Sliv‘k‘l.
ELLIS, BEGGS AND HOWARD
Having signed to R.C.A. last yearwith an allegedly huge sum of money changing hands. Ellis Beggs and Howard are now at the point at releasing theirthird single. their debut album and embarking on a major European tourwith T‘Pau.
It is obvious that lots of money is being spent, and that this is a band that the record company seriously want you to like. it has been a relatively fruitless tasktor RCA. in this country so tar, with none of the singles winning either critical acclaim or heavy radio airplay.
However. 3 Wired appearance hinted at the possibilities of a decent live act, and parts of the album show off the vocal skills of Austin Howard to some eltect. But sadly. the question on everyone's lips is why should we take seriously a band with an ex member of Kajagoogoo in the line-up?
Bassist Nick Beggs is the guilty party. and. understandably he is a man who obviously craves credibility. He explained the currentEBH situation:
‘We have been touring with T‘Pau in Europe. which has been quite good as we have done quite well in Germany. Holland and France to date. In some cases there was a lot of the crowd coming to see us ratherthan T‘Pau. which was reassuring — but the main reason tordoing thetourwastorthe exposure we could get from the English
l’ri’dr. l l‘L‘ll‘\ lotil for being toowhiteand ltk 'sisl '1 r! the .urliead audiences. the l’oppi. s ltrtxge towards 19S” w ill) something to prove \\ hert 1 saw themlast \t'.i! their hip hopattentpts were
in 'pclcssly inept. but tonight's show
llzit .tl.'lls to he .i stottkct
I Carl Palmert .tlton Studios. ( ‘alton
R-r id. 551‘ ""Ni "pm \VorId-lamous rl!11i!‘iil‘:\ : ('1 ll Pand Asia lante. ltostsa a; 11:". . lllllc showing lL'c‘llllltltlL‘sdllLl .iilswclinzftiut sttons
I The Pterodactyls \cgoctants. l.otltian 225651i ‘lpin l-irec. Sisties
Ltllttuk ‘t‘yt\
; I Billy Jones ( i.il‘ct lun/ies. Sotith ( 'lci'k
\lrccl See Sun 2"
3 ILive bandl‘.i\crn.("owgate.226564l l ntorilirrttqil
firHunsoAvt ; Glasgow
I Huey Lewis and the News and Melissa { Etheridge \l-t '( .liitmestoit ()ttay . 24S
3000 lily .ippearantcol one ofthe
wo: his most boring bands is at least slightly oltsct by the appearance in support of one of America's most talented new songwriters. \telissa latheridge. Her debut .ilbum is assured of a place in my top ten .ilbutns ol l‘lSS. so it that doesn't pttt you olt. pay l\ isil to your local record
I Wild River Apples Bar Luxembourg. 197 l‘lll Street. 5.5: l l l l. lllpll‘l. Free. Rccotmnettdcd. guitar based band with line vocalist
I The Moon Hermits l.a 'l'aniere. 15 Fox Street. .22l 4844 “pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Elkie Brooks Play house Theatre. (rtcensitlc Place. 5.55 25‘)”. 7.30pm.
L” 50.18 50 Herpublicists confidently announce that the 43-year-0ld singer ‘has risen abiw e mediocre material for the very last time' with her current album.
MUSIC LIST/ROCK
leg.‘ (Presumably Scotland doesn't matter)
‘I think the main reason that we have not been successful yet at home is obvious. The tast turnover ot the charts and the way that in England (sadly the same for Scotland) the charts are dominated by the dancetloor trash syndrome hasn‘t helped.‘
‘We have always been lucky in that we have been allowed to come and go
objective for us to have a hit straight off. and there has never been any pressure put on us in that direction. We have always viewed it as important that
we build up a credible live following
[frirllyfllll(f¢'l"\ Kid. l‘nforlunate choice ol words. but I know what they mean
I We Free Kings Venue. ( ‘alton Road. 55" 3073. Being the latest Scottish grotipto benefit from the 'I'r'mieiils Live/tour sponsorship. \VFK's current iaunt takes them to the parts other breweries can't reach. (ireat band live. and also with an unconfirmeddate tomorrow at(‘alton Studios.
I Beaver Sisters Music Box. Victoria Street. 220 1708. Mondo’l'rasho. with all the Rocky Horror Sptttnik style. (iood clean camp.
I The Dan Blocker Experience Negociants. tothian Street. 225 6313. me. Free. (‘otintry
I The Brothers Presery ation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9.30pm Free. Residency.
I Live band lord Darnley . \Ves‘t Port. 22‘) 4341 10pm. l'ree. l'nconfirmed.
I Live band ( ‘avern. ( ‘owgate. 226 5641 l’ncontirmed.
FRIDAY 2 Glasgow
I Bon Jovi and Lita Ford S1i(‘(".Finnieston Quay . 248 3000. A rtight of airbrushed rock heroics Much as he may aspire toit. .lon Bon Jovi is not Bruce Springsteen. and the hand are rtot the F. Street Band. Whether two hours of torture is worth it for their three classic songs is highly dubious. 1.ita Ford is a female version of a similar concept.
I Swamptrash The Revuc . 244 Ciallowgate. 552 4601. 10pm. There seems to has e been a recent resurgenceof interest in Swamptrash. which will hopefully be matched by an improved performance.
I The StBEl Chain (ilasgow University L'nion. Liniversity Avenue. 339 8247. 9pm £2.50. One of the best. if notthe best. unsigned band in Edinburgh playing their second Glasgow gig.
I Beyond the Edge La 'I‘anicrc. 15 Fox
by the record company. It was never the
lirst. . .To me success isjust ensuring that everything you do is better than the last. Although Too Shy sold three million copies for Kajagoogoo. it was a very unlultilling experience.’
Despite the singles’ lack of success. they remain convinced that they are not really a pop band, and there may be some justification for that belief in the differing styles of the singles and LP. tracks, which could be either diversity or a lack of direction. Ellis Beggs and Howard could still convince on future outings. but for now a policy of wait and see (the gig?) is advised. (John Williamson).
Street. 221 ~1S-1-1 “pin l ice
Edinburgh
I The Hollies Play house lhcatrc. (ireenside Place. 55'7 25‘10Spm LS5“. 1.7.501650 Back in the charts for the first time in around 15 years with '1 le Ain't lleay y'. and out of the cabaret circuit into venuesmotesuitedtotheirstanding but tor how long”
I The Railway Children (‘I B( ‘l \‘emie. (ialton Road. 55“ ‘0‘? Please note. the Darling Buds gig is off Virgin signings The Railway ('hildren. plucked from the elephant's graveyard of irtdiepop. is the tentative replaceiitent.
I Makossa Preservation l lall. Victoria Street. 226 3816 L1 alter ‘1 .‘sllpm l-ine local reggae and soul group
I Uncle Remus \tus‘tc Boy Victor :a Street. 220 1708. L1 afterllpm.
I Live band Lord Darnley . West Poit.22‘) 4341 10pm l‘ree. l'nconfirttted.
I Live bandt‘ast-rn. t‘imgate. 3265641. L'ncontirmed.
SATURDAY 3
Glasgow
I Bon Jovi and Lita Ford SH ‘( ‘. l-‘innieston ()ttay . 248 3000. Second night. arid points to Bon hot for being one of the few big name heavy metal bands in recent years to play (ilasgow.
I The Railway Children Strathcly de lfniversity Union. ‘10 .lohn Street. 552 1895. Recurrence has to be one of the sleeper albums of 1988. certainly sounding more worthwhile now than it did on its release. when it was coupled with some fairly uninspiring gigs. More isexpected. and should be forthcoming. thistime around.
I The Primevals and The Hucksters (ilasgow ('ollege. 70 ( ’owcaddens Road. 332 7090. 9pm. Good double bill with two of Scotland's straightest and best rock and roll bands.
I We Free Kings The Rey-tic. 244
(iallow gate. 552 4601. 10pm. Comment has to be made on the similarities between some of the ttew Waterboys album and
w hat We Free Kings were doing around the time Mike Scott was producingthern. Whether this will help fttel interest in WFK or w hether it will ltave the reverse effect remains to be seen.
I The Linden Tree La 'l'aitiere. 15 Fm Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. A recent worthy entry in the List demo competition. but still a fair bit of work needing done on some good ideas. May be l‘L‘ltL‘f liye.
Edinburgh
I The Ouireboys l lard Rock Cafe. Venue. ('alton Road. 557 3073 llackycock-rock. though the r\-sidc of their current single "there She ( ioes Again' has a Faces-like rasp and looseness.
I Just Add Water Mttsie Box. Victoria Street. 220 1208. L1 afterlipm. See panel. I Pulse Beat Plus Negociants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9pm. Free.
I Roughouse Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816 {I after‘lfillpm.
I Live band lord Darnlcy . \Vest Port. 22‘) 4341 10pm Free Unconfirmed.
I Live band ( ‘avern. ('owgate. 2265641. l'neonfirmed.
SUNDAY 4 Glasgow
I Psychic TV Mayfair. 490Sauchieha|l Street. 332 3S72. 10pm. Ever popttlarlive act. this is their first British date since returning from a tour of the [ISA and Canada.
I The Ouireboys 'l'he Revue. 244
(iallow gate. 552 4601. 10pm. Withtheir new single. there She (iocs Again. on Surviy al Records. doing well in follow up to Mayfair. their last indie hit. it could be that you w ill be hearing a lot more ofthe ()uireboys. which I am not altogethersure would be a good thing.
I Burden Blues Breakers La ’l'aniere. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free. Regular acoustic blues session.
Edinburgh
I Bruce Hornsby and The Range Playhouse 'l'heatre. (ireenside Place. 557 2590. ".30pm. £7. £6. Superior American AOR from a grotip who don't overdo the saccharine or let their rnttso aspiratiorts get the better of them ~ well. only sometimes. I Avalon Preservation Hall. Victoria Street. 226 3816. £1 after 9pm. Folk-rock. I Bluetinger Music Box. Victoria Street. 220 I708. £1 after ‘)pm. See Sun 27.
I The Rootsie Tootsie Blues Band ()ddfellows. Forrest Road. 220 1816. Rpm. Free.
I Live band Negoeiants. Lothian Street. 225 6313. 9pm. Free. Unconfirmed.
I Live band Cavern. (‘owgatc. 2265641. l'nconfirmed.
MONDAY 5 Glasgow
I Bruce Homsby and the Range Barrowlands. 244 (iallowgate. 552 4601. 7.30pm. ()ne of the finest exponentsof piano based rock songwriting Bruce Hornsby certainly deserves more credit than he gets in the press. so here is his moment. He will also be supporting himself with a piano vocal set which promises to be excellent.
I Change In The Weather La Taniere. 15 Fox Street. 221 4844. 9pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I The Pasadenas Playhouse Theatre. Greenside Place. 557 2590. 7.30pm. £6.50. £5.50. South London singing and dancing soulsters. flushed with the success of their ‘Tribute' and ‘Riding on aTrain' singles. and the LP To Whom IrMay ('(meem. Not bad for a group that added vocalising to their hoofing prowess less than two years ago.
42 '1‘lie1—ist 25 Nov — 8 Dec 1988