MUSIC LIST
You may have raised an eyebrow or two at Stump on The Tube recently. Firstly in a specially-made video for their excellent track Buffalo, then a few weeks later when they appeared live, topping the bill with a nerve-wracking
' performance for cock-crested vocalist Mick Lynch (described by drummer Rob McKahey as a more working-class Morrissey), terrified he would slip into the uncensored versions of their songs, with the jobs of two or three Tube employees hanging in the balance. Yes, stumbling across the crossfire of styles that is Stump can be an unnerving experience for those who don't know what to expect, but i got the feeling that ii Captain Beeiheart had stumbled on to the stage he would have felt quite at home.
With the first Stump session for the John Peel show (‘Without Peel,’ says Rob, ‘we would never have got off the ground, norwould any alternative scene’) joining their raw debut Mud On A Colon and the marvellous mini-LP Duirk Dut (two months in the indie Top Five) on the record racks, and a deal with Ensign records freshly signed, things are happening to confound those who have dismissed the band as unlistenable self-indulgent weirdness. The inclusion of Buffalo on the
popsters. who once released a single called ‘Sharks‘.
Edinburgh
0 Double Trouble The Canny Man‘s. Morningside Road. 447 1484. 8.30pm. Free.
0 Driving Sideways Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm. Free. See Mon 4.
o The Peristalsis Brothers Negociants. Bristo Square. 9pm. Free. This would imply that Loo Acka Bop. which no one ever knew how to spell anyway. have gone back to their old name. under which they displayed their SOs-style. skifer-related sounds on The Tube.
WEDNESDAY 6 Glasgow
0 Alexander Sisters/McCluskey Brothers Tron Theatre. Trongate. 11pm. £4. See Mayfest.
O The Kut Bruce Ilotel. East Kilbride. 8pm. lnverness based heavy metal band.
0 Naifan Halt Bar. Woodlands Road. 9pm. Free. A band with folk roots—
lnescapable C86 compilation, though, was a mixed blessing, and the stigma of the ‘shambling’ tag that Rob feels has been attached to them because of it. ‘We knew most of the other bands thatwere on it,’ he says, ‘and they’re nice people, but we're head and shoulders above all that. There’s a whole cross-section of ethnic influences in our music.’
And, according to Rob, from whose drumkit emanates a strange concoction oi rhythms assimilated from reggae and African music, they’re building up a strong following, an audience as diverse as the elements of their songs. ‘Old hippies, kids as young as 14, yuppies, punks. . .There’s a big Japanese contingent. Ithink they’re fond oi quirky rhythms.‘
The newly-signed contract with Ensign has allowed Stump to breathe a little easier, butthey have a realistic and refreshing view oi their chances of anylarge success. ‘l’m very dubious about getting any higher up the ladder. I think we’ve commercially levelled out.’ in this country at least, but there seems every reason that their odd music will attain a similar cult following on other shores. Perhaps not enough to make them rich men, but still enough to keep them in the position of an annoying flea in the ear of mainstream rock. Rob takes a dim view of the examples I made (which, iorthe record, were The Cult and U2). ‘They're devoid oi any cultural value whatsoever, just a facet of mass consumerism, like hamburgers. These bands are either of very low intelligence, orthey know whatthey’re doing is bad.’ And what will save Stump from the dreaded Hamburger Syndrome? ‘We’re new and original, which is good in itself nowadays. And the music itself is stronger than the four of us.’
Those seeking an antidote to Curiosity Killed The Cat and The Blow Monkeys should present themselves at Edinburgh Venue on Thursday 7. (Mab)
but ofsome interest nevertheless.
0 Horse Fixx Bar. Miller Street. 1()pm. Free. Recent appearance on The Tube is their main claim to fame. O Chicane The Bowlers. Tullis Street. Bridgeton. 9pm. Free. Pub rock residency.
Edinburgh
0 Curiosity Killed the Cat Coasters. West Tollcross. 228 3252. Latest ‘p0p sensation‘ to separate the kids from their pocket money. At least Culture Club had a genuinely charismatic frontman. and a few good songs. Ifyou miss this gig. don‘t worry; there‘ll be another clutch of eager-to-please record company fodder along in a year or so.
0 The Cateran The Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073. Doors open 7pm. Edinburgh‘s most promising act in the heavy thrashy pop stakes. Merciless twin-guitar line-up. leather jackets and an attitude. Live tracks being recorded at this gig. so go along and scream the name of your favourite member.
0 After Eight Mince and Splatch
Calton Studios, Calton Road. 556 7066. 9pm. £1.50. See Sat 2.
o The Peristalsis Brothers Boston Bean Co. St James Centre. 55601] 1. See Tue 5.
0 Billy Jones The Canny Man's. Morningside Road. 447 1484. 8.30pm. Free. See Sun 3.
THURSDAY 7 Glasgow
0 It’s Immaterial Fury Murry‘s. Maxwell Street. 221 651 1. 10.30pm. Only Scottish date for the best Talking Heads copyists I know.
0 The Force Videodrome. York Street. 10.30pm. Melodic rock band. with two singles and an album released on Valentino Records so far.
0 The Wake Janey's. Greenock. 10.30pm.
o Rootsie Tootsie Band Halt Bar. Woodlands Road. 9pm. Free. Accomplished blues band. I am told. 0 The Straight Men McArthur Park. 81 Renfield Street. 9pm. Free. Yes. another Straight Men residency.
Edinburgh
0 Paul Brady Queen‘s Hall. Clerk Street. 668 3456. Irish singer- songwriter. much admired by the likes of Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan. A star in his own country. but so far has done little here.
0 Stump The Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073. Doors open 7pm. See panel
0 BD' Weevil Clowns. High Street. 9pm. Free.
0 Billy Jones Lord Darnley. West Port. 229 4341. 9pm. Free. See Sun 3.
O Jurtiezut Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm. Free.
. FRIDAY 8 ' Glasgow
0 The Alarm/Wire Train ()M U . University Gardens. 9pm. £4.50. the bad news is that the ‘Alarm Split‘ rumours were all lies. Pity.
0 Fun patrol Rooftops. Sauchiehall Street. 10.30pm. £3. James King and cohorts. ofcourse. Hopefully by the time of the gig. the new single. which seems to have been delayed for ever. will be available.
0 Centurion Shadows. Bath Street. 9pm. Free. A band who seem to get annoyed every time I criticise/slag them. Fair enough. Centurion are the most amazing band in the universe. Happy now'.’
0 Ray Gun and The Rockets Halt Bar. Woodlands Road. 9pm Free.
0 Comedy of Errors Boulevard Hotel. Duntocher. 9pm. Free.
0 The Thieves/The Hollow Horse Cumbernauld'l‘heatre. Curnbernauld. 7.30pm. The Thieves have just released their single ‘Talk Your Head ()ff’. which sounds like ‘Chop Your Head Off the way is is sung. Not as depressing as the Smiths — far from it. Ilollow Horse should also have a single out by the time of the gig.
0 Heart Industry Zak‘s. Sauchiehall Street. 9pm. Free. Definitely one of the better Edinburgh bands. who seem to have reached an accomplished sound through hard
work and non-stop gigging.
0 Straight Men Riverside Taern. Gorbals. 9pm. Free.
0 PreacherThe Bowlers. Bridgeton. 9pm. Free.
Edinburgh
0 That Petrol Emotion and Close Lobsters The Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073. Doors open 7pm. A rousing. spiky choice. the sort of thing you might expect. and find pleasantly confirmed. from two ex-Undertones who were then introduced to Beefheart by their new singer. Throw themselves into a live performance. Support Close Lobsters. indie favourites. are releasing their second single after their fine debut. Going To Heaven To See If It Rains.
o Deaf Heights Cajun Aces Auld Smiddy. Pencaitland. Prepare fora good night with Edinburgh‘s excellent purveyors of Louisiana cajun and zydeco.
O Wasted Days (To be confirmed). The Rolling Stone. Greenside Place. 558 1270. 9.30pm. Free. See Fri 1.
0 Blues Brothers Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm. Free. Blues-rock.
Motherwell
o The Three Degrees Motherwell Concert Hall. £7. £6. Tickets available from Advance Booking ()ffice. (Motherwell) 67515. Would you believe it‘.’ 25 albums old. and with several Royal Command Performances to their credit. Would grown-up responsible Prince Charles still sing their praises. we wonder? Support on this date will be Colin Chisholm. formerly lead singer with the dreadfully-named Bilbo Baggins.
SATURDAY 9 Glasgow
0 Pauline Murray and The Storm Strathclyde UU. John Street. 9.30pm. Students and friends only. but still worth trying to get in to. Offer a student a drink. and you will get in without any problems.
0 McCluskey Brothers/Heaven Sent Winter Gardens. People‘s palace. 7.30pm. As with all serious folk events. a bar is provided. The McCluskeys and Heaven Sent are both well worth seeing.
0 Rich Free Fall/4 Flights Up Boulevard Hotel. Duntocher. 9pm. Free.
0 Janet Pulls It Off Ilalt Bar. Woodlands Road. 9pm. Free. Highly promising band. with some good pop songs. This is good for ‘I saw it first' type people.
0 Deal Height Cajun Aces Weavers. Maxwellton Road. Paisley. 1()pm. Their LP is due on Temple Records before the date ofthis concert. supposedly mixing folk. country. cajun and rock elements. Interesting if nothing else.
0 The Alarm Palace Theatre. Kilmarnock. 7.30pm. £4.50.
Edinburgh
0 Bald Cormorant Lord Darnley. West Port. 22‘) 4341. 3pm. Free. See
52 The List 1— 14 May