the jockrock blog...
Well, just got in notification that is this music? will NOT be getting any funding from the Scottish Arts Council.
Surprised? You could have knocked me over with a copy of Wagner's Ring Cycle!
It occurs to me that the only times I remember to update this blog are after Baby Tiger shows in Edinburgh. Not sure why that should be... anyway, found myself there yet again on Saturday for Won Mississippi in particular. Oddly, singer Martin was weraring a Karate T-shirt, which, when I first saw the band several years ago at a T in the Park heat, kind of heralded a great set for me (you don't expect fans of Karate to be playing T-break shows in Galashleis). So it was a doubly retro moment when they started with Mill Strand (I think) which was the first song they played in those days of yore. At the first gig it was quite a declaration of intent for a heat for what's obstensibly a pop festival, given that it's structured like an end-of-set song with a 5-minute noise-drenched wigout at the end. The only judges at THIS show were a crowd of girls whose hen night had clearly gone off the traditional route. They voted with their feet shortly afterwards, thouhg given that the band had a bet with the sound guy that 2 numbers would indeed see them scarper this wouldn't have been a major issue. 2 more songs from the debut self-released 'Sleeping Spoons' album and 4 brands new ones including the towering 'Special Feature' followed ("that's the single!"), and only one - 'Freehand Circles' - from the 4-K album (one less than Manowar, but "we wouldn't wear lioncloths" they explain).
The Last Great Wilderness's previous show at Backpackers was marred by an exploding amp so I never got to appreciate them fully - and I think I might have detected some slight pubby tendencies. This time however they're back to what you'd expect from ex-members of Annie Christian (in case they've not tired of hearing that by now) - epic rock, but also pretty punk, Larry Lean thrashing the life out of his guitar and careering around the front of the stage. 'All I Need is You' is a song and a half and the rest of the set's not bad either (Fraser, who's doing the sound, tells me that they may have reworked sopme of the songs. Good move, I say).
Shrinking Violet are a 'college band' which might set alarm bells ringing but I'm advised that variously they're like Muse or Feeder. This may depend on which song was heard by which person at soundcheck, as their opening number is pretty much Green Day / SLF (no bad thing). I only catch 5 or so songs - first was a bit long, second was in a similar vein but punchier and definitely their best, there's a foray into choppy funky rhythms (ill-advised IMO), and then a song which appears to be about gargantuan golfer John Daly, which if memory serves, is quite fun. As ever with new bands from colleges (Jewel and Esk) they are pulling in a hundred directions but this lot sound like they might turn out pretty good if they choose the right one.
That said, they might just rest on their laurels and retire. After all, not many bands get supported by a 4-K Kerrang band so early in their career - not to mention a band consisting of members of what were once Scotland's Next Big Thing...
