MUSIC LIVE REVIEWS
[EE- GUIDED ev voicEsmiE AMPS
Guided by Voices: “sporadic glories’
Cathouse, Glasgow, 3 Sept. Who’d have thought in the fallout from the Pixies explosion, it would’ve been Kim Deal’s slice of debris to rocket skyward while Frank Black remains firmly rooted, straining at the stars? Don’t worry about Frank, though. The great American pulp trash sci-Ii novel surely waits to come bursting from his Biro. Kim, meanwhile, has stepped from the intravenous wreckage of The Breeders, with drummer Jim McPherson in tow, into the reverb valleys of, as she puts it, ‘The Eeyamps’.
Caught at this stage, with Deal’s hard-won experience and confidence combining with the genuine
enthusiasm of a band just starting out, The Amps’ playing has a vital edge. Mugging around like a schoolgirl who doesn’t want her photo taken, Deal grins, pulls on bottles of Bud, puffs away at cigarettes and ambles a dance around the mike stand, a party in her head. At one point commandeering McPherson’s side snare to beat out her own rhythm, Deal’s main instrument, aside from her guitar, is the delay she applies frequently to her vocal to occasionally astonishing effect. The music seems firmly split between sneering ‘rip her to shreds — with a razor’ swagger and slower rolls where the Deal voice surfs a heavenly wave, harmonising, somehow, with itself. The ‘quick — something’s about to happen’ nature of the concert is crystallised when The Amps go into a song they ‘haven’t written any words for yet’. Get your skates on.
Take Squeeze, Hiisker Dii and The Psychedelic Furs, stuff them in a blender and listen to the results over a Tannoy in another room with your lo-ti headphones on and you’ll be approximating the sporadic glories of Guided By Voices. Four Barmen with the bloke from Echo Records on guitar doing the Funky Gibbon to a set structure licensed from Ramone Inc. The voice of God response ‘SUCK MY DIGK’ to a request is pretty great, as are the blue lights and most of the set - but it begins to drag a bit and, oh yes, The Amps are champs. 0h dear, oh dear. (Damien Love)
[III— EOUINOX: THE EVENT 111
Royal Highland Showground, lngliston, 2-3 Sept.
It was to have been the rave to end all raves: Scotland's answer to Tribal Gathering. Three dozen DJs and Ms had been booked, two huge marquees erected, 12,000 tickets sold and the rave posses from Aberdeen to Ayr had been perfecting the techno shuffle for six long weeks of summer sun.
Then on the day it rained.
A downpour of such Biblical proportions that it threatened to engulf the site. But who cares about a spot of weather? Not the ravers, that’s for sure. By 5pm the site was half-full and both marquees bouncing to the banging breaks and lifting piano highs of tartan techno.
By nightfall the tents were bursting. When the American master of hardcore, Lenny Dee, took to the decks In the Eclipse Marquee - with a hanging set which occasionally slowed down to a mere 180bpm - it was under two inches of water.
Not that the lack of space or a dry dancefloor stopped the kids from going ape to The Rhythmic State. Their half-hour PA built to a climax with the new single, ‘llo 0.8. Allowedl’. TRS play cliched, poppy rave of the most derivative kind: whooping piano lines, Tiny Tears vocal stabs, a hanging four-
four beat and shouted choruses. But who cares? This was the sort of
popular politics which makes Edinburgh’s Tory Gounclllor, Donald camichael, hopping.
Over in the Sunset Marquee, DJ Marie-Chantal took the crowd deep
Ege Dam-Yasl: squelchlng in the rain
into the dark heart of house. Disturbing swathes of synth over a kicking beat left the older punters grinning in ecstasy. And not just because of the chemicals. With Ege Bam Yasi next up, the night should have built from there. But equipment problems meant that his acidic techno squelch never got past first gear. And a useless stack of speakers meant that you could actually hold a conversation on the dancefloor. Even technically superb DJ-Ing sets from lady Barbarella and Dave Angel couldn’t make up for the lack of decibels.
The Event 111 might have been cold (and that caused its own problems for many of the skimpily-clad youngsters), wet and subject to equipment problems. But it was never the wash- out which lesser organisers would have allowed the rain and heavy- handed policing to make it.
(Thom Dibdln)
BOOK NOW
Concerts listed are those at major venues, for which tickets are on public sale at time of going to press.
t V
5.
Gorgeous Edwyn, Pavilion, 23 Oct
I GLASGOW BARRDWLAHD (226 4070) Marillion. 23 Sept; Chemical Brothers. 28 Sept; Julian Cope. 30 Sept; Pulp. 1 ()ct; Big Country. 7 ()ct; Black Grape. 8 ()ct; I):Rea'n. ()ct; Squeeze. 15 ()et; Underworld. 19 Oct; Australian Doors. 20 ()ct; WiIdhearts. 22 ()ct; Radiohead. 31 Oct; Iron Maiden. 5 Nov; Charlatans. 7 Nov; Human League. 10 Nov; Deep Purple. 2 Mar.
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 5511)F.1kie Brooks. 10 ()ct; Art Garfunkel. 11 ()ct; Alison Moyet. 18 ()ct; Joan Baez. 30 ()ct; Mary Black. 31 ()et; Bootleg Beatles.
18— 19 Dec.
I GLASGOW GARAGE (332 1120) Stereolab. 25 Sept: Rancid. 29 Sept; Marion. 9 Oct; Bluetones. 13 ()ct. I GLASGOW PAVILION (332 1846) The Iv'ianfreds. 1 Oct; Mike Scott. 15 Oct; I—Idwyn Collins. 23 ()ct; T- Rextasy. 25 ()ct; Abba VouIez-Vous. 26 ()ct; Jesse Garron. 27 Oct; Ray Davies. 3 Nov.
I GLASGOW PLAZA (556 5555) The Boo Radleys. 16 Oct; Menswear. 18 Oct; Sleeper. 19 Oct; Candy Dulfer. 29 Nov.
I GLASGOW SECC (248 9999) Seal. 27 Sept; Boyzone. 29 Sept; Celine Dion. 27 ()ct; Faith No More. 25 Nov; Blttr.11 Dec; The Beautiful South. 20 Nov; Status Quo. 2 Dec; Gary Glitter. 10 Dec. I GLASGOW THEATRE ROYAL (332 9000) Hank Marvin. 10 Dec.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (5296000) Iilkie Brooks. 8 ()ct; Mary Black. 20 Oct; Louden Wainwright III. 12 Nov.
I EDINBURGH OUEEN'S HALL (668 2019) Maggie Bell. 10 Oct; Janis Ian. 11 Oct; Ga Ga. 20 Oct; Buffalo Tom. 7 Nov.
I EDINBURGH USHER HALL(2281155) Boyzone. 1 Oct; Big Country. 7 Oct; Squeeze. 12 Oct; Human League. 10 Nov; Bootleg Beatles. 16 Dec.
COUNTRY
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (2227 5511) Don
3
Williams. 27 Sept; Dominic Kirvvan. 20 Oct; Charlie 1.andsborough. 23 Nov.
I GLASGOW PAVILION
(332 1S-l())1-'t)t‘t‘vei'iii
Blue Jeans. .1 Nov; Sydney 1)e\ ine. 23- 2.5
Nov.
I GLASGOW SECC (2.13 99991 I‘.\'L‘i‘l}' Bros, 24 ()Ci.
I EDINBURGH USHER (223 11551 Doll 1 Williams. 28 Sept; Nanci
Griffith. 17()ct;1iveilv Brothers. 25 ()ci;('1i;tilie Landslmroiigli. IS Nov;
Daniel O‘Donnell. 9 I2
I )L‘C.
JAZZ
I GLASGOW CONCERT
HALL (227 55111(‘.nol
Kidd and (’(il’( )_ 1 Her; Labeqtte Sisters and (ion/an Rtibalcaba. 1‘1 Nov.
I GLASGOW RSAMB t 332
5057) Tommy Smith'\
Azure. 1-1()ct; Sit/anne Bonnai. 4 Nov.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (5296000I'1‘uck
and Patti. .5 Nov.
I EDINBURGH OUEEN'S HALL (668 20191'1‘ommv Smith's Anne. 13 Oct: The Jazz. ('rtisaders. 20 ()et;1)ick1.ee.27()ct: Suzanne Bonnar. 3 Nov: 1)ave.\11111gan. 10 Nov; Spyro (iyra. 15 Nov; Mosc‘ovv Art Trio, 17
Nov; Mose Allison.2~1
Nov; 1.;tbeque Sisters and
Gonzan Rubalcaba. IS
Nov; (‘andy Driller. 1 Dec.
I EDINBURGH USHER
’ HALttzzs 1155IG1enn
Miller Orchestra. 21 Nov; Chris Barber Band vvith Ball and Bilk. 181)ec.
FOLK
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 5511)A1tan.28 Sept; Christ Moore. 12 Oct; Joan Baez. 300ct; Mary Black. 31 ()ct.
I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (5296000) Christ Moore. 15 Oct; Battlefield Band. 22 ()ct; Capercaillie. 23 ()ct; Mary Black. 29 Oct; Boys of the Lough. 26 Nov.
I EDINBURGH KING’S THEATRE (220 43-19) Ronnie Brovvne. 29 ()et. I EDINBURGH QUEEN’S HALL (668 2019) Wild Cigarillos. 30 Sept; Rumillajta. 22 Oct.
I EDINBURGH USHER HALL (22S 1155) Craigmount Strathspey and Reel. 30 Sept; Scottish Fiddle Orchestra. 28 ()ct.
LIGHT
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 5511).1oe Longthorne. 15 16 ()ct; llovv'al'tl Keel. 21 ()CI'. Neil Sedaka. 13 Nov; West lind Gain. 3 Dee; (‘onnte Francis. 19 May. I GLASGOW PAVILION
( 332 1846) The Magic of Jolson. 22 ()ct; Dean Park, 28 (let; M;t\ ngi‘aves. 1 Nov. Bt'elitltt (‘oclirane 19 Nov; Brendan Shine. 21 Nov. I EDINBURGH USHER HALL (22S 115.5) Royal .\1.irines Band. 5 Oct; Joe 1,on:.'lliorne.21 11cl.N'eil
Setldka. 10 Nov
CLASSICAL
I GLASGOW CONCERT HALL (227 551 1 i Wadaiko Icliiro Drummers. 2 Oct; ()pera Gain. 5 Oct". .'\1ontserrat (thalle. 6 ()ct; NI I’L‘It‘l‘slitligll l’llll. 3 «I (let; Opera Gala. 5 Oct; Montserrat (thalle. 6 ()ct; RAI- Bands. 27 ()et; (‘Iiildren's Classics. 28 ()et'.1{1.1’(). 16 Nov; \"ienna Boys Choir. 22 Nov: Messiah 101' A11. 28 Nov“. RH ). 1(v1)ec
I GLASGOW RSAMD (332 5057) 1.eda'1'iio. 29 Sept. I EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE (529 6000) 1.es1e_v Garrett. 1 Oct; Home Theatre London. 25 28 ()CI.
I EDINBURGH OUEEN'S HALL (668 2019)1)anish Music. 22 Sept; St Augustine‘s. 23 Sept; I’iano'l’rio. 1 Oct; New Alliance. 2 ()ct; liCB. 7 ()ct; l’liilliarnionia. B Oct; (‘Iialtil‘ter Group. 16 ()e1; Jeremy ('arter. IS ()et; .‘vlaria Campos. 21 ()ct; King's ('otlsot't. 26 ()e1; llebrides linsemble. 31 ()ct; Zaiifonia Trio. 13 Nov; I’raxak Quartet. «1 Dec; Friedman Tribute. Dec; Juliane Banse. 22 Jan; Ouator Ysaye. 19 Feb; Grieg Trio. 1 1 Mar. I EDINBURGH USHER HALLt22‘i 1155) Children's Classics. 29 ()ct.
" I SUBSCRIPTION
The Beautiful South ome north to s
SEASONS Programme details and tickets for RSNO. SCO. BBC SSO and CGI’() concerts are available front Ticketcetitre. Glasgow (227 551 1); Usher Hall. Iidinburgh (228 1155); Queen's lIaII. Edinburgh (668 2019). Tickets for Scottish Opera from Theatre Royal. Glasgow (332 9000); Festival Theatre. Iidinburgh (529
I 6000).
£00 on 20 Nov
40 The List 8-21 Sept 1995