Vic Galloway reflects on the successes of the tsunami appeal show
It's not often that you're involved in an event that wrll truly go down in history. The cynics amongst you may sneer, as the notion of bringing together the talents of pop stars and charity fundraising is far from a new concept. but I have to say that the Concert for Tsunami Relief at the SECC was a night to remember. Firstly. over $300,000 has been made for the fund from the one night; secondly, rock'n'roll egos were conveniently left at the door: and thirdly, all manner of technical nuances were overlooked to make the evening run as close to clockwork as possible. All those involved from roadies to runners. managers to minions and promoters to pop stars did their bit for free and joined the love-in. Quite incredible. to be honest.
Not only did 15 of Scotland‘s most visible musical success stories from the last 20 years combine to make a highly enjoyable night‘s entertainment (no-one gets bored of a three-song set!). but they showed a solidarity across genres and generations that is rarely demonstrated in the cut-throat world of showbiz and scenester pop politics. Even our five hour live radio marathon. broadcast from a rather odd. wee 70s-style BBC camper van. was a relatively smooth affair — with the exception of an eight minute link when I had to talk solidly until the next band took the stage . . . God help those listeners!
It would be great if we could all take inspiration from this on a number of levels and be able to stage similar. fuss-free. non-profit ‘happenings‘ more often. whether they be for worthy charities or simply for the sake of it. Maybe I‘m just turning into a sad hippy? Anyway. the reason for this gig was to raise an enormous amount for the Tsunami victims but it was into the bargain a surreal treat to see Mogwai and Deacon Blue on the same bill for probably the first and last time.
‘ VIC Galloway presents BBC Radio Scotland's 'A/r', Mon 8.05-10pm and BBC Radio 7. Thu 7.30—9pm
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Ht )(iK MERCURY REV
Barrowland, Glasgow, Sun 6 Mar
‘Not so much a band,‘ says Mercury Rev‘s officially biography, ‘as a sweet odyssey to the centre of the heart.’ That description’s a bit camp, but we'll take it for a band who singularly manage to combine old-time Americana with a futuristic fairytale element to create an impressive body of work that’s light, yet
impressively focused on plucking the emotional strings.
The latest album The Secret Migration fits well alongside the Rev's high quality canon, despite longtime producer (and former band member) Dave Fridmann’s exploration of even more lush and highly arranged extremes. It's the only way, really, because the band‘s penchant for epic, quirksome, twisting music is undimmed, and the vast majority of the songs require a sound as widescreen as old Hollywood. Once again it places them alongside the grandest of cinematic musical storytellers, think Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John in his heyday.
Perhaps, but contentment‘s pretty dull without the struggle required to reach it and the, shall we say, ‘troubled' development of the band echoes throughout. Formed 15 years ago in Buffalo, New York by Jonathan
THE WEDDING PRESENT OMU. Glasgow. Fri 4 Mar
Donahue and Sean ‘Grasshopper‘ Mackowiak (alongside Fridmann and three others since departed, including original vocalist David Baker), Mercury Rev released their debut album Yerse/f Is Steam in 1991.
The two-album period between then and 1998's breakthrough Deserter’s Songs was to prove a catalogue of ridiculousness that made for great copy but little success. The very edited highlights: Donahue allegedly trying to excavate Grasshopper‘s eye with a spoon (the flight attendants on the plane they happened to be on were not amused); making money by participating in medical experiments; Fridmann spending the advance money for single ‘Car Wash Hair’ on a holiday in Bermuda for his mum; getting banned from the Lollapalooza tour for being too loud. Mid- song, that is, with the soundman marched out by security in a headlock.
The years since have certainly mellowed the hellraisers, but then Donahue is not discounting them as crucial to where the band have arrived. ‘You’re the sum of your experiences,’ Donahue recently said in the New Zealand Herald. ‘All your past girlfriends led you to the one you‘re with now . . . It’s like steel: you have to keep putting it in the fire. Take it out, hammer it, it gets stronger.’ (David Pollock)