Cloudbusting

Thank you to all who came along to the Baby Tiger John Peel Tribute night last week. A great excercise in what I would call a blanket campaign of zero publicity and input.

Bobby is playing with The Red Well (Fence Records) in Glasgow tonight (Tuesday 18th October), Liam is on holiday and I'm in such a pensive mood I'm taking photos of myself with a camcorder. The recording of the album has reached a small impasse and in the meantime I'm writing some more songs including a folk-epic about myspace and new stationery.

I'll mention some other musical stuff encountered last week. Sufjan Stevens at Oran Mor and Jandek, Jo-Jo, Black Boned Angel and Up-Tight at the Install Festival. First was amazing, second was interesting. Especially Jo-Jo a solo Japanese performer with just a Gibson SG, some effects pedals and a Roland amp. Ending with him grabbing the neck of his guitar and screaming at it while it screamed at him. Brilliant to see Sufjan Stevens with full band and his new album put into clever context on the stage.

I'll keep you updated with album news and a possible Christmas performance soon. Check out Bobby's thoughts about the Peel thing in general on The Folk blog.

There is nothing like a dame.

Caledonian Backpackers on Thursday 13th October. Doors 8:30pm.

Deadenstereo
The Gadgee
fourteenhours
Lee Patterson
Damon Thomson

This is a John Peel tribute night with the above acts performing acoustic songs. When I was listening to Peel in the 80's and early 90's (sporadically)he really wasn't playing much acoustic stuff other than the odd African band or new Billy Bragg release.

For me it's a chance to play solo to the wrong crowd. Another Baby Tiger promoted event which is alright by me. They're certainly not treating it as an exuse to be all edgy, angular and assymetrical and pretend they've been the biggest Peel fans since Gang of Four's first release. Neither am I. I would however have liked the thought that he would have been into this shambolically amatuerish and non-trendy blog and maybe even like someone playing to indie crowds with a banjo. If I've got enough time I'll try and work out an old Ronnie Barker musical sketch so I can get in with the Edinburgh cutie-retro-comic scene. I'm on at 10:30.