MUSIC | Rock & Pop
PROFILE
MATTHEW COLLINGS
The Edinburgh-based electronic composer/ sound artist has played alongside Tim Hecker, Chris Corsano and Nico Muhly. Besides his solo work, he’s a collaboration- loving, genre-embracing machine, making interactive audio-visual installations, or music for film and dance. ‘Experimental’ needn’t mean alienating, he explains . . . On his solo work: ‘I used to be this guy in a bedroom, making twinkling, lo-fi ambient music. Then I started listening to post-rock and became obsessed with Sonic Youth. My music wasn’t expressing what I was into. I met [driving, unsettling industrial noise maker] Ben Frost while I was living in Reykjavik, and was really interested in what he was doing. Physical, visceral power became more central to my music. Instead of veering towards the cerebral, or computer-based stuff, which can be really alienating for a live show, I play with guitars, Nintendo Wiis, volume, visuals or rattling amps filled with objects, to make something more dynamic.’
On his mum:
‘I took her to see Tim Hecker – one of the loudest gigs I’ve ever been to. She loved it. She got really into the meditative, immersive sound.’ On experimental music:
‘Apparently, it’s a psychological fact, if you’re exposed to something new, your brain doesn’t recognise it and perceives it as chaos. The second time, you probably get it. A lot of stuff I now love, I didn’t get at first. The Beatles were experimental – they brought all these elements from other styles, and made pop songs. A lot of experimental music isn’t particularly bothered about being entertaining. I am though. I want to give people an ‘in’ and a reason to care about what I’m doing.’ (Claire Sawers) ■ Album launch for Splintered Instruments, Wee Red Bar, Edin, Sat 24 Nov; The Glad Cafe, Glas, Sun 25 Nov. See cargocollective. com/mcollingsmusic for more
94 THE LIST 15 Nov–13 Dec 2012
Sunday 9
Glasgow ■ Charlie Lankester & the Mojo Killers O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £10. Over-14s show. Aussie-born, London-based singer/ pianist and his band. ■ Squeeze and Paul Heaton O2 Academy, 121 Eglinton Street, 0844 477 2000. 7pm. £32.50. One of the best post-punk pop acts, helmed by the songwriting duo Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford. With support from ex-Housemartins/Beautiful South man Paul Heaton. ■ Steve Harley Oran Mor, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7pm. £22.50. See Sat 8. ■ Sebastien Tellier The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7.30pm. £10. Enigmatic Gallic singer, songwriter, performer and producer. Win tickets, page 82. ■ Lydia Loveless The Art School, 468 Sauchiehall Street, 0845 166 6009. 8pm. £7. Old soul on young shoulders from Ohio. ■ The Family Rain King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £6. Bluesy indie rock trio. FREE Blues Jam Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 9pm. See Sun 18. FREE Open Mic Linen 1906, 1110 Pollokshaws Road, 649 0007. 9pm. See Sun 18. Edinburgh ■ The Damned and The Dickies The HMV Picture House, 31 Lothian Road, 0844 847 1740. 7pm. £16.50. One of the original punk rock bands. ■ Paul Lamb & the King Snakes The Caves, Niddry Street South, 557 8989. 7pm. £11. See Sat 8. FREE Sunday Service Blind Poet, 32c West Nicolson Street, 667 4268. 10pm. See Sun 18.
Monday 10
Glasgow ■ Enter Shikari, Cancer Bats and Engine-Earz Experiment Barrowland, 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601. 7pm. £18. Over-14s show. Trancecore favourites from Hertfordshire mixing hardcore punk, metal and electronica. ■ Madness SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 7pm. £35–£45. Ska- tinged pop classic after classic on the Nutty Boys’ latest tour, The Return of the Mad Brigade. ■ Crooked Fingers The Art School, 468 Sauchiehall Street, 0845 166 6009. 8pm. £8. US indie grunge outfit fronted by former Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann. FREE Open Mic Queen’s Cafe, 530 Victoria Road, 423 2409. 8–11.30pm. See Mon 19. FREE Acoustic Open Mic Night Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 9pm. See Mon 19. FREE Ross Clark & friends Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 9pm. See Mon 19. Edinburgh ■ The Bootleg Beatles Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 8pm. £23.50–£26.50 (+ 10% booking fee). Re-live the sights and sounds of the 60s with the most established Beatles tribute band around. The Bootleg Beatles have previously played at Wembley Stadium and supported the likes of Elton John, David Bowie and Iggy Pop. FREE Open Mic Whistlebinkies, 4–6 South Bridge, 557 5114. 9.30pm. See Mon 19.
Tuesday 11 Glasgow ■ Enter Shikari, Cancer Bats and Engine-Earz Experiment
Barrowland, 244 Gallowgate, 552 4601. 7pm. £18. See Mon 10. ■ Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 7pm. £48.25–£68.75. Take cover – it’s the original (prog-rock) score for the HG Wells novel adaptation, performed live on this New Generation tour, with holographic Liam Neeson. ■ The Bootleg Beatles Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £23.50– £26.50. See Mon 10. ■ Chris Cohen Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 7.30pm. £6. LA-based drummer with the likes of Deerhoof, White Magic and Haunted Graffiti, in solo psychedelic singer/ songwriter guise. FREE Jamfest Pivo Pivo, 15 Waterloo Street, 564 8100. 7.30pm. See Tue 20. FREE Open Mic Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 8pm. See Tue 20. FREE Open Mic The Quaich, 52 Coustonholm Road, 632 9003. 9pm. See Tue 20. Edinburgh ■ The Family Rain Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. 7pm. £6. See Sun 9. ■ Saint Etienne and Scritti Polotti The Liquid Room, 9c Victoria Street, 225 2564. 7pm. £16.50. Pristine pop from the ubercool electronica trio, fronted by yummy mummy Sarah Cracknell. FREE Open Mic Blind Poet, 32c West Nicolson Street, 667 4268. 9pm. See Tue 20.
Wednesday 12
Glasgow FREE Kicks Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 12–2am. See Wed 21. ■ Bombskare, The I Foundation, Roots System and The Red Eyes Ivory Blacks, 56 Oswald Street, 248 4114. 7pm. £6. Infectious ska action from the eight-piece Bombskare with punky reggae support. ■ Katatonia The Cathouse, 15 Union Street, 248 6606. 7pm. £14. Over- 14s show. Atmospheric doom metal. Obviously not to be confused with the Welsh indie warblers who are no more, anyway. ■ The Rasmus The Garage, 490 Sauchiehall Street, 332 1120. 7pm. £12. Over-14s show. Finnish rock band best known for their 2003 crossover hit ‘In The Shadows’. ■ Slade and Sweet Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £24–£28. Two of the titans of glam rock club together for this seasonal nostalgia tour. ■ Crazy Arm The 13th Note Café/ Bar, 50–60 King Street, 553 1638. 8pm. Roots punk quartet from Devon. ■ Vukovi King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £7. Vukovi describe themselves as a ‘fight between Skunk Anansie and Rage Against the Machine’. FREE Acoustic Open Mic The Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 353 6450. 9pm. See Wed 21. FREE Eddy & the T-Bolts, The Jackhammers and Pump Action Bar Bloc+, 117 Bath Street, 574 6066. 9pm. before midnight. Anarcho punk rock’n’roll from E&TTB. Edinburgh FREE The Imperfectionists The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6.30pm. See Wed 21. ■ The Minutes and Pirate Sons Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. 7pm. £7. Good, old fashioned Irish rock’n’rollers. ■ The Minutes Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. 7pm. £7. Dublin rock trio.
Thursday 13
Glasgow FREE 3 Card Trick Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 12–3am. See Thu 15. ■ Action Bronson and DJ Bunty O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £14. Over-14s show. Hip-hop bill headed by a rapper from Queens. ■ Beth Orton Oran Mor, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7pm. £18.50. The wispy songstress plays material from Sugaring Season, her first new album in six years. ■ Deacon Blue and Red Sky July Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7pm. £29.50. The Scotpop favourites celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album Raintown. With support from Ally McErlaine’s new band. ■ Deadly Inscription, Electric Vocation, Bridges Burned and Branded A Traitor The Garage, 490 Sauchiehall Street, 332 1120. 7pm. £6. Thrash metal quartet from Paisley headline. ■ Ellie Goulding O2 Academy, 121 Eglinton Street, 0844 477 2000. 7pm. £22.50. Over-14s show. Wispy folktronica from girl-of-the-moment Goulding who won the Brits Critics Choice Award a couple of years ago. ■ The Hives and The Minutes O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £17.50. Over-14s show. The world’s greatest one-trick ponies return to wipe the floor with the garage rock competition, courtesy of their storming new release Lex Hives. ■ Clyde 1 Live SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 7.30pm. £27.50– £50. The radio station hosts a big ol’ pop party featuring JLS, Leona Lewis, McFly and Lawson ■ Shelf:Life, Aviators and UrbanMyth Nice’n’Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0900. 7.30pm. £5. Alt.rock. FREE Paul G Boudoir Wine Bar, Merchant Square, Candleriggs, 552 4774. 8pm. See Thu 15. FREE Jam Session Samuel Dow’s, 67–71 Nithsdale Road, 423 0107. 8.30pm. Weekly jam night. Hosted by Independence. ■ Lower Dens and Novo Line King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £9. Atmospheric new wave from the first act to sign to Devendra Banhart’s label. See preview, page 98. FREE Open Mic Black Rabbit, 526 Great Western Road, 339 1199. 9pm–1am. See Thu 15. FREE The Two Jamies Box, 431 Sauchiehall Street, 332 5431. 9pm. See Thu 15. Edinburgh FREE Henry Ibbs The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. See Thu 15. ■ Rufus Wainwright and Adam Cohen Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7pm. £35–£45. Uber- talented offspring of celebrity folkie parents Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle presents his twisted torch songs with a full band – including Teddy Thompson on guitar and Krystle Warren on backing vocals – for the first time since 2008. With support from Leonard Cohen’s son (and his child’s uncle). FREE Betty’s Bar Unplugged Betty’s Bar, 14–26 Grosvenor Street, 337 4315. 8pm. See Thu 15. ■ Napier University Singers Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8pm. £4 (£3). Students from Napier Uni’s Popular Music Course must each perform an original song with a live backing band. ■ Future Heroes The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £3 (£2). See Thu 15.