I had been lucky enough to get myself a free ticket to see a recording of The Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday morning. I knew Grant Stott would be presenting the show, and there would most likely be live music, but that was all I knew.
The Cottiers was packed out for the show. We all got seated and some of the musicians entered the room ready to start recording. I see this guy enter the room and I think “Geez, that bloke looks like Loudon Wainwright III – OMG… is it?!”
Yep! It was. I was chuffed! I had wanted to see him for years. I mean I am by no means a huge fan of folk music… not much of a fan at all, really. There are some exceptions, but generally, I don’t go out of my way to seek it out. LWIII is one of those exceptions I have always found him humorous and fun.
He was so great at the Afternoon Show, that as soon as it wrapped up and we were done, I walked down to the Royal Concert Hall and grabbed a ticket for the gig.
His support act, Karen Casey, had also performed on the Afternoon Show and I enjoyed her too.
She was great last night as well. She’s got wonderful talented musicians playing with her and she has a wonderful voice. She chatted a bit between songs and shared funny anecdotes. I enjoyed her set.
There was a lot of love in the room for LWIII as he walked on stage.
Funny from the get go. He spoke of his father. A fractuous relationship he had with him. His dad was a renowned writer for Time magazine. He shared some extracts of columns that his father wrote for Time. He told us that through the passage of time, after his dad’s death in 1988, he got to know him better and understand him better.
I can’t remember all the songs he did. I am not familiar with their titles, so they didn’t stick in the memory. But the ones I do remember from last night that he performed – Meet The Wainwrights – a theme for a show he did in which he, Rufus, his partner and their daughter Lucy toured Alaska with fans for a five date tour with the family – he had fun anecdotes to share about all that too. Five Years Old – a song he wrote about missing Martha’s 5th birthday.
One I recorded called “It Ain’t Gaza” – I will post it when I get home. Just a great thing about… if you think things are shit to just put it in some perspective.
It was a great show. I’d love to see him again. Funny, a little sad now and then and thought-provoking too. I’m so glad I went.
concert hall isn’t a bad venue sound wise but a wee bit sterile(?) .