The Skinny December 09

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ISSUE 51 • DECEMBER 2009 •

MUSIC | FILM | CLUBS | THEATRE | GAMES | BOOKS | COMEDY | ART | FASHION | LISTINGS

Editorial

Randy Newman

IN CONCERT Mon 17th May 2010

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 0141 353 8000 0871 220 0260 www.seetickets.com

www.randynewman.com

a Regular Music presentation in association with ITB

RAY DAVIES IN CONCERT MON 14TH DEC GLASGOW CONCERT HALL 0141 353 8000 www.seetickets.com THE HISTORY CITY XMAS WEEKEND ABC GLASGOW SOLD OUT

Fri 18th December

Sat 19th December

GLASGOW O2 ABC Piano & Vocal show

GLASGOW O2 ABC Full Band show

0870 264 3333 www.hueandcry.co.uk www.seetickets.com AN J NO US UN T CE

D

IMOGEN HEAP GLASGOW O2 ABC MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 0871 220 0260 www.seetickets.com THE THE

SILENCERS CHRISMAS PARTY

Glasgow O2 ABC Friday 04 December

GLASGOW O2 ABC WED 23RD DEC

0871 220 0260

plus Eureka Machines

0871 220 0260

25 Years Revisited

ALISON MOYET

GLASGOW CONCERT HALL WED 9TH DECEMBER

sat 28 NOV EDinBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE FRI 27 NOV GlasGOW Oran Mor 0871 220 0260

Regular Music/Triple G/Mean Fiddler present

Issue 51, December 2009 © Radge Media Ltd. plus special guests

ISA & THE FILTHY TONGUES Thurs 10th Dec Picture House Edinburgh

by arrangement with X-ray presents

Let us know what you think: E: hello@theskinny.co.uk T: 0131 467 4630 P: The Skinny, The Drill Hall, 30-38 Dalmeny St, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG The Skinny is Scotland's largest independent entertainment & listings magazine, and offers a wide range of advertising packages and affordable ways to promote your business. Get in touch to find out more.

E: sales@theskinny.co.uk

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON EXTRA DATE

TUES 02 MARCH

particularly when artistic transcendence is the ‘true goal’ of the work being catalogued. I hope we’ve gone some way to counter that with the public vote element of our poll: it is, effectively, nothing more or less than a popularity contest (it’s just that the ‘public’ – in The Skinny readership’s case – is a particularly discerning one).

Also, in my experience, there’s a more competitive side to creativity than many like to admit. In his book The Gift, Lewis Hyde intelligently refers artistic creation to the Native American tradition of the potlatch, a ceremonial gift giving where chiefs offer high-value crafted items to one another. The point is that while the generosity is sincere, the orientation of the tradition is that the more high-status chiefs will be able to give greater gifts. Most artists, despite what they’ll strive to tell you, are after status of one kind or another.

(In 1902, that most artistic of writers, James Joyce, met William Butler Yeats. Accounts suggest he told Yeats that he was ‘too old’ to take literature forward as the current age required, in what was almost a sort of friendly patricide. Can we doubt that for all his linguistic experimentation and explosive consciousness, there wasn’t a part of Joyce’s motivation that was simply aligned towards being ‘the best’? He was, after all, human.)

My own nomination for ‘best’ Scottish album of the decade would be Primal Scream’s Xtrmntr (in at number 3 in our poll). The simple reason for this would be because I love it most, though I happen to think its intense combination of techno, krautrock, free jazz, gay disco, frenzied feedback-driven garage rock and dreamy synth can hardly be matched by ANY album of the past decade for originality, creativity, and incendiary fun.

That the far from subtle lyrics – paranoid rants about demonic American foreign policy and other forms of veiled control - seemed so removed from reality at the time, makes it a particularly pertinent ‘album of the decade’: coming out in January 2000, its concerns echoed throughout most of the global-political stories of the following ten years.

I hope you find our results interesting, and your own top pick is in there somewhere. For sure, Scotland’s music scene has a lot to be proud of. Let’s just hope the definitive lyrical theme of the early Twenty Tens doesn’t turn out to be ideological conflict. Something about ‘lucky we all agreed in Copenhagen’ maybe?

Happy new decade! rupert@theskinny.co.uk

THE SKINNY December 2009

0141 353 8000 0871 220 0260

MR KIL

LISTS get a bad rep. People will tell you that they represent the dumbing down of criticism, that in a hurried modern world we have no sense of perspective and lists exemplify that.

Or even, that our interest in lists is causing these negative effects directly.

For sure, some televised countdowns push contemporary banality about as close to its logical extreme as you can get without descending into farce (‘One Hundred Greatest Adverts’ anyone?). But lists are also a perfectly useful system for compiling information.

In contrast to this practicality, lists are most interesting when they’re creatively done. A great example is Garry Mulholland’s pair of books: This Is Uncool – The 500 Greatest Singles Since Punk and Disco and Fear of Music – The Greatest 261 Albums Since Punk and Disco. What he gets so right is the way he combines original critical ideas with passion for music, and a fresh cultural overview with occasional but affecting personal perspectives. It makes you hear the music in new ways. He also very smartly uses the list form to cross-refer his opinions and to structure his arguments.

For our list of the Scottish albums of the decade, Dave Kerr had the great idea of bringing in lots of bands to be part of the judging, and also to write about the albums that were chosen (the overall verdict was arrived at by vote: Skinny staff, bands themselves, and loads of Skinny website readers all chipped in). Scotland being a small nation, it’s unsurprising to see that many of the musicians who comment are either friendly with, or have worked with, the musicians they’re most excited by. This doesn’t detract from the due level of respect though: rather it shows the strength of a scene that isn’t afraid to take inspiration from those close by.

Another reason lists ‘work’ is because, without wishing to put this too grandly, they do rather map on to human consciousness. There is a fairly clear decimal logic to ‘top ten of the decade’ – we humans, just as life itself does, divide things up to stay sane: time, objects, possibilities.

Another aspect of list-making people take issue with is the ‘picking the ‘best’’ part. There’s a sense that ‘manufactured’ competitiveness undermines value,

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the printer or the publisher.

SOLD OUT

WED 03 MARCH

GLASGOW SECC www.ticketsoup.com www.seetickets.com 0844 395 4000 0871 220 0260

‘KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON’ OUT NOW

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www.seetickets.com www.regularmusic.com

Printed by Mortons Print Limited, Horncastle ABC: 33,130

Publisher

Sophie Kyle

Editorial Editor Online & Music Editor Clubs Editor Deviance Editor Theatre Editor Film Editor DVD Editor Comedy Editor Reading Editor Digital Editor Art & Showcase Editor Food & Drink Editor Heads Up Editor Aberdeen Editor Competitions Editor Fashion Editor

Rupert Thomson Dave Kerr Chris Duncan Nine Gareth K. Vile Gail Tolley Michael Gillespie Lizzie Cass-Maran Keir Hind Alex Cole Rosamund West Ruth Marsh Jenny Wallace Jaco Justice Ray Philp Alexandra Fiddes

Production Creative Director Production Editor Designer Chief Subeditor Subeditor Cover Artist

Matt MacLeod David Lemm Mike Sterry Rosamund West Paul Mitchell Rabiya Choudhry

Sales/Accounts Enterprise Manager Accounts Administrator

Lara Moloney Erin McElhinney

Research Listings Editor

Anna Docherty

0871 220 0260 Ticket Scotland: Argyle St Glasgow, Rose St Edinburgh & Ripping Records.

4 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

Contents

DF CONCERTS PRESENTS…DF CONCERTS PRESENTS…DF CONCERTS PRESENTS…

COVER FEATURE

New Work Scotland Rosamund West celebrates ten years of the programme that has consistently done great work to bring on Scotland’s most promising young artists

PROMOTION

6 8 16 18 22 24 26 28 30 34 38 40 41 66 72

» 12 Heads Up

There’s so much on this month it’ll make your synapses bleed.

This is okay. Don’t buy anyone any presents, and live it!

+ THE HORRORS + SILVERSUN PICKUPS

Albums of the Decade

An extended feature on the best Scottish albums made by folks from north of Gretna, since the ‘Bug. Wet Wet Wet win, sorry for the spoiler.

Food and Drink

GLASGOW SECC

Fashion

MONDAY 14TH DECEMBER

A gift guide for people who know that gin and tonic needs Martini and adding sugar to curry kicks ass. Connoisseurs, like.

Fantastic pieces by graduates of Galashields, combined with chic American Apparel basics. Plus our expert's gift guide.

Deviance

How aware of sex are thirteen year olds? Are you okay with this?

We consider the Lolita effect. (While Phoebe reconsiders ex-sex.)

Showcase

+ DUTCH UNCLES

BATTLE FOR THE SUN NEW ALBUM OUT NOW

GLASGOW ORAN MOR MON 14TH DECEMBER

Album ‘I HAD THE BLUES BUT I SHOOK THEM LOOSE’ is out now www.myspace.com/bombaybicycleclub

WWW.PLACEBOWORLD.CO.UK

NEW • MOON • RISING WORLD TOUR 2009

WED 23RD DECEMBER +

Many of Scotland's digital media companies report unprecedented growth despite economic woes, but can it be sustained into the new decade?

Reading The Skinny’s annual books gift guide identifies people you may know, and recommends books for them (even though they’re not real). Trust us, it works.

Film Considered a king in the context of history's incredible Jims, championed by both Morrison and Robinson, we take a look inside the mind of a certain Mr Jarmusch.

Theatre

+ KICK TO KILL + JONATHAN CARR

GLASGOW KING TUTS

Awesome Christmas cards specially designed for The Skinny by artists we love.

Digital

GLASGOW O2 ABC2 TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER

MALCOLM MIDDLETON’S “ L O N G, DA R K N I G H T ”

GLASGOW ORAN MOR

GLASGOW O2 ACADEMY

THURSDAY 10TH DECEMBER

glasgow king tuts

THURSDAY 14TH JANUARY 2010

THE NEW ALBUM COSMIC EGG HATCHED NOW FEATURING ‘NEW MOON RISING’ www.wolfmother.com www.thewolfiesonline.com IN ASSOCIATION WITH PCL PRESENTS

Two Scottish productions attempt to bring a redemptive twist to an aging theatrical production.

+ THOUGHT FORMS + MIAOUX MIAOUX

+ KIZZY STAR

Music

Edinburgh HMV Picture House

GLASGOW KING TUTS

Wednesday 9th December

MONDAY 21ST DECEMBER

Fancy talk with The Phantom Band, John Lydon, Animal Collective, Geoff Barrow, Pavement, Four Tet, and possibly yer maw. (Section continues page 49)

+ Brother Louis Collective + Kitty The Lion

Edinburgh's Hogmanay A comprehensive guide to the epic range of options for bringing in the New Year in style in the capital.

Clubs

+ TRAGIC CITY THIEVES

GLASGOW KING TUTS SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER

Suggesting sweatier, Corries-free alternatives to Jackie Bird's Hogmanay Live TV Special since 2005.

Listings 2,642 ways to live, choose frivolously.

GLASGOW KING TUTS

WEDNESDAY 16TH, SOLD OUT17TH & THURSDAY FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER

Art Scotland's flyest graffiti mavericks teach the art in the slammer. Times done changed.

mon 14th december

GLASGOW KING TUTS + THE XCERTS + HEALTHY MINDS COLLAPSE + There Will Be Fireworks

SUN 20TH DECEMBER

TICKETS 24HRS 08444 999 990 • www.ticketmaster.co.uk • www.gigsinscotland.com

IN PERSON GLASGOW Tickets Scotland, EDINBURGH Tickets Scotland, Ripping, DUNDEE Grouchos & all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres.

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 5

LIFESTYLE

HEADS YOUR

UP MONTH AHEAD Jenny Wallace

COUNTING THE DAYS I’ll admit it; I love Christmas. Anything that begs bad taste in home decoration, an excuse (as if it’s needed) to get a mulled wine at 11am under the pretence of ‘cold hands’ and the joy of getting a chocolate as soon as I wake up every morning is always going to get a big woolly-gloved thumbs up from me. And hey, it’s the season of celebration.

WED, 2 DEC

‘Affordable’ is a sweet word when it comes to the festive excess, so THE RECESSION SESSIONS (Recoat Gallery, Glasgow) with art priced in four categories all under a hundred quid should strike a happy chord with cultural Christmas shoppers.

Tuesday-Sunday, 12pm6pm till 23 Dec.

WED, 9 DEC

With this in mind, we’ve put together a whole jolly month of festivities for you to revel in. Don’t burn out, mind.

There’s still Hogmanay to think about.

Two sets of brothers and sisters make up THE MAGIC NUMBERS, who return to Óran Mór for a rather lovely family sing song. www. themagicnumbers.net. 7.00pm, £10.

MON, 14 DEC

TUE, 15 DEC

Christmas gifts that also tick that all-important ethical box? My, how very smug we feel. Get down to the EDINBURGH ETHICAL CHRISTMAS FAIR (daily from Sat 12 to Sun 20 Dec. www.handupmedia.co.uk/events

SAT, 19 DEC

More techno treats over in Edinburgh as Cabaret Voltaire host SPEKTRE – a dirty dancefloor duo who are bound to have you burning off some room for those Christmas lunch chipolatas. 10pm, £10/8

FRI, 25 DEC

Waheeey! Do what we’ll all be doing today – stay in your jammies, stuff ten selection boxes down your neck, drink mulled wine until you’re blind in one eye and play with all your new toys. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SKINNY!

6 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

THU, 3 DEC

The School Nativity: three words that bring a sentimental tear to the eye of any parent. No? THE CORSTORPHINE ROAD NATIVITY (from Calendar Girls writer Tim Firth) unearths the power struggles, tears and tinsel induced tantrums.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, until Sat 19 Dec.

THU, 10 DEC

Enjoy the holidays with a re-enactment of life in Aberdeen's Tolbooth gaol with WINTER TRAILS. Part of Aberdeen’s Winter Festival. Booking essential on 01224 523 700. Also on Sunday 13 Dec.

FRI, 4 DEC

Following an invite only bash at the Majestic Laundrette in Finnieston (Glasgow), the folk at BIGFOOT’S TEA PARTY move to the Glasgow School of Art, joined

by Lucio Aquilina, Hans Bouffmyhre and their own merry band of residents. www.myspace.com/ bigfootsteaparty

FRI, 11 DEC

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE returns for its Christmas season at the GFT. Hankies at the ready… Until Christmas Eve. www.gft.org.uk

The three wise men of folk – RODDY WOOMBLE, KRIS DREVER & JOHN MCCUSKER – are back after a sell out gig at the Tolbooth last year for one of only a handful of Scottish dates. Book your tickets early.

8.00pm, £16/14 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth

SUN, 20 DEC

Have a well earned pre-Christmas Sunday rest and enjoy epic musical talent and the big screen merging seamlessly together with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES. City Halls, Glasgow, 3pm. www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

SAT, 26 DEC

If the excess boozing and face-stuffing has already hit your hips (curses…), join the likes of Fedde Le Grand, Seb Fontaine and Jon Mancini and dance it off at the COLOURS BOXING DAY PARTY (The Arches, Glasgow). Count this rather large night with a 4am finish as a pre-stretch to Hogmanay.

MON, 21 DEC

It’s only 4 days to go and no doubt the kids are getting a tad overexcited. Terrify them into silence with a trip up the EDINBURGH WHEEL and enjoy the sparkly views from 33m up. www. edinburghschristmas. com

SUN, 27 DECTUE 29 DEC

TUE, 22 DEC

Stuff the Queen’s speech and go for the Queen tribute – ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN descends in a strangely un-Christmassy way on Aberdeen’s Music Hall featuring who else but Stars In Their Eyes winner Garry Mullen. What a treat. www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Fre Me rcdudryy (not)

Bring those new felt tip pens Santa got you over to the National Museums and flex your creative muscles with the return of their annual CHRISTMAS ART COMPETITION. Open to all ages (and all levels of talent), take the chance to have your work, inspired by the collections, displayed in the museum in January. You’ve got three days to create your masterpiece; and consecutively dry out before Hogmanay rolls around.

W

T so th fo e u th A St

LIFESTYLE

SAT, 5 DEC

Chin a mulled wine at the FUNK FAIR (Christ Church Hall, Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, 10am-5pm, £1) and consecutively fill your boots/ stockings/whatever with unique Christmas offerings.

(Spoile r a le

SUN, 6 DEC Fancy reveling in Nigella-

esque smugness this Christmas? The FOODIES FESTIVAL’s first Christmas event offers masterclasses, canapés, cocktails and seasonal squirreling aplenty for the aspiring master of the dining room (Assembly Rooms, www. foodiesfestival.com) Also on Saturday 5 December.

SAT, 12 DEC rt!) With dancing dolls, evil governesses and

handsome princes, The Scottish Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER will transport you into a glittering world of festive escapism.

Across Scotland from today until 30 Jan . www.scottishballet.co.uk

FRE E!

MON, 7 DEC

TUE, 8 DEC

The Skinny hosts the second of two events with the great ALASDAIR GRAY – the first was a sell out, and this is guaranteed to go the same way. Traverse Theatre, £6.50 (students get a free copy of Alasdair’s new book, A Gray Play Book, rrp £15).

NOISY NIGHTS - an informal yet eclectic session of musical performances and random surprises in the Traverse Bar (Edinburgh, 8pm, free).

SUN, 13 DEC

Dress up as Santa, hit West Princes Street Gardens and go for an invigorating mass jog for THE SANTA RUN– and help hundreds of sick kids in the meantime. Sounds good to us. www.thesantarun.org.uk, Edinburgh

WED, 16 DEC THU 17 DEC

FRI,18 DEC

WHITE LABEL presents its Christmas special at The Arches, showcasing the best unsigned DJs across house, electronic and techno genres. www.whitelabelglasgow.co.uk.

See our clubs section for more info.

James Cameron's long-awaited 3D flick AVATAR puts humans up against the native population of a far away planet… a fine escape from the tinsel tainted seasonal cinema offerings. www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

WED, 23 DEC

THU, 24 DEC

If you’re not frantically starting your Christmas shopping (shame on you) it’s only right to roll over and immerse yourself in the (by now unavoidable) spirit of Christmas – the WINTER FESTIVAL GLASGOW on George Square is on hand with singers, festive scran and loads of Christmassy films to bring in the big day. www.winterfestglasgow.com .

THE RAY SUMMERS have supported some crackers in their time and now they’re gathering their own rather huge following. Catch them at Cab Vol and enjoy an eclectic mix of 60s soul served up with a unique Scottish edge. www. thecabaretvoltaire.com. 7pm, £6.

Also Doghouse, Dundee 24 Dec & McQ's Stirling 26 Dec

FREE!

WED, 30 DEC Aberdeen’s much-loved

institution - OneUp Records – gives a hearty cheer to 30 years in business with a smasher of it's OneUp 30 shindig at The Tunnels – and what better party guest than King Creosote to get the celebrations started? Tickets £12, available from OneUp Records, Belmont Street.

THU, 31 DEC

Ooh, we’re like kids in a sweetie shop. Best refer to our top picks for Hogmanay hell-raisin' starting on page 37 where you’ll INNY THE SK find the best ways UR RNG H Y AY MA G BGVU to herald in 2010, EY T HE HO DIN A E R E A O N T ING C Skinny-style.

HOGMA SE TD ALIGHT

FRI, 1 JAN 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE SKINNY!

WORL

Inside:

SIONS CONFES MANAY P38 HOG DE VIVAL GUI TY SUR EET PAR P39 STR NAY T HOGMA PERFEC N YOUR PLA P40 OES AY HER HOGMAN RABBIT: HTENED P42 FRIG

King C reosote

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ST NEW GREATE

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DECEMBER 2009

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8 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

#9

DA OF CANA BOARDS HASE P D EA H E PFIR THE CAM

was The de an impact on me m this decade that ma fro 2005 I was in ord d rec ase lar rele s ticu wa One par of Canada. When it s ard Bo ying one by e pla t has jus Campfire Headp wanted to get out of d The Twilight Sad ’d started to write We . ise no of still at university an ur ho pfire that involved half an ember buying The Cam gig a year with songs listening teen Winters and I rem er Fif Aft . and day ns e on tum Au me ho Fourteen the way for the train on on e s nch ord ala rec Av er m oth Headphase fro the same time as uld try and play it at e way, which som in ise on chr to it a few times, I wo syn uld see if the sounds wo separate players to itar, with d. rke wo s the sound of my gu me someti t helped me develop tha and re sed the ces on pro ng s, goi nce There’s a lot etitive chord seque ic synths playing rep f doing a lot. There sel my nd fou I the layers of melod ing eth e delays. It was som elop our sound, s that helped us dev saturated through tap s released in the 00 ord Pint etc...but rec h and g ttis Hu Sco the ny at ht were ma ple and Monday Nig Peo ppy Ha ] for ne gs rla like Happy Son nce. [Andy MacFa hase was a big influe The Campfire Headp

#7

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t long…” So sings , because it won’t las op of “Enjoy it while you can cally resolute backdr over the characteristi Arab ton on dle s Mid out lm nd lco sta Ma e of the rts Around Here, on The Week Never Sta .

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BER 2005) (RELEASED: OCTO

#8 OS THE DELAGTAED ASTERN THE GR E

s of a few good reason When I was thinking h ttis Sco the for k why this was my pic , I realised it had album of the decade it being ‘The Best’ h wit do to nothing to everything to do and se in any critical sen t arrived at the tha ord with it being the rec e. tim right s to pieces, breaking I love picking album ting the parts and lua eva them down and ’t, and won’t, do can I the sum thereafter. just Eastern. I want it to at Gre e Th h wit t tha my room in halls in did it like , me r wash ove lback to it for that fee nine years ago. I go d that lise rea I day the – ing again and again n and amplify your ow music could envelop her than just give rat s, ling fee and thoughts y. Not that it never you an adolescent stiff s album opened thi gave me a stiffy, but n, a nt kind of expressio ere diff a to r doo the Scottish sound. and te ica del ic, ant more rom

t prompted me to It was this album tha d of fat riffs. It tea ins gs start writing son caster just like tele a made me want to buy uced me to the rod int It k’s. loc Pol Emma t all albums should drama and poetry tha rse, I hold The Great wo or have. For better le for where I find sib Eastern partly respon g in a band and trying yin pla ay, tod f sel my as good as American to write something ay.

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KING CREOSOTEK

#6

KC RULES O

rything in his discog te’s mother owns eve releases e tiv lec Not even King Creoso Col ce Fen e h dozens of rar we raphy, as it’s filled wit he’s ever done, may s isn’t the best album of y cop a for dly and CD-Rs. But if thi kin whole world in asking for the King, with speak on behalf of the ally usu un , dio stu l in a rea tty the usurper? Recorded justifies its title in pre g band, KC Rules OK fully uti bea he ,” The Earlies as backin you for not that I don’t care . much every song. “It’s that I’m a cat.” Genius ike Gist Of It. “It’s just e-L Vic e Th in s ent lam ns: sio ses the on ks back The King himself loo first chance I got to OK was basically the “Well, for me KC Rules ud of the titles I’ve pro y King Creosote. I’m ver on do a proper album as ir the own music out ce but anyone can put need to do to get put out through Fen you ngs thi few a there are their own label. Yes, lity. r own yardstick for qua lly me there, but you are you ng step. It was basica nti dau of bit a like to ing say and At the time it felt rds wo h my chords and my t The Earlies Bu going into a studio wit . t?’ tha h wit do at would you . somebody else: ‘Wh n’t tiptoe around me ren’t precious and did ] ent acc e hir were great. They we cas lan a would go [imitating I [Christian] Madden raphone on this” and ’re gonna chook a vib we ny, Ken ht aag led in this thing “Ra hau y the n the and raphone?’ was like ‘What’s a vib then, lo and behold, mber’s mistake. And that looked like a plu se?’” [Ally Brown] really make that noi ‘Wow! Does this thing BER 2005) (RELEASED: SEPTEM

ADA BOARDSI OF CAN GEOGADD

ned s the record that ope Right to Children wa possibility – both of If 1998’s Music has the tas vis new ole ic music to wh ic up modern electron and its radically holist ring emotional charge ddi is the oga Ge ’s 02 20 n in terms of its stagge the – ntation and melody n approach to instrume ng to deploy their ow s of Canada attempti ard Bo nd fou t tha perspectives. album ing ent ori dis and from new in aesthetic innovations a fractal entity where gly Borgesian work, . The sis bio sym Geogaddi is a strikin dy hea and enter into a strange g rhythm and melody of looped, overlappin be found in the layers to is e cas s thi in st ht in terms of sheer Rig cataly the has sic Mu m anything fro ive drones that surpass c artwork to the intens . From the kaleidoscopi d rge me sub and psychedelic invention ges ssa artifacts, hidden me work use of reversed audio a labyrinthine frame es the listener with vid pro di gad Geo , ies melod

#5

otional own creativity and em ual can employ their music. the of nce in which each individ erie exp n and affect their ow full intelligence to direct childhood is again in ed engagement with ion ional ent cat -m edu , ays ces alw voi C’s n’s Bo childre maged and distorted rhymes are ry rse effect on Geogaddi (da nu of es tch half-heard sna ir legions film soundtracks and their sound that the – just one element of n mere tha re mo far is marshalled expertly s thi but er seem to get right) sense nev ld’s can chi a ors h tat wit imi of the world does allow us to see e point we then tag motif. Yes, this music van t tha m fro trepidation – but gaddi of wonder, awe and of Forking Paths. Is Geo the proverbial Garden chosis? Or psy ss ma uce find ourselves within ind to pt ? We innocence? An attem d, science and nature a meditation on lost distance between Go the ge brid to icle kla] Shu is it a veh ark [M en. list we ns each time will find new questio 2) ARY 200 (RELEASED: FEBRU

#4 D

FRIGHTENE RABBIT HT THE MIDNIG ORGAN FIGHT

olutionary. Yet, for the ir product is hardly rev t On the face of it, the ht by Frightened Rabbi Fig The Midnight Organ ed uth mo tyPot . past year and a half, ing giv that simply keeps on drunken love and has been the album dog-on-heat tales of n’s iso tch Hu tt Sco r mselves as the songwrite ed est nif ma e able hands, hav that ensured ce for lust could, in less cap al cer vis k. But the awesome the best of the of e self-indulgent lad roc som m the fruition helps make to e cam gs son se the ugdecade. ows to the ticker. Str are whisky-tipped arr he veers from ip, nsh Hutchison’s couplets tio rela ed fail from the mire of a (Keep gling to pull himself ter), from bitterness er) to denial (I Feel Bet Lep Down n g der atin (Mo Flo ity ke, f-p (Po sel ery ubrious, wide-eyed mis h a sense of wit es Your Self Warm) to lug erg em um alb though, the iousness The Forth). Somehow, an animalistic salubr ism is overridden by pelled pro all ur, mo triumph. The pessim hu s low Scottish sense of gal y abl tak nt.

Gra mis r, un the an bro and Scott’s ous tub-thumping of rcise in futility. forward by the feroci hlight has been an exe hig um alb an k pic has suggested Trying to cks tra ten of months, any one ulative: borrowing um Over the course of 18 acc is e . The song-writing her ieder ten con a as lf ole itse t wh ; a flawless ind to create a near perfec d Arms Vs Bad; the Goo from a range of styles on itar gu e slid wl-tinged l pop record. The dustbo the swirling, chimerica g solo on Fast Blood; intro no pia g kin plin unforeseen, exhilaratin the ating down the Forth; ry instrumentation of Flo reverb-touched ballad rwhelmingly lovely, ove the and ist Tw promising debut the to The m fro n ssio gre pro of massive of Poke are all marks t of set, Sing The Greys. mber three, the weigh e to unleash album nu t bbi Ra d ene ght Fri t Now, as they prepar bly. Bu n increased immeasura erves its place anticipation has bee des ht Fig an Org ht t The Midnig can rest assured tha ham] nest. [Finbarr Berming amongst Scotland’s fi 2008) (RELEASED: APRIL

#3

single off XTRMNTR, e, but when the first of what was to com it seems nobody had released in late 1999, Swastika Eyes, was to angular, explosive n dow led boi at for wh up a bleak dystopic quite been prepared ved ser had eam Primal Scr and fight ‘The RAGE. In a nutshell, up nd sta to uences of failing ed at ‘American vision of the conseq aim ly cal f said it was specifi it was a series lly, Man’ (Gillespie himsel ica . Lyr ism’) to the bitter end ality’, ‘Rain down International Terror rm no rt bve ‘Su , ’ nce disobedie mingly of epithets (‘No civil ernment thieves’) see nium ne / Scabs, police, gov dawning of the millen certing ryo the con eve to dis k on and bac re fi d ted al min join ew dis ren It’s easy to cast the se of optimism and on but laden with ire; esi sen 11 coh in -9/ g pre kin a lac all rec and perhaps fondly yours Nostradamus!). by an impresall at once. n’t get us after all (up re aided and abetted – I mean, the bug did tainly, the arrival of Cer y? ros so ally, the Scream we lly sic z Kooner and, rea Mu r Jag eve rs, k r the loo ove Bro l out ng But was the ducers. The Chemica the January 2000 ha pro of of dle t ntal in ensuring cas mid e me the siv tru in g ins bt felt XTRMNTR slap ban in Shields were no dou ie and Co. must have esp Kev , Gill ully from trackbby erf Bo on nd t k wo tha too n d ‘n was a stark indicatio l success of the rock l musical style the ban d to the phenomena k), it all sounded that whatever actua cte fun rea ry g and eve se vin up Ha . hou g , ise rin azz otherw , to acid-j lica by hoove cale munitions to-track (from punk that was Screamade sed Rolling infected by, a large-s rave groundbreaker elves off as an ill-advi been recorded, and ms had the it g sin like pas d ise and narcotic in sight ll] the band had revital factory. [Paul Mitche much of the nineties, 2000) Stones tribute act for nishing Point.

Va 7’s LEASED: JANUARY (RE 199 h wit nd sou re a portent we both their line-up and um alb lar ticu on that par The dance rhythms

#2 ILIGHT SNASD THE TWN AUTUM FOURTEE N WINTERS AND FIFTEE

XTRMNT

at night. And a perpetual red sky ersonal crisis under and looking e sid out g din an through a romantic/p And why are they “st re? fi on llingly but s chi kid t tha the LP are who red) on the lly a song (as rumou cre? Is Graham ssa ma e in”? And is there rea lan nb Du memory of the the sinister subtly references the town existence and monotony of small ly say no bab pro ’d He t? quietly dissecting the pas tral Scotland’s recent Cen but like in , k his lur t m tha fro s nt secret be differe ns will undoubtedly t’s important: tha d an – and our interpretatio ch mu too never gives away of Orzel and all great lyricists he eric rhythm section open and the mesm exposition. the nt me ple com the interpretation is r ita cFarlane’s spacey gu Ma the h of wit ard ng gu alo e old Devin too. The ut at the right time ed, no new ground bor d The album came abo an t cen pla re becoming com en to create Scottish indie set we steps were being tak and no progressive of Aidan ion ept exc the was being covered rhaps refreshing (with pe ely k four guys uin too It gen ). ng ddi thi oga any ards of Canada’s Ge Bo d an rre stagnating Pie a ky o int Moffat’s Luc breathe new life north of Kilsyth to ard Scissorhands Edw d an from a wee village en Ow d o referenced Wilfre You! scene. Four guys wh they mixed Godspeed would sound like if it at wh d ere . nd ells wo and guitar sw Arab Strap and MBV bre media Black Emperor with and despite their som ber tem Sep in eo minutes of mud en fte fi We made a vid gh ou thr ived after trudging fire that was a to t nex appearance, they arr tly ghing and sat patien lau d an g ilin ir time. [Adam sm the n, in rai live and oke. We are lucky to sm ic tox en gre t ou belching Stafford]

ddington Photo: Jack Wa

gas gallivant s now. While Glasve , wrong. We know thi g dogshite nonsense lon g-a The world is set up sin ir the h lling stadiums wit But in twenty ce. pla ir the around the globe, fi in be rteen Twilight Sad, should latter’s debut LP, Fou another group, The sirrelevant because the be sse ll gla wi t sun tha e the tim ng years’ ipse anythi t n Winters will far ecl simply one of the bes ite qu Autumns and Fiftee it’s – ase rele seurs will ever indoors-wearing po . er seeing albums of the decade lly getting into it aft and the LP, only rea d me about ‘Sa e uck Th str to rst fi late at s . Wh I wa s in December 2007 he Arc which e r, Th ita at gu rm ge them perfo MacFarlane’s hu al sound and Andy e another then on of top them was the coloss on g sin choes in space collap e onstage sounded like light-e d, y’know, they cam atmosphere. That an the by ved sol dis being shadows theme! to the Home Alone your stereo that the the album breathe on around the mind. ce dan to It’s only when you let rt sta d an oaty lyrics creep in n plans” going of James Graham’s fl owner “with woolle rural Scottish hotel a of ge ima the e I lov

PRIMALRSCREAM

2007) (RELEASED: MAY

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 9

#1 IDLEWILDN WINDOWS 100 BROKE

Carle Interview Darren

BUM L A ISH CADE T T SCO E DE

H OF T

T...

S E R E H AND T

e coverag e for full Scottish it s b e w ith the See the ghties... rviews w and inte o made your nau h w s d ban E #11 AEREOGRAMM Sleep and Release P #12 ARAB STRA The Red Thread SCURA #13 CAMERA OB Let's Get Out of This Country

um 100 wild’s sophomore alb WHEN placing Idle t of Scottish tex con the o int ws Broken Windo ar , it becomes all too cle albums of the decade changed s ha ape dsc lan al #14 MOGWAI how much the music ppy h Happy Songs for Ha 2000. The Edinburg y Ma in ase rele its since ple travelled from e Peo hav et, int qu a quartet, now all too vention major label, to being #15 DE ROSA Pre major label, to really gling ug str a by up ked pic T inevitably dropped, st #16 MEURSAUL f-releasing their late ssing with Tongues indie label, before sel Pissing on Bonfires/Ki a sign of the times, As es.

Blu ic ctr Ele t album Pos yed to TE Rocket D.I.Y. is almost too hackne #17 KING CREOSO Idlewild’s trajectory & WHITELOCK be believable. #18 UNCLE JOHN the keyword here is ps rha Else pe r, ng ve thi No we Ho -out There is re than ever, a knock ‘sophomore’. Now mo ing AND Franz Ferdinand yth IN an d RD expectation an #19 FRANZ FE debut album is the the en be DDLETON r suicide. Had that less is almost caree #20 MALCOLM MI 100 debatable whether it’s o, ods ag Wo ars ye the o ten Int case at uld have been made BASTIAN Broken Windows wo ‘indie-darlings’ as ld #21 BELLE AND SE wi Idle of nk Waitress he all. We may thi rop ast k Dear Cat k in 2000 ‘punk roc these days, but bac but De . ion ipt zzle scr Pu de O re apt #22 BIFFY CLYR noiseniks’ was a mo s testament to wa nt rta po Im mote Part Is Re pe e album Ho EP for #23 IDLEWILD Th from their Captain this, a progression y E app yingly loud and scr #24 AEREOGRAMM sure, but still satisf You Would Not Go ch extra exposure.

My Heart Has a Wish mu r de hin to gh enou ng rni lea the despite P In that setting, and #25 ARAB STRA ishWindows is an aston Romance t Las e Th curve, 100 Broken in , with huge leaps ingly complete album ng. #26 MOGWAI ction and song-writi du pro p, shi ian sic mu saw d an p ma Rock Action al sic mu the on ld wi It put Idle htjacket once aig T str ’ nk ‘pu the #27 THE TWILIGH them shorn of urgh a homecoming Edinb D SA and for all. Ahead of d Ro omble and guitarist Forget the Night gig, singer Roddy Wo e The Skinny and ulg ind to y pp ha Ahead re Jones we finest hour.

M reminisce on their nt rta po #28 THE PHANTO p from Hope Is Im “I think that the lea ND en BA be r ve ne s ha s ow to 100 Broken Wind g our Checkmate Savage es. “We were playin repeated,” begins Jon t tha y T BUILDINGS wa a , recording in #29 LIFE WITHOU instruments better out how to g y rin Cit er gu fi , Oth y ter An bet sounded so much forbably a bigger leap CA use a studio. It’s pro #30 MACROCOSMI r going eve re we s r record the Black Earth of Art ward than any of ou en oft t tha ng the sort of thi to be after that. It’s Iodine ond #31 HALF COUSIN a band’s first and sec happens between n to kee is ble om React or Die Wo Y r, ve #32 BUTCHER BO . record I think.” Howe the album’s creation in s tor fac er oth t ND Hot Shots II highligh why #33 THE BETA BA hnical aspects as to “There are a lot of tec o als t “bu ND Good News first,” he agrees, #34 WITHERED HA belong to you it’s better than our that you feels like it doesn’t it re t, the ou es ity ne com nta it g at The Function Room um to listeners there was a bit of spo it is a bit like lookin #35 HALF COUSIN re just excited to be lped endear the alb ymore. Listening to we he t an lly We tha e. rea os t d lys no he eth na It’s r-a plis . om can’t ove r for hours d the t Hip production and acc yourself in the mirro gs like Idea Track an #36 FOIL Never Go once the sheen of is main the studio and son bility we just their initial mark. Th t sea lef .” d Ro hy ha m alt ASY ISLAND ng fro he s NT riti m bit FA fro gw s, son #37 Y'ALL IS call and response distance himself nd’s listening habit As much as he may were recording it.” nd t also spread to the ba eke we tha ity as We tly “I e tur th ll. en scu wi -ba rec Re up ly ve e on cur cam l it’s d ble’s unlikely ows was written an it, Woomble does fee most notably Woom rise significantly. und that STON In fact most of Wind s has seen its acclaim that the band en to folk music aro #38 JAMES YORK ow ing list nd resee Wi to of, d ho rte d, the sta un t, The Remote aro tha s ay er Leopard aft alw recorded on the t nt s of ou r rta t wa po pu Yea “It e Im Th mits.

“The record we tour of Hope Is Broken I time as well,” he ad were on a 120-date e to and Dad, but then overshadowed 100 y m tim tel Mu of ple lot OS Hate my a th com AD ve wi rt, LG ee ha Pa up DE thr n’t growing #39 THE t. “It was in the top at the time. “We did s like ‘No, no way. s. ndows,” he points ou s Jones of the proces age of fifteen and wa Wi ine say the gaz s,” to ng ma d got thi an k D ps hin over-t of the Po time #40 SONS AN and we were on Top relishing the extra Give me noisy riffs.’” ndows band for a number Woomble concurs, DAUGHTERS were seen as a big ly honing foolhardy to sell Wi d ne be fi an in uld s ers wo cov day it ps se ilst rha to the Wh the band have Love the Cup tain rustic flavour 100 the band they are pe cer a like like t es ord Bu hid .” rec it , a ars in, ye um s of alb aga ces n as a folk an album. “But the was something later commercial suc It . g M, s’ RE sin riff to, aly isy d an t ‘no ne no se like ut st ing mo s abo #41 LAETO Zwoa balance out tho ht on a more reward wild from the Broken Windows wa lped shine a spotlig further isolated Idle he s s ps ha old rha arpe ” t ye s ch. n nd tha mu ba tee As things too #42 CHRIST. is e still meet six h scene at the time. duction Miracle al fan base, analysis back catalogue. “W ered 100 burgeoning Scottis cov the dis on t Metamorphic Repro w jus However, with a loy dre ve of y ha ap o an Str n wh ab s tha Ar gig re d to an mo ai ing ps gw rha com ping Mo Pe such as marvels.

Mess We Keep Resha perhaps inevitable. the world immedith its #43 FOUND This ken Windows,” Jones s and influences of s seems imbued wi Bro nce ow the rie nd ir ere pe Wi the ex wh s, ve up um s ha alb their best sum ce Idlewild seemed to SCURA Woomble perhaps ue. Roddy’s emergen ately around them, time and how rock or #44 CAMERA OB own sense of mystiq tainly tive head was at the flannel-era American cer lec r t col he eer icis ’s s eit Car lyr nd wa in d s lin ba he set ud ow s plis Ma nd art My he really as a more accom um. “100 Broken Wi nce k. “My ears weren’t this shaped the alb had no real confide here, ew ditional Scottish fol tra som old g STON his tin RK of get YO ll ble S helped with this. “I sti us en #45 JAME s,” says Woom very much, for me, the with,” he claims. “Th open to other thing Haar Rolls In wild seemed pose that’s maybe the Idle as a lyricist to begin t sup I en t. tha s, Wh n fee ow r the nd ou g Wi sin ing still find 100 Broken beyond self. Hardly surpri the time. around the time of , when they’ve gone the nd own little world at best era of any band interested in using #46 DE ROSA Me ially to operate in their got to the peak init ite qu are h n’t ve bot I started becoming , e ha tur y acy leg cap the S t ’s to bu um t era bu alb de cam re the ir r-8 he of the pe ew ms OMISED JETPACK In ter microphone like a Su t, Woomble himt; where they’re som r #47 WE WERE PR their popularity ye s. I knew I was neve at it being singled ou of ng sed lls thi pri it?” of Wa s ’t r sur ise ets isn Fou a pp rom are ese sni Th little a pure my album Warnings/P in between. It’s quite ard Cohen but I had self claiming fourth listened N Ends going to be like Leon ourite. Jones hasn’t fav l DEAD OR AMERICA 8 na #4 rso pe his s.” be ion to ble om Wo ”. own observat ars e ye tim d ’s years an Volume Freak w on Woomble in. to it for “years and #49 FUNK D'VOID And so the album dre ever be able to aga mee ile is unsure if he’ll nds and Islands, na wh hla an Hig me urs AE You Got Me Fraich yo the GU in it’s , nt ing spe #50 LAPSUS LIN working on someth while the artwork , e 0) u’r fts 200 yo Y cro e d MA hil : an “W ls ry SED hil to eve (RELEA checking rdly CO.UK s over it and listen p of the Hebrides. Ha WWW.IDLEWILD. te and you can obses even came with a ma s ins. “Then the minu pla wa it ex t he bu ,” e, ath far k de roc to nuance your standard indie -track gent, off-the-beaten perhaps this intelli

10 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

MOGWAI'S ALBUM OF THE DECADE

PICTISH TRAIL'S ALBUM OF THE DECADE

De Rosa

KING CREOSOTE

DE ROSA

ROCKET D.I.Y

PREVENTION The album which immediately comes to my mind as Scottish Album of the Decade is 2009’s Prevention by De Rosa. I remember my first time watching them play in a tiny pub in Glasgow after being invited by their bass guitarist James Woodside. I recall thinking during the gig that this is just right up my street and so I’ve followed them closely ever since – asking them to come on a short tour with Mogwai in Europe and some other one-off dates.

Their first album Mend is a close second nomination for me but Prevention has so much more to it in terms of Martin Henry’s newer, even better lyrics and how the band had developed a greater understanding of what they were about musically. To use acoustic guitars alongside newer electronic musical technology is no new thing by any stretch but to do it so seamlessly as De Rosa on this record is a great achievement and very inspiring to me. I think the song Pest is a good example of this and possibly my favourite track on the album. That same song manages to be witty as well as quite raw when Martin sings, “Desire crawls on my back like a rat, I doubt Rentokil handle that.”

It’s often the songs that take a few listens which reap great rewards too; for example, the songs Tinto and Swell improve every time I hear them, in layers. Like the film Ghostbusters.

I was asked to play piano on this record too. Of course I jumped at the chance and I’ve rarely grinned as much while playing so many sad wee minor chords. It’s something I’ll never forget.

I suppose it’s ostensibly a great modern Scottish folk album, though its appeal should extend to anyone who enjoys well thought-out (and, incidentally, beautifully recorded) music. Neither stuffy musically nor lyrically prosaic like a lot of music around currently, this album is an example of something to savour and be glad that the choice to record it was made by a bunch of folk from Bellshill and Uddingston.

Very sadly and very shortly after the release of Prevention, the band quietly split up. Presumably their understanding of music was that little bit greater than of inter-band relationships, but these things happen and so I hold precious what they created and look forward to some other assembly of their members. Maybe a reunion gig in 15 years. Everyone’s at it these days, I can wait. [Barry Burns] (RELEASED: MARCH 2009)

I feel a bit awkward telling you my ‘Scottish Album of the Decade’.

I’m an avid record collector – pretty much every penny I earn is ploughed into the cash registers of Monorail, Avalanche, Norman Records, Boomkat and Rough Trade. And my addiction gets worse with each passing year. I’m obsessed with buying CDs and vinyl, of all genres, and listening to as much different stuff as possible. So it might seem a little rich for me to say that my ‘S.A.D.’ is Rocket D.I.Y.

by King Creosote.

Now, yes, I know... this was a Fence Records release... and, yes, I’m fully aware that I am a member of King Creosote’s band. But I genuinely think, from start to finish, that this is the best album Scotland has produced since 01/01/00. Although, to be honest, I don’t think the 2000s were an astounding decade for Scottish music anyway. This is where I could start a rant on how all the big names in Scottish music released their best stuff in the 90s, and pretty much all the new bands are watered down versions, each of whom have substituted songs for Americanised overwrought emotion. But I’ll save that for another time, Biffy Clyro.

The past 10 years in music have seen the rise of the DIY ethos – and it’s been the first time where micro-labels, with next-to-nobudget, have infiltrated the airwaves and columns of the media. As major label album sales plummet, and leading independents start to feel the pinch, it’s the wee guys at home using limited resources, who have created the most inspiring, heartfelt, forward thinking music.

Swaggering, polished rock bands in tight jeans and no arse seem to regurgitate the same old shite, eyes on the charts – but electronic musicians and singer-songwriters with a penchant for all things lo-fi make the most interesting, complete sounding albums to my ears. King Creosote is someone who needs to make albums. He’s churned out about 40 of the buggers, writing and recording each one within the space of a month. In September 2004 he produced two – Rocket D.I.Y. and Loose Tea On His Wynd. Hopefully I’ve stirred your interest. [Johnny Lynch] Photo: Luke Winter

(RELEASED: APRIL 2005)

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 11

Happy Birthday New Work Scotland In celebration of a milestone tenth birthday, we've taken a closer look at the Collective Gallery's visionary artist-development programme to see exactly what everyone's raving about Text Rosamund West

N

ew Work Scotland is ten. It’s somehow surprising that the project is so young and yet seems to be completely intertwined with the Scottish art world: an inevitable stopping off point for the emergent artists who each year file out of college hoping that they might someday be able to make a living out of this, even a name for themselves. NWS helps them along the way, giving them a leg up and a shot of confidence at an otherwise vulnerable time. A brief perusal of the programme’s list of alumni reveals names that are now familiar: Neil Clements, Jonathan Owens, Jenny Hogarth, Rabiya Choudhry. They might not be quite up there with the YBAs in the notoriety terms just yet, but they’ve certainly exhibited widely enough and been mentioned in enough media to be well past the point of the post graduate debutante.

Simultaneously, the programme keeps evolving in such a way that it continues to be fresh, and young, and oddly anarchic. It may be established, but it sure ain’t establishment.

Organised by the Collective Gallery, New Work Scotland came about in response to the needs of both the gallery and the country’s young artist population. The gallery had always put on student and emergent local art; but ten years ago, as they were going through the lottery-funded refurbishment that has made it what it is today, and the centre of operations had relocated to the attic of the quantity surveyor who was working on said refurb, then-director Sarah Munro had to fill in funding applications to clarify the programming for the year ahead. “The idea came to me in about 15 minutes, and I wrote it up in about half an hour,” she says now. “But in a way it was the outcome of a variety of different concerns.“ Concerns such as the opportunities offered to young artists, and the nature of the gallery itself. “You could see in young Scottish artists, if someone was picked up and given a bit of profile at a certain stage it got picked up and picked up and picked up. Whereas if you weren’t getting in on those early opportunities it could kill something before it even got started.

“Another thing that was very apparent to me when I started at the Collective was that the majority of emergent artists were not getting solo shows but were getting pieces in group shows with a curator and were being brought in almost to illustrate a curator’s point. I like solo shows. They’re always the things that are in my mind, the memorable ones. I want to give an artist the opportunity to really present their practice.”

New Work Scotland is, to again quote Sarah Munro, “The Ronseal of the art world. It does exactly what it says on the tin. New. Work. Scotland.” Application is open to final year undergraduates at Scottish art schools, and up to two years after graduation to those who studied here then stayed, and those who studied elsewhere then moved here. The selection panel has changed every year, but has always contained at least one artist who has previously exhibited in the Collective but is from outside Scotland. This somewhat arbitrary-sounding decision is in fact very clear in its intention, aiming to prevent the basic nepotism that seems to creep into decisions on exhibitions and opportunities all too frequently.

Says Munro, “The plan was that those artists were selected not because of their CV, or because they knew someone, but because their work had some sort of resonance with the four members of the selection panel. There was that idealistic part of me that thought ‘We’ll give the perfect opportunity to the

12 THE SKINNY December 2009

perfect artist totally on merit and there’ll be no politics at play’. And of course there is, because that’s just how it works. But it was trying to get away from that idea that the very best work at the emergent level is the artist that you already know.”

The selected artist is given a portion of funding, and the opportunity of a solo show in the Collective for the autumnal New Work Scotland Programme (NWSP). They are also, now, given a designated writer with whom they can maintain a dialogue as they develop their exhibit. This is then turned into an essay that is included in a publication, giving the writer the opportunity to develop their style and really engage with art and ideas outside the straitened worlds of academic essays or newspaper reviews. It also gives the artists something tangible to take away, and perhaps the first serious critical dialogue entered into with a peer. This in turn helps to build a relationship between the different branches of the art world, the practitioners and the commentators if you will. In a way, this helps form a support network, a necessity for those who have just been cut adrift from college with all its structures of peer crits and tutorials.

Another new development in the programme are its off-site projects, and the new opportunities offered to emergent curators. This reflects both the appointment of a new director, Kate Gray, and the natural evolution of emergent artists’ practice. Says Kate, “It’s great to get a gallery show if that’s what your practice is, but people have a much broader range of practices that are really important to support, and to develop in Scotland as a whole.”

Something that is particularly striking when talking to anyone involved with the programme, be they past participants, selectors, organisers or just annual attendees, is how people care about it, and indeed believe in it, passionately. Why is NWS so important?

Says Kate Gray, “One thing that was said to me when I was at college that I hadn’t thought about at all, but really made sense when I was thinking about it afterwards, was that your degree show can’t be the most important thing you ever do. While you’re at college it does feel like everything’s being funnelled into this point, when in fact it’s what lies beyond that...

It’s not a point in itself, it’s just part of continuing.”

“I suppose what we want to do is really give people the tools to continue if they want to. That can be through making the application – maybe it’s the first application they’ve done. It can be through the interview process. We change the panel every year because we want people to be exposed to as many different people as possible, because it doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t get picked up for anything else, just because they don’t get picked up for NWS.” New Work Scotland is all about giving people the first step in the right direction, instilling them with the confidence and self belief to make their own work, and begin to create the structures and relationships that can lead to a viable career in the art world. In some

way it tries to fill in the gaps that art schools leave gaping open and can act as a safety net for those at a crucial moment in their lives. In terms of exhibitions, sometimes they’re great, and sometimes they’re not.

It is interesting, though, to see their work a few years down the line. Most have gone on to develop their practice and present more confident, resolved work in later shows, in the Collective or elsewhere. In ten years, NWS has given successive batches of young artists the confidence and the self belief to continue making work in the years after graduating and to regard themselves, on a fundamental level, as artists.

It is a fine achievement, and long may it continue.

We spoke to some previous contributors to hear their views on taking part: Rabiya Choudhry (who made our amazing cover for this issue) was part of New Work Scotland for 2004.

She’s been exhibiting ever since, at home and abroad, and was recently the Scottish artist chosen for Diaspora, Edinburgh International Festival’s mega theatre / art production for 2009. She was the Skinny Showcase artist – obviously a career highlight – in February 2008.

I made two large paintings for New Work Scotland, one of my mum as a goddess (Moona Mother Paki Lover) and another that was of a head on a plate being consumed by cats that were round a big board table and that was called Braindeid. They were two of the best paintings I’ve ever done, I think.

When I did the interview, my proposal was to make a giant head you could walk into and the eyes would be screens and there would be film pieces and sound pieces.

I think I approached the proposal trying to imagine my ultimate show, and that would be it. At that point I thought £500 for an art project was a lot of money and I could do anything! Now I realise it would take about ten times that. They didn’t seem to mind that I changed it completely. I remember them saying “So do you see this as a learning curve?” and I just nodded and said “Yeah.”

They were really up for it though. They really liked the paintings, and they were really up for me to do whatever I wanted.

Everything comes back, for me, to 2004. NWS definitely gave me opportunities I wouldn’t otherwise have had. It’s funny, people always go back to the Collective to find out information about me, because I still don’t have a website. And they’ll always let me know.

Craig Coulthard took part in NWS in 2004. He recently fought off competition from such public art veterans as Kenny Hunter to get the Artists Taking the Lead funding for the London 2012 Games Cultural Olympiad. He plans to create a football pitch in the middle of a commercial forest, which will host two football games between amateurs, before being handed over to the local community.

New Work Scotland was very significant for me. It came at a time when I’d been out of college for two years, and was just about to start my postgrad. I had spent those two years considering what I wanted to achieve, and what my work meant to me. Getting NWS gave me the confidence and belief that the decisions I’d made during that time out were justified. It also allowed me to think of myself as a ‘real’ artist in that I was showing work that had been proposed and then commissioned. Another important thing for me was having Charles Moonstone write a short essay about my work, which was interesting in itself, and gave me an objective insight to my own work which I don’t think I had had before that.

NWS bridges a gap for younger artists, between leaving college and establishing themselves a bit more.

It allows for artists to be treated professionally, to reach a wide audience and to see their work in a different context to that which they might be used to. It’s very important that it exists, as there are very few opportunities like it for young artists, to be treated with respect and confidence, but also with a very comforting amount of support.

Tessa Lynch had a New Work Scotland show in 2007.

She’s worked with the Collective on several occasions since, and will have her first major solo show in the gallery in April 2010.

It was amazing having something straight after graduating, to make a whole exhibition outside of college and have this support network of people who could help you do it. It made you feel like you were an artist.

One thing that I thought was really critical to the experience was working with the writers. They contextualise your work, and make you think of it as someone else

Clockwise from above: Neil Clements; Jenny Hogarth; Tessa Lynch; Rabiya Choudhry; Craid Coulthard; Over page: Tessa Lynch

"There was that idealistic part of me that thought ‘We’ll give the perfect opportunity to the perfect artist totally on merit and there’ll be no politics at play’" Sarah Munro December 2009

THE SKINNY 13

looking at it. It’s also useful to have your work exposed to people from outwith Edinburgh. Matt Stokes [artist and Beck’s Futures winner] was on the selection panel, and I really like his work. He might have hated mine, I don’t know, but it was still exciting to have him look at it.

I remember doing the proposal. I just hand wrote my application, and then sent it off, and when I got called in for an interview I couldn’t even remember what I’d written. I had to look back at my sketchbooks of the time and kind of piece it together from notes. It just shows, you should just apply for stuff, because you’ve got nothing to lose. Sometimes it’s just those little ideas that you write down and send off that work.

Jenny Hogarth was part of NWS in 2001. She went on to co-found the Embassy Gallery, and often works collaboratively with artist Kim Coleman. Their most recent commission was the live video installation Players, one of the Frieze Projects at the Frieze Art Fair 2009 For NWS I made a new body of work called Does This Sound Like Something You’ve Heard Before that was a combination of sculpture and video. The show was a year after my undergraduate degree show and provided the perfect chance to make new work for a solo show and keep the motivation up after leaving art college.

It was an unbelievably significant opportunity for me as it began a relationship with the Collective Gallery.

I’ve worked with them a number of times since on solo projects and group shows, helping select for the programme and other open commissions, as well as sitting on their Board of Directors. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship that has been an invaluable part of my development as an artist over the last 8 years.

It lead to everything I’ve done since then. It was the confidence boost in the ‘real world’ (after art college) that I needed at that time. It made me realise it was possible to be an artist and that there is an art scene in Scotland that is vibrant and serious. [Rosamund West] To find out more about applying for next year’s programme, visit collectivegallery.net/nwsp.html There will be a talk celebrating ten years of New Work Scotland in the gallery on Saturday 16 January, 2-4pm.

14 THE SKINNY December 2009

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December 2009

THE SKINNY 15

Lifestyle

FoodPOSH NOSH AND CHEAP EATS

& Drink

Gut-Busting Gifts Allan Gillespie, Julie Paterson and Ruth Marsh

Everyone appreciates an edible pressie, so here’s The Skinny’s guide to the best Xmas gifts for the foodie in your life - whether you want to max that credit card for the one you love or get change from a fiver for your Secret Santa, there’s something for you here.

UNDER A FIVER BrewHaHa tea £2.99 a tin, BrewHaHa, Buchanan Galleries

Often seen as the poor cousin to coffee, the good old cup of tea has received something of a makeover in recent times.

Continuing a long tradition of tea in Glasgow which began with Mrs Cranston’s fashionable Mackintosh designed tea rooms, BrewHaHa is a kitsch, modern alternative to Starbucks. Situated within Buchanan Galleries, a wide range of teas are on offer from Dong Ding Oolong to Darjeeling.

BrewDog Zeitgeist 4.9% Black Lager

£1.39 a bottle, www.zeitgeistbeer.com or at Peckham’s in Glasgow & Edinburgh

Do you have a black sheep in your family? This alternative lager adorned with a sheep/human hybrid label (created by art student Heather Brennan) could be just the ticket.

Billed as the UK’s first mass market black lager it takes inspiration from traditional Czech lagers and has a light flavour with subtle hints of chocolate and coffee.

Glickman’s Lucky Tatties £1 a bag, Glickman’s, London Road, Glasgow www.glickmans.co.uk

Glasgow’s oldest sweetie shop - and last month’s cover star - Glickman’s is a heady treasure trove of bright, sugary wonder. Their mint cream fondant and candy balls are made in traditional copper pots on-site- for a real Scottish treat try their curiously addictive, cinnamon flavoured Lucky Tatties. Thanks again for letting us use your lovely shop!

UNDER A tenner I Am Not A Paper Cup

£9.99, www.lazyboneuk.com

This DCI-designed insulated porcelain mug masquerading as those ubiquitous takeout coffee cup combines practicality, environmental statement and I-want-one-of-those in one cute package. Just don’t try and chug a beer out of it and then crunch it against your forehead.

Summerharvest Rapeseed Oils 500ml £7.50, www. summerharvestoils.co.uk

A tasty, airmiles friendly alternative to yer EVOO, these oils are made from cold-pressed Scottish rapeseed, are attractively packaged and have a light, fruity taste that goes great with pasta or as a dip.

Gin & Titonic Ice Cube Tray £5.50, www. cubicuk.com

A mold that will pop out 4 frozen icebergs and 4 mini Titanics, allowing them to have a slow fight to the death in your festive cocktail.

Tasteless or fabulous, tasteless or fabulous? We’re torn...

The Skinny Whisky Guide

By Ruth Marsh THIS MONTH:

Pig's Nose 5 Year-Old Scotch Whisky

Get Splurging Nick Nairn Cook School Vouchers

Prices from £165 to £295 nicknairncookschool. com

The ultimate gift for anyone who loves food, c/o him off the telly. Classes range from traditional Scottish cooking to vegetarian dishes to thrifty recipes. Located in the Trossachs, accommodation is available for a longer experience.

Philippe Starck Lemon Squeezer Widely available for around £40

The focus of heated debate when it first appeared in 1989.

Twenty years later, it remains as strikingly impractical as ever, but will provide any kitchen with a memorable statement of design and frivolity.

Still Can’t Decide?

Then get along to Edinburgh’s annual Foodies Festival from 5-6 December, showcasing everything from chocolate jigsaws to Highland Hog Roasts, Japanese knives to bespoke chopping boards. There are also masterclasses in cocktail and cupcake making to help you give your festive parties a slick, professional touch.

Tickets are £10 / £6 students – to get a special Skinny 2-for-1 deal (making it just £5 / £3 a head) visit The Skinny’s Facebook page.

Alternatively, pop along to the Ethical Christmas Fair which will be taking up home under heated marquees on Edinburgh's Castle Street from 12-20 December. Fairtrade coffees, chocolates and other warming festive treats will make nicely guilt-free gifts, plus there are always plenty of free samples to help you make up your mind.

Where’s It From?

Pig’s Nose is a high-end blended Scotch courtesy of Scotland’s only third generation ‘Master Blender’ Richard Patterson.

It has a big global following and has kept whiskey drinkers from Denmark to the US suitably merry for the last 40 years.

What Does It Look Like?

There’s easy drinking whisky, there’s really easy drinking whisky and then there’s Pig’s Nose. So named because its marrying of gentle grain whiskies with maturation in oak barrels produces a sweet dram that’s as soft and silky and the eponymous swine’s schnozz, though never having stroked one I’ll just take their word for it. The chirpy, sunny colour gives way to a creamy, very mellow nose as that first glassful slips down very nicely, ta. The Speyside malts at the heart - together with a splash of briney Islay - of the blend ensure it's not harsh or watery when it hits your throat- instead it’s a big, rich mouthful. A great Christmas warmer.

Where Can I Get It? A 70cl bottle will set you back £17.99 Buy online at www.spencerfieldspirit.com Spencerfield Spirit Company are running exclusive Christmas offers for readers of The Skinny. Visit www.pigsnosewhisky.com to register for a select range of offers online, redeemable at your nearest Peckham’s or at Boda Bar and Joseph Pearce in Edinburgh.

THE SKINNY WHISKY GUIDE IS SPONSORED BY:

Loads more goOd food and drink gift ideas online

theskinny.co.uk/lifestyle

16 THE SKINNY December 2009

Lifestyle

GREAT BEERS, GREAT BURGERS

La Concha

An epic and ever-changing selection of craft beers, premium lagers and real ales from around the world. Unbeatable gourmet burgers made with love & locally sourced produce.

24 Deanhaugh Street, Edinburgh EH4 1LY Tel: 0131 332 0414

Almost invisible to the naked eye at first, La Concha nestles in a cosy basement in the heart of Stockbridge.

Stylish décor and flattering lighting transform the intimate subterranean dining space, and the waiting staff are attentive and reassuringly knowledgable.

La Concha’s menu is a joy to read: concise, with just three or four choices for each starter or main, not to mention a simple, thoughtful little addition of antipasti to begin, such as home-baked bread with olive oil and balsamic. The day’s special starter of baked aubergine in tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan was tasty, though a generous portion for one person. The deep fried calamari was temptingly light and crispy. Steering away from all-too-common pizza-based main courses, the venison main was beautiful, tender and served pink with golden potatoes. The seafood linguine never fell

back on the pasta element to carry the dish: teeming with mouth-watering mussels, clams, squid and some of the fattest, loveliest prawns I’ve happened upon in a while, it was served in a subtle but tasty tomato sauce, perhaps a little too salty but otherwise faultless. To finish, the tiramisu had a delicious intoxicating edge, while the lemon and cardamom tart was a little creamy but still a treat.

La Concha could be considered a little expensive to indulge in the full works. However, for those looking for a tasty bite in relaxed surroundings rather than a mammoth Italian feast, a course or two won’t see you fleeced.

A modest BYOB charge makes La Concha an all the more agreeable, snug evening venue. [Rosie Hedger] Dinner for two: £50 (excluding drinks) www.laconcharestaurant.co.uk

2 beers, 2 burgers for £15.

All day, every day.

(mention The Skinny when you order) Festive menu available from 1st December Holyrood’s Hogmanay Party, free entry, bar and kitchen open ‘til 3am ‘Christmas at my house is always more pleasant than anywhere else.

We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we’ll be seeing six or seven’ W. C. Fields

Open 10am for breakfast ‘til late 9a Holyrood Road: Telephone: 0131 556 5044 www.theholyrood.co.uk

The Mannequin 98 Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow Tel: 07784 029 916

As Byres Road seems to be welcoming more and more of the big chains, those looking for a quirkier, independent place to hole up would be wise to head beyond the Botanics.

As well as being home to perennial lo-fi favourite North Star, the cafe scene on Queen Margaret Drive continues to flourish thanks to latest addition The Mannequin.

Bright, intimate and with chatty staff and a lace-and-candlesticks decor that falls on the tasteful side of chintz, The Mannequin is one to linger in. The concise savoury menu covers salads, made-to-order sandwiches and omelettes, all with a Polish / Eastern European bent.

You’re only kidding yourself, though, if you claim to be here for anything other than the baked goodies. They call to you from the glass cabinet – a Victoria sandwich as big as your head, oozing whipped cream, berries and jam; an appropriately skyscraper-tall slab of baked vanilla New York cheesecake; Babka, a marbled chocolate cake, dripping white icing and candied citrus. Those with slightly daintier appetites will appreciate the apple and cinnamon muffins or chocolateorange cupcakes, again all baked in-house – no danger of shrink-wrapped, factory cake horrors here.

Although experimenting with occasional, ‘themed’ late night openings, with The Mannequin shutting at 4pm and not opening at all on a Sunday you’ll have to work your schedule around a visit. But one squidgy, buttery mouthful of coffee and walnut cake will make that missed lecture/meeting/funeral completely worth it.

[Ruth Marsh] Cake and coffee, around £5 www.themannequin.co.uk

Serving for over 100 years, welcome to the loveliest bar in Leith

Delicious bar food from local suppliers, wines & spirits from the rest of the world. Take your seat by the fire & settle in.

Live Music at Nobles

Acoustic, roots & jazz every Tue, Thu and Sun

Festive Season

Fabulous St Andrews Day Celebration - Sat 28th Nov Christmas Menu from 1st Dec Grand Hogmanay Party with live music from Tam White and the Shoestring Band Spend £20 per table on Nobles food menu and we’ll throw in a bottle of our favourite white or red. All day, every day. (mention The Skinny when you order) 44a Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS Telephone: 0131 561 8219 visit www.noblesleith.com for details of festive parties, music events and menus

December 2009

THE SKINNY 17

LIFESTYLE

FASHION

COUTURE FOR THE FUTURE Fourth year students from Galashiels textile college are taking their garments down to Camden Town this December, to showcase their work in a pop-up shop. Here, a few of our favourites give us an exclusive preview of their work.

Fashion direction Alexandra Fiddes Photographer Meghan Giboin www.meghangiboin.co.uk Hair and make-up Kimberley Dewar kimberleydewar@hotmail.co.uk Model Amanda at Superior Model Management www.superiormodelmanagement.co.uk Photographer's assistant Chris Black www.solid-images.com Garments Fourth year students from, Scottish Borders Campus Galashiels, Heriot Watt University: Amy Holmes ah.amyholmes@googlemail.com Jade Rogers AahhParisOnASunday@live.co.uk Vanessa Plenderleigh vp31@hw.ac.uk Accessories Jewellery: All pieces available from Brazen Studios www.brazenstudios.co.uk Gloves: From Elaine's. 55 St. Stephen Street, Edinburgh Location Thank you to Derek at Art's Complex www.artscomplex.org

Scarf, Cape, Top and Trousers by Amy Holmes. Price on application. Gloves ÂŁ30 Elaine's.

18 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

LIFESTYLE Dress by Jade Rogers. Price on application. Earrings £135 by Nicholas O'Donnel Hoare available from Brazen.

Skirt by Vanessa Plenderleigh. Price on application. Shirt £41 from American Apparel. Necklace £180 and ring £98 by Brazen.

Dress and waistcoat by Vanessa Plenerleigh. Price on application.

Leggings from American Apparel £37.

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 19

The problem: The festive season is now upon us and we must find the perfect gifts for our loved ones. The afore mentioned loved ones are hard to please, and the clock is counting down to C-Day all too quickly. The solution: Check out our gift guide. The Skinny has done the hard work. You don't even have to leave the house as it's all online.

Text Alexandra Fiddes

2

1. Sweet Horse Chestnut Hoops £135.00 Abigail A. Percy www.abigailpercy.com 2. Gaelic frock coat. Made to order.

Judith.R.Clark www.judyrclark.com www.checamille.com 3. Cup Cake Ring £140 Rock Cakes Hand made in sterling silver and cold enamel.

Available from Brazen. www.brazenstudios.co.uk

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4. Gretel Tights £45 Bebaroque www.bebaroque.co.uk The full Autumn/Winter 09 collection is also stocked in Boudiche in Glasgow and Edinburgh and online at www.boudiche.com

4 Photo: Jannica Honey

fashion

All I Want For Christmas...

5. Neckpiece £38 (check exchange rate) Necklush www.necklush.com 6. Kiss Me Deadly Vargas Dress £39 Betsy LaBelle www.betsylabelle.co.uk

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7. Jamie Bruski Tetsill Bag £9.95 For the charity ScotsCare www.scotscare.com www.jamiebruskitetsill.com 8. Purple Headphones £69.95 Audio Chi www.audiochi.com

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9. Dee Hat £170 Handblocked peachbloom felt flower form hat with quill and bow.

Sally-Ann Provan www.sallyannprovan.co.uk For all readers of The Skinny, orders of £99 or over placed on or before 10 December 2009 will receive a free ‘Take A Bow’ brooch or Rosette corsage worth £30 in the colour of their choice.

10. Vintage Purse £10 Showpony www.showpony.co.uk Available from the Made In The Shade Maisonette, Unit 32, Upper Floor - De Courcy’s Arcade, 21 Cresswell Lane, Glasgow www.wearemadeintheshade.com

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11. Fashion Makers Fashion Shapers book £17.95

by Anne-Celine Jaeger www.thamesandhudson.com 12. Knitted Necklaces £65 each INTO Textiles www.intoknitted.co.uk Available from the Made In The Shade Maisonette.

13. Ceramic Swallow Brooch £24 Kitty & Dude www.kittyanddude.co.uk Available to purchase from The Made In The Shade Maisonette.

14. Diana Oh Nena Headpiece £9.50 www.oh-nena.com

20 THE SKINNY December 2009

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December Events The Ethical Christmas Fair (Sat 12 – Sun 20 Dec) is back for the festive season. With more than 25 stalls, including Earth Squared, Zuri Designs, The One World Shop, Yakanaka, Tearcraft & RSPB, the fair in the very heart of Edinburgh City Centre will bring together the best in ethically traded, organic and environmental fashion, with a wonderful range of jewellery, hand made crafts, scarves, handbags,hats,and gloves. This year's event will again include three women designer makers from Kenya with their unique ranges of handcrafted pieces. The designers will also be on hand for the course of the event to personally discuss their work.

In Glasgow, December will see the girls at Made In The Shade hosting indie shopping weekenders at The Maisonette on Cresswell Lane every weekend from late November right up until Christmas. With over 40 designers showcasing and selling their work on a rotational basis, including wearable textile art by INTO Textiles,in the form of woollen scarves, neck-pieces and headbands. Also, leather ‘cat eye’ belts by Susie Maroon, embroidered collage bags by Natalie Wain and etched veneer swallow (tattoo style) brooches by Lost At Sea. [Alexandra Fiddes] www.wearemadeintheshade.com

LIFESTYLE

ts n e d u t rs o f e r o rdeen t e b s A , t n i f f Stree o t n 466 o 4 % 4 m l 6 0 e 4 B 1 2 20 t: 012 now DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 21

LIFESTYLE

DEVIANCE

SEX, TRUTH AND POLITICS

Little Girls On Film:

The Lolita Effect

In the face of ever-increasing anxiety over sexualisation of the young, two experts raise questions over how sexually influenced children actually are by the media.

Interview Lauren Mayberry Illustration Edward McGowan

IN April last year, Vanity Fair came under fire over a series of photographs featuring actress Miley Cyrus apparently naked on a satin sheet. The then 15-year-old was reportedly confused and embarrassed by the pictures.

This August, however, Cyrus performed at the Teen Choice Awards in denim hot pants, dancing around a pole atop an ice-cream trolley – an alleged send-up of American culture.

Critics questioned the effect that continually presenting such sexually-charged imagery has on children’s conception of sexuality and whether, given the young singer’s impressionable market, this sort of schtick is ever acceptable.

Well, apparently it might be – if we give the kids lapping up the Lindsay Lohans a little more credit. Dr Gail Hawkes, sexuality expert at the University of New England, and Dr Danielle Egan, Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies at St. Lawrence University, hope to challenge the assumptions surrounding children, media and sexual development, arguing that autonomous sexuality of children should be taken altogether more seriously. Their book, Theorizing the Sexual Child in Modernity, is due out in March.

Since Sigmund Freud discussed ‘infantile sexuality’ in his Three Essays, there has been relative acceptance that certain natural urges do exist at early stages. He discussed erotic zones outwith the genital area, proposing that the young recreate pleasurable sensations they have felt before, mixing instinct and aim. To a child, Egan and Hawkes propose, bodily sensations are the most real things they encounter. No shame should be inherent in their exploration. 28-year-old Egan has seen examples of this in her own day-to-day. “I was at a baby shower at the weekend, and this little two-year-old was sitting rubbing their belly skin,” she explains. The problem lies in assuming children understand sensual enjoyment in the same way that we do as adults, defining ‘healthy sexuality’ by adult parameters. “There’s no corrupt or perverse notion behind it.

It just feels good, and there’s a curiosity,” Egan says.

Arguably the most famous representation of the precociously sexual girl in popular culture is that of Dolores Haze. The deliberately erotic 12-year-old provocateur, Lolita, in Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial 1955 novel,

A LONGER VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE APPEARS ON THE SKINNY’S WEBSITE.

REVIEW

Nine

IN REMEMBRANCE WEDNESDAY. I’m sitting in Silver Future, a queer bar in Berlin that felt like home as soon as I walked in. “Congratulations,” reads the sign behind the bar.

“You have just left the heteronormative sektor!” I pick up a postcard for the Transgender Day of Remembrance event. Among the photos is the graduation portrait of Andrea Waddell, who was murdered on 15 October. The friend I’ll send it to knew Andrea, and was distraught to learn of her death through the usual insensitive media reporting, which focused more on Andrea’s gender

transgressed moral and legal rules. Lo is sexually curious, at times manipulative, but mostly, she is an impressionable young girl, taken advantage of by scholarly paedophile Humbert Humbert. The coquette’s heart-shaped glasses, depicted in the 1962 Stanley Kubrick adaptation of the story, have become an image emblazoned in the minds of parents across the Anglophone world.

What is it that manufactured and maintained this anxiety with such ease? M Gigi Durham’s The Lolita Effect is but one of a number of books proclaiming that myths are propagated to these nymphets by the new Humbert: the media. Durham argues that sexualisation of adolescent girls is driven by a culture eroticising children for profit, demonstrated by Bratz, Little Miss Naughty bra-lets and thongs for tweens. The book’s website advertises its product as essential for anyone “interested in nurturing girls’ advancement and life success”, using Nabokov’s faunlet as shorthand for inappropriately, unnaturally sexual girlhood.

Egan, however, is unconvinced. “There’s very little data to show, from Freud to Kinsey, that what you wear demonstrates the kind of sex you want,” the academic asserts.

Young girls wearing t-shirts embossed with a bunny rabbit insignia, abhorrent as it may seem, does not mean they are inclined to earlier sexual activity. Such an argument, Egan says, confuses production of images with automatic consumption of their moral content. “You can’t just assume that because someone puts on a garment, their attitude will change. Unless you’re walking around with dominatrix gear on or something like that,” she jokes.

Although almost no-one is outwith the reach of advertising, recent research has proven that children engage critically with what is presented to them. “There is no data from the American Psychological Association which specifically shows automatic degeneration is actually taking place,” Egan warns. “We wanted to know where the ideas and knee-jerk assumptions had come from. There’s this idea that if kids see this commercial, the content and images will automatically be injected into them, like a hypodermic needle. The child’s agency is completely ignored.”

The real issue is adult reaction. The words ‘child’ and ‘sex’ give rise to cultural alarm. “There seems to be a panic over bourgeois girls and white, middle-class girlhood. People don’t want that girl to become the Britney Spears,” Egan says in the book, young girls are referred to as ‘prosti-tots’ once they’re deemed to have lost sexual innocence. If children transgress the realms of our comfort, they are then deemed outside the classifying protection of ‘childhood’.

When asked for a solution to the current climate of confusion, Egan is uncertain. “I wish there was [one]. If there is one, I don’t think it’ll be an easy road. We need to talk to kids and get a better understanding of how they make sense of everything in their lives – sexual, and otherwise,” she concludes. The sexual is, after all, only one aspect of a child’s development, and it remains to be seen whether a more representative discussion will emerge.

transition and sex work than on the fact that the life had been taken of a much-loved daughter, sister and friend. I hope it might bring her just a little comfort to know that Andrea is remembered and mourned overseas as well.

We gather together, in physical and virtual spaces, to commemorate the dead. The tragedies of other people, of strangers, are hard enough to bear. And then suddenly it hits home.

Meanwhile, over in the heteronormative sector, sensationalist headlines compete with jokes about dead hookers and stereotypes of

22 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

deceptive transsexuals. Those we mourn are reduced, in the public imagination, to one-dimensional punchlines and objects of fascination, rather than actual people. And then the heteronormative sector wonders why we need to create safe space and ‘ghettoise’ ourselves.

Thursday. News headline: ‘Trans sex prostitute found strangled in flat’. At 29, Destiny Lauren died under similar circumstances to those of Andrea Waddell, and was commemorated just as poorly.

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS IS 17 DECEMBER. WWW.SWOPUSA.ORG/

HOS, HOOKERS, CALL GIRLS, AND RENT BOYS: PROFESSIONALS WRITING ON LIFE, LOVE, MONEY, AND SEX

BY DAVID HENRY STERRY AND R.J. MARTIN, JR (EDS)

rrrr

Do you see what they did there? Despite the wordy title, the editors have managed to steer clear of the terms ‘sex workers’ and ‘prostitutes’, both of which invariably piss somebody off. This tactic is noteworthy, because here we have an anthology bringing together the broadest range of contributors with experience of the sex industry: from the big screen to the street, phone sex to stripping, and incalls to escorting. Between them, they’ve experienced sex work as an empowered choice, as a living hell, as a drug-fuelled necessity. They cover migration, burnout, criminalisation, violence, keeping secrets, coming out to family, and interactions with clients

and colleagues. As it happens, some of the brief contributions from well-known names seem least worthy of inclusion, having a whole lot of pride but not a lot of substance; the bulk of the book, however, is made up of personal pieces that delve deep and illustrate the complexities of the writers’ experiences. Alternately eye-opening, funny, moving, and devastating, this book should be required reading for those who still think any kind of sex worker is ‘representative’. [Nine] OUT NOW. PUBLISHED BY SOFT SKULL PRESS. COVER PRICE £11.99.

FREE Entry

Sex With An Ex Our sex columnist Phoebe Henderson revisits the past and then remembers why she left it.

The Edinburgh Ethical

Christmas Fair

Princes Street/ Castle Street

12th - 20th December | 10am - 7pm (Sundays 10am - 5pm)

Enjoy an Ethical Christmas that won’t cost the earth.

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a fresh perspective

Organised and hosted by Hand Up Media. For more information go to www.handupmedia.co.uk skinnyadvert.indd 1

Cards to cameras and everything in between, from handmade to homemade, your first stop for original and quirky gifts.

www.jclgifts.com

Illustration Alasdair Boyce BELIEVE it or not, I’m a huge fan of relationships. In fact I spent most of my twenties carelessly bouncing in and out of them, never quite finding ‘the one’ and wishing more often than not that I’d be swept off my feet instead of just tripped up occasionally.

My last relationship ended rather badly a couple of years ago and if you look up ‘manipulator’ in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of my ex, holding my heart (and possibly my severed head), looking smug and doing a little jig.

Before him, I dated James for five months and although our relationship was extremely hot and heavy and fun at times, it finally ended when I realised that behind the gorgeous exterior lay a man with no discernible personality and a tendency to refer to his ‘sack’ a lot. Beyond annoying.

So when he e-mailed and asked me over for dinner, I was completely surprised. I hadn’t spoken to him in years and, to be honest, hadn’t really thought about him much in that time. I immediately became curious to know what he’d been up, what he looked like and, well, whether he still had the stamina of a racehorse.

He picked me up, we got a takeaway and spent the entire car journey chatting about old times and unashamedly eyeing each other up. Despite thinking that he’d been a bit of an arse all those years ago, I couldn’t see any evidence of this now; perhaps I’d been a bit too harsh?

His appearance hadn’t changed much and I still found him enormously attractive. I’m guessing he felt the same, as we let the takeaway go cold on the kitchen worktop and had surprisingly great sex in the living room. Afterwards I lay for a few minutes wondering why the hell I’d been so quick to dump this guy and whether we should start something up again.

We reheated dinner and sat down, both feeling rather pleased with ourselves. However, it took

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"DESPITE THINKING THAT HE'D BEEN A BIT OF AN ARSE, I COULDN'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF THIS NOW; PERHAPS I'D BEEN TOO HARSH?" exactly fifteen minutes into the meal to remember why dumping him was probably the smartest move I’ve ever made. He said ‘sack’ 14 times (I counted), ate with his mouth open, and when he started to tell me that he’d contacted me because his girlfriend of three years (who was at a wedding in India), refused to go down on him, I nearly had a fit and left promptly with a “fuck you”. And the prawn crackers.

Sex with an ex can either be quite cathartic or completely stupid – I feel this was the latter. My libido has a lot to answer for.

I seem to forget sometimes that my relationships have ended for a reason, and not because I’ve mislaid them or decided just to come back to them at a later date. I did, however, get a rush at the thought of a new one beginning, and that feeling hasn’t left.

I think I want a boyfriend.

Shit.

PHOEBEHENDERSON.BLOGSPOT.COM

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 23

LIFESTYLE

SHOWCASE

THIS MONTH: NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL TO CELEBRATE the festive season and the end of another year of Skinny Showcases, we've invited a few of our favourite artists and Showcasists to make Christmas cards for you, our dear readers. Some are sweet, some scary; some celebrate the time of giving, while some say it's a big pile of crap. We feel the selection represents the sheer variety of work that's been in this section over the past couple of years, and will, we hope, continue to be here in the future. Merry Christmas, everybody!

Page 1, clockwise from top left: Rosamund West, Stuart Murray, Fraser Douglas,Jessica Ramm, Jessica Harrison.

Page 2, clockwise from top left: Good Wives and Warriors, Rachel Maclean, David Lemm, Emily Hogarth.

24 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

Lifestyle

December 2009

THE SKINNY 25

Digital

Love the Player, The One True Love the Game Geek Gift Guide Scotland's digital industry looks to the next decade Text Alex Cole As the recession meets the Christmas shopping season head-on in a fight to the death, the digital industry looks to prove itself impervious to market forces (and probably a stake through the heart as well). Seemingly the only consumer market to actually improve sales over the past 18 months, new media in Scotland are looking to emphasize just how much of a goldmine they’re sitting on, thanks to companies like Rockstar North (makers of the Grand Theft Auto series), Realtime Worlds, and digital powerhouses like Scotland’s universities.

Faced with competition from Canada and Ireland, which offer tax breaks and subsidies for new media companies, organizations like TIGA are lobbying Westminster to get the same benefits for Scottish companies. Dundee alone hosts 10% of the UK’s digital revenue, but to truly be competitive on the world stage, they need government help to get off the ground. “This highly successful and growing economic sector has great potential,” said Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, at a recent Scotland in Focus event at the Scottish Parliament. “Yet it faces serious challenges: skills shortages, a brain drain of talented staff to development businesses overseas, and a competitive environment ... which puts Scottish developers in particular and the UK games industry in general at a serious competitive disadvantage.”

Last month’s NeoN conference also highlighted the many struggling companies trying to pump out digital content, as well as what big boys in UK media are doing to meet the new demand for online content. Speakers like Bud Luckey of Pixar and Alice Taylor of Channel 4 outlined the shift in how the public consumes media and online content, as well as the kind of people who produce it.

“One of the aims of the festival is help those seeking to undertake a career in the digital arts gain a better understanding of the industry and to help them advance,” says Donna Fordyce, project manager. Many traditional media outlets are seeing a sharp decline in readership and viewership, and many in the North see Scotland as taking advantage of the opportunity. Investing in new media requires not only the well-trained workforce being churned out of Scotland’s universities, but also a redefinition of Scotland’s image abroad.

This image is lent credence by visiting events like the Video Games Live concert, conducted by gaming composer Tommy Tallarico, in Dundee last month.

The next decade (can we call them the Teens yet?) should see radical changes in the local industry as the demand for video games, online content and digital media only gets more urgent. Whether Scotland becomes the powerhouse the experts hope it will may rely as much on perception as government recognition.

We pick the best gadgets and gifts that will look good under the tree Text Alex Cole

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Geeks may have changed their image over the past decade, but one thing that hasn’t changed is their love for gadgets. They can be the best people to shop for, or the worst, depending on how closely you follow their tastes. Here’s a quick guide to keep them from using a gift receipt.

1) Flip Mino HD RRP £119.99

There are plenty of larger HD camcorders for shooting family video, and plenty of tiny ones for drunken YouTube clips, but up until recently there hasn’t been a toy to do both. The Mino HD has a solid pedigree behind it, shoots in 720p HD, has an hour of built-in memory, and makes computer transfers idiot proof. Looks very slick in black.

2) Shure se110 RRP £54.34

Most people hear only jacked-up bass and tinny treble through their earbuds, but if you absolutely must use tiny headphones, it’s worth investing in a solid pair that makes your music sound like it was meant to. This pair hits the sweet spot in price vs. performance. Also check out the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3.

2

3) Canon PowerShot S90 RRP £379.00

3

Point-and-shoot cameras are flooding the market these days (and the front counter of every Curry’s), but this one is a standout. 10 megapixels and host of granular control options give you almost as much flexibility as the beefier G11, but its tiny size and auto functions will help when you just want to fire off a few shots.

4) Freeloader Pro Solar Charger RRP £53.95

They aren’t perfect, and they won’t solve the energy crisis just yet, but now you can shove a solar panel into your pocket and charge your gadgets anywhere you like. Not that Scotland sees much sun, but this is the perfect charger for holidays, where they probably have a lot more.

4

5

5) Spotify or Dropbox account RRP £9.99 and £9.99 per month

These days, most of your data doesn’t live on your hard drive – you can get it all from the cloud, wherever you are. Pick up a Spotify account for a tenner a month and get access to a massive playlist on demand, or grab the Dropbox account to get 100GB of online storage for your crucial files and forget about your USB drives. Both have iPhone and Andriod apps, so you get all that juicy data on the road as well.

6

6) Dell Mini 10v RRP £229.00+

It’s small, it’s a workhorse, and it’s oh-so-hackable.

Netbooks make great travel laptops, notetakers and coffee-shop companions, and this one, thanks to an upcoming Flash update, will even handle most video ably. If your giftee is into voiding warranties, this is the right toy.

the feed

by Alex Cole

Google to preview new operating system, Linux users go crazy - Christmas shopping set to give gadget market a run for its money - Queen’s speech outlines UK digital policies, pirate-hunting powers, broadband tax - Swindon set to test first free public city-wide broadband in the UK - Modern Warfare 2 draws massive sales and massive criticism for controversial content - First major test of laser weapons successful, no public plans for Death Star as yet

26 THE SKINNY December 2009

DIGITAL

NEW MEDIA SCOTLAND

Are We Human?

This month New Media Scotland's Director Mark Daniels checks out Evolution and Art at Inspace OUR opening season of events at Inspace in Edinburgh has paid homage to the work of Charles Darwin, starting at the beginning, with the evolution of complex behavior in lifeforms and ending by examining how, 3.4 billion years later we are here, in an informatic age. The catalyst has been the bicentenary celebrations of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’.

For artist Brian Hewitt, life is data. His work ‘Endosymbiont (Life is a Sexually Transmitted Disease) references genetic mutations in bacteria. The DNA sequences on display at Inspace are changing as the simulated (and stimulated) organisms are evolving as part of the forthcoming ‘Are We Human?’ exhibition opening on 5 December.

We live with the new realities made possible by the evolution of technologies that process information.

These things that make us smart pervade modern culture and are changing the way we experience ourselves, each other, our communities and our planet - transforming the story of what it is to be human.

The modular micro-community of Tanja Vujinovic’s ‘Supermono 2’ is a part of ongoing cycle of works ‘Discrete Events in Noisy Domains’. This orgy of soft toy like shapes incorporates custom smart electronics or simple animatronic components. Pick them up. Go

on. Your actions will be recoded on the fly into data streams and audio and visual information.

The Black Estate artist collective uses new technology to rationalize, readjust and re-envision the meaning of ‘being’ in this time of profound global change. Darkly evocative landscapes, mutated flora and fauna serve as a reminder of the sacredness of nature. Remember that our capacity to be intelligent is affected by the external environment in which we are evolving. This poses the question of whether as intelligent beings our impulse to dominate our environment is relatively superficial given its evolutionary control over us. In the work ‘One’ you can assume the role of a god. The microcosm evolving before your eyes reflects and subverts the natural systems in which we live. As we struggle with the natural world, trying to imagine something better, must we concede to failure?

After exploring the relationship between the environment and intelligent life the exhibition ends with an examination of human invention in the age of informatics. The ‘Perpetual Storytelling Apparatus’ invites you to play six degrees of separation through seven million patent drawings. None of Kevin Bacon.

ARE WE HUMAN ? 5 DEC 2009 TO 10 JAN 2010, WED TO SUN, 10AM-6PM. INSPACE.MEDIASCOT.ORG

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 27

READING

A Bookish Christmas Gift Guide Stuck for something to buy a friend for Christmas? Info-packed, entertaining, and easy to get hold of, you can hardly go wrong with a book. Here are some possible choices, all fresh and on the shelves of your local vendor now!

For… graphic novel fans It’s not often you read a graphic novel written and drawn solely by a Scottish creator, but Chris Kent’s Medusa is just that. It’s set in the present day, and it’s about a soldier in Iraq, Corporal Elliot Ford, who returns to Britain because his daughter has gone missing. From the short scenes at the start in Iraq, it’s clear that Kent’s art is pretty special – painted scenes with the occasional photograph thrown in as if to show how Ford is perceiving these scenes.

But Ford has already lost his wife before shipping out, and the uncertain loss of his daughter puts additional strain on him. And as he becomes confused, Kent makes the narrative more confusing.

This makes the story less straightforward than it could have been, and so it won’t be for everyone – Kent’s illustrations benefit enormously from this change though, showing confusion through Ford’s eyes. He’s doing this quite deliberately, but it may put off those looking for a simple revenge story. This isn’t that, and it’s better for it – it’ll repay several readings. If you’re a fan of graphic novels, but you’re looking for something different, this intriguing work might just be the ticket.[Jack Prince]Out now, published by Graphite Fiction.

Cover price £8.99.

For… poets or historians Henry Marsh may not be familiar to you, but his subject in The Guidman’s Daughter will be: Mary, Queen of Scots. Actually, this collection has a number of other poems in it, and ends with the sequence The Guidman’s Daughter. While the sequence of poems that give this collection its title is very impressive, there’s no reason to skip to them – Marsh’s work is consistently absorbing. The collection is broken up into 8 sections, and while some sections have obvious themes (section 2, for example, is a series of poems about paintings) others are more hidden. They’re unrhymed, but have a quiet authority about them. An example is Waiting For The Ferry, which ends with these evocative lines: “The wind is throwing its weight about. / It pauses to consider. / We study the dubious sky / and wonder at our own passage.” The highlight though, is the title sequence.

The title comes from James V, who used to wander the country in disguise as the Guidman of Ballingeich.

The poems trace the life of his ill-fated daughter, and they’re prefaced by a concise account of her life for clarity. It’s a fine collection, with unexpected depths to reward its readers. [Nat Smith] Out now, published by Maclean Dubois. Cover price £10.

For… film buffs or artists Before his unusual choice to quit acting and direct a film about rugby (seriously, it’s called Invictus – look it up), Clint Eastwood made a fair number of films. Clint Eastwood: Icon is a coffee table book collecting the poster art for his films (including those he directed, whether he’s in them or not) from the 60s to his last screen role in Gran Torino. There’s a short introduction by collector David Frangioni about the nature of his collecting habits, which is amiable enough, and a longer one

by Thomas Schatz about Eastwood’s career, but the real draw is the posters themselves. Leafing through them is mesmerising, as the art changes from gritty comic book styles in the sixties to a harder edged, and often gun toting, look in the seventies, then on to the glossy, hardware obsessed, eighties, a slicker but still glossy look in the nineties, and then this last decade, where a photographic look dominates. They’re fine as they are, but the real highlights of this collection are to be found in the sixties work, particularly the image-defining posters for the Dollars trilogy which look like they were bleached in the (Spanish) desert sun. [David Agnew] Out now, published by Titan Books. Cover price £29.99.

28 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

For… nostalgists Whenever they devised a new animated series writer Oliver Postgate and artist Peter Firmin had just three guiding principles: that they would like making it, that children would like watching it and that the BBC or ITV would like buying it! Remarkably enough, this focus-group-free way of working gave us a host of now fondly remembered children’s programmes, ranging from Ivor the Engine and Pogles’ Wood to The Clangers and Bagpuss. Yet, despite arguably creating modern children’s classics, little about the man himself was known until the original publication of his memoirs almost a decade ago. Now reprinted in light of Postgate’s death earlier this year, Seeing Things fans looking for in-depth ‘behind the scenes’ gossip will still be disappointed, but can luxuriate in the enchanting innocence and sense of wonder that characterised Postgate’s vivid stories (even the ones made in black and white). Guaranteed, you’ll end this delightfully written tome with a deeper understanding of the inventive and independent mind behind those childhood classics. As Postgate says at the start; this isn’t a story, it’s a life. It just happens to be a life that left behind an enchanting, and ultimately timeless, legacy for which we all should be grateful.

[Paul F Cockburn] Out now, published by Canongate. Cover price £16.99

For… anyone with the slightest interest in Scottish Culture A biography doesn’t need a fascinating subject to be a great book – but it’s a good help. Hamish Henderson: A biography has one, and it’s a great book too. Volume One, published in 2007, met with critical acclaim, and Volume Two is a continuation of this great work. Hamish Henderson attended an English public school, then went on to Cambridge University, and then fought in Italy in World War 2, where he personally accepted the Italian surrender. Yet somehow he emerged from these experiences as a socialist and a pacifist. After an early success as a poet with his award-winning cycle Elegies For The Dead In Cyrenaica, he turned to the folk tradition, where he not only wrote songs such as The Freedom Come All-Ye and The John MacLean March, but also helped set up The School For Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. The folk revival he helped spur was massively important to Scottish Culture, and the Edinburgh Peoples Festival he set up, as an alternative to the Festival proper, was similarly important as the forerunner of the Fringe. He worked tirelessly to improve Scottish Culture until his death in 2002, and this biography does him justice. [Keir Hind]

For… flat sharers We Are the Friction is a rather delightful collection of short stories, somewhat reminiscent of a box of assorted chocolates in the way it seems to offer something for every taste (and, presumably, a few things that won’t appeal to anyone, at least at first). The premise is pairing up twelve writers with twelve illustrators and asking the former to write a story based on an illustration, and for the illustrators to make an illustration based on a story. As the latter is the more common mode of proceeding when it comes to illustration, it is the stories that are founded on illustrations that give the collection a unique selling point: it is not often one has this kind of access to a writer’s inspiration and it is intriguing to see what they have done of the illustrations they were given.

Most stories are very short and the illustrations very well-done, which makes this a great book for miscellaneous browsing. Have it lying around the house to pick up now and then when there is nothing better to do and enjoy a story that takes no longer than seven minutes to read, with a picture or two to dwell on. [Kayleigh Bohan]

Both volumes out now, published by Birlinn. Cover price £14.99 (v1) and £25 (v2)

Out now, published by Sing Statistics. Cover price £15 – see www.singstatistics.co.uk

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For… skeptics This is what you might call our ‘out of left field’ recommendation. Charles Hoy Fort (1874-1932) was a writer who specialized in looking for the weird and wonderful in areas that science hadn’t fully (or at all) examined.

The Book Of The Damned was his first book, but this edition includes all of his major works – The Book Of The Damned itself, then New Lands, Lo!, and Wild Talents. His investigations, always academic rather than in the field, are largely fascinating excursions into what we call the paranormal. Why for skeptics?

Because Fort tells some fascinating tales, and he lacks the bizarre arrogance that most paranormal ‘experts’ exhibit, to their detriment. Fort has an endearingly weird style and he once said, “I believe nothing of my own that I have ever written”. So whilst Fort offers explanations for the weird, he isn’t wedded to them.

In fact, in Lo! he includes the following sentences, each on their own line, so that “I have collected 294 records of showers of living things” is immediately countered with “Have I?” Most of the craziness he documents is as fascinating as his explanations are barmy. And that’s the joy of these books! [Keir Hind] Out now, published by Penguin/Tarcher. Cover price £15.99.

For… comic strip nostalgists Opening the latest two volumes of the Complete Peanuts is a nerve-wracking experience. Can the comic live up to childhood memories and its own iconic status? Since Peanuts was published singly, reading four years’ worth of a single comic can feel strange. This year’s volumes see Peanuts reaching the end of its first decade, and engaging more with popular culture, such as with the famous parodic frame ‘Happiness is a warm puppy’.

The 1959 to ‘60 volume features the introduction of Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally and the discovery that their father was a barber. The 1961 to ‘62 volume introduces the vain Frieda to the gang and starts to focus more upon Snoopy, including his brief foray into diving. Part of the charm of Peanuts is that it is an historical soap opera from a very different world to now. Each hardback volume contains an introduction from a famous fan, a complete index and covers designed by Seth. They make beautiful presents but a novice could find it all overwhelming. There’s one way to get around that – plunge in, and lose that novice status! These bound volumes lessen the damage from Peanuts’ tacky paraphernalia, and they’ll surely become collector’s items. [Caroline Walters] Out now, published by Canongate. Cover price (both volumes) £15.

For… fans of Dundonian crime!

In The Lost Sister, Russel D McLean conjures up another dark tale of Dundonian roguery for this season of good chill. In pursuit of a missing teenage girl, private investigator J McNee rummages through the murky depths of the city’s underworld. It is a place of high violence and low morals on the part of both criminals and police officers. Who knew Dundee could be so interesting? Flesh and blood embellish the story via intrigue as well as brutality; the missing girl’s mother is burdened by a weighty secret and her family have ties to local villain David Burns. This snappily written heart-thumper provides the Ebenezer Scrooge sense of creepiness that no fireside yuletide is complete without. Bringing the traditionally American private eye figure to Tayside is a fascinating and smart move

by McLean. It’s no direct transplant though – McNee is a proper PI with his own way of doing things, and a Dundonian perspective. This is only McLean’s second novel, and he’s a young writer. The older crime writers should be looking over their shoulders at him and taking note. This will suit anyone with a Rebus-sized hole in his or her reading life. [Daniel Gray] Out now, published by Five Leaves Publications. Cover price £7.99 For… fans of American crime In a market awash with the adventures of world-weary detectives, C.J. Box’s UK debut Three Weeks to Say Goodbye is grounded by a refreshingly normal cast of characters and a plot that doesn’t let go until the final page. Box has been selling well in America for a while now, and has picked up a couple of awards too – it’s surprising he hasn’t been published in Britain until now. Jack and Melissa McGuane believe their problems are over when they adopt their daughter, Angelina, until the adoption agency calls: the biological father wants her back and happens to be the son of a well-connected judge. Jack and Melissa choose to fight to keep their daughter and find themselves attacked by those on both sides of the law. Unashamedly every parent’s worst nightmare, Box wracks up the tension throughout to a denouement worth waiting for in this standalone thriller. With Corvus promising more from Box, already well established in the US, including a series due for release in 2011, get in now to be ahead of the crowd. And with the nights getting darker and colder, Three Weeks to Say Goodbye makes a perfect Christmas gift for any crime fan looking for a page-turner. [Daniel Gray] Release date: Dec 1. Published by Corvus. Cover price £12.99.

For… flat sharers again!

The hunt for writers who make immediate impressions is frustrating, especially when each ‘potential’ turns into another lost gamble and one becomes brackish and disinclined to try anything new. But then, one nonchalantly (serendipitously?) picks up a book and perhaps because expectations don’t exist, or perhaps because hope is absent, or perhaps simply because the book is good, its prose holds your hand, or makes your throat constrict, or just that one line makes you smile randomly on the bus. Such is The Golden Hour II – a collection of short stories, poetry and music (20 track CD included), produced and published by Edinburgh’s Forest Cafe – which amongst its many other endeavours and initiatives, fosters the artistic teeth cutting ceremony of the Golden Hour (every Wednesday, 8 -11pm). The book features contributions from 36 artists who’ve featured at the Golden Hour, such scope ensuring that at least one piece of prose will resonate. Highlights include Spencer Thompson’s Pancake, am I a barstard? and Kona Macphee’s Fen Train whose lilting, old fashioned rhyme scheme belies it sharp edge. So, to those weary and wary book hunters, the reluctant gamblers and the open hearted, pick up TGHII, it’s a sure bet. [Renee Rowland] Out now, published by Forest Publications. Cover price £8

GET MORE BOOK REVIEWS ONLINE THESKINNY.CO.UK

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THE SKINNY 29

READING

For… news junkies Gordon Burn, who died earlier this year, only wrote four novels, but they’re all fantastic. His first was Cogan, which uses the strange Alma Cogan concept of writing about the life of the English pop singer into the eighties, when she had actually died in 1966. His other novels are a similar mix of fact and fiction, and Born Yesterday is probably the most sophisticated of those.

It takes place in 2007, and includes the news of the day in its plot – Blair’s highly choreographed final days, Madeleine McCann, the attempted terrorist attacks in Glasgow and London, and all of this is watched by a very Burn-like narrator. Burn wrote several non-fiction books – mostly sports (Best and Edwards is another great book, which nearly filled this spot) and true crime – and he’s well aware of how facts become story.

The point of the book is that a novel on news is just as fictionalised as the news itself – and maybe even more valid, because this novel admits, even revels in, this fictionalisation, which the narrator becomes caught up in. All of Burn’s novels are worth reading – and by all means read them all – but this final one may be his definitive achievement. [Ryan Agee] Out now, published by Faber. Cover price £7.99.

19/10/09

Film

A Trip Down the Rabbit Hole In an exclusive interview, cult filmmaker Jim Jarmusch discusses his mysterious new film The Limits of Control, his latest musical project Bad Rabbit, and why exploring our consciousness is an 'inalienable right' Interview Gail Tolley Tom Waits famously said in an interview with the New York Times that ‘’The key… to Jim [Jarmusch], is that he went gray when he was 15. As a result, he always felt like an immigrant in the teenage world.

He’s been an immigrant … ever since. And all his films are about that.’’ From his debut feature Permanent Vacation (1980) to his latest unexplained creation The Limits of Control, there’s no denying that Jarmusch has always shown sympathy for the outsider. Taking up an unwavering position on the margins of American cinema the filmmaker has made some of the most distinctive features of the last 30 years. He has fused his appreciation of European arthouse with a love of American counter-culture to produce such memorable films as Down By Law (1986) featuring the aforementioned Mr Waits and musician John Lurie; the Memphis-set Mystery Train (1989) that follows three interconnected stories imbued with the spirit of Elvis; the gangster-samurai feature Ghost Dog (1999), and most recently Broken Flowers (2005) where a ‘Don Juan’ Bill Murray takes a look back at his failed love life.

The Limits of Control shows Jarmusch at his most daring yet and is without doubt a departure from his last feature (although Bill Murray again makes an appearance). Ostensibly a thriller, the film is far less interested in plot details than in creating a specific atmosphere, rhythm and aesthetic. We are taken on a journey across Spain with an unnamed man (Isaach De Bankolé) who meets with various characters (played by Tilda Swinton, John Hurt and Gael Garcia Bernal) who provide him with cryptic instructions to progress his mission. Not all critics have applauded the film, perhaps because it is a deliberate attempt on Jarmusch’s part to challenge the usual expectations that cinemagoers have. For this reason The Limits of Control is more comprehensible when embraced as an experience, akin to the works of David Lynch. For this reason Jarmusch believes that one of the most important elements to the film is its soundtrack and, giving an insight into both the nature of the film and the role of the music, he refers to it as “a mix-tape to take you through the mirror and down the rabbit hole”.

Expect to be plunged head-first into Wonderland.

You’ve described The Limits of Control as a puzzle: how much should we be looking for some sort of narrative explanation from this film?

We’re trying to remove certain expectations that people have. I got discouraged recently by people trying to deliver expectations to the audience. Christopher Doyle [the cinematographer] and I were like: ‘What if Tarkovsky or Antonioni released one of their films now, would anyone even release it?’ And we thought most likely not. So we were trying to make a film that’s not an intellectual exercise, that’s entertaining, but it’s very open and not formulaic. We had the map of the story from a very minimal text that I wrote, more like a prose story with no dialogue. That was our map, but it was very open so we could create the film partly as it went along, which was very important to our approach.

Do you see The Limits of Control as a challenge to the overriding passiveness of many audiences?

I guess in a way, although again I think it’s like a trance or a trip that they can take. They don’t have to bring anything, you don’t have to bring a thinking cap, you

30 THE SKINNY December 2009

know. But if the film works on them then I think they’ll start appreciating the details and all the layers we put in there, but tried to put in in an off-hand way, not pointedly. There’s a lot of layers in there and unfortunately for our distributors I think it’s a better experience if you’ve seen it more than once. [Although] it’s hard enough to get [people] to see it at all!

When I was watching this film at one point it suddenly occurred to me that so much of it seemed to be about architecture.

[It’s] not particularly about architecture but about the things around one that form your consciousness or that feed your consciousness. So that’s visual things, architecture, the way cities are designed, spaces and interiors. But it’s also music and sound and motion and textual things that you receive. So architecture is a part of it but I don’t think it’s any more important than other elements of the film, [such as] the rhythm of it musically [or] how shots move together.

The reason I picked up the thing about the architecture was because of the way you shoot buildings, in particular there’s one scene of a staircase (and it’s repeated a couple of times) in the Madrid apartment block. It’s shot from a very unusual angle, it’s almost like you can’t figure it out when you first see it and suddenly you pan around and you sort of get your bearings… I thought it was a fantastic shot. Something that I really appreciated from the film was these shots which were unexpected where we suddenly get a new angle on things. I know some critics have picked up on an almost iconoclastic aspect to the film and I wondered how much it was your intention to deliberately create images which challenge the way we normally look at things.

Well in a way we were. One inspiration for us was the film Point Blank by John Boorman which is also very architectural in a funny way, now that you say it, although I’m not sure I really saw it in that way before. But every shot in that film is very striking and yet some of them are confusing in terms of reflection and dreams within dreams. And we were really inspired by that… we were thinking, that’s an interesting approach, let’s try and make every shot in the film somehow interesting. And Christopher Doyle is really the best guy I know on the planet to do that kind of thing; he thinks in the moment, he wants every shot to be dynamic, he cringes at visual clichés. So we’re like brothers in a certain way and our inspirations come not just from cinema but from poetry and painting and books and music and architecture and experiences and dialogue and language: we were very connected in that way so we were looking for a kind of style in the film that would not be clichéd.

Yeah, because I think that there aren’t visual clichés but there are elements of cinematic reference… I’m thinking of the naked girl with the glasses.

Yeah, certainly. In a way her nudity is almost her uniform. There’s even a quote from Le Mepris

by Godard where she says “do you like my arse” which is said by Brigitte Bardot. There are certainly references in a way to films by JeanPierre Melville, like The Samourai, where a lone

warrior is an outsider who has a code that doesn’t fit his surroundings anymore: we see him alone in rooms, things like that were definitely references.

In a way we were trying to embrace the artifice of cinema. It’s a beautiful thing and as much as I like these new neo-realist kind of styles, we were going the other way. We were making something embracing [the] artifice of cinema as something weird or beautiful.

There’s also that very memorable quotation which Gael Garcia Bernal delivers about ‘the reflection being far more present than the thing being reflected’ and I guess you can say the same for cinema…

Cinema really is sort of like Plato’s Cave, you know, you go in a dark room you see these constructed images projected. We’re celebrating that rather than trying to trick you into thinking you were in some other world or some sort of realistic place.

There is a very distinct use of space: there’s a strong sense that this is in Spain; there’s a strong sense of being abroad. Do you see this as an extension of your exploration of outsiders and alienation?

Certainly he’s an outsider and he’s in a place that he doesn’t know. There’s also a very traditional structure in the film which is three acts of the three places with a kind of coda on the end. He starts in Madrid which is very cosmopolitan, a modern city; we tried to film it, not like tourists, but show the mundane feeling of Madrid. But then of course we have that very bizarre building he stays in. Then he goes to Sevilla which is a place halfway between the past and the present somehow. It was the heart of colonial Spain, it’s where they have that tower of gold that he looks at and that he finds a postcard of, and is where Queen Isabella kept all the gold they had pillaged from the New World. And then the final step of the film for me was like a kind of Western, he goes to Almeria and he’s really removed from civilisation and those landscapes are very familiar at least semi-consciously to all us film fans from all the Spaghetti Westerns and even the big Hollywood epic films from the 50s [which] were shot at the site of Almeria. There’s something in there that’s strangely familiar so he’s making this progress away from civilisation. Visually that’s what we were doing.

Let’s talk about the soundtrack because you see it as an integral part of the film. For me it succeeds so well because it’s not manipulative which so many directors seem to use music to do. Could you talk a little bit about the role of music in the film?

For me, always when I start writing, I start listening to music that is opening my imagination for that particular world or thing that I’m imagining. So I start eliminating music that doesn’t open that up to me and just flood myself with music that does. In this case it was Boris, Sunn O))), Earth, those very slow, heavy rock kind of landscapes were really inspiring to me.

So then they led me to the feeling of this film and of course it re-entered as the score for the film. They’re very atmospheric and evocative for me. I don’t like music that cues you or tells you - I mean sometimes it’s great, in other people’s films - but it’s not my thing to have the music try to tell you what to feel. So instead I like it as part of the fabric of everything else.

And then there are two other elements, the adagio from Schubert’s string quartet and some flamenco, but a very particular form, a peternera. So those things ended up being the musical fabric.

And Bad Rabbit, your own band, contribute a lot to the soundtrack. How did that come about?

The real problem came when I was cutting the music in the film and I found that I didn’t have pieces like Boris or Earth or Sunn O))) that were working right for the scenes where he goes to the gallery. So I thought, we’ll make our own with our band. So we did and we made some pieces for the film and since then we’re almost done with our album and we’ve been continuing making more music which for me is a great release. Our style, it’s slow, psychedelic, a little bit hippy, electric, a little dirtier than say Mogwai but atmospheric too in that way.

“I’m suspicious of authorities that tell you what is reality. I wasn’t trying to make a film that was didactic but there’s certainly a metaphorical thing in there about arrogance and power controlling our consciousness”

I guess a final topic to touch upon is the politics of the film. All films are probably political to a certain extent but there’s a feeling that maybe this film is quite reflective of our time, do you feel that? Especially given the title – The Limits of Control.

Well it’s not for no reason that the authoritarian figure is the American, you know? We’ve been embarrassed for years by the Bush administration, when I travelled I would tell cab drivers I was Canadian. Now we don’t have to still do that but… I’m suspicious of all politicians and politics. I’m suspicious of authorities that tell you what is reality. I wasn’t trying to make a film that was didactic but there’s certainly a metaphorical thing in there about arrogance and power controlling our consciousness which is our own, you know, it doesn’t belong to them (whoever they may be). I think altering and exploring one’s consciousness is an inalienable right, you know? I think it should be a crime to tell anyone else what they should believe, whether it’s me telling them that or Dick Cheney.

The Limits of Control is released on 11 December

Film

December 2009

THE SKINNY 31

Film

December Events Coming to a cinema near you

FILM Reviews Bunny and the Bull Director: Paul King Starring: Edward Hogg, Simon Farnaby, Verónica Echegui Released: OUT NOW Certificate: 15

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Bunny and the Bull is the authorial debut of Paul King, best known for directing The Mighty Boosh and Darkplace - inevitable but deceptive touchstones. Stephen (Edward Hogg) pieces together the farcical holiday that led to his despondency, agoraphobia and paranoid schizophrenia. Retracing his steps through eclectic miniature worlds a troubled relationship emerges with his buddy, the eponymous Bunny (Simon Farnaby). As we ramble through Stephen’s psychological furniture, ingenious and charming sets and designs fashion the film into an interesting aesthetic object.

But its sense of humour is often off the mark, descending generally into idle and even awkward banter. As comedy it succeeds most when inducing revulsion (for example, at Julian Barratt’s dog-milking hobo). As sentimental drama there’s an almost complete lack of engagement with the impassive Stephen and an absence of character development. One cannot overcome the sense that King’s script falls between stools, and so fails to satisfy high expectations. A dream of visual design whose tentative script sells itself short. [James Campbell]

Dave Holzman's Diarty

If you happen to find yourself near the Highland village of Cromarty you might want to check out their compact film festival which runs from 4 – 6 Dec. A selection of films including several classics (Casablanca, Cinema Paradiso and The Apartment) as well as some recent choices (Twilight, The Last King of Scotland) and many local shorts are complemented by introductions from members of the film industry. Full details at www.cromartyfilmfestival.org Cryptic Nights continue their monthly cross-platform evening at the CCA in Glasgow on 3 Dec. Adopting a festive theme there promises to be a surprise DJ set, two films and, for the first 25 to book tickets, a banquet in the CCA café. At the same venue on 10 Dec is a screening of David Holzman’s Diary, a story of a young man infatuated by film-making. A combination

Unmade Beds Director: Alexis Dos Santos Starring: Fernando Tielve, Déborah François, Michiel Huisman Released: 11 Dec Certificate: 15

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The Last King of Scotland

of mockumentary and improvisation, Jim McBride’s film is often seen as a milestone in contemporary cinema.

Psycotronic Cinema presents Cult! USA at the GFT, screening some of the best films from 1970s America. In December you can see They Might be Giants, an eccentric yet heartwarming and rarely-screened classic about a millionaire who retreats into fantasy after the death of his wife.

In Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee the French Film Festival continues. We recommend I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster, a comedy set in the Parisian criminal underworld with influences as diverse as Tarantino and Jacques Tati; it shows at the GFT on 2 Dec. In St Andrews several films from the French Film Festival will be showing from 3-6 Dec at the New Picture House.

On 4 Dec Christophe Honoré’s high school drama The Beautiful Person based on 17th century novel La Princesse de Cleves will be showing alongside short film The Baker’s Daughter.

Unmade Beds is a beautiful and sensitive account of a handful of 20-somethings living in a squat in East London.

We follow wide-eyed Axl (Fernando Tielve), who has arrived from Spain to look for his long-lost father and ends up living in the same converted warehouse as Vera (Déborah François), a romantic who works in a bookshop.

Whilst the characters are enviously good-looking and a little too cool for school, the film avoids descending into a trendier-than-thou work of style over substance by focusing on the fragile forging of human connections. And on top of this the elegant cinematography creates a dreamlike atmosphere; a couple who’ve just met drunkenly sway down a hotel corridor, a hand follows the banister of the stairs and we’re immediately taken into a blissful daze of drunken happiness. There’s also a wonderful soundtrack including songs by Kimya Dawson, Tindersticks and Jeffrey Lewis. A sleeper hit at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, Unmade Beds is a real gem. [Gail Tolley]

The Girlfriend Experience

Nowhere Boy

Me and Orson Welles

Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Sasha Grey, Chris Santos Released: 4 Dec Certificate: 15

Director: Sam Taylor-Wood Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, AnneMarie Duff Released: 26 Dec Certificate: 15

Director: Richard Linklater Starring: Christian MacKay, Zac Efron, Claire Danes Released: 4 Dec Certificate: 12A

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The Muppet Chirstmas Carol

If you want to immerse yourself in all things festive there are several films to choose from. At the GFT their hugely successful Christmas Classics are back, including It’s a Wonderful Life (11-12 Dec) and the recently restored Powell and Pressburger masterpiece The Red Shoes (27-29 Dec). At the Filmhouse you can see The Muppet Christmas Carol (13–14 Dec) and Brian Desmond Hurst’s 1951 version of Scrooge (18-20 Dec). And for Hogmanay there’s a series of dance based films, such as West Side Story and Singin’ in the Rain which will get you in the mood for welcoming in the New Year.[Gail Tolley]

32 THE SKINNY December 2009

The Girlfriend Experience is a fragmented, detached, yet revealing exploration of contemporary consumerist society. We follow high class escort, Chelsea (Sasha Grey) as she meets with a series of well-heeled Manhattan clients whose conversation seems to be entirely consumed with the current financial crisis.

The film captures its characters in a cold and detached manner and almost all of the dialogue – whether it is from Chelsea, her boyfriend Chris (Chris Santos) or the men she meets – is concerned with money. The result is a portrayal of an empty and unattractive society where sex and human connection is as much a commodity as the expensive clothes the subjects wear.

Taking a documentary approach to style and a daringly disjointed structure, Soderbergh’s latest offering shows the director at his most experimental in some time.

When the credits roll on The Girlfriend Experience there’s a high chance that it will leave you feeling cold, but that seems to be exactly the point. [Gail Tolley]

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Sam Taylor-Wood establishes herself as a capable director with Nowhere Boy, her debut feature charting the domestic turmoil that plagues a teenage John Lennon (Aaron Johnson). Brought up by his stern aunt Mimi (expertly played by Kristin Scott Thomas), John is reunited with his absent mother Julia (Anne-Marie Duff) after the death of his Uncle. Attracted to Julia’s vivacious personality he increasingly chooses to spend time with her, which leads to rising tensions with his aunt. Johnson is a charismatic onscreen presence and manages to capture the changeable character of a cocky yet troubled Lennon. The colourful recreation of post-war Liverpool is also to be commended. However viewers expecting Taylor-Wood to utilise her background as a conceptual artist may be disappointed – this is as straight down the line as biopics come. And despite being penned by the same screenwriter of that other recent musical biopic Control, Nowhere Boy doesn’t achieve quite the same emotional resonance. [Gail Tolley]

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Me and Orson Welles begins with actor Richard (Zac Effron) seeking out the great Orson Welles for work.

Seeing in his Haribo-boy face the perfect foil to reflect his own greatness, Welles throws Richard a small part in his upcoming production of Julius Ceasar. When Richard gets sweet on PR girl Sonya (Claire Danes) however, the jealous Orson threatens to close the curtain on their budding romance and the boy’s acting career. The frenetic pace of the 1930s New York broadway scene cries out for the crackle of an early Woody Allen script, though this film raises fewer chuckles than may be expected and often fails to capture the magic of the period. Efron is believable as the fish-out-of-water goof with heart and Claire Danes shines as the seductive self-starter Sonya, though it’s Christian MacKay’s tour de force portrayal of Welles that steals the show. In capturing the many sides of this complex character, MacKay carries what is otherwise a lacklustre offering from Linklater. [Alastair Roy]

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA

1941

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

DIRECTOR: STEPHEN SOMMERS STARRING: CHANNING TATUM, SIENNA MILLER, CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON RELEASED: 7 DEC CERTIFICATE: 12

DIRECTOR: STEVEN SPIELBERG STARRING: JOHN BELUSHI, DAN AYKROYD, CHRISTOPHER LEE RELEASED: 28 DEC CERTIFICATE: 12

DIRECTOR: QUENTIN TARANTINO STARRING: BRAD PITT, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, MÉLANIE LAURENT RELEASED: 7 DEC CERTIFICATE: 18

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Upon its cinema release, many called this cynical toy commercial “the live action Team America”. This is unfair: that movie had more wit and ideas in a single frame than this gubbins manages in nearly two hours. Actually, that’s unfair, because for all its faults, G.I. Joe does have one impressively staged set-piece (in Paris, no less) and the impossibly attractive ladies in catsuits provide the obligatory “bit of blue for the dads”. The “dads”, however, and anyone over the age of 10, will be as mortified as anyone else at the sheer risibility of the enterprise. Mummy man Sommers pitches the film at a very young (or stupid) audience, and hopes the grown ups will be appeased with eye candy and some cosy sense of nostalgia for Saturday morning action cartoons. Unfortunately, the movie only reminds you of just how much of your childhood was wasted watching such garbage, for like Transformers, this is lazy, superficial, borderline fascistic claptrap. [Steven Dalziel]

This rare misfire from cinema’s greatest entertainer was one of several productions to mark the end of the New Hollywood era. 1941 is a mess of a movie, an unfocused, undisciplined, uninvolving and, despite some decent gags, unfunny splurge of slapstick, bad taste, in-jokes, smut and satire. Salvaged by a strong cast and a sincere message, it is nonetheless a disaster, but an interesting one. Interesting enough, in fact, to merit this solid 2 disc set, which gamely includes a series of disastrous reviews and a sometimes dry but insightful 100 minute Making Of, wherein John Milius reveals the whole enterprise could have been Bordello of Blood; Robert Zemeckis discusses an outrageous alternate ending involving the Enola Gay; and Spielberg laments his failure to involve John Wayne and Charlton Heston. The über-patriots regarded the script as anti-American, while the director saw nothing wrong with “sticking a pie in the face of the Statue of Liberty in the spirit of humour”. [Michael Gillespie]

JUST A QUESTION OF LOVE

ALL OVER ME

DIRECTOR: CHRISTIAN FAURE STARRING: CYRILLE THOUVENIN, STÉPHAN GUÉRIN-TILLIÉ, EVA DARLAN RELEASED: OUT NOW CERTIFICATE: 15

DIRECTOR: ALEX SICHEL STARRING: ALISON FOLLAND, TARA SUBKOFF, LEISHA HAILEY RELEASED: 7 DEC CERTIFICATE: 15

Tarantino’s superb genre pastiche is the cinematic equivalent of Woody Guthrie’s guitar case: a defiant, aggressive and life-affirming two-fingered salute to fascism.

After the overblown Kill Bill and indulgent Death Proof, QT is back doing what he does best and possibly better than he’s done it before: this confirms his status as American cinema’s most exciting formalist, a lover of cinema, life, and most importantly, his audience. The five-chapter structure fleshes out a truly three-dimensional cast of characters (Waltz magnetically embodies evil: the best movie villain of the decade!) and runs the gamut of WWII film scenarios, at times excruciatingly suspenseful and genuinely unpredictable. Is the film in bad taste? Absolutely, but as Mel Brooks and Chris Morris have frequently shown, bad taste can be a powerful tool, and given this year's success of the BNP and a worrying acceptance of prejudice in pop culture and society, the UK box-office success of such a ferociously anti-Nazi fantasia must be applauded. [Michael Gillespie]

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Made for French TV, this run-of-the-mill coming out story centres on Laurent, an agriculture student whose female flatmate poses as his girlfriend to appease the family who disowned his late gay cousin. Falling behind in his studies, he takes an internship with (and falls in love with) Cedric, who lives with his much more understanding mother. Naturally, tensions arise, but the film takes an interminably long time to get where it’s going, and by the time it reaches its last reel of revelations, you’ll wish the whole film had focused on the parents and not the frankly bland and irritating lead. It’s not terrible: there are a few decent individual scenes (such as Laurent’s pharmacist father bantering with two condom buying customers), but the narrative is so outright mechanical you can almost smell the rust, while the imagery never rises above its unadventurously TV aesthetic. [Lisa Bourke]

J I M

Anyone who grew up during the 90s may recall seeing this during Channel 4’s Queer Street strand. Teenage Claude(Folland) is a music loving skater who can’t quite understand her feelings for mixed up best friend Ellen (Subkoff), until the arrival of the mysterious Luke and rock chick Lucy. The plot takes some potentially melodramatic turns, but it never becomes manipulative, its focus never shifting from Claude (Folland’s heartbreaking turn certainly helps).

There’s not much in the way of suspense or momentum, but the hazy lensing and meandering structure achingly capture adolescence, from dreams of hitting the road to the painful immersion one can have in a really good song.

Oh, and there are some really good songs on the (unobtrusive) soundtrack, like all the Riot Grrrl acts which inspired the movie in the first place. A 90s revival needs starting. [Lisa Bourke]

What Nick Griffin MEP sees just before he wakes up.

C A R R E Y

(TBC)

NOW SHOWING

BOOK ONLINE NOW

BOOK ONLINE NOW

0141 420 5000 • twitter.com/gsc1

0141 420 5000 • twitter.com/gsc1

www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 33

FILM

DVD REVIEWS

Theatre

Playing in Govan The NTS bridges the community and the new wave of artists - far away from the expected venues.

Text Michael Cox Photography Iain G Farrell

experience. Part of this new team is well-regarded theatre artist Kieran Hurley. For his contribution to Allotment, Hurley is looking at ways of “playing with the rules of social behaviour.”

“The exciting thing is playing with that audience.

So, it’s playing with that strange level of engagement and seeing how people respond to some of the stuff we put in front of them. We aren’t imposing a narrative or anything like that, more just providing a lot of interesting things to see and do.”

“It is an easygoing environment, a social experiment and a place to kick back at the weekend. It’s high quality theatre, visual art, computer games, a pint with your mates with music thrown in it.” So says Angie Bual, co-producer of the National Theatre of Scotland’s latest project: Allotment.

Allotment is a high-concept theatrical experiment that has artists collaborate on a one-night-only event.

The inspiration came from the innovative work that a group of theatre companies were doing, including notable companies like Punchdrunk and SHUNT. “Both companies have attracted audiences who want a night out with their mates and find the theatricality of the environment exciting and sociable,” Bual says.

“I wanted to branch out of working with theatre makers, to work with visual artists, musicians and other partners.”

On the choice of location, Bual states “It was enormously important to set Allotment in the right place. Govan is partway through a regeneration period which has seen an influx of community arts work. I wanted to work with the community to create a good night out that can happen right in the centre of the community rather than in the West End.” “We have rooted Allotment in the local shopping centre which is a terrific opportunity to reimagine that space and to have fun with a big disused space.

We have worked with local artists and businesses to make Allotment as Govan-grown as possible.”

Designing the inaugural production in October was Claire Halleran. “Angie got me and five artists in a room, and we began with Polanski’s The Tenant and a burnt house as a starting point. From that, the five artists came together and created a story.”

As the designer, Halleran saw her job as being the person who would “make everything fit.” The end result was an art installation that worked as a murder mystery. Audience members took a promenade journey through different stations, and throughout the evening the audience pieced together multiple threads of an evolving story.

Talking about witnessing the actual production, Halleran says with pride that “Nobody had to say what to do or where to look. It just happened. And that’s what we wanted, but we were surprised it all happened as easily.” She was surprised how the audience interacted with the space and her design concepts. “I find it exciting to see people’s interaction with it. I get a kick out of it when people “get” what you’re trying to do.”

With the thematic concept of ‘games and gaming’ and a completely new team put together, the second Allotment promises to be a vastly different

"I wanted to work with the community to create a good night out that can happen right in the centre of the community rather than in the West End.” angie bual, co-producer Speaking about the artistic opportunities the production has given him, Hurley says that it is “unlike anything I’ve ever worked on before.” He sees Allotment as a fantastic opportunity to reach out to Govan, both as an artistic community and as an audience. “But also, as I see it, there’s a sort of secondary aim there which is about creating a challenging brief for young artists so that we can work with artists of other disciplines so we can develop our own practice.”

Hurley seems to express the main notion that everyone involved wants the audience to walk away with. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I think that that’s the main thing. Obviously intelligent and thoughtprovoking, but first and foremost it’s going to be fun and accessible while having a nice social time.” be sure to check out our review online!

Govan Cross Shopping Centre 5 Dec and 19 Feb 8pm £5 on the door www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

Gareth K Vile

Top Five december Theatre Events

the text factor Although I am impressed by the Tron’s direction under Andy Arnold, I can’t muster enthusiasm for the Open.Stage project. It isn’t just that I am prejudiced against scripts. It worries me that an online writing competition, to be judged by the public, is being promoted as the way forward for Scottish theatre.

It smacks of X-Factor popularism, which is fine, until I consider what is happening in drama. Poets and novelists are invited to scribe plays: writers with wonderful style and beautiful imaginations, but without a clear idea of what makes for

good theatrical structure or might sound natural. By judging a script on the page, it isn’t clear whether it will be any good on the stage.

One of the best new scripts came from Martin O’Connor, whose experience as a performer has given him an incredible ear for idiom. It also dealt with some rough topics, hardly the sort of thing that a popular vote would praise.

Absent fathers and gay-bashing anyone?

At the risk of sounding elitist, the best work often comes from determined visionaries. They might collaborate as part of a group

34 THE SKINNY December 2009

to workshop their vision. But the willingness to experiment, to make bold choices, to step outside the popular, is enshrined in the individual: it is why state funding is so important, to give these awkward bastards space to grow.

That is not to say that popular productions can’t be excellent, or that the mainstream theatre of, say, The Playhouse or Scottish Ballet’s Christmas show has to suck.

I hope that the competition will surprise me, but in the meantime, I am off to pen a piece about how bad celebrity culture is.

Zorro The Traverse, Edinburgh 4 - 24 December, various times Escape to dusty LA with the masked avenger.

Off Kilter Edinburgh Festival Theatre 29 December - 2 January 7.30pm State of the dance nation address, from hip-hop to aerialism.

Will The Mail Train Run Tonight?

Ramshorn, Glasgow 7 - 12 December, 7.30pm Strathclyde Theatre Group avoid festive cliché with Old West melodrama. Contains parody.

The Nutcracker Theatre Royal, Glasgow 12 - 31 December, 7.30pm Ashley Page’s sumptuous Christmas treat.

Fairy-tale magic with Scottish Ballet’s trademark contemporary edge.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang On Ice Dundee Ice Arena 19 December, various times A clear step away from pantomime: plenty of kitsch potential.

THEATRE

VENUE OF THE MONTH

This Month:

Citizens

With more scenery and name changes than perhaps any other theatre, the story of The Citizen's Theatre is as intriguing as those it has produced for the stage.

Text Victoria McGillop BUILT in 1876 and opened in 1878 as His Majesty’s Theatre, it quickly descended into bankruptcy. In 1880, the building was redesigned and re-opened

by Harcourt Beryl under a new name, the Royal Princesses Theatre. It was later leased to the Citizen’s Theatre Company in 1945, before being renamed as the Citizen’s Theatre.

Having borne witness to the demise of all three surrounding theatres in the Gorbals area, The Citizens still retains its original Victorian auditorium as well as some of its ill-fated predecessors’ features. Following the demolition notice of its neighbouring theatre the Palace of Varieties in 1977, a stay of execution was arranged by the Citizens General Manager, Clare Blenkinsop. Citizens staff worked overnight to save some of its unique features and fittings. Statues of the four muses, Robert Burns and William Shakespeare from the exterior as well as the nautch girls and elephants from the interior can now be seen in the Citizens Theatre foyer, painted in glorious colours and watching the patrons in the bar.

Its unique location and architectural composition makes it stand out from today’s playhouses: even a small show in the upper room is given a sense of occasion by these grand statues and the presence of history. For many years, it gained an international reputation, as Giles Havergill introduced a shockingly kitsch and innovative approach to classic drama: a strategy that still informs their frequent adaptations of novels, and is echoed in the excellent productions that take place in the two smaller spaces.

“I think the auditorium is an extraordinary space, it’s Victorian but quite intimate in comparison to others” says Jeremy Raison, Joint Artistic Director of the

Citizens Theatre. “The skill of those who produce the work, the iconic nature of the pieces and our reputation over the years have been a pull on audiences. It’s also quite rare for a theatre to be based outside the city centre and our position in a lesser privileged area like the Gorbals also helps informs your thinking and gives a kind of context and a background to the work that we do.”

The shows themselves are unique as The Citizens Theatre provides high quality main house and studio productions, taking responsibility for set and costume designs. The choice of programming is pivotal to its continuing success. The first of the seasonal offerings is Wicked Christmas: Cinders’ Revenge, an adultorientated, alternative Christmas story full of sarcastic wit, featuring writing from the Citizens Community Company (a free organisation currently comprising of around thirty permanent members aged from 22 to 80, from all walks of life in Glasgow).

The second offering is the family-orientated; Cinderella produced by Mr Raison. He adds: “We’ve had a strong run of Christmas shows and rather than pantomines we try to appeal to the whole family, we’re very keen to tell stories and we see the Christmas shows as being part and parcel of what we do throughout the year.

“It’s about creating a sense of magic,” Raison continues. “This year with Cinderella we have a live band, new script, dancing, and a newly composed soundtrack.”

With continued popularity and high quality performances, it appear the Citizens Theatre still has quite few stories still to tell.

By Arthur Miller

By arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited

FAMILY LEGACY TRUTH CHOICE

15 January – 13 February 2010

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DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 35

illustration: jamie Johnson

Theatre

Previews

Bah Humbug!

The State of Holiday Theatre

December is a trying month for anyone who loves theatre as an endurance test, longs for social engagement or simply wants for a quiet auditorium to rub salt into their wounds. With our editor desperately searching for something to moan about – last seen heading to Edinburgh seeking out some Sarah Kane to stave off seasonal jollity – the venues are safe to bring out their big names for the annual pantomime show-down.

Elaine C Smith has decamped to Aberdeen for Cinderella, leaving Glasgow wide open for the traditional King’s team-up of Gerard Kelly and Karen Dunbar in Aladdin. Kelly has been at the Buttons for years now, and works that crowd with sweeties and sing-alongs, while Dunbar can do goodie and baddie with equal aplomb.

It’s a treat to hear the auditorium explode into song and actually see young people enjoying the theatre, as opposed to being dragged along for a school trip. The rival King’s in Edinburgh brings a version of Robinson Crusoe, no doubt with a touch of Johnny Depp’s hip pirate style.

Even The Arches gets in on the act: this year’s Red Riding Hood may not have Al Seed directing, but it does have Random Accomplice’s Julie Brown. Random Accomplice have been bridging the gap between edgy theatre and comedy for a while, and the show does promise “a modern urban twist or two”.

The Tron never takes a straightforward approach to pantomime, and Ya Beauty and the Beast has that distinctive Scottish identity that made last year’s show a scream. And The Pavilion comes into its own – their New Pinnochio will have mischief and the classic asides to adults that makes pantomime a genuine all-ages show.

Come January, the seriousness will be back, and Scotland can be upbraided, challenged and provoked again. In the meantime, there is plenty to actually enjoy. [Margaret Kirk] Little Red Riding Hood: The Arches 2 Dec - 3 Jan, various times and prices Sinbad: The Brunton Theatre 20 Nov - 2 Jan, various times and prices Aladdin: King’s Glasgow 4 Dec - 17 Jan, various times and Prices Robinson Crusoe: King’s Edinburgh 28 Nov - 17 Jan, various times and prices Cinderella: His Majesty’s Aberdeen 28 Nov - 3 Jan, various times and prices Pinnochio: The Pavilion 2 Dec - 30 Jan Ya Beauty and The Beast: Tron

36 THE SKINNY December 2009

28 Nov - 3 Jan, various times and prices

A Christmas Carol – with Extra Sauce

Dundee’s Carol Dundee Rep

The Grassmarket, Glasgow

The Grassmarket, Glasgow

Dundee Rep’s production of A Christmas Carol looks set to be a family treat fitting the yuletide tradition we expect from the annual outing of this classic tale. Directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director James Brining, the award winning ensemble take us on a festive evening of deliverance and jubilation. Playwright Neil Duffield has adapted Dickens’ original, tailoring the language to make his version more accessible for younger children without losing the sense of the original period, while the story and characters stay true to this classic cautionary tale.

The production captures the spooky and mysterious nature of Scrooge’s spiritual visitations with the supernatural alongside the human. Ultimately Brining hopes the play will be both “soulful and moving as well as beautiful and funny.” Incorporating the expected singing and dancing, the show includes both traditional Scottish music and dance, and the carols the season warrants.

Setting the play in a Scottish mill town, Brining chose a local milieu, hoping to “reflect back in cultural terms the place in which the play is being made”, although the moral of course transcends the locale.

The tale may be old but the message is an enduring one: there is a lesson to be learnt through the night time warnings bestowed upon the cheerless Scrooge, as this familiar redemptive soul takes us on a journey which Brining hopes will “help us celebrate the best things about Christmas: togetherness, warmth and joy.” If you’re looking for something to get you in the mood for the season then this timeless tale is it. [Sally Smith]

5 Dec, 8pm ‘til late, £18

until 2 Jan 10, 7.15pm. Prices from £7.50

It’s the time of year where self indulgence and extravagance go out the window in favour of gift-finding and thinking of others. And in the opposite spirit, the production team behind December’s High Tease event urge us to take some time out of gift giving to “see a star studded cast play an uproarious send up of A Christmas Carol” High Tease’s A Christmas Carol Cabaret ~ Dickens With A Saucy All-Over Twist combined with the Vegas nightclub and showgirls promises “a special theatrical twist”; with a spectacular cast of over 50 members including the incomparable Des O’Connor as Ebenezer Scrooge himself and Miss Alternative World: Fancy Chance. Providing an alternative backdrop to the evening, and bringing to life the cheeky lyrics and musical mastery of O’Connor are the Edinburgh Gay Men’s Chorus.

Speaking to Brian Taylor from the EGMC, he foretells of some “Christmas camp with a medley of carols. We tend not to do Christmas songs at our winter concert, so this is something a bit different for us. It’s also the first time we’ve been involved in a High Tease event.”

The 40-strong group have cut their numbers for the evening’s performance, yet their appearance within the show hints at a lavish performance where attention to detail is key. The High Tease events run by Blond Ambition are fast making a name for themselves, and what better time to get some Christmas spirit? [Clare Sinclair]

The Corstorphine Road Nativity Edinburgh Festival Theatre

This Christmas, the little star of Bethlehem will hover above the Edinburgh Festival Theatre as their comedy The Corstorphine Road Nativity is quietly born.

Based on a school nativity, Tim Firth’s show was first aired on television in 1999 and then adapted for the stage; this production has been created exclusively for EFT. Set in the fictional “Corstorphine Road” Primary School, it blends local humour with just the right amount of mayhem, jealousy and mishaps as adult actors play their P3 selves.

Edinburgh born Steven McNicoll will be playing both the Star and the Ass while Sara Crowe (Four Weddings & A Funeral) will be playing the Angel Gabriel “but is obsessed with playing the Virgin Mary”. This tension is sure to give rise to plenty of laughs as Crowe looks

forward to playing a child and “being able to express exactly what you’re feeling, with no adult editing”.

Described as “a good night out for all the family” and one that will “remind you of a time in your life when things were much simpler”, The Corstorphine Road Nativity is just the antidote to the recession blues.

For those children getting ready for their stage debut in front of their parents, Steven McNicoll has the just the right advice: “Know the jokes and don’t bump into the furniture, blow your nose and check your flies”. It’s likely this advice won’t halt the ensuing mayhem, but it may make the show more enjoyable. [Susannah Redford] 3 – 19 Dec (not Sundays) 7.30pm 10, 12, 17 and 19 Dec, 2.30pm, (£9.50 - £24),

EDDIE IZZARD: STRIPPED

T H E

SECC

rrrr EDDIE Izzard has entered the 21st century. As we walk into the stadium at the SECC, giant screens feed live Twitter messages to the crowd, who are mostly posting up their favourite classic lines. Within seconds of coming on stage, he is Wikipedia-ing eggnog from his iPhone, leading into some of the strongest material of the show, about internet updates and iTunes.

To say the audience loves him would be an understatement beyond measure. It’s a bizarre role reversal from the usual attention-craving stand-up, as the 8,000 strong audience hang on Izzard’s every word. When he remarks on applause coming only from one side of the audience, the other side claps twice as hard. This must be a bizarre experience and it’s little wonder that it gives him a tendency to self-refer, as the laughter of recognition resounds around the stadium. He really doesn’t need to resort to this, though. Adoring and unconditional support like this should give him the freedom to experiment.

Recurring characters and themes are all very well (Steve, Jeff and Noah’s Ark all make reappearances to new and great effect) but other elements are appreciated only because they are so familiar. Overall this gives the show a feel to match the music as we walked in – classic rock and The Beatles – warm, comfortable, and very good, but not boundary pushing or genre-shaping now. Perhaps that’s the effect of spending half his year in America, where the new, more political, elements that enter his show are

risky and do stand out: the show has an overarching atheist theme, setting out to prove the non-existence of God. Controversial in the US, maybe, where he has lately been gigging, but in Britain it’s not really testing the limits.

It’s easy to criticise your heroes, though, and it has to be said that essentially, Izzard is still brilliant and still a leader in the field of surrealist but friendly comedy. He still has material that repeats on you for days and yet is mysteriously unquotable; it’s not what he says, it’s how he says it. Armed with a brand new cheeky grin to go with an overall older, more mature feel about him, he retains a brilliant clown-like physicality and can attract complete buy-in merely from impersonating a coughing giraffe.

He is obviously having as wonderful a time as we are and despite the massive crowd, the gig feels intimate, like he really is doing a special and unique show just for us.

Personally, I found the atheist theme confusing as I have had the solid conviction since I was a child that Eddie Izzard is God. Tonight he proved not his nonexistence, but perhaps his fallibility; showing that he is after all – 43-marathon runner and international acting, producing and comedy superstar aside – still human.

But humans, as he himself decrees in tonight’s show, are pretty damned amazing.

[Lizzie Cass-Maran]

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COMEDY CLUB The Skinny is growing,and we are looking for the right people to help support it. We will have two interesting posts opening in early 2010, and would encourage any keen beans with any events or general media experience to contact us over the festive period on jobs@theskinny.co.uk.

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COMEDY IN 2009

THE ISSUES THAT DOMINATED THE COMEDY AGENDA IN THE PAST YEAR

March: The biggest Glasgow International Comedy Festival yet, with 75,000 tickets sold for 347 shows in 51 venues across the city… May: The Glasgow Subway Festival hosting stand-up on the underground trains on a Saturday afternoon… June: Kevin Bridges supporting Michael McIntyre, selling out a full run and extra dates at the Fringe, and rising to new stratospheric levels… July: BBC Radio Scotland’s Funny Friends…August: More free shows than ever at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival… October: Jongleurs operators Regent Inns going into administration and closing five clubs. The brand may be known more for its corporate style than its nurturing of talent, but it has undeniably effected work prospects for a lot of acts…November: Website Sickipedia violating comics’ intellectual property by stealing jokes from comedians’ websites. When the acts in question complained, the site retaliated by encouraging the public to spam the acts with abuse. Classy… Burning topic: Offensive comedy – Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe clashing with the Stirling University LGBT Society; Frankie Boyle having his wrists slapped for his comments about Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington; Guardian journalist Brian Logan causing a storm in a ‘wilful misinterpretation’ of Richard Herring’s Hitler Moustache – the rights and wrongs of this one are set to dominate the comedy agenda for some while yet. [Lizzie Cass-Maran]

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WITH THANKS TO SIÂN BEVAN, DEE CUSTANCE, JOHN GAVIN AND TEDDY.

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 37

COMEDY

WANNA BE IN

REVIEW

Art

Inspiring Change A new project sends artists into prisons to teach inmates how to paint. The dailies have been up in arms at the plans, so we thought we'd see if there was any more to the story.

A wall by Macism, Soulrelics and Estum

Text Adeline Amar “Is graffiti art?” – an age-old debate that would take hours to properly address. However over the last decade, graffiti art (or street art) seems to have been received more positively by both galleries and the general public. In the UK, Tate Modern hopped on the graffiti train last year by staging a Street Art show in which six internationally acclaimed artists like Blu, JR and Sixeart were commissioned to write on the building’s famous river façade.

The Scottish scene isn’t lacking flourishing talents or innovative projects either: Kelburn Castle’s façade was (in)famously decorated in 2007 by Nina, Nunca and Os Gêmeos, and last October the collective Agents of Change (including Scottish sensation Derm) took over the ghost town Polphaill to positive public response. This summer, Rough Cut Nation at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery was praised by critics and enthused visitors of all ages and social backgrounds.

With this in mind, one would have expected a less stereotypical response to the Scottish Arts Council’s recent announcement they were putting £300,000 towards the Inspiring Change project to offer music, drama and the visual arts to Scottish inmates. Aiming at improving their literacy skills, encouraging them to gain qualification and raising their selfesteem, the project also proposes introducing graffiti workshops into prisons such as HMYOI Polmont.

Various reporters feasted on Labour’s Duncan McNeil’s scream of “state-sponsored vandalism”,

while the Scotsman even compared the workshops to “teaching calligraphy to would-be-forgers”.

It is not the first time Polmont has taken on programmes to help young offenders. A few years ago and despite an initial icy reception, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s New Start project successfully showed helping young people boost their self confidence and supporting them in learning new skills, were key steps to reducing (re-)offending and the use of drugs and alcohol. Inspiring Change’s ultimate touring exhibition of all the work produced by the participants is similarly working towards providing them with a sense of achievement.

I talked to Fraser Gray – one of the artists involved in Rough Cut Nation (and our June 08 Showcase, you faithful Skinny reader) who teaches graffiti workshops at Dundee’s Factory Skatepark, and working for Fife Council as part of the Youth Achievement Awards for young people who have left school. According to Gray it is a fantastic way to engage with them creatively; the workshops are always fully booked and the participants enthused.

“The young people involved can often be very difficult to engage with, and it helps to work on their level with their interests. A lot of theonesthat sign up confess themselves to hating drawing, painting and art in general. Simply by swapping the brush for a can of spray paint we can teach people all the same thought processes of more traditional painting (colour, composition, scale, etc.).

This is not vandalism that is being taught. It’s a grounding in the processes and techniques required

Rosamund West

Art rant This month’s lead feature investigates a programme where art is used as a means to effect social change. It’s not an exhibition, and I don’t know that there will ever be anything tangible that people can go and see. Devoting space to it may seem a little incongruous in a listings magazine. The reason I feel it’s important to publish is that the scheme has already been heavily reported, in both the hysterical tabloids and newspapers who should know better; in articles that have been barely researched, voicing opinions seemingly decided

upon in order to cause the greatest reaction in the readership. Our writer actually took the time to do some investigation and came up with what we hope is a more balanced view.

December being traditionally the time to present the experience of a year in list form, my highlights of 2009 were: The Glasgow Gallery Weekend, particularly the Jamie Radcliffe exhibition which I like even more now that I’ve found out it came from actual real-life stalking.

The Venice Biennale was both terrifying and dazzling, bringing me face

38 THE SKINNY December 2009

to face with the international art world and leaving me quite scared.

The PLACE project's collaboration between Rachel MacLean and Simon Gowing in the Collective’s guest room was small but perfectly formed. Trongate 103 made me want to move back to Glasgow, until I remembered the incessant rain.

It is a short sample, that goes very little way towards covering everything that was great this year.

However my word count is limited, and my heart isn’t really in the whole list thing. Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year.

to paint in spray paint.” Even the councils often commission artists to create graffiti murals for community centres, which almost always involve youth participations.

And with the eminence of the Scottish graffiti scene, the budding artists have many recognized and successful role models to look up to (Elph, Smug, Lyken or Soulrelics amongst many others) who distinguish themselves from the usual graffiti artist stereotype. Crucially, the sites they choose aren’t those of the typical vandal. They’re not painting on someone’s house, or defacing some

ancient monument. It’s places that are already in disrepair, abandoned, almost literally falling down.

Ironically, the programme’s scandal is, in part, key to its success. As Gray points out, “if [street art] became a more socially acceptable art form (which it increasingly is) then the young people probably wouldn’t sign up to these workshops in the numbers they do now, and would have even fewer opportunities for creative output.” Should we wish graffiti art a wider recognition then? Another question to add to the debate list.

review Lara Favaretto Tramway, glasgow, 12pm 1-13 dec (Not 7th). Free

rrr As anyone who had the misfortune of watching Final Destination 3D will tell you, the Car Wash can be a pretty treacherous place. I’m reminded of this upon setting foot in the cavernous white space wherein Lara Favaretto’s kinetic sculptures – large, rotating multicoloured brushes – are exhibited in Tramway 2.

Entering the space, rain-drenched on a Glasgowweathered Wednesday, these whirring, water-affiliated monsters seem to eye me ironically from their various posts encircling the walls. But blasted by gusts of air generated by their alternately spinning motion, I am dried almost instantaneously.

Favaretto’s works will prove a welcome hairdryer to all citizens braving the winter weather to see this show. A sign dictates that ‘Children Must be Accompanied by Adults’ and I myself

experience an almost irrepressible urge to run into the spinning vortex where the fringes of the closely coupled turning brushes create a wavy, mesmerising seam. Vast in scale, their power and force of movement is extremely compelling. The longer fronds’ rotation resembles the undulating motion of a spinning pottery wheel, while a fulsome baby pink number at the back bears a striking resemblance to grossly oversized carnival candy floss. Their brightness too, colours lime green, orange and purple, seem to invite a childish exuberance in their very presence.

The artist’s contradictory fusion of frivolity and threat is expertly embodied by these busily revolving pieces and continued in her floor works; large cubes immersed in black confetti. Static, some brushes suggest Addams Family lineage, assuming the appearance of that featureless, hair enshrouded creature “Thing”, whom Favaretto, we can surmise, intended to playfully reference in naming piece no. 5 thus. [Amy Birchard]

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www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk GFF2010: Whispers from the Rumour Mill Text Gail Tolley Rumours and whisperings are beginning to reach us about some of the plans for GFF 2010 and being the caring-sharing types we wanted to let you know what’s being lined up for next year’s event.

The music and film strand looks to be expanded, building on last year’s popularity, with a return of Shhh! – a cabaret night that sees local bands performing to film clips of their choice.

We’re also hearing murmurs about renowned DJs and local and international acts performing against fantastical backdrops in off-beat locations.

One act that’s been confirmed is cult experimental group Goblin who’ll be flying in from Italy to play the O2 ABC on 19 Feb at 7pm. Horror fans will recognise their music from the soundtracks of films by celebrated director Dario Argento. Tickets are on sale now. And in the same genre, fans of all things gory will be pleased to hear that FrightFest is back – look out for more programme details in the coming weeks.

The retrospective this year will be Cary Grant.

He may be from decades past but his classic appeal makes him an indisputable contemporary style icon.

GQ fans will know this all too well, as he’s been held up as one of the most stylish men of the last 50 years by the mag. We’re going to be holding out for

Goblin

his performance in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, which incidentally also shows the dapper actor in what GQ have called film history’s best suit.

On the style theme the success of last year’s Valentino fashion event (combined with a growing demand from well-heeled Glaswegians) means that the festival will be ramping up its film and fashion strand. Look out for events that explore costume design, haute couture and the allure of beautiful garments with special guests from the world of fashion and film… if we tell you any more it won’t be a surprise!

And finally we can announce that the country focus will be Japan. From Ozu to Oshima to

Kurosawa, Japan has given the world some of the most influential directors in cinema’s history. This strand will give audiences the opportunity to see some of the best offerings from contemporary Japanese cinema.

So there you have it, a few details to tickle your tastebuds. We hope you’re getting just a little bit excited about next February’s event; we certainly are.

Saver Passes now on sale: 5 film pass - £25 10 film pass - £45 20 film pass - £80 Sign up for updates and buy tickets now at www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk

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December 2009

THE SKINNY 39

MUSIC

Going Swimmingly It would be fair to say that this time last year The Phantom Band were as elusive as their name suggests. Twelve months later, the band are enjoying deluxe Swiss hospitality, can count Peter Buck as a fan and are already knuckling down to their second LP. Interview Darren Carle ALTHOUGH their debut album Checkmate Savage was in the can and awaiting release, a slew of everchanging names had helped keep the Phantom Band under all but the most diligent of radars. The album, released in January this year, blew all that out of the water, enough at least for the rag you hold in your hands to give the Glaswegian sextet front page billing in February.

Further ‘press hype’, adulation and European tours followed, along with oddities such as a recent appearance at the Scottish Style Awards. Worried that ‘fame’ had gone straight to The Phantom’s collective head, we spoke with Gerry Hart, Duncan Marquiss and Andy Wake on their tour bus to quiz them on their cat-walk japes.

“Obviously we’d been invited as stylish men,” begins bassist Gerry. “It was quite an interesting set up. We were standing backstage and there were all these models popping up all over the place, semi-dressed.

Aye, so it was a good experience!” As to what led them to this opportunity, Gerry seems endearingly oblivious. However, this dalliance with ‘fame’ appears to be a solitary affair. “We’ve not been asked to launch any cars or electronic products,” he laughs. “That’ll maybe come in the future. It’s amazing the people who make their money like that though. That awful guy Johnny Borrell, he got like £100,000 to launch an iPhone or something and he didn’t even invite the rest of his band – he just went along himself to play solo so he could pocket all the money. What a miserable shite!”

Thankfully the Phantoms have spent the year avoiding such pratfalls. When asked to recap on their highlights of 2009, the conversation invariably leads to tales of local culinary delights and opportune moments of al fresco swimming around Europe rather than any industry hob-nobbing. “The woman who was putting on one of our Switzerland gigs owned this ice cream shop and it was all made from fresh unpasteurised milk straight from the cows, so we just ate ice cream all day then went swimming in the Rhine,” reminisces keyboardist Andy Wake. “She heard some of the band members were big Celtic fans and when we got out of the river at the other end she was waiting with Celtic Football Club towels. That’s a little bit of hospitality that you just don’t get in the UK.” Guitarist Duncan Marquiss attests to the extra attention they’ve received this year. “It’s nice for anyone just to notice that we’re even around,” he admits.

“When we recorded Checkmate Savage we thought, ‘well, it’s not bad’, but we didn’t have any expectations

of anyone else liking it or it being reviewed even. In terms of pressure, that only comes from ourselves and the pressure to do as much with the band as we can. Time and money constraints are a challenge.

We’re probably a lot more tired than we were last year.”

Andy agrees with this summation of their slow-burning ascent and highlights the benefits it has brought the band. “The venues we’re playing are getting slightly bigger,” he says, “but it’s not been an overnight thing like you hear with some bands due to their music being based on something that’s very current. We try to make forward-thinking music that’s not routed in any kind of style that’s synonymous with ‘right now’. Hopefully that means we’ll last a bit longer than these bands who become an overnight,

Dave Kerr

PATTERN AGAINST USER TO think it was this time ten years ago that the world was on its knees to a Prince classic as it warily staggered towards alleged global computer combustion, or tobogganed naked down K2 with a bottle of Jack strapped to its face, or – in this sorry case – mopped up Guinness from a bass amp with the inlay of Duran Duran’s Greatest Hits. But music lovers survived the great nu-metal apocalypse of ’99, and a bunch of trendy lads from New York met us on

the other side with a debut that sounded like Stooges-lite and an appropriate question: Is This It? Shorn of the angst, the reverb and the overblown production that had given everything post-Nirvana a bad name, The Strokes did a good job of winding the clock back on rock’n’roll, for sure.

But I’d say modern guitar music’s most energised postmillennial renewal arrived a little later that year when At the Drive-In kicked a hole in

40 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

the speakers with Relationship of Command.

Raw, gutsy, irony-free punk-rock – right down to the Iggy cameo – was rapping at the door once again, and the world seemed a better place for a precious few months until the band collapsed under the accumulating weight of its name. If you want to talk about albums of the decade, there’s one to set the room on fire. Don't know if Gran will dig it at Christmas table, though.

flavour-of-the-month.”

With Checkmate Savage almost two years old to the band, that forward-thinking is now being put to good use on their follow-up album, tentatively pencilled in for a March 2010 release. However, at the moment it remains entirely in demo form and Gerry concedes that the band may need someone to lay down a few deadlines. “I actually want the label to put a bit of pressure on us, to say you need to have this in by a certain time,” he states. “I think we’d work well under a bit of pressure, just to get our heads down and go for it.” Duncan attempts to sum up what their rough sketches are so far approximating. “On the one hand, the material seems more kind of ‘poppy’ but then it also seems a lot weirder,” he contemplates. “That would be an interesting thing – if we could go in both directions

at once.”

Gerry, however, baulks at the prospect of limiting their palette to one slogan to their music. “It’s not as if we approach it like ‘right, what style can we do now?’” he states. “Although, we were listening to a bit of techno the other night and started discussing whether we should do a full-on techno song at some point.

But we don’t say ‘let’s try and write a genre-hopping, twelve-minute odyssey’. They just usually come out that way – for better or worse.”

For better, we say. Definitely for the better.

SUPPORTING FRIGHTENED RABBIT AT FAT SAM’S, DUNDEE 2 DEC AND PLAYING THE ARCHES, GLASGOW ON 12 DEC. WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEPHANTOMBANDPAGE

A Muso's Top 10

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE WITH two UK tours already under their belt this year, Animal Collective might not come back to these shores for a while. Just as well then that we took the chance to catch up with Geologist after their Glasgow School Of Art gig this year. He told us what all three current band members were bumping on the bus:

1. Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill 2. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War) 3. Portishead - Third 4. Zomby - Where Were U in ‘92?

5. Neil Young - Live at Sugar Mountain 6. Los Holy’s - Sueno Sicodelico 7. Almendra - Almendra 8. Black Dice - Repo 9. Eric Copeland - Alien in a Garbage Dump EP 10. Atlas Sound - Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel NEW EP FALL BE KIND IS RELEASED VIA DOMINO ON 15 DEC. WWW.ANIMALCOLLECTIVE.ORG

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Welcome to The Skinny's

Hogmanay Special There seem to me to be two types of Hogmanay revellers: those who are constantly trying to better the previous year’s shenanigans by planning the most debauched night possible, and those deliberately seeking a low-key affair in order to escape the pressure to have ‘the best night of the year’. Both groups should be pleased that this year’s Edinburgh Hogmanay events are spread over 5 days; you can either pack in as much as possible or choose the odd special event so the whole period is a more laid-back affair.

There’s no need for me to go into details about what will be taking place here (you can just read ahead for that) but it’s worth flagging up that one of the themes of this year is fire and light. With winter traditions across Scotland involving elaborate fire displays (the capital’s torchlight procession being one) it seems fitting that this year French street theatre Carabosse will be coming to Edinburgh for the first time to create a remarkable display using their giant fire structures. I can imagine that, combined with the gothic setting of the Royal Mile, this is going to be a spectacular sight. And what’s more, it’s free! Just think of The Wickerman but without the fear factor.

So, whether you choose to indulge your pyromaniac tendencies and see the Carabosse display, join the torchlight procession and delight in the midnight fireworks, or even if you just end up sitting at home with a damp sparkler, be sure to have a brilliant Hogmanay.

-Gail Tolley, Hogmanay Editor

One to Tell the Grandchildren

Hogmanay celebrations can give rise to some of the most memorable and unexpected happenings.

For years we had a Hogmanay routine (a privilege when one of your friends’ Dads owns a great Edinburgh pub). A huge gang of us - mostly old school friends, but also with an assortment of various visiting friends and friends of friends in tow - would hit the street party. The bells would strike. You'd kiss more people than you could count (on the cheek, mostly). You'd watch the fireworks and say all sorts of affectionate things to each other that were both entirely true and entirely unrealistic (you can't maintain the amount of love for the world you have in those post-midnight minutes forever, though you'll think you can; nothing like a celebration to show reality splitting gloriously). Then we'd all head to the pub, where there'd be karaoke, free drink and food (though you'd still end up spending loads), and even more old faces than you set out with in the first place. Everyone would sing.

Sweet Caroline. Hungry Heart. The whole thing took on a quality that was simultaneously entirely particular to that place and exactly like a movie version of a great New Year party. Over Hogmanay Edinburgh is full of these little joy singularities: here's hoping you find some this year! [RJ Thomson]

We drove over from Glasgow in the cold, wet early evening dark. Having worked during Christmas, I’d missed my family celebrations and the seasonal weather felt less romantic than miserable. Grumpy, poor and single, I looked into rooms decorated with cheery lights and felt like a Dickensian orphan. We had heard that there was a market in the Royal Mile, live acts, shop-fronts turned into theatres. Doubtful, I arranged a lift, anything to escape the West Coast. We parked by the Traverse, and stomped our way up the hill.

The Royal Mile was packed: families, students, fresh couples arm-in-arm taking the night air. I handed over my vouchers to the first stall. They gave me a pair of rose-tinted spectacles. The assistant whispered to me of my future happiness. I smiled. The second stall awarded me an Elixir of Life: the label read “SOLVES ALL PROBLEMS.” I laughed. I wrote down my worries and a flamenco dancer stamped on them in a passionate display. I looked above me. A huge cube hung in the air, shadow puppets playing out a joyous myth and aerialists dangling from the sky. The crowd roared and shouted, the story came to a happy finale. Even the rain didn’t drive us away. Comfortable and warm on the ride back to Glasgow, I understood why they called it The Market of Optimism. [Gareth K Vile]

Kasabian’s headlining performance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay '08 is one of those shows about which everyone now claims ‘I was there!’. The band had recently won a best band in Britain award ['NME Best Live Band 2007’ – ed.], and were playing a storming set. Only fifteen minutes remained until the start of 2008 and the crowd were seeing out the year with true rock and roll abandon… And then it happened: Tom Meighan had hinted at a surprise guest earlier that day, but no-one in the crowd knew what was going to happen. When Noel Gallagher took to the stage to welcome 2008 with his favourite new band and 9000 adoring indie disciples, we all knew we were part of something special and that nothing that happened over the next 12 months could spoil it. [Malcolm Gorrie]

42 THE SKINNY EDINBURGH'S hogmanay special December 2009

Promotion

Looking sideways at Off Kilter Off Kilter is a Hogmanay celebration of contemporary dance that takes an alternative look at Scottish identity.

Text Gareth K Vile Morag Deyes MBE, Artistic Director of Dance Base, is one of the most restless agitators in the Scottish arts. Not content with an award winning programme of choreographers during the Fringe, she has lovingly curated Off Kilter, a Hogmanay celebration of short performances that provides a snapshot of contemporary dance and takes a typically sideways look at Scottish identity. With big names like Mark Morris working alongside local heroes like Tony Mills and Errol White, it sums up the state of the dancing nation in a series of pieces both serious and witty.

Kicking off with Deyes’ own subversion of traditional Highland dance, and taking in new work from Ashley Page, Scottish Ballet’s artistic director and Scottish Dance Theatre’s Janet Smith, Off Kilter is a collection of ten short works. Even if this is a roll call of Scotland’s brightest, the themes covered make this far more than an exercise in balletomania: everything from aerial to football is considered.

Gemmill’s Goal, by Y-Dance main-man Andy Howitt, is something of a classic. Recreating the legendary goal in the 1978 World Cup against Holland - as seen in Trainspotting – Howitt has reworked the original solo for all four of the male Off Kilter company. By using Archie Gemmill’s skills as the basis for the choreography, Howitt took dance outside its usual influences, emphasising masculine power and elegance. Both a tribute to a national hero and a witty comment on the stereotypes of dancers and sportsmen, this new version takes the original concept into new territory.

On another extreme, Ashley Page was inspired by his children’s enthusiasm for Ivor Cutler. This new piece uses Cutler’s Ludo album as a template for the choreography and showcases a very different Scottish icon. Cutler was soft-spoken, drily witty and poetic, transforming dour 'Scotch Sitting Rooms' into magical places of discovery and sardonic surrealism. Produced by George Martin of Beatles fame, Ludo is a rare Cutler album, marrying his usual bizarre lyricism with traditional jazz boogie.

Elsewhere, Ihayami reveal Scotland’s multiculturalism through classical Indian dance set to

traditional Scottish music, and Errol White teams with Jen Patterson to create a combined aerial and grounded trio; old fashioned tartan kitsch is fondly remembered in Steinvor Palsson’s Scots Wi Hay. Hip-hop crew Freshmess have invited Frank McConnell to fuse street moves and Highland styles, while the finale brings together the whole company for a contemporary dance anthem under the influence of DJ Dolphin Boy’s mixing.

Mark Morris is the one choreographer who is not currently working within Scotland: he is one of America’s most popular contemporary artists. Using Beethoven’s settings of Burns’ poetry, his presence not only testifies to Dance Base’s international status, but it affirms Morris’ love of Caledonian style.

Hip-hop crew Freshmess have invited Frank McConnell to fuse street moves and highland styles “Off Kilter is a riotous assembly of the great talent inspired by, and living in Scotland,” explains Deyes.

“This great show reflects the energy and originality in music and dance which is experiencing a genuine renaissance right now.” Since the finale includes community performers alongside the ensemble cast, Off Kilter never forgets that dance isn’t just about professionalism: it is fun for all.

29 Dec – 2 Jan, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, £14.50 - £25.00 (+ booking fee).

One of the people in the picture isn't a professional dancer.

The Street Party Survival Guide If you’re up for some good old-fashioned fun The Street Party is the ultimate way to celebrate Hogmanay, just make sure you read our survival guide to ensure it’s all cheers and no tears.

Text Gail Tolley We’re not your parents so we’ll skim over all that obvious stuff about not carrying glass (they won’t let you in) or being too wasted (they also won’t let you in) or wearing next to nothing (they’ll let you in, you just might die of hypothermia) and instead skip straight to the more valuable information we have gleaned from the wise folk who write for this fair publication.

Remember that there are three stages to choose from, each with their own atmosphere. If you fancy rocking the bells with the rabble-rousing anthems of The Enemy, don’t end up at the Party Stage, where the kitsch hip-hop fun of the Cuban Brothers takes control. Pick your stage, and get there early. Even if the entire street will be a celebration, choosing the right vibe is vital.

everyone know about your pitch-perfect singing abilities. One of our section editors’ ex-boyfriends did this, and well, yes, that prefix was added soon after.

Finally, be ready for the fireworks. Edinburgh is the perfect city for urban fireworks: from Princes Street, you’ll catch the castle lighting up, and the explosions casting glorious colour over the Gardens. Don’t be tempted to leave after your favourite band has been spirited away: it’s the oohs and ahhs of the crowd when the rockets hit the sky that makes this more than an outdoor festival with a sparkling line up. It’s the perfect moment to turn that post-bells kiss into a romantic moment.

It’s customary (as in most countries) to move in for that New Year’s kiss post countdown.

Lecherous types may take advantage of this. If you’re single and don’t have an obvious choice of whom to share this moment with, be very careful who you stand next to as it nears to midnight.

If the thought of having physical contact with strangers (or even friends) fills you with fear, adopt the head down, arms folded stance which should give the appropriate message to those in the vicinity (at least one of our team can vouch for this) [though do still smile at folks - ed.].

Don’t worry about not knowing all the words to Auld Lang Syne, no-one does and they project it on to the big screens anyway which means everyone can sing along in a karaoke style. If you’ve been a member of a local choir since you were 6 this is perhaps not the opportunity to loudly let

Tickets for The Street Party cost £10 and can be purchased from www. edinburghshogmanay.com

December 2009

THE SKINNY EDINBURGH'S hogmanay special 43

31 Dec Princes Street Gardens Tickets £37.50 + bf Madness, the Noisettes and Codeine Velvet Club will be pleasing several generations all at once at the Concert in the Gardens.

Get your baggy trousers on and welcome yourself to the house of fun…yeah, we’ll stop there. Your ticket also gets you access to the Street Party and a prime spot from where to view the midnight fireworks.

Sometimes it’s good to build up to something. Head down to HMV Picturehouse on the 30 December for The Night Afore Party where Calvin Harris will be on the decks. The boy from Dumfries will be spinning his particular brand of electro disco to get the kids dancing - perfect for New Year revellers with stamina.

THE STR EET PA R

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44 THE SKINNY HOGMANAY SPECIAL DECEMBER 2009

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IN THE GAR D E NS

HMV Picturehouse, Tickets £12.50 + bf

Here at The Skinny we’d like to offer you a helping hand in planning your perfect Hogmanay in Edinburgh. Like a superior matchmaking service we want to suggest a Hogmanay experience that you’ll really hit it off with. Whether you want to party hard or immerse yourself in something a little more cultured, you just need to follow our guiding light to find it. And let’s face it, you’ve probably got a greater chance of lip action here than on a real date.

TER L I -K FF

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30 Dec

Good Times At a Glance

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– CALVIN HAR Y RIS RT A DJ P E

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PROMOTION

31 Dec Princes Street Tickets £10 Live music, lasers, fireworks, whisky and the willingness of complete strangers to get up close and personal to stave of the cold, have always made for an unbeatable mix - it’s the reason Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party is the most famous New Year event in the world. This year The Enemy, Frightened Rabbit and We Were Promised Jetpacks will be in attendance. Just make sure you’re careful who you’re standing close to at countdown.

PROMOTION 30 Dec & 1 Jan The Royal Mile Free Event

Main Picture:

A first for Edinburgh, Carabosse will be filling the Royal Mile with giant flame-lit installations to create a spectacular fire display. The street theatre company have toured the world lighting up cities. Among Edinburgh’s Gothic streets this will undoubtedly be a memorable and atmospheric sight.

Just don’t try and light your fag on one.

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION

29 Dec Starts at Parliament Sq Free event

FIR HT IG EL

CARABO WITH S S E

29 Dec – 2 Jan Festival Theatre Tickets £15-£25 + bf

31 Dec Mound Precinct Tickets £30 + bf Try not to worry about getting your toes trodden on and instead throw yourself into the spirit of a traditional Scottish ceilidh. Expect the best live bands and a dancefloor in the most perfect of locations – right beneath the Old Town skyline. All that jigging will also keep your mind off the cold (and your squashed toes).

H EILID K E TH

A unique performance that combines an eclectic array of dance styles (hip-hop, ballet, traditional Highland and Indian classical to name a few) with a soundtrack recorded and sampled live on stage. Expect everything from Franz Ferdinand to Beethoven to accompany the energised moves. This is a feisty celebration of dance in Scotland that will leave you feeling inspired (and more than a little impressed).

Not just for pagans and pyromaniacs (although they might be around too), the torchlight procession attracts thousands of people looking to admire the sight of a wintery Edinburgh illuminated by numerous flame-lit torches. If you want to be a part of the procession get yourself a torch for a mere £6 (£5 prior to the event) and make your way to Parliament Square. There’ll also be a fantastic sound and light display to finish the event on Calton Hill.

LIGHT NIG HT

30 Dec The Royal Mile various prices Take advantage of The Royal Mile’s historic attractions - open for one evening only. Get spooked descending into Edinburgh’s forgotten underground streets at Mary King’s Close (right) and then recover with a tipple at the Scotch Whisky Experience.

All against a luminous backdrop of fire structures set up by the Carabosse street theatre company.

DECEMBER 2009

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History and debate abound at this speaker event addressing what the Reformation means now and what it meant in the past. Author Harry Reid, former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway and Catherine Lockerbie in the chair will get your brain cells working at the start of 2010 (which incidentally is the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland).

ON

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DAY CONVERSA S ’ TIO AR E N Y

1 Jan, 3.30pm Signet Library Tickets £10

THE SKINNY HOGMANAY SPECIAL 45

Promotion

2010: Year of the Rabbit?

As they prepare to unleash album number three, The Skinny speaks to Frightened Rabbit to find out what 2010 holds for them.

Hogmanay Music Guide What are you doing for Hogmanay?

As if your liver won’t come under enough strain, having spent Christmas Week pickled in mulled wine and Bier D’Or, the organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations have decided to extend the festivities. New Year will now be rung in for a full five nights, from 29 December to 2 January. The entertainment is designed to offer something for everyone, so naturally, some of it won’t be to your liking. But those willing to lay down their turkey drumsticks and jingle bells may find themselves rewarded with some decent live music. You just have to know where to find it.

The Noisettes

Interview Finbarr Bermingham Photo Danny North Scott Hutchison is in Bath. Today should have been his day off. But instead, Frightened Rabbit’s lead singer and songwriter has found himself cooped up in a Somerset studio by day and answering his phone to journalists by night. The neverending spiral of production and promotion has laid claim to the spirits of many musicians. Hutchison, though, is more philosophical than most.

“There are days when it’s awful,” he tells me as he checks into his hotel room. “But you have to catch yourself and transfer your body into an office, wearing a suit. Then you think: ‘Fuck it, I’m alright.’ Even on the worst days of touring, to me it’s preferable to any other job, so I’m not going to complain at all.”

Frightened Rabbit have been recording the B-sides for their forthcoming single, Swim Until You Can’t See Land. It precedes the March 2010 release of album number three, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, which Hutchison says is “more of a storytelling record” than anything they’ve put out before. It will be speckled with autobiographical musings, but nothing to match the heart-on-sleeve opus that was Midnight Organ Fight. “In other words,” he assures us, “I didn’t spend all of winter getting pissed!”

“At its core,” Scott continues, “it’s still full of songs and for me, that’s the point of putting an album together. The way we’ve treated them is sonically quite different. It’s much more layered, but I don’t want to say grand, because the obvious mistake to make is to start going over the top. But I don’t think

we have – in many ways it’s a much more restrained and confident record. I don’t think it’s grasping for your attention as much as the last record and the difference in confidence is probably why.”

The runaway success of Midnight Organ Fight was largely unforeseen and it’s a measure of the band’s progress that The Winter of Mixed Drinks is one of the most anticipated albums of 2010. For many, expectation like that is liable to breed pressure.

For Hutchison, though, it all comes from within. “I just want to better myself,” he says. “When you’re demoing, writing and recording you’re away from outside influence. It’s nice forgetting about the fact that anyone’s going to hear the songs and remembering how to write to please yourself again.”

If the new songs were written to please Hutchison, then surely previous tracks were written to help him. Painfully personal accounts of a failed relationship formed the basis of Midnight Organ Fight and the album charts Scott’s progress as he attempts to get his life back on track. Frequently it’s stirring. Sometimes it’s lewd and at others it’s funny. But the only track his mother struggles to listen to is Floating Down The Forth, during which Hutchinson contemplates suicide.

“I can see why a mum might not want to hear about her son having those thoughts. But she’s extremely supportive of the rest of it. I’m sure I’ve said ‘cunt’ in front of my mum once or twice, so the language isn’t much of an issue.”

The subject of the songs, too, has been for the most part encouraging. “I know the girl in question has heard it,” explains Scott. “She told me that some days she’d enjoy it and others she just couldn’t bear listening to it at all. I understand that, she’s

46 THE SKINNY EDINBURGH'S hogmanay special December 2009

good enough to not complain about it and even though we don’t keep in touch any more, for the small amount of time that we did, she was pretty supportive.”

In less than a month, Frightened Rabbit will play one of their biggest shows to date, when they take to the stage at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party.

New Year has, in the past, brought contrasting fortunes for the Selkirk band. Scott describes last year’s performance in Sydney as “bloody excellent” and one of the highlights of his short career. Its grandiosity is only magnified when it’s considered alongside some of their humbler experiences. Scott takes up the story: “A couple of years before that, we played at Barfly.

It was the year the George Square celebration got cancelled because of the gales and the rain, so it was bad enough trying to even get there. At the time, we were doing all our own driving and I had to wait until we got all the way home to have a drink.

So, that was shit. I think we got paid something like fifty quid for our trouble.”

He admits that sometimes it’s good to reflect on dark nights like those. “We’ve done okay,” is his modest assessment of the subsequent couple of years. The twelve months ahead, though, promise to be some of the busiest of their lives, but Hutchison is anything but daunted. “There are always people to be played to, there’s always a new town to go to so we’re going to treat it like that and tour the arse off it!”

Scott contemplates the rigours ahead, before saying, “It could be worse.”

One wonders whether he’s thinking of that suit? www.frightenedrabbit.com

Kicking off on the 29th Off Kilter will be combing live music and dance in the premiere of “an exhilarating new dance anthem for Scotland” mixed by DJ Dolphin Boy at the Festival Theatre. They promise snippets of Franz Ferdinand, The Rezillos, Calvin Harris and Hugh McDiarmid to accompany this unusual performance.

Calvin Harris plays a DJ set in the HMV Picturehouse on Wednesday 30th, but if you want to save yourself for New Year’s Eve then we suggest getting yourself down to the Vic Galloway-hosted Waverley Stage which is the clear highlight. The organisers have obviously been paying attention to the aural demands of the natives, pulling in Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks and Stanley Odd (some of the best new acts on the Scottish music scene) with Coventry rock band The Enemy at the top of the bill.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Madness and The Noisettes play sets at the Concert in the Gardens, on West Princes Street, and for those prepared to don their dancing shoes, The West End DJ Stage will feature performances from Mylo and sets from Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody and Tom Simpson, and Belle and Sebastian’s Richard Colburn.

All in all, there should be enough to keep everyone entertained. Happy New Year, folks. [Finbarr Bermingham]

Promotion

Find your way around...

YORK PLACE

QUEEN ST HANOVER ST

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Edinburgh Castle Midnight Fireworks Night Afore – Legendary Light

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St Giles’ Cathedral Torchlight Procession Start Firelight with Carabosse Gate of the Year HMV Picture House Night Afore Party Calvin Harris DJ Night EH2010 Official After Show - MYLO Filmhouse Cinema Sing-A-Long-A-Hogmanay

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Waverley Stage M idnight Fireworks Street Party Entrance Street Party Exit Video Screen First Aid

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Calton Hill Torchlight Procession Finish Torchlight – Son et Lumiére Midnight Fireworks Royal Mile Firelight – Carabosse Light Night: Scotch Whisky Experience Light Night: Mary King’s Close Light Night: J ohn Knox House New Year’s Day Conversation – Signet Library Holyrood Palace New Man Walking New Music at the Palace Re:solution Wall

ROYAL MILE

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What's on?

Tuesday 29 December 2009 Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay C arnival Torchlight Procession Torchlight Procession – Son et Lumiére O ff-Kilter – G et Tae D ance (O pening Night)

11am – 11pm 6.30pm start 7.45pm approx.

7.30pm

M arket Street Parliament Sq. The Royal M ile C alton Hill Edinburgh Festival Theatre

11am – 11pm 1.15pm and 6.15pm 7pm – 11pm 6.30pm – 10pm 7pm – 11pm 7.30pm 11pm – 3am

M arket Street Filmhouse C inema, Lothian Road see pages 11 – 15 for all venues Edinburgh C astle Royal M ile Edinburgh Festival Theatre HM V Picture House, Lothian Road

11am – 12.30am 2.30pm 1pm 7.30pm 9pm – 1am 9pm – 1am 9pm – 1am 10pm – 5am M idnight M idnight

M arket Street Edinburgh Festival Theatre Filmhouse C inema, Lothian Road St G iles’ C athedral, Royal M ile Edinburgh C ity C entre West Princes Street G ardens The M ound HM V Picture House, Lothian Road Edinburgh C astle / C alton Hill Edinburgh C ity C entre

11am – 11pm 12noon 1pm – 4.30pm 1pm – 4.30pm 2.30pm 3pm 1pm 3.30pm 4pm – 8pm 4.30pm 5.15pm 6.45pm

M arket Street South Q ueensferry Holyrood Palace Palace of Holyroodhouse Royal M ews Edinburgh Festival Theatre St. G iles’ C athedral, Royal M ile Filmhouse C inema, Lothian Road Signet Library, Parliament Square Royal M ile Holyrood Palace / Royal M ile J ohn Knox House, High Street Filmhouse C inema, Lothian Road

11am – 11pm 1pm and 6.15pm 2.30pm 3.15pm 7.30pm

M arket Street Filmhouse C inema, Lothian Road Edinburgh Festival Theatre Filmhouse C inema, Lothian Road Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Wednesday 30 December 2009 Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay C arnival Film Season - T he Bandwagon Night Afore – Light Night Night Afore – Legendary Light Firelight – C arabosse O ff-Kilter – G et Tae D ance C alvins – C alvin Harris C lub Night

Thursday 31 December 2009 Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay C arnival O ff-Kilter – G et Tae D ance (M atinee) Film Season - Singin’ in the Rain C andlelit C oncert Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay Street Party C oncert in the G ardens featuring M adness T he Keilidh O fficial Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay After Show M idnight Fireworks World’ s Biggest Auld Lang Syne

Friday 1 J anuary 2010

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office On-line: www.edinburghshogmanay.com Call: 0844 894 2010 In Person: Tickets Scotland, 127 Rose Street, Edinburgh Ripping Records, 91 South Bridge, Edinburgh ticketSOUP, SECC, Exhibition Way, Glasgow

Find out more

at www.edinburghshogmanay.com

Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay C arnival The Loony Dook Re:solution Wall New M usic at the Palace O ff-Kilter – G et Tae D ance (M atinee) G ate of the Year Film Season - West Side Story A New Year’ s D ay C onversation Firelight – C arabosse Reprise New M an Walking J ohn Knox Says Hello 2010 Film Season - Singin’ in the Rain

Saturday 2 J anuary Edinburgh’ s Hogmanay C arnival Film Season – D irty D ancing O ff-Kilter – G et Tae D ance (M atinee) Film Season - West Side Story O ff-Kilter – G et Tae D ance (Final Show)

December 2009

THE SKINNY EDINBURGH'S hogmanay special 47

2009 -2010 MMIX -MMX

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party

Stage s

l

e 9pmiv -1am

Thursday 31 December Edinburgh City Centre £10 administration fee per ticket

IVEES L 3 AG ING: SFTEATUR

DJ SET

DJ SET

Plus much more…

Loads of music, the spectacular Midnight Fireworks, lights and lasers, Auld Lang Syne Stag

l ees 9pmiv -1

Concert in the Gardens

am

Thursday 31 December West Princes Street Gardens Enclosure

Tickets £42.50 SOLD OUT / £37.50 + booking fee

+ VERY

SPECIAL GUESTS...

The world famous music and firework spectacular goes One Step Beyond!

Stag l ees 9pmiv -1am

The Keilidh CEILIDHDONIA

Thursday 31 December Mound Precinct Tickets £30 + booking fee

HugH MacDiarMiD’s Haircut

WatergaW

Birl through the bells on the outdoor ceilidh dance floor at Home of Hogmanay

All tickets on-sale now from the Official Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office: On-line:

www.edinburghshogmanay.com Call: 0844 894 2010

In person: Tickets Scotland, 127 Rose Street, Edinburgh / Ripping Records, 91 South Bridge, Edinburgh / ticketSOUP Box Office, SECC, Glasgow

Funded by:

Supported by:

Media Partners:

Created & Produced:

Music

John the Revelator

The Skinny speaks to the man once described as "the biggest threat to our youth since Hitler" to learn that, despite mounting evidence, John Lydon has no intention of mellowing out just yet.

Interview Finbarr Bermingham “The Skinny? Oh God Almighty! You’re nicking London phrases.”

So begins forty-five minutes of impassioned, exhausting and wholly entrancing conversation with John Lydon. The artist formerly known as Rotten is keen to remind that he’s never been afraid to “ruffle a few feathers” and accordingly, the exchange is peppered with quotable soundbites, snippets of advice and well-aimed swipes at everyone from The Smashing Pumpkins to Radiohead (“I feel like I’m banging my head off a fucking brick wall.”), and from the Beckhams to vegans (“I’m sensible enough to realise that I’ve got two different kinds of teeth in my head, and they’re there for a reason.”).

But the man once described as “the biggest threat to our youth since Hitler” has seemed more likely to turn up on Loose Women than to destabilise the regime in latter days. He’s got a Hollywood smile to match his Hollywood home. His infamous stint on I’m A Celebrity… in 2005 was followed by a series of advertisements for Country Butter. But rather than view himself as a fading threat, Lydon considers these projects to be equally as challenging as his work with the Sex Pistols, and every bit as subversive.

“Oh God! I loved their bravery!” he beams about the adverts’ creators. “Butter: how politically incorrect for the lettuce-eaters. But you know, I like a bit of butter on me bread. I was more than pleased. I can see the good rather than the stupid pomposity of negating everything because it doesn’t seem at first to fit in to a lifestyle.”

Lydon’s articulate manner is contrary to his oftprojected image. He speaks with rapid consideration.

His demeanour is more jovial than threatening. And he refuses to shrink away from any of the questions posed. His memories of reality television are less than fond, and his assessment of it is contemplative, but scathing.

Along with his wife Nora, he had been booked to fly on the fateful Pan Am Flight 103 that exploded over Lockerbie in 1988. By virtue of poor timekeeping, they missed it, but the moment has haunted Lydon ever since. An agreement was struck with the producers of the show which would ensure Lydon was informed once Nora’s plane had landed in Australia to greet him on location – an arrangement they reneged on.

“They did some very nasty things to me that I’ll never forget, and I resent them bitterly. That ate at me, because I have to know when Nora arrives anywhere on a plane. Then that bomber (al-Megrahi) being released, really raised an issue in my head. I thought, ‘Where do I stand on this?’ Someone’s dying, and yes, you are sympathetic. But that bugger could’ve killed me and Nora.”

Death and his own mortality are issues that have been playing heavily on Lydon’s mind lately. Last year, his brother was diagnosed with cancer and his father died suddenly after suffering a heart attack. The events have, naturally, had a profound effect.

“Luckily,” he says solemnly, “my brother’s cancer is in remission. But my father died. There’s nothing I can do to change that, but I can’t accept it. It’s almost like a childish reaction. I just do not see why we must cease to exist. I’m not on a great search for heaven or ‘hark the herald angels’: that’s a coward’s way out of understanding what life’s about. Life is here to live to the absolute fullest, until you get the bucket. And self pity and misery, you really should have no time for.

“I’ve seen so many people die futile, pointless, stupid rock deaths inside my own industry. And nobody seems to be telling them that it’s not an alternative.

It’s not groovy and far out. It’s an act of grotesque

foolishness. And ultimately you pay the bitterest prices for your self-indulgence. Death.”

Last year’s tragedies have inspired Lydon to take Public Image Ltd on their first tour in 17 years. He describes PiL as “a mental release, as opposed to The Sex Pistols, which is more of a physical release”, and the desire for such an outpouring not only inspired this tour, but also the band’s formation.

“The song Death Disco kept playing in my mind after the funeral,” explains Lydon. “It’s a song I wrote for my mother when she was dying in the late 1970s.

The whole thing, it had to be resolved in my head and when I started playing the record again, I really got it.

I thought: ‘That’s it... that’s why I wrote that song!’ It’s somehow a cry in the wilderness, but a release from pain. It’s one of the many ways I can describe what PiL is. It’s a release from pain… an escape almost from drug

"PiL is a release from pain… an escape almost from drug hallucinogenic monotone.” hallucinogenic monotone.”

Lydon’s pain of the past year has been accentuated by accusations of racial assault made against him

by Bloc Party singer Kele Okereke. The pair were involved in an altercation in Spain last July, during which Okereke sustained severe facial bruising. Lydon, however, has been taken aback by the allegation, claiming he is fed up with the “disruption and petulant jealousy of other bands”.

“I’ve been going through a lot of pain with my family and I’m reading all this nonsense that I’m a racist. Of all the people in the world! It really, really hurts; particularly for my grandchildren… they’re Jamaican. How do you think they feel about that? I’ve deliberately kept my public image, all my life, limited. And yet this dirty arsed, Hollywood gossip is still trying to stick its claws in me. And I don’t think that’s a paranoid point of view, I think this business of behaving filthy is now pervasive in society.”

Lydon’s anger over the incident is plain, particularly in light of his previously affable nature. But as the conversation draws to a conclusion, his fury subsides, replaced by a gracious farewell and a throaty cackle. He is asked, if there is anything he wouldn’t advertise to raise money for the next PiL reunion.

“Tampax! How on earth would I get away with that?”

Public Image Ltd play the O2 Academy, Glasgow on Friday 18 Dec. www.johnlydon.com

December 2009

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In a year that saw our nation’s politicians stoop to new lows (John Reid, I’m looking at your glittering toilet seat) and the cost of Roland Emmerich’s apocalyptic fantasies soar to $260 million while the global economy threatened to collapse, we salute the people who distracted us with riffs, raps, and songs about sweet domestic bliss...

Words Ally brown & Dave Kerr

10. BUTCHER BOY REACT OR DIE It’s well established by now that Glasgow’s indie-pop credentials are second to none, a view supported by another fabulous album by Camera Obscura this year. But don’t overlook Butcher Boy, whose second album React Or Die is a real treasure, borrowing equally from Belle & Sebastian and Arthur Lee’s Love in the sculpture of ten heartbreakingly pretty songs. “My initial direction was that we should aim for something folky, in the sense of it being old and unsettling”, singer/songwriter John Blaine Hunt told us. “And even if it was unsettling, it must still be beautiful.” It definitely is.

9. BAT FOR LASHES TWO SUNS For all the talk of its mystical themes and lavish production, what few people seem to mention about Two Suns is just how great a singer Natasha Khan is. Granted, singing ability isn’t as important as X-Factor judges might claim, but Two Suns wouldn’t be half the album it is without Khan’s exceptional pipes. There’s not a hair out of place on Bat For Lashes’ Two Suns, a surprisingly inventive and remarkably touching second album that confirms Khan’s singular talent. She even persuaded Scott Walker to collaborate; how can she possibly exceed that?

6. CONVERGE - AXE TO FALL “This is a brilliant, furious album that manages to be both misanthropic in its message yet therapeutic in its sheer catharsis” said Chris Cusack in his 5-star Skinny review of Converge’s seventh album Axe To Fall. But it wasn’t straightforward for the progressive hardcore band to put together, because they borrowed the talents of nearly 20 guest performers. “Bringing some friends in to contribute to the songs added some new challenges to the process for us for sure,” vocalist Jacob Bannon tells us. “But I really enjoyed what we created together and it seems that people are enjoying it, so that’s a positive thing”.

5. THE TWILIGHT SAD FORGET THE NIGHT AHEAD “We didn’t want to make something that sounded like the first record, we definitely think we’ve progressed and moved on as a band” guitarist and producer Andy MacFarlane tells The Skinny. But how Forget The Night Ahead compares to debut Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters is a matter of heated debate. We (or rather you, discerning reader) placed Fourteen Autumns second on our list of the best Scottish albums of the decade; the NME included this one in its overall century of the century. “You’ll always get some people saying ‘it’s not as good as the first record’” MacFarlane says. “Those people are wrong. But other people have been very kind about this one.” It’s a tight call, we’ll grant that.

Photo: Jack Waddington

MUSIC

2009: A Year In Records

4. DOOM - BORN LIKE THIS 2009 was a strong year for hip-hop, thanks to the likes of Raekwon and Mos Def outperforming the disappointing returns of megastars Jay-Z and Eminem. Best of them all was Daniel Dumile’s umpteenth album, his first as all-caps DOOM, an endlessly replayable journey through his comic book rogue fantasies that’s a little darker than prior efforts. Dumile’s gruff croak serves up a thousand perplexing rhymes for you to unravel, and guest spots from Rae, Ghostface and a little-known lady called Empress Star all impress. Born Like This is Dumile’s best solo record since Vaudeville Villain.

8.MASTODON CRACK THE SKYE Having equated the struggles of modern life with hunting for crystal skulls down a dark hole on 2006’s Blood Mountain, Mastodon took to the sky(e) for the fourth and final album in their ‘elements’ series. “It’s an astral planing dream,” guitarist Brent Hinds forewarned us of the progressive odyssey to unfold. With a narrative backdrop of Tsarist Russia, psychedelic flavours were thrown into a blender with banjo-led sludge metal and ADD song structure – an unlikely recipe which has seen the Atlanta quartet realise a curious crossover appeal. So what are they doing differently?

“We scream like banshees being stuck in the ass with a knife, although now there’s a lot more singing going on,” Hinds shrugs. Will someone please relay this idea to Duffy?

50 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

7. THE PHANTOM BAND CHECKMATE SAVAGE “We went in [to the studio] pretty naïve thinking that we were ready to make an album and were all set to record it in a fortnight, and it ended up taking about 9 months on and off” reflects Rick Anthony, lead singer of Glasgow’s Phantom Band, who released the best debut LP of 2009. “It sometimes feels like we’re parents of this kid – you try and bring it up right and do the best by it but at some point you have to step back and let it go off on its own. It has its fuck ups but we still love it.” We love it too.

3. DIRTY PROJECTORS - BITTE ORCA Bitte Orca is where everything finally came together smoothly for New Yorker Dave Longstreth, mastermind of the Dirty Projectors, who’d previously handicapped himself by concocting ambitious ideological aims for his albums that he wasn’t quite able to fulfil. Bitte Orca keeps things simple, relatively speaking, by foregoing overarching themes in favour of accessibility, achieved not by compromise but by focus. It’s not a concept that glues these nine tracks together, it’s the songs themselves: post-punk, afrobeat, indie pop, garage rock and contemporary R&B all mingle happily in the company of Longstreth and the girls’ elastic vocals. Bizarre on paper, brilliant in practice.

MUSIC

GIG LISTINGS 2009 NOVEMBER 2. GRIZZLY BEAR - VECKATIMEST Through no fault of their own, sometimes great bands acquire unhealthy legacies: Nirvana, I’m looking at you particularly. One of Pavement’s aesthetic choices which was seized on big-time was a perceived musical sloppiness, a too-cool-to-care attitude that has afflicted countless indie rock bands since. Grizzly Bear care about the placing and playing of every note, and that discipline doesn’t breed sterility: their studied vocal harmonies evoke plenty of emotion. And when they’re livelier, as in the first two songs and the last two-butone, the spotless production gives every movement its space. Grizzly Bear might’ve sent you to sleep before, but now they’ll start you dreaming.

M OF U B 1. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE L A AR MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION THE YE

26th November

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28th November

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29th November

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30th November

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ELLIOT MINOR SUGAR MINOTT GALLOWS CODEINE VELVET CLUB

DECEMBER 1st December

£12.00

2nd December

£6.00

5th December

£12.50

12th December

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29th December

£15.00

30th December

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FRIGHTENED RABBIT FOY VANCE MR SCRUFF GOLDIE LOOKIN’ CHAIN BAD MANNERS THE COMPLETE STONE ROSES 31st December

HOGMANAY! PARTY

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2010 SHOWS 7th February

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MEXICO FALLS 19th March

Interview Ally Brown TIME is a great leveller when it comes to musical reputations, because it’s much easier to make a solid judgement when you have the space to think freely about what you’re listening to without the pernicious influences of hype, fashion or the temptation to be a contrarian. A year after it was first leaked, it comes as no surprise that Merriweather Post Pavilion still feels like the obvious choice for album of the year. It felt special from the moment it landed. If 12 months haven’t dulled our feelings, will ten years? When will someone criticise it on its own terms, instead of on the tenuous extra-musical grounds of over-hype or hipster-hate? Where is the backlash going to come from?

“My parents listen to it and they’re proud of it, and they like a song here and there, but it’s definitely not their thing,” Geologist tells The Skinny. So perhaps Geologist’s mum could tell us why we’re wrong?

“No, I don’t think she’ll want to start the backlash!

It’s something she can show to her friends or to my grandparents, show them that I’m doing something worthwhile with my life, even though I have a beard!”

Merriweather Post Pavilion is going to be spoken of in rarefied terms for years to come, so you’d better get used to it. Sick of hearing the Kid A story yet? Well there’s a MPP myth in the works already, you know how it’ll go: progressive-this and zeitgeist-that. It’s a wonderful album. It deserves it. “We love this record

and are really happy with it, and we’re very happy that people are receiving it so well. It feels good, you know?” Geologist says. “Everybody who puts something out into the world... wants it to be respected.

We put a lot of work into it. But I think we have to be careful about it, we’re going to be very conscious next time not to make MPP part two because that would be pretty boring.” Panda Bear is still picking faults: “I don’t know that we’ll ever be completely happy,” he says. “Listening to something 500 times or so throughout writing, touring, recording, mixing, mastering... you start to notice little things you might change. Sometimes you want to change things just because when you started the thing you were a different person.”

Change it? Don’t be silly. Panda Bear tells us something else remarkable: “We knew we wanted to have more of a focus on bass and bass frequencies, and we had some themes in mind like ballet, but like most of our albums the spirit of the thing kind of just came on gradually.” Did you catch that? Ballet! Geologist, on the other hand, drops names like Kylie, dubstep star Burial, and Berlin minimal techno label Kompakt. Try to pin a genre on Merriweather Post Pavilion. It can’t be done. Part of the MPP story, still in production, will require a succinct distillation of its aesthetic, one or two words to sum it up. But everyone’s stumped.

Merriweather Post Pavilion is an alien conflation of Burial, Kylie, Kompakt, ballet and bass. How could it not be album of the year?

£15.00 THE BEAT Tickets available to buy in person from HMV Aberdeen | OneUp Records Aberdeen

DECEMBER 2009

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MUSIC

It's Only Doom 'n' Roll Holy Mountain are a Glasgow-based duo whose bluesy, sludgy sonic assault and daring live performances are currently wrecking ears around Glasgow and beyond. As the band's first year together draws to a close, The Skinny grabs a word with messrs Flett and McGlone to learn the story so far.

Interview Ryan Drever THE result of a whirlwind creative partnership between guitarist Andy McGlone and drummer Pete Flett, Holy Mountain’s live performances are largely improvised, deafeningly heavy jams that recall the headbanging brilliance of Sabbath at their sleaziest, coupled with an intense focus on the audience and their surroundings. Nearly always setting up in the middle of the floor, facing each other, and more often than not fuelled by McGlone’s apparent wanderlust – clambering over tables, and even making it outside, mid-riff – these shows make for a highly unpredictable, and ultimately entertaining experience.

This is perhaps better summed up in the words of HM’s own Andy McGlone: “At a Holy Mountain gig, you don’t just listen to music, you get physically riffed at,” he explains. “You could get handed a guitar or high-fived at any point. We are not just there to play some songs.” Echoing this sentiment, Flett chimes in: “Our sets feed off the crowd. We can sense whether a crowd is getting it or not. When they are, we’re amazing. When they’re not, we’re just awesome.”

Introduced to each other through mutual friends, the pair hit it off instantly, making the jump from potentially awkward first practice to first gig in barely a week. “The first time we jammed, it just fit together,” Flett recalls. “A lot of times after a first practice, someone inevitably gives it ‘it’ll sound bigger once we get another guitarist’ or ‘we just need to get tighter’. We were pissing ourselves at our first practice

52 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

because we were so psyched about how awesome it felt and sounded.”

Since that fateful day, Holy Mountain have embarked on a considerable amount of touring, utilising their simplified set-up to play everywhere from a skate ramp in Birmingham to the back of a van. In between these impromptu and gloriously ramshackle appearances, the band have self-released a three-track EP – available as a free download and sold in person for a pound. The duo have also indulged in some rather ‘adventurous’ video projects – the ultra-explicit clip, Swifty Fuckwit, being an unsettling highlight – with the help of director and close friend Michael Sherrington.

In the spirit of the band’s improvisational and spontaneous nature, all plans from here on in are pretty loose, and open-ended. But what can we expect, if anything, from the self-proclaimed ‘twomanned anti-band’ in the coming months? In cryptic fashion, McGlone leaves us with only half a clue: “We are recording some stuff at the end of this year/start of next, and hope to include some video stuff. We also want to do some more touring.”

“It will also be our 1 year/50th show anniversary in January,” adds Flett. “Maybe I’ll treat Andy to a romantic dinner and a night cap.”

SUPPORTING LORDS AT CAPTAIN’S REST, GLASGOW ON WEDNESDAY 2 DEC. ALSO PLAYING ON HOGMANAY IN GLASGOW AT A VENUE TBC. WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MOUNTAINHOLY

MUSIC

Pieces of a Paradox Having achieved equal parts praise to criticism with his debut album, it seems Leith-based mouth music maker Wounded Knee has found a way to record Marmite. We ask for the recipe...

Interview Lauren Mayberry Photo Stephen Edgar

through every performance is to start from nothing and see where the music goes,” Wright asserts. “That’s where the variety comes from. Any shows where I’ve stripped down to my purple pants have been quite something for the audience, I’m sure.”

Having self-released a number of CDRs and cassettes previously, Wounded Knee’s Shimmering New Vistas was released on Benbecula Records in March this year. Capturing the oddness of his live sound – opener My Wooden Cupboard featuring various snippets of laughter – Wright’s humour is evident throughout. As the harmonic pieces build up and the one-man madrigal begins, it’s difficult not to be taken in by the timbre of his voice, River Song featuring perhaps the deepest vocal tone, tickling the very underbelly of baritone notes. That just one mouth creates all these sounds, undulating and escalating, is simultaneously dumbfounding and impressive.

Still, Wounded Knee’s act can be a bit of a head scratcher.

There are those who find Wright’s unrefined voice inaccessible, teetering toward the wrong side of Marmite.

Indeed, two songs on his latest release rumble on past the ten minute mark, one track in particular stretching well over a quarter of an hour. Yet the same skepticism has dogged artists ranging from Leonard Cohen and Neil Young to, more recently, Conor Oberst: musicians with profoundly individual voices which leave as many cold as they do elated. Despite those few unfavourable reviews, Wright emerges unscathed, keen to focus on those who are swept away by his unusual tones. “I hope that I can inspire people, get them going. Take them places. Show them things. And make them smile.”

TO those critics who thought Edinburgh venues were overflowing with bad cardis and worse lad rock, take note: Wounded Knee – with one of the most rewarding and confuddling live shows in the capital at the minute – will surely challenge your perceptions.

Drew Wright’s one-man show is a primitive, instinctive exploration of anti-folk, created by the dynamic layering of a God-given voice and an Akai Headrush II loop/delay pedal. Describing his sound as ‘janus music,’ ‘dubh wop’ and ‘portable port a beul’ (me neither), Wounded Knee is one of the more unusual musicians to have crawled into the local consciousness of late. Having played the circuit since 2004, enjoying a previous life as a DJ where he “tried to get tanked up civil engineers to dance to Moodymann records,” the thirty-something is influenced by a cacophony of artists, most notably Chicagoan DJ wunderkind Theo Parrish. “I try to be true to myself and I admire that in others,” he explains. “I get material from various sources: books, newspapers, conversations, my brain.” With his earliest songs consisting of just a couple of vocal lines developed and swarmed on top of each other, the Leith-based musician has been stitching lines together to create longer songs of late. “I like that collage, cut-up process where you can piece together words and phrases and make strange narratives,” says Wright.

An active participant in Edinburgh’s resurgent DIY culture, Wright professes to enjoy adapting traditional songs like Glenlogie or O Can Ye Sew Cushions, placing emphasis on the uniqueness of every show. “One thing that runs

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/IAMWOUNDEDKNEE

SIMPLE MINDS KENNEDY STREET by arrangement with SOLO present

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DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 53

Music

The Brian Lady Molko Effect December After departing The Concretes in 2006, Victoria Bergsman became Taken By Trees. Already two solo albums into her solo career, her latest is a triumph against adversity

The Skinny sits down for an ale with Brian Molko, the outspoken singer and songwriter with consistently popular alternative rock band Placebo, to ask the secret of their long-standing success Interview Paul Mitchell Given the longevity of the band (15 years and counting), how do you find the motivation to continue generating fresh ideas yet remaining true to the Placebo aesthetic?

Well, that’s the challenging equilibrium you try and strike every time you make a new record: trying to push the boundaries and limits of your sound without repeating yourself. You have to try to do something new, exciting and fresh with the band’s sound and play with the band’s conceived identity, but at the same time not disregarding what makes you uniquely ‘you’.

Does that get trickier as you go along?

I think so! The greater the body of work, the more difficult it becomes to write a fresh song; it becomes a lot more challenging. As far as longevity is concerned, I think if you look at the careers of the likes of The Cure or Depeche Mode – I use those examples because they both released albums this year, 30 years into their career – well they’ve made music, since day one, purely on their own terms, unaffected, unconcerned by trends, movements and fashion in music. They followed their own path and stuck to their guns, and I think that’s why they’re still making records which are still worthwhile listening. We’re 15 years in, and that’s where I’d like to be in another 15. It’s not like we have any other options; we’re basically unemployable, you know, so this is it.

Interview Lauren Mayberry After departing indie-pop octet The Concretes in 2006 to pursue a solo career under nom de plume Taken by Trees, Victoria Bergsman’s desire to go outwith the comfortable is illustrated by the unusual, turbulent recording location of recent album East of Eden – Lahore, capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab.

Inspired by legendary musicians such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Victoria’s sophomore solo effort – released this September – was created partly outside, using multi-field recording techniques, adding the sounds and the feel of the journey to the LP. “It was all very spontaneous, made wherever we were at that particular moment,” says the Swedish singer.

The Swedish government advised against the 11 day South Asian trip, unable to guarantee their citizen’s safety. Bergsman herself was painfully aware of the culture chasm before her, as a white female in a male-dominated and highly religious society.

“I had never been to a country that is so strictly Muslim before, and it was a very new and shocking experience,” she admits. “Some people were confused that I was a woman in charge of a recording project, but after a while they started to relax to an extent.”

Upon leaving, having struggled to get her hands on a visa, Bergsman questioned whether the recordings would be sufficient. “We didn’t know on the plane back if we had enough material to make the record,” she says.

The album’s closing track, an adaptation of a Hermann Hesse poem, Bekännelse (Confession), summed up Bergsman’s feelings about their time in Pakistan. “I made that one to tie it together,” she says of her experience. It was at once wonderful but also tainted with the guilt of knowing she could leave the hardship and return to her liberal democracy – a concept documented by the short film accompanying

54 THE SKINNY December 2009

the album. “There are a lot of images and it can be scary and intense, but you get a better understanding of what is going on there.”

The end product has, however, been well received.

Filled with the native rhythms of their location and aided by local musicians, East of Eden is completed by recording engineer Andreas Söderström’s powerful, minimal guitar work and Bergman’s mysterious vocals and lyrical prowess. These plain-spoken, simple love songs delivered with an understated vocal presence have become Bergsman’s trademark. “For me, it’s important that there’s a lot of space for the listener to feel the music and reflect. Music is about imagining things,” she says. Having only previously sung in English, the Stockholm resident returned to her native tongue for two tracks on the album. “My own language is so naked, so close. English is good because, in a way, it’s not going so deep,” she says.

“But everyone can find something in it, as it is a mix of so many different things. Whatever it is they hear, hopefully it is something playful.”

This slight mischievous side of Taken by Trees is evident in her penchant for a well-constructed cover, from Sweet Child o’ Mine to her take on Animal Collective’s My Girls (My Boys, reimagined by Bergsman’s gender-flipping gaze). Noah Lennox (known better to most of us as Panda Bear) contributes backing vocals to the song Anna on the new release. “Once we’d made the backing vocals, I wanted more from him. My Boys is a homage to him,” she explains. “With covers, you can always tell if someone has something on their own mind that they want to say with it. You must still have the essence of the song there, but make it personal – if you haven’t put yourself into it too, then what’s the point?”

Playing Mono, Glasgow on sunday 13 Dec with support from Andrea Marini, John B McKenna and Camera Obscura DJs. www.takenbytrees.com

Placebo’s work has generally addressed the grand ideas of love, loss, sacrifice, hedonism etc. Are your perspectives on these themes changing as you get older?

I started looking back on my career around the time of Meds [fifth studio album, released in 2006]. As a lyricist I thought I was using a great deal of gimmicks. For example, the whole chemistry/medicine cabinet routine that is Commercial for Levi or a song title that screams ‘Look at Me!’ that is Nancy Boy! I made a decision that I wanted to stop using gimmicks and address the bigger questions in more everyday language where possible, and try and simplify it, I suppose. Say more by saying less, that’s kinda the trip I’m on right now.

Isn't attempting to define ‘the human condition’ a risky enterprise?

Everybody who writes wants to write stuff that’s timeless and doesn’t date, really. I think you have to be very careful if you want to do that. You have to tap into the spirit of the age but at the same time write something that transcends it. I don’t think that using incredibly culturally specific language enables you to do that. So, I’m trying to transcend that and write something that can stand up to the music that I grew up listening to. Take Leonard Cohen, for example. There’s a universality in his music and a simplicity which makes it appreciable and meaningful in any decade, any century really. I think that’s what I’m trying to do, hopefully in some way making a difference.

Where do you think this approach is going to take you next?

Right now I’m just wondering how the hell am I going to survive the next two years of this touring schedule and pull out of this in one piece.

Placebo play SECC, Glasgow on monday 14 Dec. Battle For The Sun is out now on PIAS. read the full interview at www.theskinny.co.uk

Music

Retreading the Pavement Scott Kannberg AKA Spiral Stairs has just released a new album, but he's all too aware that the talk is of a certain reunion. Yes, that one!

Interview Paul Mitchell Photo Peter Ellen Scott Kannberg’s previously amiable demeanour suddenly switches to one of irritated exasperation. He is recounting the fact that he’s just been on the phone with one of the larger UK music titles “and all the guy seems to want to know is what kind of offer was on the table”.

The notion of an ‘offer’ makes a thinly-veiled suggestion that the 2010 reunion of Pavement (the hugely influential indie-band of the 1990s, with Kannberg, aka Spiral Stairs, as co-founder with Stephen Malkmus) might be grounded in reasons more economic than artistic or personal. “It seems to be a common question; people assume that we’re just doing it for our bank accounts. In the end, I had to tell him to fuck off, and I need to make it clear that the Pavement reunion is definitely not about the money.”

As far as Kannberg is concerned, the reasons for the forthcoming reformation are indeed manifold. For starters, the legend of Pavement has grown to fabled status since their last performance at London’s Brixton Academy in 1999. At that gig, singer Malkmus had handcuffs attached to his microphone stand, making constant subtle suggestions that this may indeed be their valedictory performance, a fact confirmed in the weeks soon after. “I think that we perhaps owe our fans, who never had the chance to see us, the opportunity to do just that. We didn’t realise it would be this big when we decided to do some shows again. We just kinda thought ‘Well, we’ll just do a few here and there’ and then the demand and excitement has been so crazy that we just recognised that we were much bigger than we’d ever remembered.”

At this point in time, Kannberg is unfazed by the notion it may tarnish their reputation as lo-fi, über independent trend-setters. Though he explains this by pointing to examples of bands who have already trodden that path.

“I’ve seen the Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. and I’m a huge fan of those bands. I saw them in the old days, but it was even more exciting not having seen them for fifteen or so years. I’m hopeful that this is how it will be for Pavement’s reunion, that they’ll be as excited about seeing us, and hearing those old songs played live. Of course, we haven’t even rehearsed yet, we don’t know what we sound like. There’s definitely another generation of people out there who have made us into a mythical band.

That’s exciting.”

The reunion announcement comes exactly a decade since they went their separate ways, but has been touted as a possibility practically every year since.

What makes now the right time? “Everyone has been

Gold sounds: Pavement in 1999

doing different stuff for the past ten years, and those years seem to have gone by pretty fast. I think we were always ready to do something together again, we just got involved with other projects. Also people had kids, got married, stuff like that. Still, it seems that everybody felt that now was the right time. I think if we’d waited another five years it might not have been the same. We just said ‘let’s do it now while we still feel like we still love music and still want to play. If the opportunity is there, we might as well take it and make people happy; instead of trying to make something happen when people don’t really care....which they may not in five years.”

Kannberg kept himself busy post-Pavement by forming Preston School of Industry who released two albums.

The last, Monsoon, appeared in 2004. After some side projects including time spent recording and touring with Broken Social Scene he released The Real Feel in October of this year, using the Spiral Stairs moniker. “I didn’t feel like my new stuff was a Preston record, so I went with my solo name,” he says. “I couldn’t go with Scott Kannberg because I don’t like the way that sounds.”

The album deals particularly with the concept of relationship breakdown, Kannberg having gone through a divorce in the past while. “At the time of writing the album a lot of friends were splitting up. So it’s not just about

"I need to make it clear that the Pavement reunion is definitely not about the money" me specifically, more like my whole life, circle of friends.

Divorce is just a general theme.” Given Pavement’s demise was primarily attributed to acrimony within the camp, could that general theme extend to what happened with the band? “These things can be overblown and people can pay more attention to them than is warranted. It is something you have to get used to. I think we may have gotten tired of being in the band, but there were never any problems with each other.”

At that, Kannberg reacts with enthusiastic, yet guarded optimism when the suggestion that Pavement might even be inclined to write more material is raised. “Stuff keeps getting added to our calendar; it’s already pretty hectic already. I don’t know about new stuff, but it is a possibility!”

At time of Press, Pavement are slated to curate All Tomorrow’s Parties, 14-16 May 2010 at Butlin’s Holiday Centre in Minehead. They play Brixton Academy (again) on 11 May with further dates sure to be announced. (two nights at the barrowland. please)

December 2009

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56 THE SKINNY December 2009

What with his own label, some band called Portishead and a number of other recording personas to contend with, surely the last thing Geoff Barrow needs is another creative outlet? Beak> says no.

Interview Dave Kerr If Dummy was a spy film and Third a dystopian John Carpenter thriller, Beak> is Geoff Barrow’s hastily assembled German porno. Written, recorded live and edited on-the-fly over the course of twelve days in January, the trio’s debut – the two other constituent parts being Billy Fuller of psych-rock ensemble Fuzz Against Junk and Matt ‘Team Brick’ Williams – is as much homage to Krautrock as a throwback to wham-bam DIY record making. With strictly no overdubs to mask the imperfections borne from their improvisation, Barrows suggests “it was a good way of working; I think it was a bit of an antidote to my brain. Portishead did really big things that needed a certain amount of concentration, but this was different - this was nothing but music.”

Having weathered the dreaded block to play his part in the Bristolian outfit’s triumphant return from the wilderness last year, there was no such agonizing over Barrow’s latest endeavor. “We didn’t talk about much, just set up the gear and started playing. The first tune that’s on the album is the first time we’d played together.”

Spontaneity all the way, then – even if Barrow isn’t a willing participant in Grateful Dead-styled freak out jams. “Really, I’m not a jamming man, I don’t like it. But I do like spontaneous writing,” he reasons. “Jamming can be a funky groove with some bloke playing a sax solo for a couple of weeks, d’you know what I mean? So the idea of trying to write melodies, lyrics and sounds with a bit of drums, keyboard or bass and everyone being really aware that it’s right in its space – rather than everyone just piling in with their amps up to 11, blasting it out – it’s just really nice.”

Speaking from his studio, Barrow reflects on the early experiences that would lead him to become “the bloke you go to if you want something else” (referring to his production reputation), though he confesses that one particular record nearly forced him to quit

Still a Joy Now a full decade on from his debut, Kieran Hebden discusses the inspiration behind his anticipated return and fifth full-length release Four Tet. Interview David McNamara It's been over four years since Everything Ecstatic, Kieran Hebden’s last album under the banner of Four Tet, yet the prodigious Londoner has since kept the creative juices flowing with many other ventures. Together with jazz drummer Steve Reid, Hebden has released four albums and toured the world extensively several times.

This clearly wasn’t enough to satisfy his appetite as Hebden has also produced a mountain of remixes, performed DJ sets across the world and collaborated with reclusive dubstep producer Burial on a mysterious two track 12” that was released earlier this year. Modest to a fault, the producer from South London simply says “I have just been working on other things for the last five years and I’ve been enjoying collaborating with other people.”

This may be a slight understatement.

His latest album, There is Love in You, is a natural result of Hebden’s desire to get back in the studio and continue the legacy he has created. “Over the last year I slowly started making straight up sequence electronic music,” begins Hebden. “Last year there was an EP out called Ringer. I enjoyed doing that so I thought about getting an album together. It is just me getting back to solo programmed electronic music.”

After the critical success of early releases Pause

Beak> (supported by Invada label mates Thought Forms) play King Tut’s, Glasgow on 14 December.

Read the full interview online at www. theskinny.co.uk. www.myspace.com/beak2009

and Rounds, Hebden was hastily proclaimed to be the frontrunner of ‘folktronica’ by journalists who didn’t take the time to understand the origin of his music. The producer still fiercely opposes the slogan. “Folktronica was just one of those random, horrendous moments of British music journalism,” claims Hebden. “People said I was doing something innovative but people like Timbaland had been having number one chart hits that used folk samples with hip-hop drums for years. It’s pathetic.”

"'Folktronica' was just one of those random, horrendous moments of British music journalism" Now in his thirties, Hebden has been producing music as Four Tet for over a decade and observes that his credibility does offer him certain luxuries: “Once you have done a lot of stuff and you have built up an audience, you earn the right to do things the way you want to. I am at a point where I am more in control of the way I do things.”

Upon listening to There is Love in You, expect to be left struggling to describe what’s emerging from the speaker.

But even if categorisation continues to elude his music, one thing that a sentimental cut like new single Love Cry assures is that Hebden can only be about to seduce a new generation of admirers with his electronic creations.

Playing Huntleys and Palmers Audio Club’s Second Birthday at Stereo on 19 December, 11pm-4am, £10.

December 2009

THE SKINNY 57

Music

On Yer Beak>

before he’d started. “I only knew hip-hop,” he offers.

“I’d played in rock bands as a drummer but I wasn’t versed in other music except from the stuff I was sampling, which can lead you to interesting places. I remember Mark E Smith being interviewed on Radio 1 – God, times have changed haven’t they? – he was playing his top 10 tunes and stuck on Vitamin C by Can. This was around 1990. Listening to that track made me want to give up music, because I thought someone had created the most perfect music ever.”

Principally returning to the drum stool and keyboard for the purposes of a December tour with Beak>, it’s worth noting that – despite having just released said debut via Barrow’s Invada Records domestically and cult experimental label Ipecac in the US – the band are yet to play their first gig. “Well, technically we played a record shop in Berlin,” says Barrow. “We got on an Easyjet flight and put synths in a suitcase.” With an itinerary including dates plotted all over Europe – including Glasgow – this month, the band fly to Rotterdam for their first ‘proper’ show on the fifth. Any pre-gig anxiety? “No, it’s really calm actually, it’s a small set up and really un-rock’n’roll and sketchy. If we had our own way we’d be playing somewhere that didn’t have lights and just bring it down to the bare bones of the music rather than that other side of it.”

As much as Barrow might enjoy sitting in the dark on his tom-toms, he’ll be reconvening with long-time musical partners Beth Gibbons and Adrian Utley next month. “That’s the ultimate one. That’s the task,” he affirms. “Nothing does my brain in like Portishead does. I’ve got to go off and feed it in-between records.

This is a way of doing that, but [Beak>] is a band I really enjoy being in as well. I’m going to start writing for the next Portishead record in January, try and get on with it and approach it in a different way, because we struggle so hard to write music. It’s not like kids on ventilators, but it’s a brain drain as an artist.”

Taking inspiration from his time with Beak> thus far, Barrow indicates that his other band won’t be beating about the bush either. With soundtrack work due for release early next year, a hip-hop LP about to come off the shelf and “a bloke called Reg” taking care of the day-to-day at Invada, Barrow’s sole focus becomes Portishead in 2010. “Absolutely,” he nods.

“And to try and see the kids more.”

RECORDS

A Z N E Z O D IO C U The Dirty Dozen S L E As the rain batters down on the streets of Glasgow, Ryan Drever seeks refuge in Mariachi El Bronx' tour bus as they trawl through December's singles to find the good, the bad and the next Kenny G...

Interview Ryan Drever Photography Crimson Glow Photography Reviewing Personnel: Matt Caughthran (Vocals) Joby Ford (Guitars/Vocals) Black Gold - Idols (Red Bull, 14 Dec) Matt: I was hoping something good was gonna happen, but nothing did.

Joby: Yeah, it definitely had the potential to go some place. Then it hit that double-time section. As a band, one thing we all do agree on is that that sucks!

Ryan: Marks out of ten?

Matt: I’ll give this a five...

Joby: Yeah.

Matt: ...but with that there’s an asterisk that says: ‘The middle of the road’ is the worst place to be in music. So, you’re actually better off getting a one.

Acoustic Ladyland - The Mighty Q (Strong and Wrong, 7 Dec) Joby: That’s my Achilles heel right there – the saxophone.

Matt: I don’t mind this. It sucks, but I don’t mind it.

Joby: Man, I can’t get down with the sax! I’m gonna break this one into two categories. Anytime I hear a saxophone I just lose it. So, I’m gonna give them a ten for originality but a zero for choosing to use the saxophone.

Matt: I’m going zero. I’m picturing in my head what they look like and I’m imagining they work in a strictly vegan diner that Joby and I went to in Toronto where they DJ with kitchen appliances. This is a nightmare for me.

Kid Harpoon - Once (Young Turks, 14 Dec) Both: Oh God! Joby: I’ll go on record and say that I don’t know who this guy is but I’m going to guess that English is not his first language because lyrically it’s...

Matt: (interrupts) ...this might be the biggest wimp ever.

I don’t like it.

Joby: I’m going ‘goose egg’ on this one.

Matt: Yeah I’m going ‘goose egg’ too, but I’d like to keep it if that’s possible.

French For Cartridge - Oooh! (Dinner With Daisy, 14 Dec) Joby: There are very few bands that can mix genres and make sense, and this is not one of them. I’m going to go with a three.

Ryan: That’s actually fairly generous compared to the rest.

Joby: I mean, the production’s not bad, so that’s why I’ll give them three.

Matt: I’ll see your three.

The Notwist - Come In (City Slang, 14 Dec) Joby: The Postal Service do this really badly already, and this... yeah, it’s all bad.

Matt: Yeah, this sucks. I’ll give that a three.

Joby: Oh, shit, I think we might be on the same label as these guys. Sorry!

El Dog - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (Lo-five Records, 7 Dec) Joby: I’m going to give this a ten because it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. You can’t tell what a band sounds like from doing a cover of Let it Snow, but man, that is fucking hilarious. Ten, all the way.

Matt: I’ll give it a ten, if it was possible I’d give it a twenty.

The Cribs - We Share The Same Skies (Wichita, 7 Dec) Joby: You know what, this is what The Cribs do.

They’ve got that sort of British bop and bubblegum chorus thing going on – it’s pretty ‘down the road’ for The Cribs.

Matt: I like The Cribs. This is not the world’s greatest song, but I still support the band, and God bless them.

Joby: I’m going to give it a seven.

Quartershade - Statues (Yellow Noise, 14 Dec) Joby: You can tell this band is brand new. I think if they put some time into the recordings and if you give them a couple of years they’re probably going to be pretty good. Taking this as it is, it’s a tough listen. I’ll give it a five.

Matt: I agree with Joby, I’ll give it a four though.

Ex-Wives - Fucking Dutch (Radio Is Down, 7 Dec) Joby: This is alright. I was a big fan of the bands these guys take after, like Barkmarket and Jawbox. The second song [Disgrace of the North] was much better than the single Fucking Dutch – it actually sounded like it was going some place. It’s cool though, I’ll give it a 7.

Matt: I’ll give it a five... I thought it was alright.

Joby: Matt hates this kind of stuff!

The Pilots - OneTwoThree (Cacophony, Dec 7) Joby: Fuck it, man. Why does every band think the Bee Gees are cool all of a sudden? OK, so the Bee Gees were good at what they did, they could pull it off. Still, people sit there and try to break out this Bee Gees shit.

Matt: This is the worst combination of Bee Gees and Modest Mouse to me. I’m zero on this.

Joby: Yeah, big zero.

Cortney Tidwell - So We Sing (City Slang, 14 Dec) Joby: I like this. Don’t fuck it up, Cortney!

Matt: It’s good. Nice singing.

Joby: I’m going to give this an eight. It’s good, though it’s meandering a little bit...

Matt: I’ll give this a seven, I like it.

Joby: Yeah, I like it too. This is my favourite of the lot.

Matt: Let It Snow’s good but this is the clear winner.

Husky Rescue - We Shall Burn Bright (Catskills, Out Now) Joby: These are probably the worst drum samples I’ve ever heard in my entire life.

Matt: Yeah, not off to a good start.

Joby: This 100% demonstrates why it doesn’t mean you can make music just because you have a computer. I’m giving this a zero!

Matt: Zero. Trash-flavoured trash.

WWW.THEBRONXXX.COM

SINGLE REVIEWS EAGLEOWL

SLEEP THE WINTER

TABASCO FIASCO

DOOM

ONE EP

GAZZILLION EAR EP

14 DEC, KILTER

OUT NOW , SELF RELEASED

7 DEC, LEX

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A song’s beauty can reside in the slightest of touches, the line separating a graceful composition from a shiver-inducing one sometimes as ephemeral as a single soft chord-change. Eagleowl’s aptitude for meticulously delicate, dewy-eyed alt-folk will be no secret to anyone with a copy of For the Thoughts You Never Had in their collection, yet Sleep the Winter’s gentle strings and appropriately chilly, under-the-breath vocals still manage to constitute an eye-opening step forward. And when the melody lifts midway through to usher in a chorus of sorts, the effect manages to be both understatedly subtle yet monumentally affecting. [Chris Buckle]

In Tabasco Fiasco and their equally inspired contemporaries, Super Adventure Club, Livingston has – somewhat surprisingly – managed to nurture two of the most enthralling modern prog bands these shores have produced. Like their aforementioned kinsfolk, TF’s repertoire is both varied and consistently well realised. The driving riffage of Conspiranoia contrasts with the paced, largelyinstrumental schizophrenia of Pink Sabre Rattling, yet both hit the mark, often summoning the ghost of the late, great Macrocosmica. This EP also succeeds in striking a perfect balance between instrumental prowess and astute songwriting and makes for a compelling taster of things to come. [Austin Tasseltine]

While 50 Cent endeavours to get rich or die tryin’, ol’ metal face Dumile doesn’t set his sights so low and “won’t stop rocking ‘til he clocked in a gazzillion grand” over an archival beat from the late J Dilla. It’s typical DOOM – impeccable flow and thick with cartoon punchlines – but what would a great DOOM track be without a gazzillion unnecessary remixes? He might be a selling point, but Thom Yorke applies his usual incompetence, ruining DOOM’s flow and inserts a soulless backing track, save for some nice ethereal vocals in the background. TV on The Radio’s Dave Sitek fares much better, rendering the track even funkier with some ace horn stabs. [Ali Maloney]

EAGLEOWL PLAY THE BOWERY, EDINBURGH ON 11 DEC.

PLAYING HENRY’S CELLAR BAR, EDINBURGH ON 6 DEC.

WWW.METALFACEDOOM.COM

58 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

RECORDS CLUBS

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: JOSEPHINE FOSTER

GRAPHIC AS A STAR 7 DEC, FIRE

rrrr Isolation may not always be good for mental stability but its inspirational qualities cannot be doubted. Josephine Foster is the latest artist to have drunk deep from the well of loneliness and come out with something special. The songwriter spent last winter holed up in a house in a half abandoned mountain village in Spain and emerged with her sanity intact, armed with the songs that form this remarkable album.

Immersing herself in the work of great American poet Emily Dickenson, Foster channelled Dickenson’s words and her own acute homesickness to produce a masterpiece that is as chilling

as it is beguiling. Accompanied only by her sparingly strummed acoustic guitar and the occasional blast of harmonica, Foster uses her keening voice to take Dickenson’s heady themes of death and immortality to some deeply haunting places.

The heartbreakingly beautiful My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun is the most obviously affecting moment on the album, but the remaining 25 fragmentary songs are a fitting testament to Foster’s willingness to go the extra mile for her art. [Duncan Forgan] WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JOSEPHINEFOSTER

ALBUM REVIEWS TRANS AM

WHAT DAY IS IT TONIGHT?

THE CLIENTELE

BONFIRES ON THE HEATH

ADAM STAFFORD

AWNINGS

7 DEC, THRILL JOCKEY

OUT NOW, POINTY

OUT NOW, WISE BLOOD INDUSTRIES

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A limited edition in advance of a new studio album slated for next year, What Day...? serves as a neat overview of the Washington minimalists’ 16-year career to date. To call it a ‘best of’ however is to overlook the fact that some of the band’s more surreal and crazily inventive pieces (such as Cocaine Computer and Total Information Awareness) don’t feature. With years of live experience to draw upon, only the interjections from the audience make it clear that this is not a studio effort, such is the clarity of the production. Having set themselves up as some kind of electro-krautrock Spinal Tap, treading that fine line between parody and pastiche, the humour evident in spaced out jams like Futureworld and Fire Poker is a joy to behold. It is, however, difficult to take Trans Am seriously when their attention turns to matters grave, such as on angry anti-war rockout Idea Machine. [Wilbur Kane]

When US tastemakers Pitchfork unveiled their list of the decade’s greatest albums, UK readers would have been excused for quizzically raising eyebrows at the incongruous appearance of The Clientele. Despite long-term stateside devotion, the London-based psych-pop troupe have reached only a minority of hearts at home, an inexplicable state of affairs that Bonfires On The Heath seems unlikely to alter. Not because it lacks quality – its woozy symphonies burst with sumptuous harmonies, and Alasdair Maclean’s husky croon is as seductive as ever – but because it’s so utterly at odds with any and every trend you care to mention. They sound both vintage and timeless, indebted to Love and Lambchop with an off-kilter sensibility that rewards immersion. As a rule, the more downbeat the better (unless bossanova rhythms are your bag) but in truth there isn’t a dud note to be found. It’s time to lower those eyebrows. [Chris Buckle]

Compared to 2008, when all-pervading Falkirk outfit Y’All Is Fantasy Island unleashed a trio of albums upon the unsuspecting Scottish indie fraternity, 2009 has been relatively quiet. It’s the perfect time, then, for the band’s nucleus Adam Stafford to release a solo album. Awnings is an experimental lo-fi collection, written and recorded in a three hour session. The record is built around intense, taut drumbeats and splashes of warped vocal. There are few lyrics and (bar the short spoken word track, Huntington House for the Deaf) when they do appear, they’re so low in the mix that they’re rendered indecipherable.

What results is an exercise in atmospherics. From the Amazonian rumblings of opener Penshaw Movement to the breakneck title track, it’s an intoxicating listen. A clear departure for Stafford, the album goes some way to highlighting his versatility as a composer. And whilst Awnings won’t be for everyone, it’s worth finding out which camp you belong to.[Finbarr Bermingham]

WWW.TRANSBAND.COM

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THECLIENTELEOFFICIAL

AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD, WISEBLOODINDUSTRIES.COM

ROBOT KOCH

THE STARK PALACE

WORLD PAINTED BLOOD

THE STARK PALACE

7 DEC, ROBOTS DON’T SLEEP

SLAYER

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OUT NOW, AMERICAN RECORDINGS/SONY MUSIC

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DEATH STAR DROID

It seems ‘wonky’ is the default beat setting these days, as producers shun the 4/4 which has served electronic music so well in favour of time signatures beyond standard notation. Death Star Droid is the latest effort to shake things up, and although it worships the techno/hip-hop/ dubstep triumvirate of the new syncopators, it sounds quite fresh with it. It comprises mostly woozy, cut-up samples, stop-start beats and abyssopelagic levels of bass, which actually provide an interesting contrast. It brings to mind Hudson Mohawke fed through a Jaydee filter, and works best on the bumpy, wobbly Hard to Find. People Are Strange is, indeed, a Doors cover in a modern mash-up style, but is unfortunately as successful as Will Young’s version of Light My Fire. The main problem with Death Star Droid is, however, that there’s not enough to keep us hooked – it sounds like an album of hip-hop instrumentals missing a vocal track. [Euan Ferguson] WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ROBOTKOCH

SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP

INTO THE WILD OUT NOW, DISTILLER

rrrr A transatlantic combination, the hard-working Sparrow and the Workshop consists of American born Jill O’Sullivan, Scottish drummer Gregor Donaldson and Welsh bassist Nick Packer. O’Sullivan’s drawling countryesque voice often rises above the trio’s plucked guitars and clattering drums on their full length debut. Yet her dulcet tones are never overpowering, instead yielding a controlled beauty. Each song ebbs and flows, with instruments and melodies that speed up and slow down with an animalistic unpredictability. Album opener You’ve Got It All is a tender and brooding duet between O’Sullivan and Donaldson whereas its title track begins on a harmonic folky note before breaking into rock territory and staggering out on a string of metallic drumbeats. Delivering on their early promise, Sparrow and the Workshop have created a perfectly formed first album. With just seven songs and chiming in at less than 25 minutes, it’s definitely a case of less is more. But, damn it, we want more already. [Anna Docherty] PLAYING THE MILL AT ÒRAN MÓR, GLASGOW ON 17 DEC.

rrrr Approaching their thirtieth year, the forefathers of thrash have yet to churn out any surprises since their unholy trinity of landmark albums was unleashed in the late 80s. And why should they? Slayer continually do what no one else can. They give their devout fanbase precisely what they want and require, and this album is no different. All the essential ingredients are present, combined with a leaner, meaner approach to songwriting, which at times situates the abbreviated structures of early American hardcore alongside the relentless hooks of classic 70s hard rock. The results are straightforward yet meticulous, overflowing with sinister allusions to genocidal atrocities, murder and the final extinction of mankind. Unceasingly irreverent and iconoclastic in their constant struggle to both bait religious fanatics and mock modern political structures (and the corrupt leaders who exploit them), they have yet again certified their status as a musical institution in the canonical pages of heavy metal history.[Eric Ledford]

SHRINEBUILDER

SHRINEBUILDER OUT NOW, NEUROT

rrrr The notion of lineage looms large for many heavy metal subgenres, and probably none more so than that of stoner doom. Consequently, this debut collaboration between four of the category’s most respected ringleaders elicits a considerable level of expectation. Comprised of members who previously or currently occupy spots in Neurosis, Melvins, St. Vitus, Om, Sleep, et al., the five tracks contained here are predictably deep-rooted in pummelling underworldly riffs framed by slow builds, acoustic flourishes and dark psychedelic effects.

Impressively, these building blocks coalesce to revitalise a tried-and-true idiom by emphasising the enigma of both signature identities and collective enthusiasm. Their lyrical concept, which triumphantly illustrates an obsession with archaeological ceremony, prophetic imagery and the cyclical nature of time, relies as much on subtlety as it does on force, ultimately producing a mournful reminder that burning a spliff is probably the best way to contemplate the intricacies of the infinite. [Eric Ledford]

14 DEC, SHARK BATTER

Thank God there are still people making albums like this. Straddling the divide between avant-garde lunacy and controlled madness in a way that would make Captain Beefheart proud, Roger Simian and Cameron Jack have produced a work of near-genius. Eschewing the received wisdom that a unifying theme is a good thing, the Borders-based duo veer stylistically from palette to palette to daub their way to a kaleidoscopic musical work of art. Influences are many and varied. The shadow of the aforementioned Captain looms large over opener CroMagnon Man with Simian doing a fine impression of his Delta growl as shrieking guitars and crunching beats bring up the rear. You can hear the influences of Can on the spacey jam Las Mujeres Perdidas while the vicious wit of Frank Zappa is detectable in the barbed couplets of Napoleon Does Dallas.

While not every idea that is thrown at the wall sticks, the philosophy of gleeful abandon is only to be encouraged. [Duncan Forgan] WWW.MYSPACE.COM/STARKPALACE

FATHER MURPHY

AND HE TOLD US TO TURN TO THE SUN 7 DEC, AAGOO

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Inspired by an unholy union of two of their native Italy’s most enduring exports – Catholicism and trashy horror – Father Murphy are a nightmare of tortured groans, discordant clatters and chilling chants, a black mass that would fit comfortably into Constellation’s galaxy of unorthodox oddities. Corrupted organ drones mix into haunted whispers, but lest this sound is too unsettling, the menace is paired with a knowing ridiculousness. Aware of their theatrical absurdity, the band inject welcome silliness into the penultimate At That Time I Guess We Misunderstood, before the closing In Their Graves revives the dread, its incessant beat giving way to a John Carpenter-esque dirge punctuated with eerie death rattles (well, drums). Their uncanny talent for evoking bad omens won’t appeal to all, but for those with the constitution for such things, Father Murphy’s unfamiliar atmospherics will provoke the right kind of shudders. [Chris Buckle] WWW.MYSPACE.COM/REVERENDMURPHY

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 59

PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

Alasdair Gray ON STAGE AND IN CONVERSATION

ALASDAIR GRAY IS SCOTLAND'S GREATEST LIVING WRITER. THIS SPECIAL SKINNY EVENT MARKS THE LAUNCH OF HIS A GRAY PLAY BOOK, A COLLECTION OF HIS DRAMATIC WORKS FOR STAGE AND RADIO AS WELL AS STORYBOARDS FOR THE AS-YET-UNMADE FILM OF LANARK. TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER (7.00PM), TRAVERSE THEATRE, EDINBURGH TICKETS: £6.50/£5.00.

EVERY STUDENT ATTENDING THIS EVENT WILL RECEIVE A PRE-PRODUCTION

OF THE BOOK ON PRODUCTION OF A VALID17:29:57 STUDENT CARD TripleG DecCOPY 256x155 Skinny Ad_PRINT.pdf 24/11/09

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CM

MY

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60 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

After tasting success with her "day job" last year, Alison Mosshart of The Kills and The Dead Weather tells The Skinny how 2009 was for her...

This month brought the sad news that The Bowery, the atmospheric Edinburgh venue established

by Ruth Moir and Jane Flett, will be closing (in its current form at least). Ten Tracks invited Ruth to compile a bundle of tracks as a swan song; here she reflects on the curatorial process.

Text Ruth Moir Photo Markus Thorsen INDULGE me as I hark back a decade (and no, this is not another end of the noughties article), to when I lived in the back of beyond with my tape stereo. To when a compilation was a mixtape, a C90, an eternally frustrating/ satisfying process of counting the seconds so that a song didn’t get chopped in the middle. To the cramping of two heartfelt lines between the creases of the sleeve. To the fear and the palpitations about whether this would make the boy of my dreams a) fall in love with me, b) make a compilation back with as much effort and c) realise my incredible taste in music and declare me to be more than just the girl who sat next to him because their surnames started with the same letter!

Fast forward ten years, and I’m getting asked to curate ten tracks, to make a mix of artists that have played in my beloved venue. “Easy!” I cried, not stopping to think just what I had got myself into...

Suddenly, I was thrown back into the turmoil of 1999! I realised that the principles were exactly the same – though thankfully without the song chopping and the pause button. I still had to find the right balance between funny ditties and more serious choices, still each song

Interview Finbarr Bermingham THIS time last year, Alison Mosshart had every reason to be happy with her lot. Midnight Boom, The Kills’ third album, had been sighted near the summit of numerous end-of-year lists. Having toured incessantly since the age of 14, her profile was elevated to that of “rock glamour-puss” (so said, eh, JustinTimberlake.com). She couldn’t have possibly imagined, then, that a year later, she would be standing on the cusp of even greater things. But as front woman of The Dead Weather, a bonafide supergroup boasting members of Queens of the Stone Age, The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, it would appear her star is still on the ascent. Superstardom beckons, and she’s got the column inches to prove it. Here, she gives insight in to her year in rock.

On getting together with Jack White: "The Kills toured America with The Raconteurs and towards the end Jack got sick. He needed some help singing some of his songs, so I sung them. Jack asked me to get on the bus from Atlanta to Nashville with him and record in his studio, which he’d just finished building.

He’d had this record label for a long time, through which he wanted to put out 7” recordings of everyone who came to town. So the four of us were the first to experiment in that studio: just testing it out and writing in it. It was a great experience and we just kept writing. It was weird - something was working way too well, and we didn’t stop. When I came back a few months later, after I finished Kills touring, we carried on writing."

had to portray what it was that I needed to say.

The difference this time was that representation is not only the self, but of the venue Jane and I created out of love for music, art and good booze!

The first dilemma was what to leave out. Sure, the Diane Cluck and Samamidon performances that were special beyond belief, but for me they didn’t belong on The Bowery compilation.

I wanted the compilation to have an awareness of the first aims and ideals of the venue itself - to showcase any band that we believed in.

Hence my selection of a track by Lach, the man who founded the sidewalk cafe and antifolk culture - without which the bowery wouldn’t have existed. Also represented are local bands such as Jesus H. Foxx, who have not only played some of their best gigs in The Bowery but have recorded, along with The Douglas Firs, in the space as well.

With The Bowery moving on from the space, the compilation brings together a sense of what we have been and what I aim to continue doing in other forms: bringing together musicians and artists who we believe in and creating a community of creativity wherever we may be.

HEAR THE BOWERY BUNDLE ON TEN TRACKS NOW. WWW.TENTRACKS.CO.UK/CHANNEL/ THEBOWERY/THE-BOWERY-1

On the UK media: "I think Jamie (Hince – The Kills, boyfriend of Kate Moss) and I escape everything we want to by working so hard. You don’t read the papers when you’re in your house working, and you don’t want to leave to get it. There’s a real element to living in a bubble that I’ve always liked. You’re more liable to hear about something that’s been written from your mom calling you to tell you than you are by reading it. Ninety per cent of media attention in general isn’t positive or creative, so it doesn’t really matter."

On touring: "The difference from what it was like when I was 14 is that you learn how to cope with it. You really learn how to live on the road. It’s like self preservation: you can get stuff done anywhere. There isn’t anywhere that I haven’t been any more. Different things take priority and doing an incredible show every night is what it’s based on. It’s not that it stops being fun; it just starts being something more rewarding. It’s a different, twisted adventure now."

On life with The Dead Weather: “We’re not a band that parties a lot at all. There has to be something to celebrate and there’s so much to be done everyday. Sleeping is the most wonderful thing on earth. Maybe I’m getting old, but the last two years of my life have been like that. If I want to get something done or have anything else in my life – even painting a room… those things have to come before getting smashed. Working is more rewarding for me. I’m horrified that I might be a severe workaholic, and sometimes I think I maybe need to have a little more fun.”

WWW.THEDEADWEATHER.COM

Jesus H. Foxx

DECEMBER 2009

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RECORDS

My 2009 A Modern Mixtape WWW.TENTRACKS.CO.UK

Japandroids Sneaky Pete’s, 13 Nov

Alice in Chains

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Barrowlands, 12 Nov

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www.aliceinchains.com

Daniel Johnston Queen’s Hall, 4 Nov

rrrr From the eerie silence filling the packed auditorium of the Queen’s Hall, it’s clear that this is no ordinary gig.

The usual pint-holding scrum of attendees in checked shirts has been replaced by a politely seated congregation waiting in rapt anticipation for their unlikely hero, American singer-songwriter and ‘outsider artist’ Daniel Johnston. People have been counting down to this show for months.

So great is this audience’s devotion, they even enthusiastically applaud support act Laura Marling’s fey witterings, despite a significant number looking near-suicidal at her seemingly endless stream of inane rhyming couplets. When the man himself takes to the stage, the crowd erupts before settling into a reverent hush as he begins his pared-down set. For the first half it’s just Johnston and a guitarist. Later,

he brings on a backing band in the form of support act The Wave Pictures, whose Butlins house band-alike style proves strangely poignant when accompanying the magical tragedy of his lyrics.

Johnston appears both excited and extremely nervous at being on stage, grinning at the warmth emanating from the audience even as the shaking in his hands reaches violent levels. His struggles with mental illness are well documented, but that doesn’t matter tonight. Speeding Motorcycle and Bloody Rainbow are huge crowd pleasers, while his Come Together cover inspires a large part of the previously sedate audience to break out in whoops. For tonight, the demons are laid to rest, and Daniel Johnston can do no wrong. [Rosamund West]

Shred Yr Face III

Yo La Tengo

Stereo, 13 Nov

ABC, 6 Nov

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It’s always nice to catch a gig where each band inhabits a similar universe but ultimately brings an entirely different set of sounds and influences to the table.

Said stylistic universe, in this instance, would be that of so-called neo-folk. Take Woods. Riding, or rather surfing, a wave of recognition that has pegged them alongside a gang of other like-minded lo-fi scenesters, these youthful Brooklynites tra-la-la their way through trippy spacekraut and junkyard pop, with some heavy chugga-chugga sprinkled in for good measure. Without the aid of electronically altered vocals and drug-drenched analog synth decorations, however, they could easily pass for a Modern Lovers tribute act (there are much worse things, to be fair).

Next up is Espers who downshift significantly to a heavier mood and more restrained vibe. Their haunting version of chamber rock, led by the eerily angelic vocals of Meg Baird, is delicately layered and thick with overtones, a modern rendering of vintage psychedelic twang that tips its hat to both Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny. Tonight’s listeners are treated to both older songs and new cuts from their latest full length III, with even that Blue Öyster Cult cover thrown in to make sure no stone is left unturned.

The Cave Singers are obviously the crowd favorites, commanding the most immediate response.

With hobo-shtick reference points in check, the trio tramp through their set at a decent clip, but unfortunately it all starts to pretty much sound the same after about the fourth song. Bellower Pete Quirk swears up and down, testifying like a newly saved sinner at a tent revival, but ultimately this comes off as a bit manufactured, even if he does do a great impression of Tom Waits covering one of the slower songs off an early R.E.M. record. Not bad for a bunch of former garage punks. [Eric Ledford]

The return of Yo La Tengo to Scottish shores carries an air of expectation. ABC1 draws a huddle of early comers for ex-Gorky’s frontman Euros Childs’ (***) charming psych-pop, but packs out quickly for the main event, who take t othe stage at a family-friendly 8.15pm.The band’s professionalism initially almost renders them workmanlike.

To call the setlist “varied” is an understatement: switching between new singles, old favourites, sleepy drone, squalling feedback, piano pop, doo-wop, a song from alter egos Condo Fucks, with a request and two encores thrown in, the trio’s efficiency marks them out as veterans. As the set draws out, the disconnect between the raw, elemental beauty of the sound and their ordinary outward appearances - bassist James McNew’s perennial shy smile, drummer Georgia Hubley’s grim-faced determination as she pins down the set, and the way a hunched Ira Kaplan wrings his guitar neck in intense, adolescent bursts - becomes mesmeric. This culminates in closer I Heard You Looking, which, over 15 minutes, grows into an ecstatic, deafening jam that swallows the room. Such moments of unshowy transcendence are hard won by band and audience alike during a show that foregoes fireworks in favour of the slow burn, and is all the better for it. [Gillian Watson]

www.shredyrface.com

www.hihowareyou.com The Cave Singers

62 THE SKINNY December 2009

photo: dave kerr

It’s fitting that Alice in Chains’ first European tour with new material in 16 years should begin within the dusty climes of the Barrowlands. Having documented their fabled 1993 turn at the venue by releasing the gig as a Live album, there’s a bittersweet symmetry to seeing this new incarnation of the Seattle outfit return to the same stage without late frontman Layne Staley.

Naysayers to the union are hushed once William DuVall wraps his vowels around It Ain’t Like That’s unmistakable slow grind with unwavering conviction, proving that – although Staley was a one off – this is more Back in Black than Queen featuring Paul Rodgers.

A steamrollering salvo of sludge metal classics culled from the opening chapter of seminal sophomore offering Dirt follow, before a sombre unplugged session finds ballads like Down in a Hole comfortably rubbing shoulders with the title track to new album (and ostensible Staley eulogy) Black Gives Way to Blue.

Crowd interaction is kept brief until Jerry Cantrell comes out to ‘freeball’ in a kilt and sincerely profess the band’s affection for its Scottish following. A crowd that roars the lyrics to closing numbers Would? and Rooster back at him suggests the feeling is still mutual. [Johnny Langlands]

photo: claire taylor

Technical problems hold up tonights This Is Music at a sold-out Sneaky Pete’s, meaning opening band Bronto Skylift take the stage an hour behind schedule. A delay can work for a band if the crowd is sufficiently excited, but tonight Bronto struggle to rile people up, despite the drummer doing his best by climbing onto the bar and smacking the lights out. It’s not because they don’t have energy, but because their painfully abrasive guitarwork and manic drumming is very indulgent: they concede no ground to audience members holding out for for a hook.

Super Adventure Club are indulgent in another way, in the long solos and multi-part multi-tempo songs sense. Sometimes it’s hard to hold onto the thread of a song through so many changes, but when you can, it’s riveting - Math Rock and 17th Century Ambassadors are particularly awe-inspiring. Near the end, a heavy, hard ten-minute long freeform instrumental piece is full-stopped by a scream and a belch; the next song starts with a smooth croon, harmonising backing vocals, and a melody like a 60s Fairy Liquid advert. Super Adventure Club are never predictable.

Vancouver garage rock duo Japandroids step the energy levels up a gear, and this time the crowd goes with them because they have the tunes to match. There’s nothing complicated here: Japandroids play fast and loudly distorted teen anthems about girls and mates, with repetitive shouted vocals, easy to shoutalong to.

So we do, mutually assuring each other that a manifesto for life developed as a kid can still apply in young adulthood. Responsibilities? Sorry, we’ve no space, you’re not getting in. We prefer raucous mclusky covers with knob jokes, thanks. [Ally Brown]

photo: Markus Thorsen

Music

Live reviews

www.myspace.com/yolatengo

Mew ABC, 5 Nov

rrrr Pitchfork may have ridiculously yet somehow quite perfectly summarised Mew as “Queensryche meets Sigur Ros” in times gone by, but No More Stories... – the Danish trio’s latest foray into the more esoteric reaches of should-be stadium rock – assures a pendulum swing away from noodle-haired anti-cool, further toward the experimental otherworldliness of their Scandinavian peers.

Entering to an awkward soul sample that could have been cut by J Dilla, Introducing Palace Players announces the band with an industrial clang which marries well with the thunderous one-two of Circuitry of the Wolf and Chinaberry Tree, an acute reminder of the standard reached by 2005’s And the Glass Handed Kites. With polite but monosyllabic crowd interplay managed by guitarist Bo Madsen, the ever-fey Jonas Bjerre is left to present a dynamic vocal range, by turns rapturous and sombre. Though the sheer bombast of material from Kites – like White Lips Kissed and Saviours of Jazz Ballet – eclipses all else on show tonight, the frozen silhouettes conjure a blissful rock opera. [Dave Kerr] www.mewsite.com

MUSIC

by Eric Ledford

Sunn 0))), Glasgow, 6 Dec

ALTHOUGH the cold snaps of December typically signal a lull in all metallic operations, a broad range of both seasoned and unrefined heaviness rounds out the year, dislodging us from the double zeros once and for all.

In the mid-80s, the Parents’ Music Resource Center (PMRC) were on a religious crusade to protect America’s impressionable youth from the likes of Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P. Support them in their quest to reclaim Sunset Strip supremacy, complete with buzzsaw blade jockstraps, at the Garage in Glasgow (6 Dec). The same venue hosts drugstore cowboys Monster Magnet the following night (7 Dec). Here’s hoping they’ll dip into their back catalogue and dust off a few jewels from their definitive debut album Spine of God God, arguably the most satisfying

moment of stoner rockdom.

Brainstorming urban guerillas or astronautical psychedelic warlords? Hawkwind (or whatever’s left of the original lineup) reassert themselves as THE seminal spacerockers at the Glasgow O2 ABC (18 Dec), while role-playing fantasy gamers Dragonforce defend the citadel of powermetal in grand style at Fat Sam’s in Dundee (4 Dec) and the Ironworks in Inverness (5 Dec). Fire-breathing lizard-like creatures will be sacrificed onstage for the pure enjoyment of the mere mortals in attendance, so wear plenty of leather for protection.

At Bannerman’s in Edinburgh, gob-swallowing hurt-merchants Corpses bring the smackdown in celebration of ye olde Hardcore Xmas with some mosh-friendly support from shit kickers The Colour

Live Music

Highlights

by Mark Shukla

IF you can’t stand The Pastels, The Smiths or The Vaselines then you’d better stay the hell away from Glasgow on 3 December, because The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are set to turn Stereo into indie Ground Zero for one night only. Updating the C86 sound with layers of MBV-lite fuzz has made this group the darlings of the skinny jeans scene, but anyone who digs loveable, literate pop will get a kick out of this.

Excitable young pups Tubelord are the kind of band that make you (well, me) feel old.

Spastic riffing, disorienting time sig changes and put-the-world-to-rights vocals are just three of the reasons I felt compelled to have a sit down and a cuppa halfway through writing this (obviously while straining my senile mind to remember why I was typing standing up in the first place). Anyone who enjoys mathy, melodic hooks and unchecked exuberance should be able to look past Tubelord’s dearth of originality and have a right good time at Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s (7 Dec), Dundee Dexter’s (8 Dec) and Glasgow Captain’s Rest (9 Dec).

Ace Glasgow-via-Dingwall four-piece The Cinematics have a spanky new album to their name, and they hit Scotland hard this month with gigs at Inverness Madhatters (6 Dec), Aberdeen Snafu (7 Dec), Dundee Fat Sam’s (8 Dec), Edinburgh GRV (9 Dec) and Glasgow

Pink Is Gay (18 Dec). On the previous weekend, the Old Town sewers will overflow with contaminated medical waste when Vomit The Soul, Embryonic Despair and Kastrated perform live aural autopsies (12 Dec). Expect to be excreted alive in an act of malignant defecation.

Australian death-desirers Altars and California delinquents Trash Talk stink up the basement at 13th Note (1 Dec), then Louisville lowlifes Lords rip everyone a new one at Captain’s Rest (2 Dec). Looking northward to the frigid shores of Aberdeen, blood guzzlers Achren harass the locals at Mooring’s Bar (5 Dec) with help from Downfall.

Anguished screams metamorphose into ambient noise as lonewolfs Sunn 0))) shake the abysmal foundations of Stereo (6 Dec) with their outsider

atmospheric drones and minimalist haze. Their collaborators are always an unexpected treat, so there’s really no way to predict who might join them onstage this time around. Strictly enforced dress code: head-to-toe black, thank you very much.

A full-blown Finnish invasion lands at Ivory Blacks (4 Dec) when death/doom disciples Swallow The Sun wallow in gloomy bereavement alongside Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum.

The following week, pirate impersonators Alestorm hijack the Cathouse (9 Dec) with support from nihilist punters The Rotted. Another winter solstice is upon us, so mark its passing as you see fit. Metal, booze and the unadulterated worship of heathen icons might be your best bet.

to some thrilling, visionary songwriting as well as a preternatural display of technical skill. Just don’t expect them to play to the gallery.

It’s easy to forget just how many great artists are signed to Warp right now. Broadcast certainly aren’t their highest profile band but this unconventional duo have been spinning sinister psychedelic atmospheres for well over a decade. They get a lot of Stereolab comparisons, and Trish Keenan’s vox can certainly nail that haunting 60s pop feel, but this pair are way more interesting and bring an exploratory Radiophonic vibe to the table. Recent shows have seen extensive use of visual projections, so Glasgow Stereo (9 Dec) is a smart place to be.

The Mill is all about giving exposure to

upcoming Scottish talent, and on 10 December it plays host to Homework and Kid Canaveral at Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire. Homework have a nice line in melodic rock with a funk influence while Kid Canaveral up the tempo for some lush, hard-hitting power-pop. All tickets for The Mill are free and available at themilllive.com, so get down to Cab Vol and show some love.

Findo Gask play a spate of gigs this month, and we urge you to get down to one of them because, well, they’re one of the best bands in Glasgow right now. Findo go heavy on the synths and electronics, but they pin it all down with some righteous basslines and great songwriting – plus Gerard Black has one HELL of a set of pipes on him. Their new material is just getting better too, so check them at Dundee Duke’s Corner (12 Dec), Glasgow Nice N Sleazy (19 Dec) and Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s (20 Dec).

One of Sub Pop’s best kept secrets, Fruit Bats, play Aberdeen Tunnels on 15 Dec. Founded by Eric Johnson (now of The Shins), they’re masters of finely crafted melodic songwriting with a vigorous folk influence. It’s sunny, uplifting stuff and posseses a certain intriguing spaciness that we’re digging pretty heavily.

The Mill sets up at Glasgow Òran Mór on 17 December to showcase Sparrow and the Workshop (moody, evocative Americana featuring some fantastic vocals) and The Invisible Republic (eclectic, trippy folk-rock with a dreamy feel). As before, get your free tickets from themill-live.com.

Aberdeen’s best (and only) independent record shop, One Up Records, is throwing a birthday bash on 30 Dec at The Tunnels, and none other than Fence consiglieri King Creosote (among others) will be on hand to toast this long-running and much-loved establishment. Should be quite a party.

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART ARE SET TO TURN STEREO INTO INDIE GROUND ZERO ON 3 DEC King Tut’s (23 Dec). Think muscular, atmospheric guitar music with plenty of rhythm and swagger and you’re in the ballpark.

Let’s get one thing straight: The Mars Volta care not for your approbation. With their wild, untameable barnets, their Joycean lyrics and pathological need to ‘jam’, they have made it clear that any music they choose to play is created solely on their own terms. Having said that, those who cough up to see their gig at Edinburgh HMV Picture House (9 Dec) should bear witness

The Mars Volta, Edinburgh, 9 Dec

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 63

y p p Ha y

a d h Birt to us!

As the worst year in recent economic history comes to an end, The Skinny is oblivious. The magazine turned four years old this year, proving that we keep our advertisers happy and doing business with us is a good thing. Not only that, thanks to all the artists and sponsors involved, we had a great joint party with Ten Tracks at the Arches in Glasgow. Here's the evidence:

64 THE SKINNY December 2009

Check. One, two: The Blessings Black Cat Meursault RBRBR Over the Wall Slabs of the Tabernacle DJs Radio Magnetic DJs Men and Machines Astroboy JD Pyz David Barbarossa Huntly and Palmers Audio Club

Spot

Spot the muscles!

Pictures anticlockwise from far left: Jenny Anderson; Martin Senyszak x4; Luke Winterx3; Martin Senyszak; Luke Winter; Martin Senyszak

Thanks to all musicians involved and special thanks to Chang, Pincer Vodka, Rhymes with Purple, cakealicious.com, Jen and Cat Taylor the Massive Cake Makers, the pinata and decor fairies (you know who you are) and the Arches.

December 2009

THE SKINNY 65

CLUBS

Test Pressing Volume six of the rare and highly collectible White Label imprint is now ready for advance orders Interview Anna Seale Illustration Nick Cocozza “THE aim of the night was to bring the talent from around Glasgow and beyond to the big stage and soundsystem.

There are so many good underground club nights in Scotland and some excellent DJs, but because The Arches is usually about booking big acts, these local guys rarely get the chance to play the renowned venue.”

The promoter behind one of the newest additions to the Arches ever-growing list of club nights, White Label, makes a good point. While some people may argue that the city doesn’t need another night dedicated to techno, minimal and house, White Label does have a unique selling point.

Without its existence, it is unlikely that most of the DJs who have previously appeared at the night would have ever had the opportunity to perform at a venue such as The Arches.

Currently preparing for its sixth outing on 18 December, the night has managed to gather talent from other clubs across the country, booking names such as Dirty Basement, Cammie T and Kage from Bonbon, Matthew Craig from One More Tune and Terry White from Optik, among others.

“Most of the acts we have booked run successful nights elsewhere with a small crowd of regular followers. It’s good to give these guys the opportunity to step up to a bigger venue and play a set on one of the best soundsystems around. It’s also great when the people who have supported these DJs since they began come through and see them in a whole new surrounding, in a line up with other people who share the same idea about what a club night should be about.”

With the first few slots of any evening at White Label taken up by emerging, unsigned talent, the headline acts are usually more established acts. Previous headliners including Soma’s Mr Copy, M_nus’s Gary Beck and Jackmaster, the golden boy of the highly respected Numbers collective. While these names will attract the attention of any discerning night owl, it still manages to ensure that the underground ethos of the evening remains intact.

The December date will feature opening sets from Michael Watters of the Gosh night at Pivo Pivo, and Kill The Kid from Don’t Talk To Strangers and the Technobix show on Subcity Radio. Past the midnight hour, Liquid Funk’s Rebecca Vasmant takes to the stage, followed by Tw-Onko and Pasty from Amo Casa and a live performance from Hologram Hookers.

If the thought of a varied punnet of fresh musical produce being brought together under one arch isn’t enough to sway you into attendance, check out this month’s Skinny podcast. Provided by White Label December guest Kill The Kid, point your cursor at www.tinyurl.com/skinnypodcast, and it should be more than enough to remove that fence from your rear.

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TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE ARCHES BOX OFFICE. £5 ADVANCE, ON THE DOOR TICKETS ARE £6 BEFORE 11.30PM AND £8 AFTER. WWW.WHITELABELGLASGOW.CO.UK

Chris Duncan

LASER BEAMS IN YOUR DREAMS THE temptation to take the easy route this month has been avoided, to a certain degree. No lists along the lines of: “Nights You Should Have Been At In 2009” to be found here. Instead, to celebrate that time of year where club events multiply like influenza cells, the majority of this month’s section is dedicated to previews of the best events across the country and a rundown of the best Hogmanay nights on offer.

Looking beyond the winter

festivities, The Arches is encouraging everyone to fill their boots with events during December, as the venue will be closed throughout January and February next year while rail works take place above the venue. Pressure and Inside out are moving to the Academy, Octopussy is relocating to the ABC, and Colours and Death Disco are having a break until March.

In other news, Smirnoff are offering four £5,000 grants to anyone who can come up with

66 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

an imaginative one-off club event. Aspiring promoters can visit facebook.com/smirnoffGB to submit their over-the-top ideas, which will be judged by a panel including Rob Da Bank and Queens of Noize (really?). The closing date is 11 December, for anyone who feels like pissing away five grand in a manner that would make an MP blush.

DJANDREW CHART THOMSON

HUNTLEYS & PALMERS AUDIO CLUB

Jackson Jones - I Feel Good, Put Your Pants On (Pilooski Edit) [Dirty] Where it all began! I was first introduced to Pilooski via this track after hearing this about 3 years ago.

Months later he played the first H&P party in the Research Club. Slo-mo disco funk.

Zomby - Mu5h [Hyperdub] There’s a whole host of Zomby tracks I could have chosen where melody reigns throughout each.

Comparable to James Holden circa 2004, he stands head and shoulders above his contemporaries and has created an instantly recognisable signature sound.

Binary Chaffinch - False Energy [Dissident] Easily the best label over the past two years. I think this track serves as a good representation of what to expect – something different.

Runaway - Alberg 30 [Chinatown] I’m a big fan of Runaway, but this is like nothing else I’ve heard from them. I’m surprised this has slipped under many people’s radar – maybe down to it being bandied about as ‘dub disco’ which sounds shite on paper. Google it.

Petar Dundov - Oasis (Gavin Russom Remix) [Music Man] A big scary monster of a track. 15 minutes of mesmerising analogue acid goodness. I heart Gavin Russom.

Francisco - Esplanade ‘97 [Nature] Italo with a swagger. I’ve fond memories of a room full of people yelling along word for word when Francisco played this at the Research Club last year.

Guido - Way U Make Me Feel [Punch Drunk] Tune of the year? Most likely.

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Hogmanay Clubbing: There's a Lot Going on Underground Never mind gambling the magic hours of the biggest night of the year on your mate's assurances about his suburban house party. Instead, dearly discerning clubber, be prepared to see in 2010 in the sweaty embrace of fellow night crawlers to the tune of Auld Lang Syne with a 4/4 drum pattern.

Text Chris Duncan Out with the old and in with the new, as the saying goes. So let’s start the rundown of high quality festivities taking place on the 31st of December with a look at one of the newest entries on the Hogmanay party circuit.

Tictactoe’s twelve hour party runs from 2pm to 2am before moving on to an official afterparty. Taking place at Templeton Carpet Factory in Glasgow, the event is already selling out fast as the headline act is none other than Circo Loco resident Matthias Tanzmann.

Joining him will be No Dough’s Broken and Towie, as well as Soma’s Harvey McKay, Simon Stokes and tictactoeclub resident Andrew Doran. Completing the lineup are Daniel Hedley of Hotbox, Bobby Wilson of EQd and Terry Whyte of Optik.

A slightly more subdued celebration takes place in one of Glasgow’s finest watering holes, the Ivy. Starting at 9pm, the river of rum will flow to the tune of a four deck set by RKGB. Meanwhile, Spectrum has a residents special in the basement of Blackfriars whilst downstairs in Max’s Kansas City hosts the Slabs of the Tabernacle New Year Party, with Mark du Mosch, a live performance from Electrick Dragon, Casionova and Slabs' resident DJs. The Universal lets the kids loose in the form of Kreep vs Itch were residents from both nights will be going head to head. Guests include Sweets Edison from Thunder Disco Club, Saavedra from La Disco Freaks and Tarantism from Subcity Radio.

The well publicised line-up share between Edinburgh’s Cabaret Voltaire and the Arches in Glasgow throws up some big dogs. Death Disco’s first ever Hogmanay bash will see Erol Alkan, Aeroplane, Rex the Dog, Den Haan, Mark Moore, Sammy Jo, Acid Girls and Burns ensuring that not a single glitter smeared torso is left vertical by the end of the night.

The Cabaret Voltaire offers the same headline acts, but with a different supporting cast for the evening.

Erol Alkan and Aeroplane will hop onto the Citylink 900 service and dart between the two cities whilst Ultragroove’s Gareth Sommerville, Bargain Harold & i-Tallah Disco from Sick Note and This Is Music keep the punters tantalised.

Elsewhere in Edinburgh, Departure Lounge are celebrating their sixth year of success with a suitably diverse Hogmanay line-up in The Caves. Appearing live in cave one are The Haggis Horns, The Banana Sessions and The Edinburgh Samba School followed by DJ sets from Astroboy, Jiminez and Mr Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, cave two hosts a rub-a-dub session with Big Toes Hi-Fi Soundsystem and MCs Daddy Scotty, Dangerman, Pappa Zebbi and George Prophet.

Round the corner at the Bongo Club, the inevitable has occurred. After a successful year of creating events that blurred the line between clubs and theatre to the delight of its core fanbase, Confusion is Sex has been offered the keys to this year’s Bongo Club Hogmanay party.

Music is provided by resident micro-edit, glam-electro queens Dolby Anol and dance performers include Daiquiri Dusk, Hettie Heartache and The Freaky Brides.

Elsewhere in Reekie, the official afterparty for the Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations takes place at the HMV Picture House, organised by Musika. The line-up includes a DJ set from Mylo, sure to be previewing material from his forthcoming second album due for release in 2010. Joining him will be James Zabiela, Dean Newton, Derek Martin, Alan Dobson and Neil Bartley.

A veteran of Edinburgh’s dubstep scene, Volume!, returns with its offering for the biggest night of 2009, the year when their favoured genre broke through into the mainstream consciousness. Confirmed acts include Termite, Morphamish, Kidill AKA Smooth Rider,

68 THE SKINNY December 2009

Jonny Faith, Wolfjazz and Robtheft.

Studio 24 is the venue for Balkanarama’s New Year special with DJs specialising in ‘gypsy dubstep’ and live performances from Alejandro Toledo & The Tombolinos, Black Cat and Grandma Staflash, all topped off with free food from the best Polish and Turkish eateries in Edinburgh.

Back in Glasgow, Optimo Espacio goes back to its roots with a sensational evening of all Scottish guests at The Fruitmarket. A warm up set will be served up by Warp Records’ secret weapon (well, he was till we stuck him on the cover last month) Hudson Mohawke followed by a live performance from the ‘also available for children’s parties’ entertainer Drums of Death. A brand new second stage has been added this year to showcase the talents of Divorce and a new show by The Niallist.

Stereo’s basement has, hands down, been one of the most interesting places for live music and leftfield club events since it moved into the heart of the city. After a variety of nights from Huntleys and Palmers Audio Club, LuckyMe, Curious Curious and Men & Machines, the space formerly filled by the printworks of Glasgow will be occupied by the Numbers collective as they bring in

Stereo’s basement has, hands down, been one of the most interesting places for live music and leftfield club events since it moved into the heart of the city. the new year. Special guest include Dorian Concept, Brackles, Guido as well as Numbers and Ballers Social Club DJs. Hold on to your ticket stubs for free entry into the Numbers 2010 Meltdown at the Sub Club on New Year’s Day. Melting Pot stays at the Admiral for an exclusive set by disco and house maestro The Revenge, joined by Greg Wilson as part of his Credit To The Edit Vol. 2 tour.

Across the way, the Sub Club invite Ralph Lawson into the bunker for a DJ set along with a live show from Guillaume and the Coutu Dumonts after the bells.

This will be Guillaume and the Coutu Dumonts second time at the Sub Club after their well received debut at Subculture last year. Harri and Domenic will recap some of the year’s best records along with some well worn Subculture classics.

Up north, Aberdeen’s Snafu continues the quest to become the city’s finest with a Hogmanay event featuring Alan Braxe of Stardust, JoJo De Freq and Djamba.

And, with that, dear readers, we offer a Springer-like wish that you might take care of each other and yourselves this festive party season.

Tickets for most events are available from Tickets Scotland, Rub-a-Dub Records and Ripping Records.

Aeroplane, playing The Arches, Glasgow

www.tickets-scotland.com

Tunnel General Skinny Ad_OCT_PROOF.pdf

20/10/09

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December 2009

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Clubbing

Highlights

by Chris Duncan & Joe AD

FORMER footsoldiers of the drum ‘n’ bass movement Aquasky appear at Edinburgh’s Fake night on 12 December, returning after a year locked down in the studio creating fresh and innovative sonic noise since re-assessing their position in the UK dance scene. Their last visit to Edinburgh saw them play to a packed Bongo Club, so expect more of the same when they arrive at Sneaky Pete’s this month.

The box fresh Thunder Disco Club makes its third outing at the 250 capacity Lite Bar on 4 December. Move fast to avoid disappointment, especially after our feature on them last month blew their secret little party wide open.

Meanwhile, up the road, Velvet celebrate their first birthday at Couture with special guests Audiojack as well as their normal residents.

Popof plays Supernova at the Arches on 4 December, supported by James Harcourt, while Tic Tac Toe welcome Ronnie Muirhead from The Courtyard’s success story of the year Sunday Circus.

Back over in Edinburgh the crowd pleasing Jack Beats makes his debut at Bitch at the Cabaret Voltaire on 11 December. Following his Death Disco debut earlier this year, his appearance at Bitch will give the night crawlers of Auld Reekie a chance to hear what all the fuss is about.

Braehead Arena becomes the battleground for this year’s Soulwax led party. Taking place on 18 December, Soulwaxmas 2009 features a legion of guests designed to shatter the earth’s core, with a live performance by Soulwax and DJ sets by Mixhell, Tiga, 2 Many DJs and local talent such as Johnny Whoop and Hulkblood.

December is a month of notable important birthdays but not many are as exciting as that of Big Foot’s Tea Party. On 4 December Big Foot’s celebrate a year entertaining our eyes and ears, kicking off the celebrations at the Majestic

DECEMBER IS A MONTH OF NOTABLE IMPORTANT BIRTHDAYS BUT NOT MANY ARE AS EXCITING AS THAT OF BIG FOOT’S TEA PARTY Laundrette with a private party for friends, headlined by special friend Simon Stokes, making his fourth Big Foot’s appearance this year. Residents Marmalade Man and Faux Pas are then joined by another familiar face in the form of hot property Hans Bouffmyhre as the party moves to the Art School for the main event. The evening’s top draw however is the mighty Lucio Aquilina, fresh off the back of acclaimed sets at Sonar and Cocoon and a string of releases on Trapez, Wordless and Spectral Sounds which are sure to have revellers moving as resident VJ Redux, who’ll have something special up his sleeve, litters the walls with his visual stimulants. On a night with much to choose from, it’ll be well worth catching the “Disco Bus” into town for this one.

Finally, Mixtape present Giles Walker on 18 December at Snafu, while Let It Bleed throw a Christmas party on 20 December with an invite to Dubsided’s Switch to take to the bauble covered decks.

Band of Brothers

At the first of two Death Discos this month, We Have Band bring their Kitsune sponsored sound to the Arches.

Interview Chris Duncan 2009 has seen the three piece We Have Band fulfilling a hectic schedule; despite having only played their debut gig a year ago, the trio are now regarded as one of the most exciting bands coming out of London. The hype surrounding them resulted in both Puregroove and Kitsune releasing the band’s demos on their compilations.

“Puregroove and Kitsune have both been great for us. They’re two very brave and genuinely interesting groups of people so it was great to work with them.

Massive credit has to go to the 50 Bones label also who actually put out our first single. That’s where it all began for us. The reputation these labels have has been amazing for us because people take note of what they release so we’ve gained a lot from them.

Luckily they all came about because they liked our music and we just spoke about putting something out and then we made it happen. “ So how did We Have Band come together to create music? “Thomas and Dede are married to each other and we all used to work together. We came together as a bit of an accident really. We had the idea to make music even before we knew each other that well so it was just a play around to start with and then it just snowballed into action and to where we are now. We

had no plans for all the stuff we’ve done so we started off very innocent and without any expectations, which was nice. We met up just to eat, drink and write songs for about 6 months before we even talked about playing any shows. Thomas and I were in a few quite different bands before. Dede hadn’t ever set foot on a stage before gig one. It’s a nice thing that it feels totally new for us all and it really doesn’t compare in the slightest to anything we did before so that doesn’t really influence either. Especially when things get busy so quickly; you really get immersed in it. This is our whole world now. It’s like having a baby, it can’t compare to anything else.”

When it comes to their live performance do they adapt their performance based on their surroundings? Or can people expect to see the same show regardless of the tour date? “We know Death Disco’s a party night so we’ll play to that for sure. We kind of straddle a few styles so we get to dress things up and down as we like. Nights like this we want to get the room as sweaty as possible so we’ll hit it hard. Our own shows are a bit more balanced and we play the album out a lot more.”

WE HAVE BAND JOIN THE DEATH DISCO RESIDENTS, BRODINSKI, GRUM, TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS, FILTHY DUKES AND LOUIS LA ROUCHE ON 12 DEC.

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2 Many DJs, playing Soulwaxmas 2009, 18 Dec

70 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow 0141 565 1000 www.deathdisco.info

CRC ADVERT ROCK XMAS AD 155X126:Layout 1

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Subculture vs Sensu Detroit Weekender

Clubs

previews Actress (live) Noise Pollution, Blackfriars, glasgow, 12 Dec

Sub Club, glasgow, 18 & 19 Dec

In discussions about the techno movement, one name crops with regularity – Derrick ‘Mayday’ May. Alongside Juan Atkins, Carl Craig and Kevin Saunderson, he’s regarded as one of the pioneers of the Detroit sound.

May introduced both a psychological element and a futuristic vision to dance music, his skeletal, melancholic sound gaining him the nickname, ‘The Miles Davis of Techno’. Utilising familiar bass sounds with ever more complex beats, flange effects, twisting chords and deep strings, he produced a catalogue of music that pushed the boundaries of what could be accomplished with electronic sound forever more.The following evening welcomes Octave One, who have released material on Transmat, KMS, Underground Resistance, Tresor and their own seminal imprint 430 West Records. Expect a masterclass in timeless techno that moves effortlessly from rolling beats, Detroit synths and strings through to spine tingling vocals and stripped down beats. [Chris Duncan] Derrick May appears at Sub Club on 18 Dec, £12. Octave One play on 19 Dec, £12. Weekend access tickets available for £20.

Continuing to showcase live performances from artists across the techno spectrum rather than relying purely on DJs, this month’s Noise Pollution sees London-based producer Darren ‘Actress’ Cunningham invited to flex his production skills. Releasing acclaimed debut album ‘Hazyville’ on his own Werk Discs label last year (an imprint previously responsible for cutting-edge output from the likes of Lukid, Disrupt and Zomby), his sound offers a grainy, monochromed take on the Detroit techno blueprint, while also touching upon electro and myriad bass-heavy styles. He was recently signed to the Honest Jon’s label (a collaboration between Blur frontman Damon Albarn and Honest Jon’s record shop in London), and his second long-player is likely to drop next year. Joining Pollution resident Sean Matthews at the decks will be Glasgow producer Ruaridh Law, aka The Village Orchestra, who was responsible for this year’s digital-only album, ‘The Dark Is Rising’. Expect a set from the Numbers DJ which could take in anything from dubstep to acid house, rave to two-step and beyond. [Colin Chapman]

GSA End Of Term Warehouse Party

Cabaret Voltaire, edinburgh, 19 Dec

glasgow 12 Dec, venue TBC

It’s a battle between house and techno for the Ultragroove and Velvet troops. The Speakeasy, upstairs at Cabaret Voltaire, hosts Velvet for their capital debut. Launch-night treats come in the form of dynamic duo Filthy Rich and Paul Maddox (aka Spektre) with a live set. The pair can boast about an impressive production catalogue, and a DJing schedule that matches the very best(it’s Harry Klein the week after). DJ support rallies from usual suspects Kill the Kid, John Gerrard and Le Mac for an event of uncompromising techno. Downstairs, Ultragroove celebrate Christmas in their inimitable style. Head honcho Gareth Somerville presides over the headliner spot, Craig Smith will warm the early birds with soul, funk and disco and Gino is supplying eclectic beats in room two. Only problem now is, which night do you go to? [Nicol J. Craig]

Fact Magazine recently called Jackmaster “probably the best DJ in the UK”, and here at The Skinny, we’re rather fond of him too. He’s one of the minds behind the now deceased Dress 2 Sweat and Wireblock labels, releasing music by the likes of Hudson Mohawke and Rustie.

Both labels combined with Stuff Records to create the shiny new Numbers label recently, a move that was a long time coming. Jackmaster’s fast, furious mixing style and ever-changing musical palette has seen him earn bookings at the UK’s finest clubs and events, as well as dates in Barcelona, Berlin and Paris, where Modeselektor personally requested him to play alongside them. Also playing will be KONX-OM-PAX, celebrating the birth of his own label Display Copy. Visuals for the evening will be provided by the excellent Acid Raft. The party will take place in a secret location and the capacity is strictly limited to 200 people. [Chris Duncan]

Divine! 19th Birthday The Vic Bar, glasgow, 5 Dec

Glasgow’s premier retro soul, funk, psych and ska night is found in the art-deco Victoria Café. On the first Saturday of every month, the chequered dancefloor is filled with a crowd digging the aural delights of ‘60s and ‘70s Northern soul, heavyweight funk, dynamite ska, psychedelic freakbeats and obscure rock ’n’ roll - sifted from within the Divine Sound Archives. Mr Divine digs deep to provide the loyal crowd with a fresh fix of rare vinyl nuggets, mixed with the retro classics which have made the club such a firm favourite.For the birthday bash, Divine proudly welcomes local legend JD Twitch behind the decks for a rare retro, guaranteed-drum-machine-free set. Here, Twitch gets a unique chance to hone a playlist crafted from one of his major passions – worldwide ‘60s and ‘70s psychedelia.Also available on the night is the latest hotly anticipated annual Divine mix CD, packed with fuzz-fuelled club anthems and soon-to-be loved tracks.

[Chris Duncan] 11pm-3am, £6/£5

TO ARRANGE A BOOKING e

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10pm until late, £5, no admittance after midnight. The party will take place in a secret location and guests will be emailed on the 11 December with directions to the venue. Email rob@taktal.com for entry.

Fun Size Le Cheetah, glasgow, 25 Dec

Perhaps, just perhaps, your past Christmas experiences haven’t mirrored a festive TV ad of parties in snow covered streets, endless buffets and lashings of mulled wine.

Fear not, disenchanted reveller, as Teamy (Wrong Island) and David Barbarossa (Curious Curious) have joined forces to ensure that you need not spend Christmas Day in the depths of despair as yet another anniversary of the bold J.C. fails to live up to expectations. Fun Size, with its vertically challenged hosts and policy of only allowing fun records on the turntables, will be opening its doors for the third time and welcoming guests onto a dancefloor by a crackling log fire and stockings fit to burst, probably.

Chin strokers, please stay at home to update your Discogs wishlist, your type isn’t welcome here. [Chris Duncan] 11pm-3am, £4

Karnival

Dreadzone

Cabaret Voltaire, edinburgh, 12 Dec

Ironworks, inverness, 11 Dec

A festive time party with Karnival’s residents and friends, namely Mike Pinkerton, Ryan Ellis and Matt Edwards in the main room, playing house and techno, with Craig Reid and Barry Fell in the other spinning deep house and disco. Since its inception, Karnival has put together a wide variety of local talent and live acts along with well known special guests from further afield. To date these guests have included people such as Jim Rivers, Paolo Mojo, Gene Farris, Tim Deluxe, Chris Coco, John Acquaviva, Funk D’Void, Graeme Park, Fisher & Price, Huggy, Gareth Sommerville and Derek Martin. As well as appealing guest line-ups, Karnival also has a trio of resident DJs in the shape of Mike Pinkerton, Matt Edwards and Ryan Ellis, who promise that the December outing will offer some warm escapism from the cold weather outside. [Anna Seale] 11pm-3am, £6/£8

£14.99.595(FRI & SAT) £1

11pm-3am, £8

UltrAgroove vs Velvet

10pm-3am, £10 advance for Velvet. 11pm-3am, £5 before midnight, £8 after midnight.

SE 3 COULRUDING A C OR MEAL LINE OF GOLD FE OF K IC R IN P R SP MAZING HURS) THE A (SUN-T

The summer has been a busy one for Dreadzone, with the festival season allowing the group to grace the stages of places from Glastonbury to Oxegen, Cropredy to Beautiful Days as well as festival shows in Croatia, Belgium, Poland, Austria and Greece.

Dreadzone have had a six album career which has spanned the credibility of a Creation Records release, major moves on Virgin and independent support on Functional and Rufflife. Once cited by John Peel as having recorded one of his 10 favorite albums of all time (1995’s Second Light), Dreadzone recorded six Peel Sessions and the top 20 hit from that album, Little Britain, later acquired classic status. Catch them live at The Ironworks in Inverness as part of their ongoing tour. [Anna Seale] 8pm, £12.50

December 2009

THE SKINNY 71

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Brought to you by DF Concerts and Founding Partners Tennent’s Lager

Tickets for 2010 on sale Friday 4th December at this year’s prices visit tinthepark.com or ticketmaster.co.uk or call 08444 99 99 90

PUT THE IN CHRISTMAS

Glasgow music Tue 01 Dec Hollywood Undead ABC, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

Alternative punk rock.

Regina Spektor

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £22.50

Alternative pop singer/songwriter.

Jousting With Dracula (Call To Mind, Haight Ashbury) Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £2

E.P. launch night from Glasgow-based instrumentalists.

Neon Indian

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £6

Breezy acoustic pop.

Lamens Terms, The Paris Riots Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Acoustic pop. Pure and simple.

Lightning Dust (Early Day Miners)

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £9

Canadian indie rock.

Rage! (Alkotron, The Retrofrets, Always the Way ) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £3

A special one-off garage/rock ‘n’ roll night with some of Pivo’s fave bands.

Bucket of Blues with the Rhumboogie Orchestra The Ferry, 20:00–00:00, £12.50

Vic Godard

Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

Punk legend formerly of the Subway Sect.

Hammonds Folly, Callan Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Live bands showcase.

Bless The Fall, Bury Tomorrow, Marionette

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £8

Energetic rock types, with Marionette providing the alt-folk come down.

Deer Tick

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £7

Alternative beats.

Shed Live (Tragic O’Hara)

Thunder in Paradise Presents (Filthy Little Secret, Ghosts of Progress, The Dieyoungs, The Shunned)

Open Mic Night

Open mic night.

A mixed bag of garage, blues and indie.

Stripped back music.

Bar Bloc, 20:00–01:00, Free

Oceansize, And So I Watch You From Afar, Vessels

Blues session in association with Smooth Radio and Rock Radio.

Experimental rock and indie.

The Shed, 20:00–00:00, Free

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £3

Glasgow Slow Club

Halt Bar Hijack

Chilled out night, where punters are asked to bring their own five-track playlist.

Local bands takeover, plus DJs playing dancing tunes.

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £9

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Single Skin Presents (Minus IQ )

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £4

Another rockin’ indie night brought to you by Single Skin Promotions.

Tuesday Night Music Club

The Butterfly & The Pig, 20:30–01:00, Free

Acoustic open mic night.

The Bottleneckers

Blackfriars Basement, 21:00–23:00, Free

50s, rock ‘n’ roll and blues from the Tuesday night residents.

Trash Talk, Departures, Altars, Dark Habits 13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £4

Hardcore thrash and experimental metal rock.

Wed 02 Dec

Fri 04 Dec Swallow The Sun, Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum (Al Ba Gu Brath, Resonance Theory) Ivory Blacks, 18:30–22:00, £10

Death metal.

Electric Six (Eureka Machines, Big Ned) ABC, 19:00–22:00, £12.50

Alternative rockers. May, or may not, have progressed since ‘Gay Bar’.

The Halt Bar, 20:00–00:00, Free

Heatherette @ La Roche Rumba

Pollok Ex-Servicemens Club, 20:00–01:00, £5

Live debut of electroclash pop.

Johnny Whoop

Bar Bloc, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Techno electro.

Sun 06 Dec Casino City

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £6

Experimental indie rock.

Jools Holland and his band.

Sunn O)))

Scottish Epilepsy Initiative (The Seers, The Magic Lantern Show, The Rays)

Experimental metal.

Hardcore punk pop and electro rock respectively.

Lords (Holy Mountain, Citizens)

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £7

Bad boys from Kentucky.

Openmiking

The Halt Bar, 20:30–00:00, Free

Weekly open mic night.

Thu 03 Dec Dragonforce Ultra Beatdown Tour (Sabaton, Glamour of the Kill, Sylosis) ABC, 19:00–22:00, £16

Special metal tour.

Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

Live bands play in aid of the Scottish Epilepsy Initiative.

Peski Kings

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Indie pop.

Lowline (Kung Fu, Airspeil)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £5

Alternative indie.

Midnight Thursday Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

Har Mar Superstar (Tragic City Thieves)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £9

Cheeky lo-fi electro pop, likes to perform in his tight-y whities.

Mike TV, The Atoms

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £tbc

Short and sharp punk pop.

Mon 07 Dec Ian Broudie and James Walsh Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £16.50

UK Subs (Prairie Dugz, Fire Exit, Snipes, Media Whores)

Soulful popstress.

Catchy shout-pop with Florence Welsh at the helm.

Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £9

Punk mix.

Classic rockers.

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £tbc

Grendel

Simple Minds

Industrial electro.

Classic rockers.

Classic Grand, 19:00–22:30, £12

SECC, 19:30–22:30, £36

Broadcast

Jamie Thomson

Special live set.

Alternative loveliness.

Bar Bloc, 20:00–22:30, Free

Phantom Limb

Goldie Lookin Chain (AT8)

Soulful rock that we really rather like.

Hey Sholay

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £5

French pop.

Tubelord, Trapped In Kansas, Thisfamiliarsmile

Thu 10 Dec Madball

Ivory Blacks, 18:30–22:00, £10

Hardcore punk.

Malcolm Middleton’s ‘Long Dark Night’ Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £14.50

The Scottish troubadour’s special acoustic winter tour.

Modest Mouse

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

Indie rock.

The Pogues

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £29.50

Traditional Irish tinged punk. Since it’s December, ‘Fairytale of New York’ is a must play.

Paramore (You Me At Six, Paper Route, Now Now Every Children)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £12

Welsh rappers with a cheeky songbook.

Models For Radio, Norquay Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Sat 05 Dec

Mono, 19:30–00:00, £5

Album launch night with special guests, including a DJ set from Aidan Moffat.

Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free

Xscape Braehead, 18:00–02:00, £5 suggested donation

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £6

Freestyle (Debbie Morton, Emma Jane, Southern Remedy, Molly McCabe) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, Free

An all acoustic night. Plus free pizza!

Guns 2 Roses Tribute act.

60 Persons

Weekly live jam session.

Alternative indie rock.

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–00:00, Free

James Morrison

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £6

Initial itch

Acoustic singer/songwriter.

Athlete

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £16

Soft-hearted indie.

A pick and mix night aimed to inspire the viewer, with live music, scratch performance, poetry readings and experimental film.

Indie pop with a heart.

Classic Grand, 19:00–22:30, £6

Sounds Of Swami, Super Adveture Club, Jackie Treehorn, 1000 Philistine Foreskins

Acoustic rock.

Anti-Nowhere League (Prairie Dugz, Razor Blade Smile)

Alternative rock.

From The Jam

Kevin Devine

Tribute night.

Floaty acoustic folk

Lost City Lights

Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £9

Bar Bloc, 20:00–22:30, Free

Punk night.

The Mill (Trapped In Kansas, The Whiskey Works)

Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £20

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £2 (£1)

Tue 08 Dec

Jools Holland and his band.

Stripped back music.

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Glasgow Ska Night Madness Party (2-Tone DJs)

Tweak Bird, Bronto Skylift, Galoshins

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £5

Alternative tunes.

You Already Know

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Experimental rock.

Breakdown Bands

Soundhaus, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£5 members)

Alternative bands night.

A pre and post gig Madness party, with a live set from Esperanza.

Taken By Trees (Andrea Marini, John B Mckenna, Camera Obscura DJs) Mono, 20:00–01:00, £7

Live performance by Victoria Bergsman, plus support bands and special DJ set.

Mon 14 Dec Bombay Bicycle Club Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £9.50

Sat 12 Dec

Cheeky alternative indie chaps.

Saturday Jazz (The Electric Ark)

Acoustic Jam

Free live jazz sessions.

Folk fae Fife

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–00:00, Free

Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free

Weekly live jam session.

Amplified (Counterfeit Clash, Black Dog, Are We Them)

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £8

A tribute night to Clash, Led Zepellin and REM.

Green Door Clinic (Black Hack, Break Glass Emergency, The P45’s) ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £6

Great music from, yup, Fife.

Placebo

SECC, 20:00–22:30, £25

Alternative rock.

Beak, Thought Forms

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £13

Fuzzy acoustic rock and electro.

Indie rock.

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £18

The Phantom Band (Lord Cutglass)

The Arches, 19:00–22:00, £10

Glasgow seven-piece with myriad musical personalities.

Freestyle (Graham Robertson, Craig White ) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, Free

Another mixed bag of acoustic performers. Plus free pizza!

Tue 15 Dec The Raveonettes

Bright Young Nights, Scorpion Jack

Ska pop with baggy trousers.

Marilyn Manson (Esoterica)

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Alternative indie and acoustic folk rock.

The Bookhouse Boys, Black Gold (Cancel The Astronauts)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £6

Alternative surf and indie rock resepctively.

Cullan, Expanding Demands, Scarlet Shift, The Only Jones Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £tbc

Four of the best up-and-coming indie bands in Glasgow.

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £tbc

Alternative indie rock.

Basement Jaxx

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £26

Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £23.50

House music duo with a string of danceable hits to their name.

Depeche Mode

Alternative pop with definite 80s beats.

Bubblegum Records Present (The Hidden Cameras, Canada Pale Man Made, England Leaving Morningston Crescent, Sweden Lean Tales, Scotland Asleep) Stereo, 19:30–03:00, £15

Indie pop party night from Bubblegum Records, with free mulled wine and mince pies.

Christmas extravaganza with Glasgow live music talent.

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

The Shed, 20:00–00:00, £2

Bar Bloc, 20:00–01:00, Free

Live Jazz

Jazz classics and modern standards.

Set Your Goals, Broadway Calls, Fireworks

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £10

The Borthwicks, Medusa’s Curse, Psychoattractive

Pop punk.

A mix of indie, pop and punk. You can’t say fairer than that.

Local bands takeover, plus DJs playing dancing tunes.

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Controversial rocker.

Yrock Night

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Rocky tunes, more than likely.

SECC, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

Shed Live (The Toi, Midnight Thursdays, The Hardy Souls)

Indian classical music on sitar and flute.

Open Mic Night

Pop punk and progressive rock.

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £10

Chilled out night, where punters are asked to bring their own five-track playlist.

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £8

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Madness

Glasgow Slow Club

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

The Quiff, Quiver and The Lady Snatchers, Black International

A night of singer/songwriters and bands.

Yaman

Jools Holland: The Infomer SECC, 19:30–22:30, £31.50

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Single launch night.

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £8

Alternative rock.

Gothenburg Address

Pop punk.

SECC, 20:00–22:30, £31.50

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £6

Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £10

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Status Quo

Sucioperro (Make Sparks, Orko)

Experimental types.

Acoustic Jam

Free new live music showcase. Request tickets from www.themilllive.com

Madaleine Pritchard

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

New live music in aid of Maggies Cancer Care Centres.

Òran Mór, 20:00–22:30, Free

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Florence and The Machine (Frankie and The Heartstrings)

Magic Carpet Cabaret

Livezone @ Sno!zone (Nacional, Eightball, Suplex The Kid, Helicon, Acrylic Iqon)

Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

Traditional Scottish band.

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £15

Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £18

Indie folk.

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Maggie May’s, 19:00–22:00, Free

Alternative post punk.

Tribute act.

For Bee Gees fans, wherever you may be.

One word: rock.

SECC, 19:30–22:30, £27.50

Beatles tribute act.

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £6

Alternative pop and grunge rock respectively.

Alternative rock.

Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £tbc

Them Beatles

The Complete Stone Roses (The Haze)

Titus Gein, Black Sun

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £6

Free live jazz sessions.

Alternative indie band, now back and touring.

Electro rock.

KMR Presents Horsefeathers

Live duo; one from The Lightening Seeds, one from Starsailor.

Bleed From Within, Hates Fear Full-on death metal.

Stereo, 19:00–22:30, £6

Tragedy: Metal Tribute to The Bee Gees (Go Go Bots, Nanobots)

Ringo Deathstarr, Silvermash

Sun 13 Dec Ivory Blacks, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

Any Colour Black

Casablancas plays without his muskateers.

Light-hearted alternative rock.

The Crave (City of Statues)

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £16.50

Progressive experimental.

Julian Casablancas

Saturday Jazz (Odd Time)

Shed Seven

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £27.50

SECC, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

The Gazettas (Helicon, Hello Pirates) ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £5

Porcupine Tree (Engineers)

The Vatersay Boys

Alternative new music.

SECC, 19:30–22:30, £31.50

Alternative indie from the former Orange Juice frontman.

Alternative niceness with country leanings.

Jingly jangly indie.

Alternative rock from NYC.

Cake Free Bakesale

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £18

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Wayne Hussey

Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £10

YEAH YEAH YEAHS

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–22:30, £tbc

The Dirt, Greg Whelan

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £12

Weekly open mic night.

Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £25

Fri 11 Dec Edwyn Collins (1990s, The Low Miffs)

The Magic Numbers

The Halt Bar, 20:30–00:00, Free

Album launch night.

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Wed 09 Dec

Openmiking

Jools Holland: The Infomer

First Step To Failure, Syndri

50s, rock ‘n’ roll and blues from the Tuesday night residents.

The Afterglow, Daybreak, The Cairos, Annie Stevenson

Post punk indie.

Indie rock types.

Blackfriars Basement, 21:00–23:00, Free

Beatles tribute act.

Celtic rock six-piece.

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £14

The Bottleneckers

Tribute to the mighty metallists.

Classic Grand, 19:00–22:30, £8

Casino Brag

A, Rinoa! Rinoa!

Acoustic open mic night.

Alternative progressive and indie.

Runrig

A night of music hosted by Jonny Terrell.

The Butterfly & The Pig, 20:30–01:00, Free

Captain’s Rest, 20:00–23:00, £6

Alternative rock.

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

Tuesday Night Music Club

Maggie May’s, 19:00–22:00, Free

Sixstarhotel (Make Sparks, We Throw Stones, Pacific Theatre)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Original, full on punk. Expect carnage.

Them Beatles

Classic Grand, 19:00–22:30, £6

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £18.50

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, Free

Irn Maiden (Deadly Inscription)

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £tbc

Gun

Razorblade Smile

Halt Bar Hijack

The Halt Bar, 20:00–00:00, Free

Open Mic Night

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Stripped back music.

Thea Gilmore, Rod Clements King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £13.50

Acoustic indie rock singers.

Izaak the Tinker Thomas Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £3

A Pivo debut for poetic troubadour Izaak the Tinker Thomas.

Tuesday Night Music Club

The Butterfly & The Pig, 20:30–01:00, Free

Acoustic open mic night.

The Bottleneckers

Blackfriars Basement, 21:00–23:00, Free

50s, rock ‘n’ roll and blues from the Tuesday night residents.

Stapleneck

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

New live band.

December 2009

THE SKINNY 73

Glasgow music Acoustic Xmas Party

Strike the Colours 'n' Chums

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 20:00–01:00, £tbc

Special acoustic guests.

The Admiral, 7.30pm, £5

Songs of a distinctly festive bent from RM Hubbert, Burnt Island and Olympic Swimmers. With David Gow of Sons and Daughters on the wheels of steel.

Fur Hood, Stevie Jackson, San Fran and the Siscos, Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers, The Sirens of Titanic Choir 13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Thu 24 Dec

Full roster of live bands with chilled acoustic performances.

GLASGOW ÒRAN MÓR, TOP OF BYRES RD SEE GIG LISTINGS

Saturday Jazz (Leo Forde Quartet)

Tue 22 Dec

Brel, 18:00–21:00, Free

Boomtown Rats: Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £15

Wed 16 Dec

Frightened Rabbit (The Moth and the Mirror)

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

Glasgow Slow Club Bar Bloc, 20:00–01:00, Free

Ian Brown

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £24

Former Stone Roses lead and now solo alternative indie rocker.

Drever, McCusker and Woomble

Òran Mór, 19:30–22:00, £15

Lovely Scottish folksters team up.

Dillinger Four (The Terrors, The Murderburgers, A Lost Generation) Stereo, 19:30–22:30, £9

Punkish sounds.

The Twilight Sad

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Our favourite Scottish-brogued rockers.

Wing and a Prayer

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

Gentle blues.

What The Blood Revealed, Burning Mountain, Loss Leader Bar Bloc, 20:00–22:30, Free

Experimental pop and electro metal.

The Bluetones (Kizzy Star)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £14

Acoustic indie playing a three night special.

Revelations (Mocker, Duckhunt, Frontline Playground) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–00:00, £3

Another top-notch Revelations indie rock line-up.

Openmiking

The Halt Bar, 20:30–00:00, Free

Rose Parade, Japan 4

Ducksoup Presents

Punk rock.

Live music showcase.

Joe Strummer Tribute Night

Ian McNabb (The Scattered Family)

Special tribute night.

The Bluetones (Kizzy Star)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £14

Acoustic indie playing a three night special.

Shed Live (Bruce Morton, Billy Kirkwood, Jay Lafferty) The Shed, 20:00–00:00, £2

A night of uncut laughter with a selection of Scottish comedians.

Glasgow Slow Club Bar Bloc, 20:00–01:00, Free

Chilled out night, where punters are asked to bring their own five-track playlist.

Glasgow Podcart Xmas Extravaganza (Panda Su, Kid Canaveral, The Darien Venture, Tokyo Knife Attack) 13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Live bands play a special Christmas event in aid of Yorkhill Children’s Hospital.

Fri 18 Dec Hawkwind (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) ABC, 19:00–22:00, £20

Progressive rock.

Public Image Ltd

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £36

Renowned punkers.

101% Pantera (15 Times Dead) Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £tbc

Metal with a capital ‘M’.

Babyshambles

Acoustic Tribute Night

Pete Doherty fronted indie rock.

Festive themed tributes. Come and sing-a-long.

Thu 17 Dec Codeen (The Cairos, The Regiment, Another Love Party) ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

Indie electro.

Bronto Skylift, Super Adventure Club, Lyons (Vic Galloway)

Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £21

Pritchard Vs. Dainton (DJ Hudge)

Classic Grand, 20:00–22:30, £12

Special live show.

General Franco Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Freestyle emo pop.

The Bluetones (Kizzy Star)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £14

Acoustic indie playing a three night special.

Stereo, 19:00–22:30, £5

the Latecomers

The Last Resort

Acoustic pop loveliness.

Alternative indie Christmas special.

Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £9

Punk tunes.

Dr Feelgood

The Arches, 19:30–22:00, £13

Hard driving rock ‘n’ roll.

Pet Shop Boys

SECC, 19:30–22:30, £30

Electro dance outfit who brought us the joys of ‘West End Girls’.

A Hardcore Xmas (Hey Vampires, Corpses, The Colour Pink Is Gay, Shields Up, Fight and Fires) Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Nothing says Christmas like hardcore rock. Eh, yeah.

The Mill (Sparrow and The Workshop, Invisible Republic) Òran Mór, 20:00–22:30, Free

Free new live music showcase. Request tickets from www.themilllive.com

Funky latin hip-shaking tunes.

Indian and Scottish style music on guitar, cello, soprano sax and vocals.

Weekly open mic night.

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Chilled out night, where punters are asked to bring their own five-track playlist.

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £5

J.E.M.

The Flying Duck, 19:30–23:00, £4

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £15

Classic rock with hints of pop.

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £2

Winter Blues

Halt Bar Hijack

An all blues night for those who like to wallow.

Local bands takeover, plus DJs playing dancing tunes.

Shed Live

Glider

Experimental indie.

The Butterfly & The Pig, 20:30–01:00, Free

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Glasgow’s Soul-Fi @ Basura Blanca

The Brunswick Hotel, 22:30–02:00, £12

Mercury Music Prize nominees play a charity gig event.

Sun 20 Dec Them Beatles

Maggie May’s, 19:00–22:00, Free

Beatles tribute act.

Demon-Stration, Nerrus Kor, Cancerous Womb, Oblivion Incarcerated, White Walls

Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £tbc

Death metal.

Sticky Fingers

Òran Mór, 19:30–22:00, £10

Rolling Stones tribute act.

Michael Simons

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

Folk and blues fingerstyle guitarist.

Flood of Red, The Xcerts, Healthy Minds Collapse (There Will Be Fireworks)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £7.50

Mix of alternative poppy rock.

Yoshi, Action Group, Patricia Panther, All The Queens Bovine

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £22.50

The legendary duo play with full band.

Echobass, ForeverVoid Ivory Blacks, 19:00–23:00, £tbc

Heavy metal and rock.

Saw Doctors

Barrowlands, 19:00–23:00, £20

Traditional Irish folksters.

Crufts 4 (Findo Gask)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Live tunes with Findo Gask at the helm.

74 THE SKINNY December 2009

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £5

Pivo’s four fave indie/rock/pop bands, with the crowd voting for the champs.

The Halt Bar, 20:00–00:00, Free

Local bands takeover, plus DJs playing dancing tunes.

Sun 27 Dec Maggie May’s, 19:00–22:00, Free

Beatles tribute act.

The Silencers

ABC, 19:00–22:00, £15

Chris Glen

Kings of Queen

Solo session from Chris Glen of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Queen tribute.

Preacher (Tracing Air)

The Ferry, 19:00–00:00, £15

Rock and pop.

Òran Mór, 19:30–22:00, £10

Komodo

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £5

Experimental electro.

No Tribe Awards Show

Progressive metal.

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

The Cinematics (Kick To Kill, Jonathan Carr)

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £5

Alternative rock.

Woodlands Creatures

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £7

Pivo’s four fave alt/rock/metal bands, with the crowd voting for the champs.

Openmiking

The Halt Bar, 20:00–00:00, Free

The Halt Bar, 20:30–00:00, Free

Weekly open mic night.

Eruption X Mass Party (The Brutes, Thee Phantom Herd, The Kosher Pickles) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £3

A new home for garage/punk night Eruption, formerly at The Halt Bar.

Shed Live

The Shed, 20:00–00:00, Free

Open mic night with special guests.

Tuesday Night Music Club Acoustic open mic night.

Blackfriars Basement, 21:00–23:00, Free

Changing rota of live bands from the Woodlands Creatures Collective.

Wed 30 Dec Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 19:30–23:00, £tbc

Clash tribute.

Openmiking

The Halt Bar, 20:30–00:00, Free

Weekly open mic night.

Thu 31 Dec Hogmanay

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, £10

With pipers at the bells and Kate Lawler kicking off after midnight.

Back To The Future

O2 Academy, 19:00–22:30, £25

New years big party night.

Captain’s Rest Hogmanay (St Deluxe, Schnapps, Alan McKim) Captain’s Rest, 19:30–23:00, £5

Live Hogmanay event.

The Amphetameanies (The Bucky Rage)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £10

Ska pop.

New Year Party (Casino City, Otago, Another Love Party, Codeen ) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £6

Unsigned bands to bring in the new year.

Glasgow Slow Club Bar Bloc, 20:00–01:00, Free

Chilled out night, where punters are asked to bring their own five-track playlist.

The Hogmanay Ceilidh The Ferry, 21:00–02:00, £35

Traditional Hogmanay ceilidh.

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £tbc

All the best in loud sounds.

Hue and Cry

Revelations Awards Show

Them Beatles

Solo singer/songwriter.

Stripped back music.

Blues Bunny Presents

Special Christmas fun.

Free live jazz sessions.

My Pretend Orchestra (The Hype)

Party club night special.

ABC 2, 19:00–22:00, £11

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Combat Rock

The Ferry, 21:00–02:00, £tbc

Wed 23 Dec

Open Mic Night

Funked up bass loops with laptop, electric bass and a guest soloist.

Twisted and Brainfire

Frank O’Hagan

Acoustic Americana.

50s, rock ‘n’ roll and blues from the Tuesday night residents.

The Gateway District Punk types.

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £14

Dave Dominey

Halt Bar Hijack

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

Tue 29 Dec Kevin Montgomery

The Bottleneckers

Blackfriars Basement, 21:00–23:00, Free

50s, rock ‘n’ roll and blues from the Tuesday night residents.

Pivo’s four fave acoustic bands, with the crowd voting for the champs.

Night of live bands.

No Tribe (Hell Above, TV Revo, Edging on Ecstasy)

Brel, 15:00–18:00, Free

The Bottleneckers

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £5

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

This Is Our Battlefield Xmas Party (Kaddish, United Fruit)

Sat 19 Dec

Acoustic open mic night.

Acoustic Bazooka Awards Show

Abba Fever

Free live jazz sessions.

Psychedelic pop.

Tuesday Night Music Club

Alternative indie pop.

The Butterfly & The Pig, 20:30–01:00, Free

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £5

Open mic night with special guests.

The best bands and artists of the year, in Blues Bunny’s opinion.

Saturday Jazz (Dias Quartet)

The Shed, 20:00–00:00, Free

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £9.50

Brel, 18:00–21:00, Free

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £tbc

The Halt Bar, 20:00–00:00, Free

Saturday Jazz (Alan Gilbert Quartet)

Tribute act.

Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Inide rock line-up.

Sat 26 Dec

Òran Mór, 19:00–22:00, £10

Open Mic Night

Stripped back music.

Lauries Bar, 20:15–23:00, £tbc

13th Note, 21:00–23:30, £tbc

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £8.50

Information Libre (San Toy )

Casino Brag Indie post punk.

Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 20:00–22:00, £2 Box, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Òran Mór, 19:30–22:00, £10

Tribute act.

Vinyl (Streak, Abound)

THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2009

Surrogate Pink Floyd

Two of the Boomtown members play live.

One of our fave live bands. The end.

THE MILL IS AN 18+ VENUE. DRINK SENSIBLY

Free live jazz sessions.

Mon 28 Dec My Latest Novel

Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, Free

Shed Live (The Meatmen, The Balladeers, Playtone, David Duffy) The Shed, 20:00–01:00, £4

Christmas extravaganza with Glasgow live music talent.

Mon 21 Dec Pearl and the Puppets (Brother Louis Collective, Kitty The Lion)

THE BEST IN LIVE EMERGING MUSIC FOR FREE TICKETS VISIT themill-live.com

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 20:00–23:00, £6

Acoustic indie pop.

Merry FolkinÕ Xmas (Matt Norris and the Moon ) Pivo Pivo, 20:00–23:30, £3

A night of lovely folk, by lovely folk, for lovely folk. Sounds lovely!

THE MILL IS AN 18+ VENUE. DRINK SENSIBLY

Edinburgh music Tue 01 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

The Mine Presents Underclass (Skyless, Blind Assassins)

Colossal Indie Santa Rocks (The Vibe, Svengali, The Lane)

Medley of live bands and singers.

E.P. launch night.

Origin Scotland: Light of the World

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

The Enemy

Corn Exchange, 19:00–23:00, £tbc

Rescheduld gig. Original tickets still valid.

Wee Red Bar, 19:00–22:00, £4

RSNO (Sir Roger Norrington Conducts)

Usher Hall, 19:30–22:30, £10-£24

Classical music special.

Cave Rock ‘n’ Reel with Shooglenifty (Injuns, TV21)

Vic Godard (Davy Henderson)

Rousing ceilidh sounds from Shooglenifty. All profits go to AIDS affected families in Uganda.

Punk legend formerly of Subway Sect.

The Caves, 19:00–01:00, £10

Leith Folk Club (Blueflint) The Village, 19:30–22:45, £6

Yearning ballads of love and loss.

Skip Charity Fundraiser The Jazz Bar, 20:30–23:30, £4

Live music, fun and games in aid of Students for Kids International Projects.

New Bands Showcase

Whistlebinkies, 22:00–01:00, Free

Mixed line-up of new bands.

Wed 02 Dec Ryuichi Sakamoto on Piano Queen’s Hall, 19:00–22:30, £26

Legendary composer and talented tinkler of the ivories.

Tam’s Railways

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Alternative indie rock.

Jerry Bergozi Trio

The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:00, £8 (£6)

Boston-based sax guru.

Thu 03 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Medley of live bands and singers.

Ringo Deathstarr, The Debuts, The Manikees

Citrus Club, 19:30–22:30, £10 in advance, £12 on door

Found, Mersault, Panda Su Roxy Arthouse, 19:30–22:45, £7 in advance, £10 on door

Live recording for The Police Box, see www.tentracks.co.uk for more info.

The Negatives, Threats (Buzzbomb, Nasty Nasty) Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £5

Swaggering street punk.

Skellum, Storm in a DCup, Divinity, Columbia

Queen’s Hall, 19:30–22:30, £8.50-£26

Intense piano miniatures.

Ildessyen Call, Lost from Atlas

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Intense instrumental rock.

Rolled Up 20s

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Indie rock.

The Jazz Bar, 20:30–23:30, £3

Four new acts premiere their indie folk acoustics.

Fri 04 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

Queen’s Hall, 20:00–22:30, £14

Talented folk trio.

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £5

Classic punk covers.

Miyagi Four Nations Spectacular (Sea Bass Kid, The Loose Kits, The Glendale Family, The Green Grass Candidates)

Polish jazz pianist.

Live Band Karaoke

The Electric Circus, 22:00–00:00, £tbc

Sing on stage with live house band, The Bearded Ladies.

Vic Godard Official Aftershow Party (Sellotape, The Bum-Clocks, Shock and Awe)

Henry’s Cellar Bar, 23:00–03:00, £5

Special aftershow bash for Vic Godard.

Sat 05 Dec Saturday Afternoon Jazz The Jazz Bar, 15:00–18:00, Free

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £4

Electro soul troopers Miyagi host a live music ‘spectacular’.

WORLD PREMIERE QUINTET

Whistlebinkies, 21:00–23:30, Free

Alternative rock.

Ten Tracks Present: Cloak X Dagger (Northern Xposure, MC Profisee) The Electric Circus, 22:30–03:00, £5 before 11.30pm, £6 after

A celebration of new Scottish hip-hop with surprise guest DJs. Come join us!

Jam The Box

The GRV, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)

Disco, house, dubstep and soul.

Sun 06 Dec Ian Broudie and James Walsh

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £16.50

Former Lightning Seed teams up with the Starsailor frontman.

Naive New Beaters

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £5

London-based Ghanian rapper plus hip-hop support.

Pop-rapped dance hits.

Mark Morris (Ocean Reid, Neoviolet, Holly Ogilvie, Lindsay Sugden and The Storm)

Corn Exchange, 19:00–23:00, £14

Lead singer of The Bluetones plays a headline solo show.

Studio 24, 19:00–03:00, £15

The Electric Circus, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

Pete Molinari

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £7

Joe Bonamassa

HMV Picture House, 19:00–22:30, £22

Blues and rock on guitar.

Schwervon! (Withered Hand, The Pineapple Chunks, Les Enfant Bastard) Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:00–22:30, £6

SEE GIG LISTINGS

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Annie Stevenson, The Afterglow

The Jazz Bar, 20:30–23:30, £4 (£3)

EDINBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE, 36 BLAIR STREET

Cash From Chaos, Malfunction (The Filth and the Fury)

Mira Opalinska Quartet

Country tinged folk blues.

Unpeeled

Lau

A hand-picked five-piece play together for the first time, with a different line-up every week.

Kobi Onyame (Steg G and the Freestyler Master, STM, DJ Kon-Tempt)

SCO: On An Overgrown Path

Christmas music from the Exile Band, choir and Chamber Orchestra.

Alternative mix of rock and pop, with some thrash metal thrown in from Divinity.

Runrig

Hit songs from the long-running Scot’s band.

Usher Hall, 19:30–22:30, £10-£12

The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:30, £4 (£3)

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £6

Usher Hall, 19:00–22:30, £23.50-£26

New music line-up plus DJs.

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Ease yourself into the weekend, jazz style.

Mix of alternative bands.

The Voodoo Rooms, 19:00–23:00, £5

The Cribs

Loudmouth indie punksters, now with Johnny Marr in tow.

Propagandhi (Protest The Hero, Strike Anywhere) Punkish rock.

Sounds Of Swami, Elohymn (Tabasco Fiasco, Mr Dirty, Phil Gabriel)

Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:30–23:45, £4

Speedy quirkcore from Sounds of Swam! and epic post-rock from Elohymn.

Mon 07 Dec Rogues

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6

Three brothers form the core of this Lamacq-backed outfit.

The Magic Numbers

This Is Music (Bargain Harold, Tallah Disco)

She Sleeps Forever (Dividing the Silence)

The psychedelic indie rockers present their folky ditties.

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Pounding metalcore.

Open Mic Night

Tweak Bird, Healthy Minds Collapse, The Valkarys Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £6

The Great Jam Session

The Banana Sessions (Small Feet Little Toes, Freemoore)

Turn up and do your thing. Loudly.

The Jazz Bar, 22:30–01:00, £2 (£1)

Renowned drop-in jam jazz session.

Tue 08 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

The Bowery, 19:00–23:00, £5

Tropical pop.

The Mill (Homework, Kid Canaveral)

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:30–22:30, Free

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Free new live music showcase. Request tickets from www.themilllive.com

Catherine Feeney, Chris Pureka

New York Dolls

Medley of live bands and singers.

HMV Picture House, 19:30–23:00, £18.50

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £6.50

Proto-punk glam rockers with war wounds and persistent hunger.

Deerhoof (Divorce)

New Urban Frontier, Eat Dr Ape

Folk vocals and indie acoustica.

The Bongo Club, 19:00–22:00, £12.50

Sugary melodies and an experimental spirit.

Karma To Burn

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7

Rock hard metal medicine.

Burnout

Alternative beats.

Gritty Texan singer/songwriter.

The Village, 19:30–22:45, £8

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Eclectic mix of funk, hip-hop and rock.

Laptop Lounge

The Voodoo Rooms, 20:00–01:00, Free

Contemporary electronic with exclusive live acts.

Miasma, The Crush Waves, Casino Queen The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Sneaky Pete’s, 20:00–03:00, Free

Indie and electro, plus live guests.

Live Band Karaoke

The Electric Circus, 22:00–00:00, £tbc

Sing on stage with live house band, The Bearded Ladies.

Sat 12 Dec Trampoline (Jill Leighton, Debutant, Lady North, Johnnie Common) Wee Red Bar, 14:00–22:00, £5

Special all-day live music event with loads more acts to be confirmed.

Saturday Afternoon Jazz The Jazz Bar, 15:00–18:00, Free

Ease yourself into the weekend, jazz style.

The Bowery Final Fling The Bowery, 18:00–23:00, £5

Acoustic sets from some of The Bowery’s bands of the year, as this top arts venue bids farewell.

Pearl and the Puppets

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £5 on door

Acoustic indie pop.

David Gray

HMV Picture House, 19:00–22:30, £tbc

Acoustic singer/songwriter with love him or hate him appeal.

CRANACHAN

DLdown

Metal, synthy beats and garage blues respectively.

Septycal Gorge, Vomit the Soul (Amputated, Kastrated)

Acoustic rock with jazz frills.

James Grant

Queen’s Hall, 20:30–22:30, £12 (£9)

Brutal death metal.

New Bands Showcase

Alternative tunes.

Alternative rock.

Footstomping folk rock.

Mixed line-up of new bands.

Bannerman’s, 21:00–23:00, Free

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Whistlebinkies, 22:00–01:00, Free

White Noise (Sebastian Dangerfield)

The Electric Circus, 22:00–03:00, £4

New live bands, plus alternative beats on the DJ decks.

Wed 09 Dec

Talented singer/songwriter plays with his live band.

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £6

Junior Priest, The Amorettes, Switchblade Scream The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Classic hard rock and a bit of thrash metal from Switchblade Scream.

Fri 11 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Medley of live bands and singers.

This Is Music

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £4 on door

Tap O’Lauriston Memorial Weekend (Oi Polloi, Gin Goblins, Critikill, Overspill, Carbona Not Glue, Cress) Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–03:00, £6

Broken Records

Windlestray

Part of the two-day punk event to commemorate the ten year anniversary of the closure of the Tap.

Broken Records play a special Christmas-flavoured gig.

E.P. launch night.

WORLD PREMIERE QUINTET

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £7

New bands showcase.

Wee Red Bar, 19:00–22:00, Free

Mars Volta

RSNO (Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto)

Experimental rockers.

Classical music special.

HMV Picture House, 19:00–22:30, £17.50

The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:30, £4 (£3)

Usher Hall, 19:30–22:30, £10-£24

A hand-picked five-piece play together for the first time, with a different line-up every week.

Bang Bang Club

The Voodoo Rooms, 19:30–00:00, £15

Scottish Ensemble: Winter Light

Bootleg Beatles

Christmas with a ‘twist’ candlelit concert.

Tribute act. Sing along until your heart’s content.

Great Junction Studio Showcase

Newtongrange Silver Band

Codejak, Tourettes

The best in upcoming indie.

Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to The Orchestra

Maggie Bell, Dave Kelly Live acoustic sessions.

Usher Hall, 20:00–22:30, £24.50

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Queen’s Hall, 19:45–22:30, £12.50-£14.50

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Granma

Little Doses, Voodoo Conspiracy, Augustalia, Die Schneiders

Alternative tunes.

Funky alternative rock.

Heavy yet melodic alternative rock.

THE MILL IS AN 18+ VENUE. DRINK SENSIBLY

The Bongo Club, 19:00–22:00, £10

Healthy mix of rock, pop and alternative indie.

The Beau Nasties

THE MILL EDINBURGH • 10TH DECEMBER • 7TH JANUARY SEE GIG LISTINGS

Medley of live bands and singers.

Whistlebinkies, 21:30–02:30, Free

Deer Tick, Stormy Seas

THE MILL GLASGOW • 3RD DECEMBER • 17TH DECEMBER

Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–03:00, £6

Alternative progressive and minimal indie respectively.

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £6

Classic rock covers.

UPCOMING GIGS

Thu 10 Dec

Part of the two-day punk event to commemorate the ten year anniversary of the closure of the Tap.

The Ritalin Kids (Vertis, Three Long Words) The GRV, 19:00–22:30, £5

World-travelling trombonist.

Tap O’Lauriston Memorial Weekend (The Threats, Beergut 100, Sad Society, The Jockney Rejects, Happy Spastics)

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £7

The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:30, £6 (£5)

TEATIME ACOUSTIC

Jagged rock from the New York based duo.

Medley of live bands and singers.

John Kenny’s Red Shift

Tubelord, Trapped In Kansas

Leith Folk Club (Richard Dobson)

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

THE MILL IS AN 18+ VENUE. DRINK SENSIBLY

THURSDAY 7TH JANUARY 2010

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

The Electric Circus, 23:00–03:00, £6

Fast-paced favourites and sleazy beats.

Sun 13 Dec Queen’s Hall, 19:30–22:30, £7-£12

Annual brass band and choir special.

Usher Hall, 20:00–22:30, £48.60-£59.40

Bill Bailey’s musical imagination is let loose with some of Britain’s finest orchestras.

December 2009

THE SKINNY 75

Edinburgh music Eat Dr Ape

The Hundred Metre Club

Alternative rock.

Wee Red Bar, 19:00–22:00, £5 (£4)

Live music special.

Suck My Synth (Any Colour Black, Enfant Bastards)

Napier Singers Showcase

SCO: Cargill sings Berlioz

Dirty disco and electro rock.

Array of tunes from vocal students on the Napier Music Course.

Poised operatics with Scottish mezzo, Karen Cargill.

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

BREAKING BOUNDARIES IN MUSIC 36 BLAIR ST, EDINBURGH. 0131 220 6176

The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:30, £4 (£3)

TOKYOBLU

CRANACHAN

FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER

MANO LE TOUGH (RED BULL ACADEMY & RUARI /SONAR)

Bannerman’s, 21:00–23:00, Free

Classic rock covers.

Mon 14 Dec

WITH SUPPORT FROM TOKYOBLU DJ’S. PERCUSSION FRM DAVID MCGEORGE

Hey Enemy, Gatechian, Your Loyal Subjects

Shakedown

Footstomping folk rock.

The Pineapple Chunks, The Leg

c w a e e re le . ct.. ri

Alternative pop. And, yes, pop can be alternative.

Ian Brown

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6

A night of indie and ska featuring Fife based outfit Root System.

A festive fixture, with Phil Cunningham singing Chrismas tunes.

Vertical Farming, Millsyeck Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Quirky upbeat indie rock.

Alternative indie rock.

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £6

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

The Hurricanes

Open Mic Night

The Skinny and Avalanche proudly present an acoustic session by the band that recorded one of the Scottish albums of the decade. Get down early.

Minimalist pop blues fused with rockabilly.

Turn up and do your thing. Loudly.

Avalanche, cockburn street 13:00, free

The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Sat 19 Dec

The Twilight Sad

Saturday Afternoon Jazz

Whistlebinkies, 21:30–02:30, Free

The Great Jam Session

The Jazz Bar, 22:30–01:00, £2 (£1)

Renowned drop-in jam jazz session.

Tue 22 Dec

The Voodoo Rooms, 19:30–00:00, £8

The Jazz Bar, 15:00–18:00, Free

A Skinny favourite and likey a sell-out.

Beg, borrow or steal a ticket.

Ease yourself into the weekend, jazz style.

TEATIME ACOUSTIC

Deserters Deserve Death

The Jam House Christmas Experience

Medley of live bands and singers.

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Alternative rock.

White Noise Xmas Party (The Xcerts, Flood of Red, Healthy Minds Collapse) The Electric Circus, 20:00–03:00, £4

Chrismas edition White Noise, with extra special live bands.

The Jam House, 18:00–03:00, £5 before 10:30pm, £7.50 after

Live music, DJs and disco dancin’.

Malcolm Ross and The Low Miffs (Roy Moller)

The Electric Circus, 19:00–22:00, £6

Sunny indie pop.

New Bands Showcase

Paper Planes

Mixed line-up of new bands.

Alternative indie.

Usher Hall, 19:30–22:30, £15

Charity carols concert. It’s that time of year, you know, for giving.

Neil Watson

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Local acoustic hero.

Sea Bass Kid, Miasma, Vasquez

The Ark, 20:00–01:00, £4

Indie rock and metal.

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £4 on door

Pummel

The Bongo Club, 19:00–22:00, £6

Live ska rock from the fiery musical furnaces of North Berwick.

Medley of live bands and singers.

The Jam House Christmas Experience

The Jam House, 18:00–22:30, £tbc

Live music, DJs and disco dancin’.

10:04s, London Blackout

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £tbc Alternative indie punk.

Luke Leighfield, Lightguides, Cast Of The Capital Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £tbc

A triple bill of new live music.

A festive fixture, with Phil Cunningham singing Chrismas tunes.

Arcane Corps

The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Hardcore thrash metal.

New Bands Showcase

Whistlebinkies, 22:00–01:00, Free

Mixed line-up of new bands.

Wed 23 Dec The Ray Summers

Laid-back reggae.

The Dunedin Consort and Players

Psychedelic soul pop.

Gwen Dickey, Kenny Thomas, Andy Abraham

Queen’s Hall, 19:30–22:30, £10-£22

HMV Picture House, 19:00–22:30, £22.50

Soulful pop.

Dirty Love Club (Delta Mainline, The Gothenburg Address, Saint Judes Infirmary, Daniel Land and The Modern Painters)

The Caves, 19:00–03:00, £8 in advance, £10 on door

Carols By Candelight

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Queen’s Hall, 20:00–22:30, £21.50

Cabaret Voltaire, 19:00–22:00, £6

London pianist.

TEATIME ACOUSTIC

Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook

Wee Red Bar, 19:00–22:00, £5 (£4)

Dan Nicholls Quartet

Thu 17 Dec

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Red 2 Red

Live bands and DJs offering an eclectic array of sounds, plus visuals from the Electric Freakout Lightshow.

The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:30, £4 (£3)

24/11/09 08:47:36

Root System (The Rioteers, The Manikees)

Queen’s Hall, 20:00–22:30, £21.50

The Twilight Sad

Lothian Hospitals and Friends Carol Concert

76 THE SKINNY December 2009

Live music, DJs and disco dancin’.

Hardcore Xmas party tunes. Ooft!

Live music, DJs and disco dancin’.

CabDec.indd 1

The Jam House, 18:30–03:00, £5 before 10:30pm, £7.50 after

Mon 21 Dec Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook

American indie rock.

Corn Exchange, 19:00–23:00, £30

The Jam House, 18:00–22:30, £tbc

WWW.THECABARETVOLTAIRE.COM

The Jam House Christmas Experience

Them Crooked Vultures

Wed 16 Dec

RIPPING RECORDS T: 0131 226 7010 WWW.TICKETWEB.CO.UK T: 08444 77 1000 TICKETS SCOTLAND T: 0131 220 3234

Electro rock.

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Andrew Watson, Stan Intihar, Malcolm Watson, The Xtras, Gordon Brunton, Status Old

Alternative indie rock.

The Jam House Christmas Experience

For table bookings & corporate or private hire: speakeasy@thecabaretvoltaire.com

Studio 24, 18:00–22:00, £tbc

The Colour Pink is Gay, Shields Up (Corpses, Hey Vampires)

HMV Picture House, 19:00–22:30, £24

Whistlebinkies, 22:00–01:00, Free

THE SPEAKEASY

Radio Outkast Promotions present a night of new bands.

The Beau Nasties

Medley of live bands and singers.

www.myspace.com/theraysummers

The Ark, 23:00–03:00, £4

TEATIME ACOUSTIC

Medley of live bands and singers.

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

23rd Dec 09 7pm - 10pm plus guests

Fri 18 Dec

Babylon Dub Punks, The Blessed Order of Fallen Stars, Shock and Awe, Akolyd

Renowned drop-in jam jazz session.

Tue 15 Dec

MYSPACE.COM/ LITTLECOMETSMUSIC WWW.LITTLECOMETS.COM

The Jazz Bar, 20:30–23:30, £4 (£3)

Bannerman’s, 21:00–23:00, Free

The Great Jam Session

TEATIME ACOUSTIC

PLUS GUESTS

Hard metal.

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

The Jazz Bar, 22:30–01:00, £2 (£1)

WED 16TH DEC

The Ark, 19:00–22:00, £4

Classic rock covers.

Turn up and do your thing. Loudly.

7PM - 10PM (Over 14s)

Hell Is Harmony

Jewel and Esk College bands showcase.

Wee Red Bar, 19:00–22:00, Free

Little Comets

The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Electro pop.

Arcane Corps, Forever Void

Whistlebinkies, 21:30–02:30, Free

EARLY SHOW 7PM - 10PM MYSPACE.COM/BROKENRECORDSEDINBURGH PLUS GUESTS

Ska Xmas Party (Auxerre, Red2Red)

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £4 on door

CRANACHAN

Open Mic Night

BROKEN RECORDS Wednesday 9th December

Sweeping indie rock for romantics.

findo gask

Jet Jams

Groovy, twisted metal.

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ROGUES

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Sun 20 Dec

Pop punk and hardcore funk.

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

MONDAY 7TH DECEMBER EARLY SHOW 7PM - 10PM PLUS GUESTS // OVER 14S

Bullet VI, Lost City Lights (Rell)

Funky ska and reggae.

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £4 on door

SPLIT

Queen’s Hall, 19:30–22:30, £8.50-£26

The Ark, 21:00–03:00, £5 before midnight, £6 (£5) after

Queen’s Hall, 19:30–22:30, £8-£19 (£6.50-£15)

The ultimate twee festive pleasure.

King Bear (We Modern Cadets, Miasma, Midas Fall, The Wintergreens)

Henry’s Cellar Bar, 19:30–03:00, £5

Alternative rock.

The Amphetameanies, Begrudgers

Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £5

Saturday night ska-punk fever.

WORLD PREMIERE QUINTET The Jazz Bar, 20:15–23:30, £4 (£3)

A hand-picked five-piece play together for the first time, with a different line-up every week.

Annual performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Sam Barber, Revelry, Loinstorm The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Alternative classical rock and progressive.

Thu 24 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Medley of live bands and singers.

Sat 26 Dec The Nature Boys

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £4 on door

Indie punksters.

Boxing Day Bash with Dog Tired (Adastra) Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Thrash metal to burn off the turkey.

Sun 27 Dec The Hazey Janes, Fire and I, Dropkick

Sneaky Pete’s, 19:00–22:00, £6

Indie pop, alternative rock and powerpop. Take that.

Glasgow Clubs Dirty Knife

Henry’s Cellar Bar, 20:00–23:45, £tbc

Tue 01 Dec

Hardcore tunes.

Tetris

Fireside Aliens, Skyless, Frantic Chant

Hip-hop, pop and funk.

The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Alternative acoustic rock and indie.

CRANACHAN

Bannerman’s, 21:00–23:00, Free

Classic rock covers.

Mon 28 Dec Dead Eyes Opened, Augustalia (The Wee Baby Jesus’) Bannerman’s, 20:00–23:00, £4

Gothic rock birthday party.

The Fuss

The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Rock covers band.

Open Mic Night

Bamboo, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £5 (£3) after

Killer Kitsch

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

Electro clash and 80s trash.

Wed 02 Dec Twisted (John Rush)

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £3 after

Quirky night with street performers, live bands and, er, facepainting.

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, £3

Punk and pop upstairs and disco funk downstairs.

Sat 05 Dec

Dance, R’n’B and soul.

High Tease: A Christmas Carol and Vegas!

(Blond Ambition)

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Soul, disco and reggae.

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £2

Thu 03 Dec Bazodee

The Halt Bar, 20:00–02:00, Free

Medley of live bands and singers.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Damaged Goods

After Hours

TEATIME ACOUSTIC

Hippocampus, Bohemond

Funk, disco, classic soul and deep house.

Rockin’ indie and electropop.

Reggae and dancehall.

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

The Brunswick Hotel, 23:30–02:00, £4

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £8 after

Music from the last ten decades.

Tue 29 Dec

Galaxy21 @ Basura Blanca (Galaxy21 DJs)

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

The Great Jam Session

Renowned drop-in jam jazz session.

New electro night featuring experimental synth and electro.

TONGUE IN CHEEK

Spirit (DJ Pumpio, The Groundskeeper)

The Jazz Bar, 22:30–01:00, £2 (£1)

Soundhaus, 23:00–03:30, £5

Sabado

Turn up and do your thing. Loudly.

Whistlebinkies, 21:30–02:30, Free

Electroliscious

45 Kicks

Punk, funk and electro.

Classic Grand Thursday (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Old Fruitmarket, 20:00–03:00, £18

Ribald pastiche full of bawdy shenanigans, pant-y-mime tomfoolery and the sexiest showgirls and boys.

Club Noir Christmas Party O2 Academy, 21:00–03:00, £14.50

Christmas themed burlesque fun.

Pandemic (Noj, Mark, Kris) Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 21:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 after

Indie, garage, soul, rock’n’roll and more.

Homegrown

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5)

Indie, dance and soul.

New Bands Showcase

Rock, punk, electro and metal.

Absolution (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Eureka

Mixed line-up of new bands.

Bamboo, 23:00–03:00, Free

Pop punk, harcore, metal and rock.

Funky rock.

Whistlebinkies, 22:00–01:00, Free

Wed 30 Dec Bad Manners

HMV Picture House, 19:00–22:30, £15

Ska and reggae.

Scottish Fiddle Orchestra Usher Hall, 19:30–22:30, £12-£21

The orchestra celebrates its 30th year of fiddling.

The Remains, The Axidents, The Coviets The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £4

Garage indie punk and big beat jams.

Thu 31 Dec TEATIME ACOUSTIC

The Jazz Bar, 18:00–20:30, Free

Medley of live bands and singers.

Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Dance, indie and hip-hop anthems.

Misbehavin’ (Dolly Daydream, Drucifer) The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

Electro, alternative, dance and dirty pop. This month Misbehavin’ celebrates it’s third birthday with a guilty pleasure theme.

Nu Skool

Emo and pop rock. Or go dark in the back bar with death metal.

Orderly Disorder

Cheap & Nasty (Matthewonemoretune)

DJ beats and fun visuals.

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, £3

Funk, techno and party tunes.

Fri 04 Dec

Hogmanay Hoot

Corn Exchange, 20:00–03:00, £35

Massive indoor party with live ceilidh bands, DJs and a traditional Scottish supper.

Afore The Bells: Hogmanay Special Queen’s Hall, 20:30–01:00, £35

Live music, ceilidh dancing, food, champagne and whisky. A true Scottish ‘hooley’.

Hogmanay Party (The Jazz Bar Party Quintet, Paul Mills Funk Band) The Jazz Bar, 20:30–05:00, £18

Funk-based bands and live DJs until 5am.

BALKANARAMA (Black Cat, DJ Grandma Staflash, Alejandro Toledo & Magic Tombolinos)

Studio 24, 22:30–05:00, £14 in advance, £16/£18 on door

Celebrate new year Balkan-style with gypsy punk, live dancers, Turkish food and a host of DJs.

All things funky.

The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£5)

Slabs Of The Tabernacle (Interfunk, Mas2008, Hobbes) The Universal, 23:00–03:00, £8

Live acid and techno

Subculture (Harry & Domenic)

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £6 before midnight, £ after

Shapes

Soundhaus, 23:00–03:30, £6 (£5 members)

Back by popular demand.

Velvet (Audiojack)

O’Couture, 20:00–03:00, £8

House and techno, plus guest DJs.

Music For Pleasure

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 after

Electro, soul and funk.

Damnation (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Metal, punk and emo.

Bigfoot’s Tea Party (Lucio Aquilina, Han Bouffmyhre)

Weekly electro funk.

Off The Record

Off the Record and Animal Farm’s final night.

The Rock Shop

Maggie May’s, 23:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £5 (£3) after

Rock, indie and metal classics.

Sun 06 Dec Disco Badger

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

Hip-hop, house and electrofunk.

Dischord (Young Blood)

Glasgow School of Art, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£7)

Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Cosmic Microwave (Deep Space Orchestra)

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£6)

First birthday celebrations.

La Cheetah, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£6)

New venue for Cosmic Microwave with guest DJs.

Monox

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £13

The final Monox of the year, with live appearance from Planetary Assault Systems.

Old Skool

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

Funk, soul and vintage disco.

Punk, rock and hardcore.

Optimo (JD Twitch, JG Wilkes) Eclectic house, techno and party tunes.

Sabotage (DJ Am-y, Mythic) The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2 (£1)

Anything goes, with requests accepted all night long.

Sheek

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Mish mash of funk, soul, house and rock.

Mon 07 Dec

Riot Radio

Burn

Indie classics.

The hottest little disco in town.

Maggie May’s, 23:00–03:00, £5

www.playsafeinglasgow.com

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, £6 or ladies and students free before midnight, £3 after

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, £10

For more information and advice go on-line at

Glasgow School of Art, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£5)

Skint/Vengeance (DJs Billy and Colin, DJ Q-ball)

Hip-hop, grime and dancehall.

Live music, fizzy wine and a slap up dinner. Hogmanay: done.

19th Birthday celebration with special performers, the famous Cathouse Dollars.

Glasgow’s original soul, funk and psych night.

Alternative rock and some nice acoustic fare from Hannah O’Reilly.

The Jam House, 20:00–03:00, £90 (including four course meal and glass of bubbly)

The Cathouse, 22:30–04:00, £8

Mr Scruff plays his crafty mix of blues, reggae, electro and everything in-between.

Elevator (Naeem & Sketch )

Hogmanay (The Flavours)

Cathouse Birthday (Circus of Horrors, Cathouse DJs )

Mr Scruff

Cryoverbillionaires, The Tenements, The Void, Hannah O’Reilly The Ark, 20:00–03:00, £tbc

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Divine’s 19th Birthday Party @ The Victoria Caf? (Andrew Divine, JD Twitch)

The Arches, 23:00–03:00, £12.50

Ever woken up with more than a hangover?

1 in 3 people admitted to hospital had been drinking that night.

Look after yourself and each other.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£3)

December 2009

THE SKINNY 77

Glasgow Clubs Tue 08 Dec Tetris

Bamboo, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £5 (£3) after

Hip-hop, pop and funk.

Killer Kitsch

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

Electro clash and 80s trash.

Wed 09 Dec Twisted (John Rush)

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £3 after

Quirky night with street performers, live bands and, er, facepainting.

Dead Famous: Chrismas Special The Admiral, 19:30–23:00, £4

Come dresses as your fave dead celebrity, with bands, DJs and strippers.

A true one-off.

TONGUE IN CHEEK

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

Rockin’ indie and electropop.

After Hours

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Soul, disco and reggae.

Spirit (DJ Pumpio, The Groundskeeper) Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £2

Music from the last ten decades.

Thu 10 Dec Bazodee

The Halt Bar, 20:00–02:00, Free

Reggae and dancehall.

45 Kicks

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Punk, funk and electro.

Classic Grand Thursday (Barry, Dec, Young Blood) Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Rock, punk, electro and metal.

Counterfiet (Mups, Mythic) The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

90s nu-metal.

Eureka

Sat 12 Dec Fierce Angel (Mark Doyle, Hatty Loveheart) Byblos, 10:30–03:00, £10

The creator of Hed Kandi introduce this new night, which also has a residency in Ibiza.

Maelstrom @ Basura Blanca

The Brunswick Hotel, 22:00–02:00, Free

Electro, disco and cosmic boogie.

Death Disco

The Arches, 22:00–03:00, £14

Dirty disco rock.

Early Bird New Year Tickets Night! (Terry and Gusbo, Hamish, Speedy) Soundhaus, 22:00–03:00, £5

Free Eetry for new year ticket holders to tonights guest DJ night.

Homegrown

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5)

Indie, dance and soul.

Absolution (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Pop punk, harcore, metal and rock.

Cathouse Saturdays (DJs Eric & Mups, Billy, Framie) The Cathouse, 22:30–03:00, £6 (£5)

Happy clappy mix of classic rock and emo pop beats over two levels.

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £6 before midnight, £ after

Weekly electro funk.

The Rock Shop

Wrong Island (Teamy, Dirty Larry)

Teenage Lust

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, £2

A new Glasgow night of mutant disco, punk and hip-hop.

Fri 11 Dec Elevator (Naeem & Sketch )

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, £6 or ladies and students free before midnight, £3 after

Hip-hop, grime and dancehall.

Best in Show (Findo Gask DJs)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 21:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 after

Top live DJ night with Findo Gask.

Music For Pleasure

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 after

Electro, soul and funk.

Ballbreaker/Vice (DJs Billy and 32 (level 1), DJ Martin Bate (level 2))

Homegrown

Music from the last ten decades.

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2 (£1)

The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £4

Gay dance party with Lady Munter(!) providing the disco tunes.

Spirit (DJ Pumpio, The Groundskeeper) Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £2

Music from the last ten decades.

Thu 17 Dec Bazodee

The Halt Bar, 20:00–02:00, Free

Reggae and dancehall.

By Demand (Craig Mchugh, Marc Addison, Matthew Smillie, Paul Dolan, Chris Landels)

The Brunswick Hotel, 21:00–02:00, £5

Launch night bringing the best in minimal, tech-house and techno.

45 Kicks

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Punk, funk and electro.

Classic Grand Thursday (Barry, Dec, Young Blood) Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Rock, punk, electro and metal.

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

Rock, indie and metal classics.

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, £3

Techno, beats and electronica. Playing the right records at the wrong speed since 2007.

Sun 13 Dec Disco Badger

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

Emo and pop rock. Or go dark in the back bar with death metal.

Cheap & Nasty (Matthewonemoretune)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, £3

Funk, techno and party tunes.

Fri 18 Dec

Eclectic house, techno and party tunes.

Sabotage (DJ Am-y, Mythic) The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2 (£1)

Fun night for lesbians and anyone else who fancies it.

Music For Pleasure

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 after

The Cathouse, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Stereo, 23:00–03:00, £7 before midnight, £10 after

Equalised (Ripperton)

Melodic house, minimal and techno.

Old Skool

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

Funk, soul and vintage disco.

The Cathouse, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Burn

Damnation (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

The hottest little disco in town.

Indie classics.

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Metal, punk and emo.

Ballers Social Present (Seiji, Shortstuff) Stereo, 23:00–03:00, £tbc

Special club night.

Breakdown Bands

Soundhaus, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£5 members)

Alternative bands night.

Jump (Mr No Hands) La Cheetah, 23:00–03:00, £3

Techno, electro, breaks and bass.

Old Skool

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

Funk, soul and vintage disco.

Riot Radio

Maggie May’s, 23:00–03:00, £5

Indie classics.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£3)

Tue 15 Dec

Stereo, 23:00–03:00, £tbc

Special second Birthday celebration.

Mount Heart Attack Bar Bloc, 23:00–03:00, £tbc

Disco, electro and wonky techno.

Nu Skool

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

All things funky.

Singles Night (Andrew Divine, Chris ‘Beans’ Geddes) The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £3 before midnight, £5 after

Playing only 45s, all night long.

Subculture (Harry & Domenic)

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £6 before midnight, £ after

Bottle Rocket

Indie dancing club, with indie dancing.

The Rock Shop

Maggie May’s, 23:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £5 (£3) after

Rock, indie and metal classics.

Tronicsole (Motor City Drum Ensemble, Hiro) The Admiral, 23:30–04:00, £9 (£7)

Deep house grooves.

Sun 20 Dec Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

£

Soundhaus, 22:00–03:00, £8 (£6 members)

Trance, tech-trance, progressive and electronica.

Dischord (Young Blood) Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Punk, rock and hardcore.

Optimo (JD Twitch, JG Wilkes)

Maggie May’s, 23:00–03:00, £5

Sensu Xmas Party

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £tbc

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2 (£1)

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Mish mash of funk, soul, house and rock.

Mon 21 Dec Rectify

Soundhaus, 22:30–03:30, £10 (£8 members)

Trance, tech-house, tech-trance and hard dance.

Burn

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£3)

The hottest little disco in town.

Tue 22 Dec

Hip-hop, pop and funk.

Velvet (Spektre)

Hip-hop, pop and funk.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

Electro clash and 80s trash.

Wed 16 Dec Twisted (John Rush)

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £3 after

Quirky night with street performers, live bands and, er, facepainting.

House, techno and minimal, plus guest DJs.

White Label (Hologram Hookers, Twonko & Pasty, Rebecca Vasmant, Kill the Kid, Michael Watters) The Arches, 23:00–03:00, £5 in advance, £8 on door

Techno and house from unsigned and established DJs.

TONGUE IN CHEEK

Upside Down

Rockin’ indie and electropop.

Good music played by bad people.

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

78 THE SKINNY December 2009

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 after

Punk, funk and electro.

Classic Grand Thursday (Barry, Dec, Young Blood) Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Rock, punk, electro and metal.

Counterfiet (DJ Mups, Mythic)

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2 (£1)

90s nu-metal.

Eureka

Bamboo, 23:00–03:00, Free

Dance, indie and hip-hop anthems.

Skint/Vengeance (DJs Billy and Colin, DJ Q-ball) The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

Emo and pop rock. Or go dark in the back bar with death metal.

The Pump Club

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, £2

Dubstep, techno and jungle beats, with live guests.

Fri 25 Dec Black Tent (Errors DJs)

Bamboo, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £5 (£3) after

Killer Kitsch

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

Electro clash and 80s trash.

Wed 23 Dec Twisted (John Rush)

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £3 after

Quirky night with street performers, live bands and, er, facepainting.

TONGUE IN CHEEK

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

Rockin’ indie and electropop.

Sabotage (DJ Am-y, Mythic) Anything goes, with requests accepted all night long.

Sheek

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Mish mash of funk, soul, house and rock.

Slide It In (Nicola Walker) The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2 (£1)

Cult classics spanning the decades.

Mon 28 Dec Burn

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£3)

The hottest little disco in town.

Specialitee (Terry, Jason, DJ Q, Shift)

Soundhaus, 23:00–03:30, £7 (£5 members)

Old school house and techno.

Tue 29 Dec Tetris

Bamboo, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £5 (£3) after

Hip-hop, pop and funk.

Killer Kitsch

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

Electro clash and 80s trash.

Wed 30 Dec

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 21:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 after

Twisted (John Rush)

Music For Pleasure

Quirky night with street performers, live bands and, er, facepainting.

Music to make you smile, dance and sing along.

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 after

Electro, soul and funk.

Damnation (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £3 after

TONGUE IN CHEEK

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

Rockin’ indie and electropop.

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

After Hours

Old Skool

Soul, disco and reggae.

Metal, punk and emo.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

Funk, soul and vintage disco.

Sat 26 Dec Elevator Christmas Party (Naeem & Sketch ) Byblos, 10:30–03:00, £8 (£6)

Boxing day hip-hop, grime and dancehall special.

Homegrown

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5)

Indie, dance and soul.

Pop punk, harcore, metal and rock.

Tetris

Killer Kitsch

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Sabotage (DJ Am-y, Mythic)

Tetris

ABC, 23:00–03:00, £10 (£8)

45 Kicks

Eclectic house, techno and party tunes.

Xmas edition of the monthly underground house and minimal techno night.

Bamboo, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £5 (£3) after

The Halt Bar, 20:00–02:00, Free

Absolution (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£6)

Sheek

Riot Radio

Rock and dance split over two levels.

Huntley and Palmers Audio Club (Four Tet)

Damnation (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Sheek

Mon 14 Dec

Happy clappy mix of classic rock and emo pop beats over two levels.

Rock and dance split over two levels.

Metal, punk and emo.

Mish mash of funk, soul, house and rock.

The Cathouse, 22:30–03:00, £6 (£5)

Anything goes, with requests accepted all night long.

Anything goes, with requests accepted all night long.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Cathouse Saturdays (DJ Eric & Mups, Billy, Framie)

Hip-hop, house and electrofunk.

Ballbreaker/Vice (DJs Billy and 32 (level 1), DJ Martin Bate (level 2))

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£6)

Reggae and dancehall.

Charity gig to raise funds for Croftgoighn School, featuring mod, northern soul and more.

The Flying Duck, 21:00–03:00, £5 (£4)

Thu 24 Dec

Pop punk, harcore, metal and rock.

Disco Badger

Lock Up Your Daughters

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £2

Bazodee

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Glasgow Globetrotters Christmas Charity Ball Soundhaus, 20:30–03:30, £4

Soul, disco and reggae.

Absolution (Barry, Dec, Young Blood)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 after

Dischord (Young Blood) Optimo (JD Twitch, JG Wilkes)

Indie, dance and soul.

Dance, indie and hip-hop anthems.

Electro, soul and funk.

Punk, rock and hardcore.

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £7 (£5)

Eureka

Hip-hop, house and electrofunk.

Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Byblos, 10:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £8 after

Weekly electro funk.

Skint/Vengeance (DJs Billy and Colin, DJ Q-ball)

Skint/Vengeance (DJs Billy and Colin, DJ Q-ball) Emo and pop rock. Or go dark in the back bar with death metal.

Hard dance, hardcore, trance and techno.

Bamboo, 23:00–03:00, Free

Subculture (Harry & Domenic)

Soundhaus, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£5 members)

Spirit (DJ Pumpio, The Groundskeeper)

Pretty Ugly @ The Hold (DJ Paul Dananananaykroyd, The Underskirts) Indie, electro and rock ‘n’ roll for dancing to.

Project1

Dance, R’n’B and soul.

All things funky.

The Admiral, 23:00–03:00, £4

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Menergy (Kid Zipper & Black Leather, Tom of Hyndland)

Indie pop for cool kids.

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

After Hours

Sabado

Christmas special of the underground industrial night,

Nu Skool

Sat 19 Dec

Soul, disco and reggae.

Cryotec (Effigy, DJ Tailz)

The Flying Duck, 23:00–03:00, £4

Bamboo, 23:00–03:00, Free

The Cathouse, 23:00–03:00, £2

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Half My Heart Beats

Maggie May’s, 23:30–03:00, Free before midnight, £5 (£3) after

Dance, indie and hip-hop anthems.

After Hours

Classic Grand, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£4)

Cathouse Saturdays (DJ Eric & Mups, Billy, Framie) The Cathouse, 22:30–03:00, £6 (£5)

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Spirit (DJ Pumpio, The Groundskeeper) Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £2

Music from the last ten decades.

Thu 31 Dec Bazodee

The Halt Bar, 20:00–02:00, Free

Reggae and dancehall.

New Year Big Bang!

Soundhaus, 21:00–03:30, £18

Live electro music to bring in the new year.

New Years Eve Party (Noj, Mark, Kris)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 21:00–04:00, £tbc

Pandemic DJs take over the basement for some full-on party action.

Happy clappy mix of classic rock and emo pop beats over two levels.

Death Disco New Year (Erol Alkan, Aeroplane)

Supermax (DJ Billy Woods)

Dirty disco rock to bring in 2010.

The Brunswick Hotel, 23:00–02:00, £5

Rock ‘n’ roll, Glasgow style.

Nu Skool

The Buff Club, 23:00–03:00, £6

All things funky.

Subculture (Harry & Domenic)

Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £6 before midnight, £ after

Weekly electro funk.

The Rock Shop Boxing Day Special (Lee Craig) Maggie May’s, 23:00–03:00, £5

Indie, rock and punk.

The Hot Club (Rafla, Nobodaddy)

Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, 23:30–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 after

Garage, punk and the occasional live band.

Sun 27 Dec Disco Badger

Bamboo, 22:00–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £5 (£4) after

Hip-hop, house and electrofunk.

Dischord (Young Blood) Classic Grand, 23:00–03:00, £3

Punk, rock and hardcore.

Optimo (JD Twitch, JG Wilkes) Sub Club, 23:00–03:00, £7 (£6)

Eclectic house, techno and party tunes.

The Arches, 21:00–05:00, £28

Flying Duck Hogmanay

The Flying Duck, 22:00–03:00, £tbc

Special new year Party, Flying Duck style.

Melting Pot Hogmanay (Greg Wilson, The Revenge) The Admiral, 22:00–04:00, £20

Electro, funk and dance with extra special guest Greg Wilson.

Optimo Espacio Hogmanay (Hudson Mohawke, Drums of Death, Divorce, Niallist) Old Fruitmarket, 22:00–04:00, £tbc

Stunning DJ line-up for Optimo’s renowned Hogmanay club night.

New Year’s Party (DJ Billy, DJ Muppet)

The Cathouse, 22:30–04:00, £8 (£6)

Party like it’s 1999! There will be plenty of giveaways and some special guest performances.

Hells Bells Hogmanay (Lee Craig, Heather McCartney) Maggie May’s, 23:00–03:00, £10

Indie, rock and cult classics.

Slabs of the Tabernacle 021 Max's Kansas City (formerly The Twisted Wheel), 22.00-04.00, £tbc

Mark du Mosch, Electrick Dragon, Casionova, Slabs of the Tabernacle DJ playing Italo, disco, electro, jack house, techno, space.

Edinburgh Clubs Tue 01 Dec Antics

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Alternative anthems.

LV Hz (Nick AKA)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Off-kilter indie.

Split

Bangers and Mash

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £2 after

Electro, classic rock and chart cheese.

Sick Note (Har Mar Superstar, Bargain Harold, i-Tallah Disco)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Indie-electro with special guest Har Mar Superstar, probably wearing just his pants.

Tuesday Heartbreak

Sneaky Beats (Your Boy Blair, Picasio)

Bass, breaks and hip-hop from a roster of local DJs. The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Groovy beats and swirling guitars.

Wed 02 Dec Christmas Blitz (Scottish National Jazz Orchestra)

The Electric Circus, 22:00–03:00, £5 before midnight, £6 after

A night of vintage glamour with big band tunes.

Jerk Alert (Awesome Wells) Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Indie and pop.

JungleDub

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Bringing you the best in dub, dubstep and jungle from DJs throughout the Scottish scene

The Pit

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Metal and rock request night.

We Are Electric (Gary Mac, Wolfjazz, Tall Paul)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Cutting-edge electronica.

We Is Eclectic @ Speakeasy (D.Fault, Picassio)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

The sister club to We Are Electric.

Thu 03 Dec Bounce

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Long-running indie house night.

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Hip-hop, funk and soul.

Sucka Punch!

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Dedicated to every beat with a bassline, a new weekly club night of bass-heavy underground sounds

Fri 04 Dec OVERTIME

The Electric Circus, 17:00–22:00, Free

Pre-club free fun.

Gumbofunk (DJs Jiminez, Astroboy)

The Voodoo Rooms, 21:00–01:00, Free

Monthly melting pot of funk, afro and latin grooves.

Kandiflip

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £3 before 11pm, £6 after

House and R’n’B

Planet Earth

Citrus Club, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £6 after

Retro-fest, playing anything from 1970 to 1999.

Devil Disco (Nick Yuill, Kris Wasabi, Hobbes, D’Viking) The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £3 before midnight, £5 after

Masked dance party offering rap, soul, boogie, electro-funk and proto-house.

Misfits

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Twisted disco.

Technocracy: Ten Tracks Party

Wee Red Bar, 23:00–03:00, £4

Special jungle, dubstep and techno club night. It doesn’t get much better.

Tokyoblu (Mano le Tough and Ruari, Denis McKervey, Axis DJs)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£5)

Mano Le Tough and Ruari were the cream of the crop at this years Sonar 2009.

Untitled (Laura Dogtooth, Andy Chadwick)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Indie tunes.

Skunkfunk

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Live four-piece band and funky DJs.

Sat 05 Dec

Jam The Box

Tropical Storm (Howard the Selecta)

The Pit

Messenger Sound System (MC Ras Echo)

Reggae, roots, dancehall and dubstep.

We Are Electric (Gary Mac, Jacek Jamojski, Babes)

Sweet reggae rocking with Scotlands original roots and culture sound system.

Mixed Up

The GRV, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)

Disco, house, dubstep and soul.

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £6 before midnight, £7 after

Hip-hop, chart and R’n’B.

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

The Egg (DJs Chris and Paul)

Trade Union (Wolfjazz, Beefy)

Wee Red Bar, 23:00–03:00, £2.50 before 11.30pm £5 after

Mish-mash of sounds, from 60s garage to ska-punk.

The Go-Go (Tall Paul)

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11:30pm, £6 (£4) after

Funky-edged soul music, from hardhitting 60s and 70s to a touch of disco.

Ultragroove (Gareth Somerville, Craig Smith, Gino)

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £4 before 11pm, £7 after

Retro, disco and funky house.

Tease Age

Citrus Club, 22:30–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £6 after

Playing the biggest indie tunes including 60s mod, rock and soul.

Beep Beep Yeah! @ Speakeasy (Be-Bop-a-Tallah, Kate and the Gang, Jumpin’ Jack) Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £3 after

Selection of tunes spanning the decades, from the rockin’ 50s to the psychedelic 70s.

Bubblegum

We Is Eclectic @ Speakeasy (D.Fault, Picassio)

Hip-hop, chart and R’n’B. Hip-hop and dubstep.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£5)

Ultragroove Christmas party.

Volume! (Termite, Paranoise, G*Mac, Victor Woronowitz)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass and breaks.

Saturday Nite Fish Fry (DJ D’Viking)

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Drums, loops, bass and synth.

Sun 06 Dec Coalition (A-Meldrum)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep and bassline.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Playing everything but cheese.

Tue 08 Dec Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Electro, chart and funky house - often with special themed nights.

Antics

LV Hz (Nick AKA)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Off-kilter indie.

Funk and blues.

Thu 10 Dec Long-running indie house night.

Bangers and Mash

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £2 after

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Indie electro with the residents.

Missed Connection

Sneaky Beats (Your Boy Blair, Picasio)

Dance beats with a Spanish/Latin flavour.

Hip-hop, funk and soul.

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £2

Split

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Bass, breaks and hip-hop from a roster of local DJs.

Tuesday Heartbreak

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Groovy beats and swirling guitars.

Wed 09 Dec

All that is good in dance music.

Indie and pop.

Rock and metal.

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Sick Note (Bargain Harold, i-Tallah Disco)

Alternative anthems.

Fuel

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Sections

JungleDub

Alternative punk, metal and goth.

Dub, dubstep and jungle.

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Soul Society

Electro, classic rock and chart cheese.

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Jerk Alert (Awesome Wells)

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11:30pm, £6 (£4) after

The sister club to We Are Electric.

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Passion

Killer Kitsch (Euan Neilson, Dave Sinclair)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Bounce

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Poptastic mix of chart and retro disco.

Metal and rock request night.

Cutting-edge electronica.

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Nu-Fire (PTV DJs)

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Soul Spectrum (Fryer)

Liquid Soul

Mon 07 Dec

Mixed Up

Garage, new wave and ska in the upstairs club.

The Voodoo Rooms, 21:00–01:00, Free

Citrus Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Sucka Punch!

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Bass heavy underground sounds.

Fri 11 Dec OVERTIME

The Electric Circus, 17:00–22:00, Free

Pre-club free fun.

I-Tal Fya Sound, Ruba-Dub style City Café, 21:00–01:00, £3

Roots, dub and reggae.

Kandiflip

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £3 before 11pm, £6 after

House and R’n’B

December 2009

THE SKINNY 79

Edinburgh Clubs Planet Earth

Citrus Club, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £6 after

Retro-fest, playing anything from 1970 to 1999.

Alternative (Jack Beats, DJ Frazer Devine)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£6)

Killer Kitsch (Euan Neilson, Dave Sinclair)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

All that is good in dance music.

Sections

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Alternative punk, metal and goth.

Special guests play this week.

Tropical Storm

Cosmic

Drum ‘n’ bass and dubstep.

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4)

Pshchedelic trance with live percussion and unique visuals.

Four Corners (Simon Hodge, Johnny Cashback, Astroboy, WeeG)

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £3 before midnight, £5 after

Funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop.

Misfits

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Twisted disco.

One Drop Xmas Special (Mungoes HiFi)

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4)

Citrus Club, 23:00–03:00, £3

Mon 14 Dec Mixed Up

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Hip-hop, chart and R’n’B.

Nu-Fire (PTV DJs)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Hip-hop and dubstep.

Trade Union (Wolfjazz, Beefy)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Playing everything but cheese.

Tue 15 Dec

A collective of original Edinburgh talent, with reggae, danchall and dubstep in the upstairs club.

Tuesday Heartbreak

Our House @ Speakeasy (Tony Keo, Liam Goldie)

Groovy beats and swirling guitars.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £6

The last ever edition of Our House.

Take a Kleenex.

The Snatch Club (Harry Ainsworth, DJ Babes) Wee Red Bar, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)

Cheesy disco, comedy and childish games.

The Jazz Bar, 21:00–00:00, £2 (£1)

Antics

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Alternative anthems.

LV Hz (Nick AKA)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Off-kilter indie.

Split

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Fri 18 Dec

Sun 20 Dec

Christmas Carnival (Magic Nostalgic)

Killer Kitsch (Euan Neilson, Dave Sinclair)

Fun-packed night of Bandaoke and Christmassy tunes from DJ Magic Nostalgic.

All that is good in dance music.

The Electric Circus, 19:00–03:00, £6

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Sections

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Misfits

Split

Twisted disco.

Bass, breaks and hip-hop from a roster of local DJs.

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Sat 26 Dec Box Wars

The Green Door (BipBop-A-Lula, Sad Excuse, Hoodoo The Voodoo)

Alternative punk, metal and goth.

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep and bassline.

It’s fight or be recycled at this cool night where folk dress up in cardboard and battle it out.

Rock ‘n’ roll, 60s garage and psychobilly in the upstairs club.

Tropical Storm

Liquid Soul

Kandiflip

Drum ‘n’ bass and dubstep.

Studio 24, 22:00–03:00, £4

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £3 before 11pm, £6 after

House and R’n’B

Planet Earth

Citrus Club, 22:30–03:00, Free before 11pm, £6 after

Retro-fest, playing anything from 1970 to 1999.

Misfits

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Twisted disco.

Riddim Tuffa Sound

The GRV, 23:00–03:00, £4 before midnight, £6 after

Reggae, dubstep and jungle.

Coalition (A-Meldrum)

Citrus Club, 23:00–05:00, £3

Mon 21 Dec Mixed Up

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Hip-hop, chart and R’n’B.

Trade Union (Wolfjazz, Beefy)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Playing everything but cheese.

Nu-Fire (PTV DJs)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Hip-hop and dubstep.

Tue 22 Dec

Telefunken (Alan Gray, Nick Wilson, Lel Palfrey)

Christmas Carnival (Magic Nostalgic)

Special Christmas edition of Telefunken.

Fun-packed night of Bandaoke and Christmassy tunes from DJ Magic Nostalgic.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £5 (£4)

Vintage Violence

Wee Red Bar, 23:00–03:00, £4

Vintage garage, soul and junk-shop glam. Plus guest DJs.

The Electric Circus, 19:00–03:00, £6

Antics

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Alternative anthems.

The Big Red Door, 20:00–01:00, £tbc

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £4 before 11pm, £7 after

Retro, disco and funky house.

Tease Age

Citrus Club, 22:30–05:00, £6

Playing the biggest indie tunes including 60s mod, rock and soul.

Bubblegum

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Poptastic mix of chart and retro disco.

Cityvibes (Alex Smoke)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £10 (£8)

A collective of Lithuanian DJs host a one-off event.

Grafik

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11:30pm, £6 (£4) after

Alternative mix of punk, indie and rock.

Headspin

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £5 before midnight, £7 after

Bass, breaks and hip-hop from a roster of local DJs.

The Mission

Christmas Carnival (Magic Nostalgic)

Stepback (Wolfjazz, Keyte)

LV Hz (Nick AKA)

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Frre before 11.30pm, £6 (£4) after

Various bass music.

Off-kilter indie.

The Bongo Club, 19:00–22:00, £6 before midnight, £8 (£7) after

Fun-packed night of Bandaoke and Christmassy tunes from DJ Magic Nostalgic.

Liquid Soul

Jerk Alert (Awesome Wells)

Mumbo Jumbo (Fred Deakin, Trendy Wendy, Colin Millar, Steve Austin) A mix of funk, soul, electro and house.

Wed 16 Dec The Electric Circus, 19:00–03:00, £6

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £4 before 11pm, £7 after

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Tease Age

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Retro, disco and funky house.

Citrus Club, 22:30–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £6 after

Playing the biggest indie tunes including 60s mod, rock and soul.

Ascension

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11:30pm, £6 (£4) after

A dark blend of electro and goth in the upstairs club.

Bang Bang Club

The Electric Circus, 23:00–03:00, £6

Fast-paced favourites and sleazy beats.

Bubblegum

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Poptastic mix of chart and retro disco.

Fake (Bus Daddy, Zomby Lover)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

Electro and house.

Grafik

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, £6 (£4)

Alternative mix of punk, indie and rock.

Karnival (Mike Pinkerton, Ryan Ellis, Matt Edwards, Craig Reid, Barry Fell )

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£6)

A special Christmas edition featuring Karnival’s residents and friends.

Modern Lovers (Vic Galloway)

The GRV, 23:00–03:00, £4 before midnight, £6 after

Indie and pop.

JungleDub

Dub, dubstep and jungle.

The Pit

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Metal and rock request night.

We Are Electric (Gary Mac, Wolfjazz, Ruairi)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Cutting-edge electronica.

We Is Eclectic @ Speakeasy (D.Fault, Picassio)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

The sister club to We Are Electric.

Thu 17 Dec Christmas Carnival (Magic Nostalgic)

The Electric Circus, 19:00–03:00, £6

Fun-packed night of Bandaoke and Christmassy tunes from DJ Magic Nostalgic.

Bounce

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Long-running indie house night.

Depeche Mode Party

Wee Red Bar, 22:30–03:00, Free

Special party night plus guest DJs.

Audacious (Enduser, King Tom, Ma Bla, Midi Cheddar & Skanky Boyle) Faith, 23:00–03:00, £5

Scotland’s premier beat happening playing retro stereo.

Breakcore, jungle and drum ‘n’ bass.

The Egg (DJs Chris and Paul)

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £2 after

Wee Red Bar, 23:00–03:00, £2.50 before 11.30pm £5 after

Mish-mash of sounds, from 60s garage to ska-punk.

Saturday Nite Fish Fry (The Dirty Martinis, DJ Astroboy)

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Funky soul beats.

Sun 13 Dec Coalition (A-Meldrum)

Sneaky Pete’s, 20:00–03:00, Free

Drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep and bassline.

Bangers and Mash

Electro, classic rock and chart cheese.

Sneaky Beats (Your Boy Blair, Picasio)

Xplicit (Sub Focus)

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £10

Night Afore Party (Calvin Harris)

HMV Picture House, 23:00–03:00, £12.50

Calvin Harris does the new year warm-up.

The Pit

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Metal and rock request night.

We Are Electric (Gary Mac, Jacek Jamojski, Dave Le Funk) Underground electro.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £2 (free)

The sister club to We Are Electric.

Jerk Alert (Awesome Wells) Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Indie and pop.

Thu 31 Dec Audio Pawn NYE (Graeme McLean, Davey Dutton) City Café, 20:00–03:00, Free

House classic Hogmanay party.

Playdate (Playdate DJs)

Reggae and funk beats.

Groovy beats and swirling guitars.

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

House night.

Indulgent night of live bands, special DJ sets, burlesque and live theatrical performances,

Saturday Nite Fish Fry (The Freaky Family, DJ D’Viking)

NYE Winter Wonderland (John Hutchinson)

Funk and soul grooves.

House and club classics with guest DJ.

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Sat 19 Dec Velvet @ Speakeasy

Cabaret Voltaire, 22:00–03:00, £8 in advance, £10 on door

The debut edition of Edinburgh spin-off of the popular Glasgow club night Velvet.

Liquid Soul

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £4 before 11pm, £7 after

Retro, disco and funky house.

Tease Age

Citrus Club, 22:30–03:00, £2 before 11pm, £6 after

Playing the biggest indie tunes including 60s mod, rock and soul.

Big ‘N’ Bashy

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £5 before midnight, £7 after

A mighty mix of reggae, grime, dubstep and jungle.

Bubblegum

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £4 after

Poptastic mix of chart and retro disco.

Fuel

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11:30pm, £6 (£4) after

Rock and metal.

The Egg (DJs Chris and Paul) Wee Red Bar, 23:00–03:00, £2.50 before 11.30pm £5 after

Mish-mash of sounds, from 60s garage to ska-punk.

The Underground (Wullie Buchan, Dave Martin)

Studio 24, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11:30pm, £6 (£4) after

Punk, ska and 80s in the upstairs club.

Wire (Scott Hutchinson, Craig Jamieson)

The Electric Circus, 23:00–03:00, £6

Disco beats.

80 THE SKINNY December 2009

Dub, dubstep and jungle.

Tuesday Heartbreak

Bass heavy underground sounds.

Top night with special guest Honey Dijon.

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Skunkfunk

Sucka Punch!

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £8 (£5)

Wed 30 Dec JungleDub

The Two Ring Circus

Wasabi Disco (Kris Actual Size)

Ultragroove (Honey Dijon, Gareth Sommerville)

Groovy beats and swirling guitars.

Legendary rock night in the upstairs club.

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–03:00, Free

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Art punk, twisted folk and disco with a special DJ set from Scott Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit.

Hip-hop, funk and soul.

Tuesday Heartbreak

We Is Eclectic @ Speakeasy (D.Fault, Picassio)

Drum ‘n’ bass.

Sat 12 Dec

Bass, breaks and hip-hop from a roster of local DJs.

Off-kilter indie.

Celebration of electro dance music old and new.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, £5

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Live three-piece band and funky DJs.

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Split

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

LV Hz (Nick AKA)

Dare! @ Speakeasy

The resident DJ team doing the hiphouse-electro-disco--thing on four decks.

Skunkfunk

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Wed 23 Dec Christmas Carnival (Magic Nostalgic)

The Electric Circus, 19:00–03:00, £6

Fun-packed night of Bandaoke and Christmassy tunes from DJ Magic Nostalgic.

JungleDub

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, Free

Dub, dubstep and jungle.

The Pit

Sun 27 Dec Chicken Wire Blues Bar (Jed Potts and The Hillman Hunters) Studio 24, 20:00–01:00, £tbc

Live blues club with its own house band.

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free Metal and rock request night.

Kinky Xxxmas

We Are Electric (Gary Mac, Kev Wright, Funklantis)

Raunchy night of fun.

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Christmas Party Night. Fancy dress encouraged.

We Is Eclectic @ Speakeasy (D.Fault, Picassio)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

The sister club to We Are Electric.

Jerk Alert (Awesome Wells) Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Indie and pop.

Soul Society

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £2 (£1)

Funk and blues.

Thu 24 Dec

The Big Red Door, 20:00–01:00, £tbc

Killer Kitsch (Euan Neilson, Dave Sinclair)

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free

All that is good in dance music.

Sections

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Alternative punk, metal and goth.

Coalition (A-Meldrum)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep and bassline.

Tropical Storm (Big Toes Hi-Fi)

Citrus Club, 23:00–05:00, £6 (£5)

Full on sound system and special guest DJs.

Mon 28 Dec

Big Top Live (Magic Nostalgic)

Mixed Up

Christmas-themed Bandaoke and festive tunes from DJ Magic Nostalgic.

Trade Union (Wolfjazz, Beefy)

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

The Electric Circus, 19:00–03:00, £6

Hip-hop, chart and R’n’B.

Masquerade Ball

Cabaret Voltaire, 23:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

The Big Red Door, 20:00–01:00, £tbc Come masked-up for this Christmas eve enchanted masquerade ball.

Magical.

Bounce

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Long-running indie house night.

Bangers and Mash

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free before 11.30pm, £2 after

Electro, classic rock and chart

Fri 25 Dec

Saturday Nite Fish Fry (Washington Street, DJ Astroboy)

Kandiflip

Funky soul beats.

House and R’n’B

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

The Jazz Bar, 23:30–03:00, £5 (£3)

Po Na Na, 22:30–03:00, £3 before 11pm, £6 after

Playing everything but cheese.

Nu-Fire (PTV DJs)

Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, Free

Hip-hop and dubstep.

Tue 29 Dec Jackhammer Boat Party (Pagowsky, Beefy, Keytes, Wolfjazz, Gee Dubs, Stephen Brown)

Cruz, 20:00–03:00, Free before 10pm, £3 after

Top DJs play live on the boat.

Antics

The Hive, 23:00–03:00, Free

Alternative anthems.

The Electric Circus, 20:00–05:00, £15

Po Na Na, 22:00–03:00, £9

Musika Official Hogmanay After Party (Mylo, James Zabiela, Dean Newton, Derek Martin, Alan Dobson, Neil Bartley)

HMV Picture House, 22:00–05:00, £29.50

Party into the wee small hours with Mylo on the decks, amongst a line-up of top DJs.

NYE at Cabaret Voltaire (Erol Alkan, Foamo, Aeroplane, Gareth Sommerville, Bargain Harold, i-Tallah, D.Fault, Picassio) Cabaret Voltaire, 22:00–05:00, £25

Cabaret Voltaire throws its biggest party of the year with a string of top DJs, including Erol Alkan.

Substance NYE (Neil Landstrumm) The GRV, 22:00–05:00, £tbc

Live electro at its best.

The Motherfunk Hogmanay Party (Gino, Fryer)

The Voodoo Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £5

Celebrate new year funky style with two floors of rare funk, floor-shaking 60s and 70s grooves, Latin, soul and more.

Citrus Club Hogmanay Party

Citrus Club, 22:30–05:00, £12 in advance, £16 on door

Hogmanay bash featuring a mash-up of DJs.

Departure Lounge (Haggis Horns, Banana Sessions, Edinburgh Samba School) The Caves, 22:30–05:00, £24

Hogmanay special with live sessions and DJ sets from Astroboy, Jiminez and Mr Zimbabwe.

Confusion is Sex

The Bongo Club, 23:00–05:00, £10

A Hogmanay celebration with a difference. Electro and glam techno, plus visual artists and the legendary ‘Freaky Brides’.

Volume! Presents Sneaky Pete’s NYE (Jonny Faith, Termite, G*Mac, Robbie Jonston, Morphamish, Kid Ill) Sneaky Pete’s, 23:00–05:00, £5 in advance

Dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass and breaks.

Aberdeen Music Tue 01 Dec

Mon 07 Dec

Aberdeen Clubs Tue 15 Dec

Record Signing (Twin Atlantic)

Scottish Ensemble Winter Light

Fruitbats (Puzzle Muteson, Steven Milne)

Frightened Rabbit

Candelit classical concert, fittingly festive.

Psychadelic tinged folk rock from the USA.

The Paddingtons (The Tijuana Sun, Kashmir Red)

Ruby Tuesday

One Up Records, 17:00–19:00, free The Warehouse, 19:30–22:30, £12

Scottish band of the moment play a live set.

Shed Seven

Music Hall, 19:30–22:30, £16.50

90s indie group play live following their 2007 reunion tour.

Findlay Napier and The Bar Room Mountaineers (Davy Cattanach with Steve Crawford, Gaorsach Rapper and Step) The Tunnels, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Alternative acoustic niceness.

Ruby Tuesday

99 Bar, 21:00–01:00, Free

Weekly acoustic sessions.

Wed 02 Dec Foy Vance

The Warehouse, 19:30–22:30, £6

Acoustic soul for swaying to.

Thu 03 Dec DIRTY HEARTS CLUB (The Colour Proposal, DHC DJs) Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £3

Electro indie rock. Plus special live bands.

Fri 04 Dec Friday Live (Eddie Walker) The Lemon Tree, 13:00–15:00, Free

Music Hall, 19:30–22:30, £14.50

The Tunnels, 20:00–00:00, £7.00

Cheeky indie punk chappies, The Paddingtons.

Open Mic Night

MUSA, 20:00–03:00, Free

Rock up and do your thing.

Tue 08 Dec Steve Earle

Music Hall, 19:30–22:30, £22.50

Rootsy country rock.

Ruby Tuesday

99 Bar, 21:00–01:00, Free

Weekly acoustic sessions.

Wed 09 Dec James Grant

The Lemon Tree, 19:30–22:30, £16

Gentle acoustic rock.

Thu 10 Dec DIRTY HEARTS CLUB (The Twelves, DHC DJs) Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £5

Electro indie rock. Plus special live bands.

Fri 11 Dec

Weekly folk and blues session.

Friday Live (JJ Bull)

The Blockheads

Weekly folk and blues session.

The Lemon Tree, 20:00–22:30, £15.50

New wave pop punkers of such gems as ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’.

Nicky Powel

The Tunnels, 20:00–00:00, £4.00

Acoustic mellow rock and pop.

Sat 05 Dec Live Session with Scottish Cultures and Traditions The Lemon Tree, 12:30–15:00, Free

Regular traditional Saturday session.

Runrig

Music Hall, 19:00–22:30, £23.50

Traditional Gaelic folk and contemporary rock fusion.

Sun 06 Dec

The Lemon Tree, 13:00–15:00, Free

Finbar Furey

The Lemon Tree, 20:00–22:30, £14 Irish five-string banjo and guitar player.

Sat 12 Dec Live Session with Scottish Cultures and Traditions The Lemon Tree, 12:30–15:00, Free

Regular traditional Saturday session.

Goldie Lookin Chain

The Warehouse, 19:30–22:30, £10 Welsh rappers of such heartwarming classics as ‘Your Mother’s Got A Penis’.

Thea Gilmore

The Lemon Tree, 19:30–22:30, £9

Acoustic singer/songwriter.

Sun 13 Dec

Belhaven Sunday Jazz (Cindy Douglas)

Belhaven Sunday Jazz

Jazz, obviously.

Jazz, obviously.

The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free

Drummin’ Aboot charity night

The Tunnels, 20:00–00:00, £3

Community drummers host a fundraising charity night.

The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free

Ideal Band

The Lemon Tree, 19:30–22:30, £8

Newly re-formed and touring.

Mon 14 Dec

The Tunnels, 20:00–00:00, £10 (£8)

99 Bar, 21:00–01:00, Free

Weekly acoustic sessions.

Wed 16 Dec Luke Leighfield, Cast of the Captial, Marionettes, Nicky Powel The Tunnels, 20:00–00:00, £5

Pick ‘n’ mix of pop, indie, metal and acoustic rock.

Thu 17 Dec DIRTY HEARTS CLUB (DHC DJs) Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £3

Electro indie rock. Plus special live bands.

Fri 18 Dec

Chart radio smashes.

Electrique Boutique (Giles Walker) Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Electro, disco and techno goodness.

Thu 03 Dec Takeover Thursdays The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Requests night.

DIRTY HEARTS CLUB (The Colour Proposal, DHC DJs) Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £3

Electro indie rock. Plus special live bands.

Korova Klub Thursday Korova, 22:00–02:00, Free

Rock, indie and chart.

Fri 04 Dec The Chocolate Factory

Korova, 22:00–02:00, Free

Rock, indie and chart.

The Chocolate Factory

The Rig, 21:00–02:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 before 12.30pm, £5 after

Chart, 90s party and house classics.

Rock Night

Korova, 22:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Rock anthems ahoy.

14-strong funk soul band.

Sat 19 Dec Dirty Disco Charity Night (Lady Mercedes, Tijuana Sun, Marionettes) Café Drummonds, 20:00–03:00, £5

Local bands night, with all proceeds going to C.L.A.N. cancer charity.

Sun 20 Dec Belhaven Sunday Jazz (The Marisha Addison Quintet) The Lemon Tree, 12:00–14:00, Free

Jazz, obviously.

Mon 21 Dec RSNO Big Band Christmas Music Hall, 19:30–22:30, £8.50-£19

Add some jazz to your Christmas schedule with this big band special.

Open Mic Night

MUSA, 20:00–03:00, Free

Rock up and do your thing.

Tue 22 Dec Ruby Tuesday

99 Bar, 21:00–01:00, Free

Weekly acoustic sessions.

Mon 28 Dec Open Mic Night

MUSA, 20:00–03:00, Free

Rock up and do your thing.

Tue 29 Dec Ruby Tuesday

Cheerful electro pop.

Rock up and do your thing.

Weekly acoustic sessions.

99 Bar, 21:00–01:00, Free

Edit-Select (Rose & Ulysse, Tony Scott) Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £7

Minimal and techno from Glasgow based record label, Edit-Select Records.

Sat 05 Dec Remix and Rewind

The Rig, 17:00–03:00, £tbc

Mix of tunes over two floors.

Ultimate Saturday Night Out (KMT, John Muir, Scott Shand) Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £5

Four rooms of party, chilled funk and dance.

Everything Else Sucks (Noob - Paris/Turbo Rec.) Origin, 22:00–03:00, £5

Another powerplaying Parisian to add to the recent re-issue of French electro dominace. Support from DJAMBA (Everything Else Sucks/ Hush Hush), GILES WALKER (Everything Else Sucks/Hush Hush/ Mixtape) & EEZMA (Everything Else Sucks/Crush)

Mr Scruff

The Warehouse, 23:00–03:00, £10

DJ mastermind with a fully-stocked bag of beats.

THE DEEP END (Funky Transport, Mr Green) Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £6

Underground, deep house and disco.

Mon 07 Dec Offshore

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Rock night with live music and DJs.

Remix and Rewind

Chart, R’n’B and party anthems.

Mix of tunes over two floors.

Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

The Rig, 17:00–03:00, £tbc

Alternative vibes traversing the rock, indie and pop scene.

Radio

Chart radio smashes.

Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £5

Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £6

Underground, deep house and disco.

Mon 14 Dec Offshore

Wed 09 Dec Radio

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Chart radio smashes.

Electrique Boutique (Crush with EEZMA, Talcolm X, Krazzy Martin) Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Electro, disco and techno goodness.

Thu 10 Dec Takeover Thursdays The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Rock night with live music and DJs.

Vodka Island (Barry Thompson, D.O.C.)

Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £3.50 before 11pm, £4 after

Chart, R’n’B and party anthems.

Black Tooth (Fudge DJs) Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Alternative vibes traversing the rock, indie and pop scene.

Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Electro, disco and techno goodness.

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Requests night.

Korova Klub Thursday Korova, 22:00–02:00, Free

Rock, indie and chart.

Fri 25 Dec The Chocolate Factory

The Rig, 21:00–02:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 before 12.30pm, £5 after

Rock Night

Korova, 22:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Radio

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Rock anthems ahoy.

Chart radio smashes.

Electrique Boutique (Giles Walker, Mini Klaus) Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Electro, disco and techno goodness.

Thu 17 Dec

Sat 26 Dec Remix and Rewind

The Rig, 17:00–03:00, £tbc

Mix of tunes over two floors.

Boxing Day Special

Takeover Thursdays The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Requests night.

DIRTY HEARTS CLUB (DHC DJs) Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £3

Electro indie rock. Plus special live bands.

Korova Klub Thursday Korova, 22:00–02:00, Free

Snafu, 22:00–03:00, £tbc

Post-Christmas cheer-up with a special guest that is being kept under wraps.

Mon 28 Dec Offshore

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Rock night with live music and DJs.

Vodka Island (Barry Thompson, D.O.C.)

Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £3.50 before 11pm, £4 after

Fri 18 Dec

Chart, R’n’B and party anthems.

The Rig, 21:00–02:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 before 12.30pm, £5 after

Chart, 90s party and house classics.

Rock Night

Black Tooth (Fudge DJs) Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Alternative vibes traversing the rock, indie and pop scene.

Wed 30 Dec

Korova, 22:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Radio

Rock anthems ahoy.

Chart radio smashes.

MIXTAPE (Giles Walker )

Korova Klub Thursday

House, baltimore, dubstep and electro.

Rock, indie and chart.

Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £6

Sat 19 Dec

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Korova, 22:00–02:00, Free

Electrique Boutique (Switch, P.E.D.S., Dickie Drysdale) Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Electro, disco and techno goodness.

Remix and Rewind

The Rig, 17:00–03:00, £tbc

Mix of tunes over two floors.

DIRTY HEARTS CLUB (The Twelves, DHC DJs) Electro indie rock. Plus special live bands.

Four rooms of party, chilled funk and dance.

Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £5

Electrique Boutique

Chart, 90s party and house classics.

Wed 16 Dec

Ultimate Saturday Night Out (KMT, John Muir, Scott Shand)

Requests night.

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Takeover Thursdays

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

The Chocolate Factory

Alternative vibes traversing the rock, indie and pop scene.

Wed 23 Dec

Thu 24 Dec

Chart, R’n’B and party anthems.

Snafu, 23:00–02:00, £3

Black Tooth (Fudge DJs)

Ultimate Saturday Night Out (KMT, John Muir, Scott Shand)

Rock, indie and chart.

Black Tooth (Fudge DJs)

Rock night with live music and DJs.

Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £3.50 before 11pm, £4 after

Sat 12 Dec

Vodka Island (Barry Thompson, D.O.C.)

Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £3.50 before 11pm, £4 after

Mon 21 Dec

Vodka Island (Barry Thompson, D.O.C.)

Rock anthems ahoy.

The Lemon Tree, 20:00–22:30, £7

Snafu, 22:00–02:00, £12 Special guest Switch returns to Aberdeen for one mighty fine Christmas party.

Techno and minimal.

THE DEEP END (Funky Transport)

Korova, 22:00–03:00, Free before midnight, £2 after

Let It Bleed (Switch)

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £6

Rock Night

Soul Funkin Hot

Sun 20 Dec

MIXTAPE (DJ Lunik, Gibby)

Weekly folk and blues session.

Chart, 90s party and house classics.

Snafu, 23:00–03:00, £6

Offshore

Four rooms of party, chilled funk and dance.

The Lemon Tree, 13:00–15:00, Free

THE DEEP END (Funky Transport, Mr Green) Underground, deep house and disco.

Fri 11 Dec

Friday Live (The Pictones)

Open Mic Night

MUSA, 20:00–03:00, Free

The Rig, 19:00–02:00, Free

Korova Klub Thursday

The Rig, 21:00–02:00, Free before 11.30pm, £3 before 12.30pm, £5 after

Rogues (The Elizabeths, The Audiokicks, Echo Red) The Tunnels, 20:00–00:00, £5

Wed 02 Dec Radio

Tiger Tiger, 22:00–03:00, £5

Thu 31 Dec New Year Sounds Better With You (Alan Braxe, DJAMBA ) Snafu, 22:00–03:00, £tbc

Extra special party with back-to-back sets from special guests.

December 2009

THE SKINNY 81

Dundee Music Tue 01 Dec

Thu 10 Dec

Hello Pirates, Fintry Love Child, Eh!, Hellovideo

Open Mic Night

Live bands play in aid of Make HIV History.

Art Bar Collective

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5

Wed 02 Dec Frightened Rabbit Fat Sam’s, 19:00–22:30, £12

Live set from one of our fave new Scottish bands.

Thu 03 Dec Open Mic Night

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, Free

Musical free for all.

The Blockheads (Independance)

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 20:00–23:00, £12.50

Pop punk.

Fri 04 Dec Dragonforce Hearts and Minds Tour

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, Free

Musical free for all.

Art Bar, 20:00–00:00, £tbc

A new eclectic exhibition of artists and film makers, plus a bit of live music and DJs.

The Storm Society, The Floor, The Dilatory, The Scoundrelz

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 20:00–00:00, £tbc

Alternative rock.

Fri 11 Dec Dave?

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5

Single launch night from Dave?. Question mark apparently necessary.

Sat 12 Dec Levee Breakers (Revolver) The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £10 (£8)

Folky blues with a tendency to rock out.

Sun 13 Dec

Art Listings Sun 20 Dec Xmas Bash (The Twist, The Mirror Trap, Tango In The Attic, The Secrets)

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 20:00–00:00, £tbc

Special festive live bands line-up.

Tue 22 Dec Open Mic

Art Bar, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

You know the drill. Turn up and play.

Wed 23 Dec Open Mic Night

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, Free

Musical free for all.

Xmas Bash Part 2 (Cha Cha Heels, The Goodnights, The Weekend Pickups)

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 20:00–00:00, £tbc

Special festive live bands line-up.

Thu 24 Dec Luva Anna (Ray Summers) The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5

Dividing The Line, Proceed, Heights

Poppy folk rock.

Mayhem Night (Mortal Krypt, Kalel, Rab Size, Die DJs)

Ambient rock and electro.

The Draymin, The Twist

Live music and DJs special.

London Blackmarket (The Mirror Trap, Black November, Fash)

Fat Sam’s, 19:00–22:30, £16

Metal music special.

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Sat 05 Dec The Fauves

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5 (£3)

Pop rockers playing their last gig ever.

Tue 08 Dec Open Mic

Art Bar, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

You know the drill. Turn up and play.

Tubelord

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 20:00–00:00, £tbc

Progressive alternative with pop-esque melodies.

Wed 09 Dec Avast!, Spyamp, Pensioner, Cast of The Capital

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 20:00–00:00, £tbc

Indie rock.

Dexter’s Lounge Bar, 19:00–23:00, £5

Wed 16 Dec The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5 (£3.50)

Punk and soul.

Thu 17 Dec Dundee College Xmas Night The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £tbc

Host of live bands play for this Chrismas bash.

Fri 18 Dec Cundeez Xmas Cracker The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £5

Special Chrismas night with live guests.

Sat 19 Dec

Sat 26 Dec The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £7

Alternative indie types.

Sun 27 Dec The Complete Stone Roses Fat Sam’s, 19:00–22:30, £12

Tribute act.

Mon 28 Dec Sergeant (Val Verde)

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £8

Indie pop.

Wed 30 Dec AB/CD

Fat Sam’s, 19:00–22:30, £11

Tribute act.

Thu 31 Dec

Xcerts, Flood of Red, Healthy Minds Collapse, The Gap Year Riot

Bad Manners (Splodgeness Abounds, The Rude Girls)

Pop rock.

Ska tinged reggae.

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £6

The Doghouse, 20:00–23:00, £15 (£20)

Wed 02 Dec

Fri 11 Dec Oops

Frat party style silly shenanigans with a bouncy castle and foam cannon.

Weekend party starter.

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £5

Fri 04 Dec Oops

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £6

Weekend party starter.

HEADWAY

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc

House and techno.

Concrete Streets (Fox Gut Daata, Andrew Thomson) Dundee University Students Union, 23:00–02:30, £3

Hip-hop, electro, dubstep and techno.

Renegades

Kage, 23:00–03:00, £4

Hip-hop, funk and metal rock.

Sat 05 Dec SMASH & GRAB (Filthy Dukes DJs)

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £10

Special live DJ set from the electro specialists.

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £6

PANGEA

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc

Drum and bass.

Sat 12 Dec PLASTIC SOUL (DJ Kormac)

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £6 (£5)

Scrathed-up, dancefloor-friendly beats.

Asylum (Big Doctor P) Kage, 23:00–03:00, £5

Metal disco fun.

Wed 16 Dec Beta

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £5

Frat party style silly shenanigans with a bouncy castle and foam cannon.

Fri 18 Dec Oops

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £6

Weekend party starter.

SPACEBALL

Asylum (DJ Sleaze, The Girl DJs)

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc

Metal disco fun.

Kage, 23:00–03:00, £4

Kage, 23:00–03:00, £5

Wed 09 Dec Beta

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £5

Frat party style silly shenanigans with a bouncy castle and foam cannon.

Wonky dance beats.

Entropy Punk party.

Sat 19 Dec PLASTIC SOUL

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £5

Soul tape.

82 THE SKINNY December 2009

Art Gallery James McBey

10:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, free

Vija Celmins’ ethereal images of seas, deserts and the night sky, a complete series of landscape and portrait paintings by Alex Katz, and Francesca Woodman’s intimate, surrealist-influenced photographs.

Maritime Museum THE NEW LANDSCAPE

10:00AM, 10 Dec—12 Dec, free

Examining the way contemporary artists deal with rural landscape and the urban environment.

Kilau Kilau Art

09:00AM, 01 Dec—05 Dec, FREE

Group show featuring Jamie Donald, Craig Cunningham, Gordon Fox and Lyndsey Neill.

Peacock Visual CRUEL WEATHER

09:30AM, 10 Dec, free

Provost Skene’s A City’s Pride : Hall Russel Ship Builders 1864 - 1992 10:00AM, 12 Dec, free

This exhibition looks at the ships, the shipyard and the men and women who made Hall Russells famous.

Beautiful Mountain Sarah J Tingle

09:00AM, 01 Dec—09 Dec, FREE

New Drawings and Paintings by Sarah J Tingle. http://www.sarahjtingle.com

DUNDEE Art Bar

Dundee Clubs Beta

Aberdeen

Art Bar Collective 08:00PM, 10 Dec, £tbc

Kage Second Birthday Party Kage, 23:00–03:00, £5

Special night of Birthday celebrations as Kage turns two.

Wed 23 Dec Beta

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £5

Frat party style silly shenanigans with a bouncy castle and foam cannon.

Thu 24 Dec Asylum Xmas Special Kage, 23:00–03:00, £4

Metal disco fun special.

Sat 26 Dec CTRL*ALT*DEFEAT

The Reading Rooms, 22:30–03:00, £tbc

Boxing day electro special.

Sun 27 Dec Back To Our Roots (Graeme Park)

A new eclectic exhibition of artists and film makers, plus a bit of live music and DJs.

Edinburgh City Art Centre The Travelling Gallery 02:00PM, 07 Dec—11 Dec, Free

The art bus is back in town, and displaying its wares outside the City Art Centre. Featuring work by Jacco Olivier, George Barber, Michael Craik, Alexis Harding, Carol Rhodes, Miranda Blennerhassett, Ufuk Gueray and Christopher Stevens.

Collective

Corn Exchange Anna Sikorska 11:00AM, 01 Dec—17 Dec, not 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, free

Anna’s work uses found raw materials and objects from daily life.

Dean Gallery ‘Painter’ and The Studio 10:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, free

With a traditional background in painting, McCarthy made his name with performance art, lashing out against traditional artistic ideas. His famous and irreverent video Painter (1995) satirises the formula of the artist as lonely genius in his studio.

A Model of Order: Concrete Poetry 10:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, free

This Keiller Library display is part of a programme of events, organised in collaboration with the Scottish Poetry Library, which will take place in venues across Edinburgh from October 2009 to January 2010.

ECA Knife and Fork 10:00AM, 04 Dec—06 Dec, Free

A collection of ‘work in progress’ from 15 Edinburgh College of Art Intermedia students

Embassy Gallery Uncle Chop Chop 12:00PM, 03 Dec—06 Dec, Free

Fruitmarket The End Of The Line: Attitudes To Drawing Various times, 01 Dec—31 Dec, Free

This exhibition of new and recent work by eleven highly acclaimed young international artists explores a diverse range of contemporary approaches to drawing

Hyperground Keith Farquhar: Nudes in colour Various times, 04 Dec—06 Dec, Free

Flat-pack artwork based on photos of painted nudes precision printed onto and cut out of cardboard. Looks much simpler than the description in reality.

Ingleby Gallery Garry Fabian Miller - The Colours 10:00AM, 01 Dec—30 Dec, not 6th, 13th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, Free

Garry Fabian Miller is one of a small band of international photographers who investigate the possibilities of camera-less photography (the interaction of light and light-sensitive paper).

Inverleith House

New Work Scotland

Karla Black: Sculptures

An annual exhibition of emerging Scottish artists. This year includes exhibits work by Katharina Kiebacher, Anna Tanner, Michael White, Rachel Adams and Jennifer Grant.

Specially made sculptures for the artist’s first major solo show in Scotland.

After a long drought, will this finally be the exhibition that the gallery gets right?

11:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, not 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, free

10:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, not 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, Free

Modern Art GAL. What you see is where you’re at 10:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, Free

A complete rehang of the collection to celebrate the gallery’s 50th anniversary.

National Gallery Picturing Britain 10:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, Free

Watercolours of Britain.

RSA HOMECOMING: Past Masters Various times, 01 Dec—31 Dec, free

RSA 183rd ANNUAL EXHIBITION Various times, 01 Dec—20 Dec, £4 / £3 concs.

RSA Annual Exhibition with selected artists curated by John Byrne RSA.

Works by RSA Members and Scholars 10:00AM, Mon 7th, Mon 14th, free

A whistle-stop tour of the activities of some of Scotland’s most prominent and up-and-coming artists.

Sierra Metro In the Absence of Wolves 10:00AM, 10 Dec, free

Nieuwenhuizen’s practice investigates the realms of shamanistic and arcane ritual and behaviour

St Margaret’s 3 way conversation 10:00AM, 01 Dec—04 Dec, Free

Stills Elín Jakosdóttir 11:00AM, 01 Dec—31 Dec, Free

FILM works

Talbot Rice An Entangled Bank: Darwin and Edinburgh 10:00AM, 01 Dec—12 Dec, not 6th, 7th, free

An Entangled Bank will show a series of diverse but interrelated works by five invited artists and will be accompanied by an extensive education andevents programme.

The Jazz Bar DR SKETCHY BURLESQUE LIFE DRAWING CLASS 04:00PM, 06 Dec, £7 (£6)

The best burlesque art class you’ve even been to

Glasgow +44 141 Gallery Warehouse of Horrors 12:00PM, 11 Dec, free

Including works by Marc Bijl, Beagles and Ramsay, Olaf Breuning, Neil Clements, Mike Kelley and Paul McCarthy

The Reading Rooms, 20:30–03:00, £tbc

Good and proper house.

Xmas Glam (Cosmicgate)

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £10 before midnight, £12 after

Xmas fun with special guest DJ Cosmicgate.

Wed 30 Dec Beta

London Nightclub, 22:00–03:00, £5

Frat party style silly shenanigans with a bouncy castle and foam cannon.

theskinny.co.uk

THEATRE LISTINGS CCA

GL. YOUTH HOSTEL

VOTIVE 11:00AM, MULTIPLE DATES, FREE

Curated for CCA by Sarah Lowndes, Votive brings together works by leading international artists including; Chris Burden, USA; Abraham Cruzvillegas, Mexico; Thea Djordjadze, Germany; Torsten Lauschmann, UK and 2009 Turner Prize nominee Richard Wright, UK

COLLINS GALLERY IAN MCCULLOCH TRESPASSING VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—19 DEC, NOT 6TH, 13TH, FREE

Trespassing brings together a rich and diverse collection of paintings, drawings, ceramics, and painted & driftwood constructions created over the past five years.

PRINT STUDIO JOHN BYRNE - CORNERBOYS AND ANGELS VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—23 DEC, NOT 7TH, 14TH, 21ST, FREE

Cherubim characters, roguish Cornerboys and the occasional selfportrait all make up an exhibition of fondly familiar imagery from Byrne.

SCHOOL OF ART THE GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART MFA AUCTION 2009.

06:00PM, 05 DEC, £3

A chance to get your hands on an original work by one of Glasgow’s celebrated contemporary artists (Lambie, Boyce, Skaer et al) at a very reasonable price to raise money for the next generation of art stars (the MFAs)

GIA - GLASGOW INDEPENDENT ARTISTS 12:00PM, 06 DEC, FREE

A one day exhibition showcasing 15 of Glasgow’s up and coming artists.

Including photography, painting, graffiti, crafts and more.

COMMON GUILD MIRCEA CANTOR

12:00PM, MULTIPLE DATES, FREE

The first exhibition of Cantor’s work in Scotland, brings together a group of works in a typically diverse range of media, including video, photography and works created in situ, and using materials from crystal to fingerprints.

THE FLYING DUCK

RECOAT GALLERY RECESSION SESSION 12:00PM, 01 DEC—23 DEC, NOT 7TH, 14TH, 21ST, FREE

Recoat’s annual Christmas Blowout.

Each wall is going to be marked with a set price and all artwork will be set at that one low price. The categories will be- £25, £50, £75, and £100.

STREETLEVEL COLIN GRAY: IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 7TH, 14TH, 21ST, 28TH, FREE

In Sickness and In Health forms the final stages of The Parents series.

Begun in 2000, it shows his parents deterioration and ultimately his mothers death.

THE ARCHES TWO GENTLEMEN VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—31 DEC, FREE

A show of photographic portraits in which a series of characters stand before the viewer, allowing scrutiny into their inner personas, revealing a deep contrast between the inner self and their often stereotypically tailored outer image.

ALL THE YOUNG NUDES

VARIOUS TIMES, TUE 1ST, TUE 8TH, TUE 15TH, £4

Drawing class with a backdrop of DJ beats and a bar to the side.

ABERDEEN ARTS CENTRE ALADDIN 07:00PM, 03 DEC—19 DEC, NOT 6TH, 7TH, 13TH, 14TH, £10

Kiddies favorite.

HIS MAJESTY’S CINDERELLA 07:00PM, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 25TH, FROM £14.75

Fairytale favourite.

MODERN INSTITUTE LUKE FOWLER

VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—23 DEC, NOT 6TH, 13TH, 20TH, FREE

Solo show from the renowned Glasgow filmmaker

TRAMWAY HILARY LLOYD

12:00PM, 01 DEC—20 DEC, NOT 7TH, 14TH, FREE

A form of ‘anti-portraiture’, shooting situations and protagonists with a contrived passivity that allows the viewer to form their own narratives.

LARA FAVARETTO

12:00PM, 01 DEC—13 DEC, NOT 7TH, FREE

Works of sculpture, photography, film and installation that produce a sense of magical fantasy and urgency.

TRANSMISSION INVISIBLE SQUARE

11:00AM, 01 DEC—12 DEC, NOT 6TH, 7TH, FREE

An exhibition of work by Stina Wirfelt, Hirofumi Suda, Achim Lengerer

DUNDEE DUNDEE REP

SANTA’S LITTLE HELPERS 01:15PM, MULTIPLE DATES, £10

Show aimed at the under 6s, although big kids may also want to attend.

ALASDAIR GRAY: ON STAGE AND IN CONVERSATION 07:00PM, 08 DEC, £6.50 / £5.00

Living legend Alasdair Gray will be reading from his new collection of plays ‘A Gray Play Book’. Tickets for this fantastic event are just £6.50, £5.00 for concessions. Students attending even get a free pre-production copy of the book.

THE DOUGH IS RISING 12:30PM, FRI 4TH, FRI 11TH, FRI 18TH, £8

Weekly new work with food.

VARIOUS TIMES, 04 DEC—22 DEC, NOT

FROM £7.50

9TH, 10TH, 16TH, 17TH, FROM £10

Theatrical production featuring the Spanish masked crusader.

Peter Pan parodied.

BRUNTON SINBAD

give the gift of dance

KING’S THEATRE ROBINSON CRUSOE & THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 26TH, FROM £13.50

Usual frantic Christmas mayhem.

ALADDIN Gerard Kelly, Karen Dunbar et al back for annual festive fun.

PETER PAN 07:00PM, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 7TH, 14TH, 21ST, 25TH, 28TH, FROM £16.50

Purchase online at dancebase.co.uk/giftcards

NTS multi-artist fun fest

RAMSHORN LOVE RIDES THE RAILS 07:30PM, 07 DEC—12 DEC, £7

SECC BEAUTY AND THE BEAST VARIOUS TIMES, 10 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 25TH, £15.50

Disney style Christmas treat.

SLEEPING BEAUTY 07:00PM, 10 DEC—24 DEC, NOT 13TH, 20TH, FROM £10

MY FABULOUS TARTAN FROCK 02:00PM, 08 DEC—10 DEC, FREE

Domestic violence comes under the spotlight

THE PAVILION NEW ADVENTURES OF PINNOCHIO 07:30PM, 02 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 25TH, FROM £10

THEATRE ROYAL THE GRASS IS GREENER 07:30PM, 01 DEC—05 DEC, FROM £7.15

Classic Comedy.

14 – 16 Grassmarket Edinburgh EH1 2JU

A Christmas tradition is revived.

THE TRON VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT

08:00PM, 05 DEC, £5

Pavilion Panto: real old school fun with a Scottish all-star cast.

ROYAL LYCEUM

YA BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

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Gift credit is available to spend on courses, drop-in classes and workshops at Dance Base.

FROM £7.50

Trongate 103, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HD

THE MIKADO

Puppets, dance and song retell the classic story.

VARIOUS TIMES, 04 DEC—31 DEC,

Plus artist talks, festive menu, performances, workshops and much more. For more information please visit www.trongate103.com or call 0141 276 8380.

Adaptation of Alcott’s classic novel.

01:30PM, 02 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 7TH, 14TH, 21ST, 25TH, 28TH, £8

07:30PM, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 6TH,

Queen and sci-fi: stomping singalongs with a Ben Elton script.

Also First Thursday: An evening of art and culture on the First Thursday of every month, 5-9pm

07:30PM, 02 DEC—05 DEC, £10

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

WE WILL ROCK YOU FOR DETAILS

Xmas Show - Project Ability

LITTLE WOMEN

THE ARCHES

13TH, 20TH, 27TH, CONTACT VENUE

•

More mature Christmas mayhem

New version of the kiddies favourite.

PLAYHOUSE

Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre

07:30PM, 16 DEC—19 DEC, £10

ALLOTMENT

School play gets nasty...

•

WICKED CHRISTMAS

GOVAN CROSS

07:30PM, 03 DEC—05 DEC, £4

13TH, FROM £15

In Sickness and in Health by Colin Gray Streetlevel Photoworks

A festive family treat for all ages with imaginative storytelling and original live music.

Festive frivolity

07:30PM, 03 DEC—19 DEC, NOT 6TH,

•

VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 6TH, 13TH, 20TH, 27TH, FROM £10

01:30PM, 15 DEC—19 DEC, £10

PETER PANTO

CORSTOPHINE ROAD NATIVITY

Cornerboys and Angels by John Byrne Glasgow Print Studio

CINDERELLA

PETER PAN

BEDLAM THEATRE

FESTIVAL THEATRE

•

CITIZENS THEATRE

Opera favourite in intimate venue

EDINBURGH

A secret is revealed in an all new show.

Cafe Flicker - GMAC

A cryptic theatrical tale of two lovers told via Twitter stream. Clues to locations and the prospect of iPods to be won. Music by Peter Gregson and a far better explanation at www. cca-glasgow.com

07:30PM, 08 DEC—12 DEC, £15

£10.50

•

CRYPTIC NIGHTS

GILMOREHILL G12

ZORRO

07:15PM, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 25TH,

6TH, 13TH, 20TH, 25TH, 27TH, FROM

This month’s highlights include:

CCA 07:30PM, 03 DEC, £5

TRAVERSE

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

VARIOUS TIMES, 01 DEC—31 DEC, NOT

A centre for the arts and creativity

GLASGOW

Scottish Charity No. SC025512

THE NUTCRACKER 07:30PM, 12 DEC—31 DEC, NOT 13TH, 20TH, 27TH, FROM £9

Page’s Christmas masterpiece revisited.

ÒRAN MÓR A CHRISTMAS CAROL

25TH, £12

12:00PM, 01 DEC—19 DEC, NOT 6TH, 13TH, £7

Scottish seasonal high jinx.

Play, pie, pint and panto. Perfect.

13/11/09 10:48:27

DECEMBER 2009

THE SKINNY 83

Glasgow Comedy Tue 01 Dec Red Raw

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £2/£1 New acts, new material from old acts; a classic lucky dip of comedy.

Jongleurs (Dave Williams, Tanyalee Davis, Paul Chowdhry and Colin Cole)

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Wed 02 Dec Wicked Wenches (AL Kennedy, Pippa Evans, Elaine Malcolmson, Janey Godley)

The Stand, 20:30–22:45, £6 (£5/£4)

Top line-up of comedians.

Jongleurs (Dave Williams, Tanyalee Davis, Paul Chowdhry and Colin Cole)

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Thu 03 Dec Bratchy and the Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz The Arches, 20:00–23:00, Free

Teams of up to five people.

Jongleurs (Dave Williams, Tanyalee Davis, Paul Chowdhry and Colin Cole)

Jongleurs

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Mon 07 Dec Red Raw (Teddy and Scott Agnew)

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £2/£1

New acts, new material from old acts; a classic lucky dip of comedy.

Tue 08 Dec Red Raw

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £2/£1

New acts, new material from old acts; a classic lucky dip of comedy.

Jongleurs (Janey Godley, Tommy Campbell, Simon B Cotter and Jim Tavare) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Wed 09 Dec Jongleurs (Janey Godley, Tommy Campbell, Simon B Cotter and Jim Tavare) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Thu 10 Dec

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Shaggers (Nik Coppin, Tommy Campbell, Gary Little, Keara Murphy and Marcus Ryan)

The Thursday Show

Comedians from all walks of life reveal their most intimate shagging stories. www.shaggerscomedy.com.

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £8/£7/£4

Ease yourself into the weekend with top laughs and delicious food.

Fri 04 Dec Jongleurs (Dave Williams, Tanyalee Davis, Paul Chowdhry and Colin Cole)

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Friday Show

The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £10/£9/£5

Friday night special with a changing rota of performers.

Sat 05 Dec Jongleurs (Dave Williams, Tanyalee Davis, Paul Chowdhry and Colin Cole)

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Saturday Show The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £13

Saturday special with varying top line-up.

Capitol, 20:30–22:18, £8/£6

Jongleurs (Janey Godley, Tommy Campbell, Simon B Cotter and Jim Tavare) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Thursday Show

The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £8/£7/£4

Ease yourself into the weekend with top laughs and delicious food.

Fri 11 Dec Jongleurs (Janey Godley, Tommy Campbell, Simon B Cotter and Jim Tavare) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Friday Show

The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £10/£9/£5

Friday night special with a changing rota of performers.

Sat 12 Dec Jongleurs (Janey Godley, Tommy Campbell, Simon B Cotter and Jim Tavare) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Uisge Beatha

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Saturday night laugh-in.

The Saturday Show

Uisge Beatha, 21:00–23:00, £6/£4

Sun 06 Dec Glasgow Kids Comedy Club

The Stand, 15:00–16:00, £3

Fun for the kiddies. Recommended for ages 8-12, no under 5s.

Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £5/£4/£1

Round off your weekend with some laughter.

The Ivory (Ray Bradshaw & m.c. Alan Anderson)

Ivory Bar & Restaurant, 20:30–22:30, Free

New talent show with professional headliner

The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £13

Edinburgh comedy The Ivory

Ivory Bar & Restaurant, 20:30–22:30, Free

New talent show with professional headliner

Jongleurs

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Mon 14 Dec Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Tue 15 Dec Jongleurs (Brendan Riley, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Wed 16 Dec Jongleurs (Brendan Riley, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Thu 17 Dec

Fri 18 Dec Jongleurs (Brendan Riley, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Sat 19 Dec Jongleurs (Brendan Riley, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Uisge Beatha

Uisge Beatha, 21:00–23:00, £6/£4

Saturday night laugh-in.

Sun 20 Dec The Ivory

Ivory Bar & Restaurant, 20:30–22:30, Free

Jongleurs (Brendan Riley, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson)

Glasgow Kids Comedy Club

The Stand, 15:00–16:00, £3

Fun for the kiddies. Recommended for ages 8-12, no under 5s.

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Mon 21 Dec

Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service

Jongleurs (Raymond Mearns, Steve Williams, Karl Spain and Mick Ferry)

Round off your weekend with some laughter.

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £5/£4/£1

84 THE SKINNY December 2009

Wed 02 Dec Broken Windows Policy The Stand, 20:30–22:45, £4

Sketch show fun.

Jongleurs (Danny Buckler, John Fothergill, Curtis Walker and Des Clarke) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Thu 03 Dec Jongleurs (Danny Buckler, John Fothergill, Curtis Walker and Des Clarke) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Thursday Show

The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £8/£7/£4

Ease yourself into the weekend with top laughs and delicious food.

Fri 04 Dec Jongleurs (Danny Buckler, John Fothergill, Curtis Walker and Des Clarke) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Improverts

Uisge Beatha

Sun 13 Dec

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

New talent show with professional headliner

Saturday night laugh-in.

Top line-up of comedians.

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £6 (£5/£3)

The Friday Show

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Wed 09 Dec Jongleurs (Roger Monkhouse, Owen O’Neill, Steve Best and Craig Campbell)

Jongleurs (Brendan Riley, Brendan Dempsey, Tom Stade and Junior Simpson)

Saturday special with varying top line-up.

Uisge Beatha, 21:00–23:00, £6/£4

Tue 01 Dec Wicked Wenches (AL Kennedy, Pippa Evans, Elaine Malcolmson, Janey Godley)

The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £10/£9/£5

Friday night special with a changing rota of performers.

Bedlam Theatre, 22:30–23:30, £4 (£3.50)

An hour of imporvised games, based entirely on audience suggestions.

Sat 05 Dec Secret Policeman’s Ball

Queen Margaret College Student Union, 20:30–22:31, £tbc

Hosted by the Glasgow University Amnesty Society to celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Jongleurs (Danny Buckler, John Fothergill, Curtis Walker and Des Clarke) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Saturday Show The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £13

Saturday special with varying line-up.

Sun 06 Dec Whose Lunch Is It Anyway?

The Stand, 12:30–15:00, Free

Improvised comedy led by audience suggestions, with Stu and Garry.

The Sunday Night LaughIn (Parrot, Gus Tawse, Kevin McCallum, Derek Miller, Daniel Webster) The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £5/£4/£1

Round off your weekend with a night of laughs hosted by Siân Bevan.

Mon 07 Dec Absolute Beginners

The Beehive Inn, 20:00–22:30, £2

Showcase of new comedy talent with an experienced headliner. www.fitothegiggles.com

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Thu 10 Dec Jongleurs (Roger Monkhouse, Owen O’Neill, Steve Best and Craig Campbell) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Thursday Show The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £8/£7/£4 Ease yourself into the weekend with top laughs and delicious food.

Fri 11 Dec Jongleurs (Roger Monkhouse, Owen O’Neill, Steve Best and Craig Campbell) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Friday Show The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £10/£9/£5

Friday night special with a changing rota of performers.

Shaggers (Nik Coppin, Craig Campbell, Keara Murphy and Marcus Ryan) Downstairs at the Tron, 21:00–23:19, £12/£10

Comedians from all walks of life reveal their most intimate shagging stories. www.shaggerscomedy.com.

Sat 12 Dec Jongleurs (Roger Monkhouse, Owen O’Neill, Steve Best and Craig Campbell) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Saturday Show The Stand, 21:00–23:00, £13

Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Marc Theobald and Rex Boyd) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Wed 16 Dec Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Marc Theobald and Rex Boyd) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Thu 17 Dec Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Marc Theobald and Rex Boyd) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Fri 18 Dec Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Marc Theobald and Rex Boyd) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Sat 19 Dec Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Marc Theobald and Rex Boyd) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

Sun 20 Dec Whose Lunch Is It Anyway?

The Stand, 12:30–15:00, Free

Improvised comedy led by audience suggestions, with Stu and Garry.

It’s Funtime

The Sunday Night Laugh-In (Mark Nelson, Ed Patrick, Ben Verth, Rhonda Downie)

The Bongo Club, 23:00–03:00, £5

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £5/£4/£1

The comedy quiz with knobs on. Fun and games.

Round off your weekend with a night of laughs.

Saturday special with varying line-up.

Sun 13 Dec Whose Lunch Is It Anyway?

The Stand, 12:30–15:00, Free

Jongleurs (Joe Heenan, Marc Theobald and Rex Boyd) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Improvised comedy led by audience suggestions, with Stu and Garry.

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

The Sunday Night LaughIn (Shazia Mirza, Daniel Sloss, Michael Adams, Ailsa Johnston)

Absolute Beginners

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £5/£4/£1

Round off you weekend with a night of laughts hosted by Billy Kirkwood.

Mon 14 Dec Absolute Beginners The Beehive Inn, 20:00–22:30, £2

Showcase of new comedy talent with an experienced headliner. www.fitothegiggles.com

Red Raw

Red Raw

New acts, new material from old acts; a classic lucky dip of comedy.

New acts, new material from old acts; a classic lucky dip of comedy.

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £2/£1

Tue 15 Dec

The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £2/£1

Mon 21 Dec The Beehive Inn, 20:00–22:30, £2

Showcase of new comedy talent with an experienced headliner. www.fitothegiggles.com

Red Raw The Stand, 20:30–22:30, £2/£1

New acts, new material from old acts; a classic lucky dip of comedy.

Jongleurs (Janey Godley, Simon Bligh, Sandy Nelson and Tom Stade) Jongleurs, 21:00–23:00, from £15

Christmas show. Food packages available. www.jongleurs.com

A Kiss at Midnight…

Get together this Christmas & New Year at Lulu or Opal Lounge

We look forward to making your Christmas wishes come true…

Festive table packages/guest lists available at www.opallounge.co.uk & www.luluedinburgh.co.uk or contact our events team on 0131 226 1370 ext 26 or 37 Celebrate Hogmanay at Lulu’s luxurious Kiss at Midnight party…

Sexy, stylish and the only way to guarantee entry into Lulu on NYE. From 7pm-late, £30 per person Kiss goodbye to the noughties at Opal this NYE, with a sparkling reception and shimmering atmosphere.

From 7pm-late, including Champagne reception and canapés. £30 per person

For Christmas & New Year ticket sales please call 0844 445 7610* www.montpeliers.co.uk/christmas

PRIZES!

COMPETITIONS WE GIVE THE BEST GIFTS

The Bumper Christmas Quiz D

ecember is, by all accounts, a good month during which to reflect on the year past, and we're no different here at The Skinny.

As we march inexorably towards awkward family gatherings and last-minute Christmas shopping, we thought it would be a good idea to challenge you to a quiz that might remind you of stuff that you'd actually want to do at this time of year.

Whether you're a regular reader or just passing by, this quiz is tougher than a Barlinnie lifer - thanks should go to Dr. Paul (who may or may not be an actual doctor) and our very own Uncle Finbarr for an assortment of fiendishly

1. Which play brought together Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow at the King's Theatre in April, only to be branded "smug" and "shit" by Skinny editor Rupert Thompson?

2. Complete the title of Scottish Opera's autumn production, 'The Italian Girl In _______'?

3. Which of Scotland's brutally oppressed minorities were the subject of a Helen Cuinn play at the CCA in November?

86 THE SKINNY DECEMBER 2009

difficult conundrums. A thorough rummage through back issues of The Skinny or the site, theskinny.co.uk, should prove helpful for some of the trickier questions.

As it is, whoever answers the most questions correctly will receive the ten best Scottish albums of the decade - donated by the lovely folks at Edinburgh Music Library, Monorail and Avalanche - as voted for by you lot.

Also in the swag bag for the winner will be a pair of tickets for The Stand's 'Thursday Show', featuring great Scottish comedy talent including Teddy, Billy Kirkwood, Vladimir McTavish, Robin Ince and many more. Two pairs of tickets for Cabaret Voltaire's Hogmanay bash

4. What was the title of Tim Key's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning Fringe show which sounded like a whore at a ballet?

5. Which 3 letter word was the name of New Writing nights at the Tron and the Traverse?

6. Which Aston Villa fan told The Skinny in April that he might consider being Poet Laureate on the condition that we get rid of The Queen?

(featuring the likes of Erol Alkan, Aeroplane and Foamo) completes a pretty awesome bounty. Meanwhile, two runners-up will receive a pair of tickets each for the 'Thursday Shows', valid throughout January 2010. Oh, and if you get a perfect score, we'll be proper impressed. We might salute you, or kiss your feet, or something.

TO ENTER: EMAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO COMPS@THESKINNY.CO.UK BEFORE 21 DECEMBER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

10. In June, which Charlie's Angel might have received more coverage of her demise if she hadn't slinked off the mortal coil on the same day as Michael Jackson?

7. For winning Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust's Book of The Year with Kieron Smith, Boy, did James Kelman win real money, a crystal trophy or a pat on the back?

8. What did the July edition of The Skinny bill as the "best kept secret" of the imminent Edinburgh Book Festival: The Butterfly, The Moth, or The Wasp?

9. Which Scottish town is so posh that it hosts the country's only regular dedicated poetry festival every March?

11. In which year did Patrick Swayze star in epic surf movie Point Break while also being named 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People magazine?

12. Which deceased Beatle was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year?

PRIZES!

13. Which band is Maxim Reality, one of our cover stars for April, a member of?

14. They’ve probably got the worst name in rock music, but Monsters of Folk’s debut album wowed us this year. Who are the four band members?

15. Cybraphon is the latest whacky BAFTA winning creation by which unpredictable yet awfully nice Auld Reekie arts collective?

17. Which sandpaper throated sexpot turned up alongside Jack White in supergroup The Dead Weather this year?

22. Owen Wilson overcame personal trauma to feature in perhaps his most creatively challenging, leftfield role to date in which pet thriller of 2009?

18. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I wasn’t on the job,” is a particularly good quote from the irrepressible Brian Clough. What was the name of the film profiling 'Ol’ Big ‘Ed’s' life this year?

26. Which member of the Monty Python troupe presented a BBC 4 documentary on the Scottish Colourists? A far cry from The Life of Brian...

19. 'Van Diemen’s Land' was a showcase film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. By what devilish name is the real life area known as today?

20. Eurovision launched the illustrious careers of Dana International, t.A.T.u and, er, Jemini, but the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was the subject matter of which hit movie this year?

25. Both are painters.

Both are called Alasdair.

Both are graduates of Glasgow School of Art. And both exhibited their work in the GSA at the beginning of 2009. What the hell are their surnames?

23. Which celebrated indie icon exhibited a set of drawings, Wildlife, which were chronologically ordered to track his progressive recovery from cerebral haemorrhaging?

27. Films about Scotland was the order of the day in which exhibition at the Dean Gallery in Edinburgh? Amongst others, it featured Margaret Tait’s wondrous 'Where I Am Is Here'.

24. The work of Kate Charlesworth, David Shenton, Nan Goldin and Lizzie Rowe were amongst those featured in which “contemporary arts and human rights” exhibition that ran at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art this year?

16. Known more for its baked delights than rock and roll, from which European country do alt-rockers Mew, featured in September’s Skinny, originate?

THE SMALL PRINT For terms and conditions, please refer to www.theskinny.co.uk/terms

21. Russell Crowe spent a week on work experience in The Skinny office this year, researching his role as streetwise hack Cal McAffrey in which political drama, released this year?

For more of Dr. Paul's quality quizmanship, visit dpquizlive.co.uk.

Want to get your mitts on The Skinny's Top Ten Scottish Albums of the decade? Good - get yersel' to www. theskinny.co.uk/competitions, where a separate giveaway for this grand collection is available for your interest, should you be too idle to sit through yon quiz. Big thanks to Edinburgh Music Library, Monorail and Avalanche for the CDs. For more details on Cabaret Voltaire's Hogmanay Party and how to buy tickets, visit www.thecabaretvoltaire.com.

December 2009

THE SKINNY 87