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