is held, even if he himself find the adulation hard to accept!

Charlie from Cold Night Song opened and played some great songs, he runs gigs on a Sunday at The Goat in Glasgow, an excellent night of acoustic music in a nice pub in the fantastic west end. Check it out of you haven't already.

Peter's set was a great mix of new and old and convinced a good few to buy a cd and hopefully come to other shows. The climax of the show was my personal favourite Barricade, which was a great end to a very enjoyable night.

I have a feeling that 2006 could be a big one for Mr Beerjacket. If you haven't already checked him out do so quickly at www.myspace.com/beerjacket.

Al

This month I have been mostly listening to...

1. Beerjacket - Accident History
2. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (Rough Trade)
3. Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger (Warp)
4. We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor (Virgin)
5. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (Sub Pop)

15 Jan - Belle & Sebastian @ ABC, Glasgow

This was my first gig of 2006 and also my first visit to the new ABC venue, which is located in Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. Its an old cinema and a similar size to the Barrowlands and Academy and its well worth the excellent reviews its been receiving since opening late last year. Great sound, a good sized venue and lots of space to stand despite the gig being sold out. I look forward to many more visits!

Belle & Sebastian are about to release their 7th studio album, their 2nd on Rough Trade, and have embarked on a UK tour prior to the release of "The Life Pursuit", which includes 3 sold out nights at the ABC, a sold out night at the Hammersmith Apollo, and I have a feeling that this album could well be their biggest selling album since forming in 1996 and having heard the album its well worth it.

The gig was superb and the new songs were very well received by the home town crowd, but they did a good mix of new and old and I was delighted to hear Fox In The Snow, which is an played rarely and the encore was memorable, especially for the guy from the front row who went onstage and sang almost every word of Judy and the Dream of Horses, well done that man.

A great start to the year for me and a solid start to the tour for B&S and I have a feeling that the change to Rough Trade is going to really pay off this year.

Al