Roddy Woomble might not have a finger on the pulse but he knows what he likes. And he likes Eddie Hinton. Generally I have no idea what's going on around me. in terms of new books. film and albums. There was a time. when l was 19 or 20 when I knew what record was coming out on any number of record labels. what was going to be great. Same with films. As a fledging film student. I'd read up the literature. and knew all the movements of my favourite directors. scriptwriters and actors. That’s not to say I've entirely lost touch; at least I hope I haven‘t. I Suppose I'm lucky in the sense that a lot of my friends and other people in my orbit keep me in touch with recommendations. In fact. as i type. I‘m sifting through ten CDs of old soul and country sent to me by the photographer Tom Sheehan. a veritable encyclopedia of hard to find gems. Eddie Hinton is a new favourite. although I doubt he'll be on any 'hot for 2007' lists.
I spent a lot of last year listening to folk music. Julie Fowlis and Kris Drever being two revelations. I also really enjoyed records by Vetiver. Cat Power, The Raconteurs. and my musical hero. Bob Dylan. I‘m hoping to hear some new music from Wilco. The White Stripes. and. fingers crossed. John Prine. As far as new bands go. I‘ll be honest and say that I don't really care. I‘m too old for new rave. Not to be negative. though — there's always a hope that a new Strokes. or Queens of the StOne Age are just around the corner. There‘s a British musical tradition in constantly searching for something new. The downside of this is that every year so many brilliant things get overlooked. It‘s like taking the motorway instead of going on the scenic route. It’ll get you where you're going quicker. but you’d notice so much more if you took your time. I'm all for slowing things down a bit.
3 : Roddy plays Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wed 24 Jan and Id/ewr/d play ABC. Glasgow, Tue 23 Jan both as part of Celtic Connections.
62 THE LIST ~'. l8 Jan 700/
ROCK'N'HOLL THE HEDRONS Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Thu 11 Jan
How long has rock’n’roll been going now? It’s 2007, ferchrissakes, and yet there still aren’t nearly enough girls with guitars kicking out the jams. Over half a century of riffing guitars, rattling drums and throbbing bass since Chuck Berry invented the damn racket, and still rock’n’roll remains predominantly the domain of posing, preening blokes.
The Hedrons aren’t going to completely turn this situation around on their own, but they’re gonna have one hell of a good time trying. The Glasgow foursome stick to the classic rock formula, consisting of Tippi (vocals and guitar), Rosie (guitar), Chi (bass) and Soup (drums), and in an age dominated by jerky new wave and jangly guff, they’re refreshingly old school
in their approach to making a damn fine racket.
Sounding like the evil spawn of The Stooges, The Runaways and Ramones, The Hedrons release their third single, ‘Heatseeker’, this month and are in the middle of a massive UK tour to punt it. Their full-on live shows have already become notorious, and they have enough on-stage sass to fill the likes of Wembley.
Whether that comes to pass remains to be seen. Meanwhile there’s a debut album, One More Won’t Kill Us, in the pipeline, and a whole heap of on-the- road antics to get involved in. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re launching an assault on the virtual world too, recently becoming the first UK band to play a gig in virtual gaming world Second Life. Whatcha reckon Chuck Berry would make of that? (Doug Johnstone)
Al ll'RNAllVl l‘()l K JOANNA NEWSOM City Halls, Glasgow, Sun 14 Jan
Puttznd a gig; by Ms Newsom e" rn Il‘t) nirddie of Janna", "s good
calf. because her music's gust about he most snug thing: ever
lll‘\.'(}lll(}(l. She plays a harp. for God's sake. And sings l": a torce that's reminiscent of hot?‘ Brork and a precocious 1 1-year-old cn'id 'Lrsa Snipsor‘. l!‘ fact. as one critic fSZt'Uv.
Joanna Newsorn. It's fair to say. is an acdurr‘ed taste. She's been much auded in (:ertazt‘ reuse mags of iate. ehzefly ones of a da//|ing;|‘;.' alternatixe bent or those aimed at older readers. unhere admitting; to liking a harprst is no: a <:onfessr:>-" to he i"()‘.’..’l(?(l unor‘. Such praise is. in all honesty deserved. The 24-year-old Ne-sxsom rs originally from Nevada City and. (:urrousi‘.‘ enougn. ’8 the (:ousn of San Francisco's mayor. She txrst (:z me to prominence after supporting Will ()Idham on tour. .' s'to‘.'.'(:ase whie" sahsedgrent". saw her signed to the Drag City label. and she-has f§!l‘.(1(}l)(}(i().‘l‘(} aligned mall: the ne\.'.' wave of psychedelic folk ar't'sts to haxe taken
the genre in new and different (2.." muons. alongside friends and sometime tourmales like {)ex'andra Banhart and Venue-r.
l oliowrnd on from 1900/13; dens". r’lre rill/la I led r‘v’lendel. last year's Ys album raised her to a new pedestal of txrnu’ar (1.. Recorded With Stew Alhrn'. Van U‘ykt’} Parks and Jim O'l-lourke. its a record \.r'.'hose delicate mask:er l)(};lll'.\.' son‘letnnes falls to signpost Nex'xsont's sometimes tortured lyrzeal concerns. ‘.'-./l".=<:l‘ would often put a country (li‘.'£i to shante. If you can Just learn to love that voice. then much wrnter warmth shafl he found he'e. lDZl‘.’l(l Poilotzki