I felt as if I should have turned the major part of this week’s post into a review but decided against it and turn it into a more generalised post. Gig reviews are now starting to feel a little superfluous – especially as now my gigging days are growing a little more sparse.
With that said, the first part of this blog post will be about Tuesday and the Lo Moon gig at St Luke’s. I first became aware of Lo Moon through listening to Billy Sloan. The song ‘Evidence’ was an instant standout. From there, my pal Ronnie McGhie exposed me to a few more of their tunes and I listened to their most recent album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck, when it released back in in April. I’m sure the tour was announced around that time as well. I looked at the date, checked the ticket price (wonderfully affordable it £15 with booking fee) and decided that it was definitely worth taking a gamble on.
I met up with Ronnie before the gig. We met at George Square and headed towards Merchant City with no definitive destination in mind. As we neared its location, I suggested we head for the Singl-end. A hot drink and a baked sweet was consumed. Lots of talk. A good bit of banter was had. The city grew dark early and there was a slight nervous air with it being both Bonfire Night and also Celtic hosting a home match in the Champions League against RB Leipzig. The east end was awash with fans as we headed down along Gallowgate. The intersection of High Street and Trongate was bumper-to-bumper with cars with emergency vehicles trying to cut their way through the packed traffic. We were both on guard when making own way across roads. Nae jaywalking!
We hit the Winged Ox (the pub right next to St Luke’s) around 5.30pm and it was already hoachin’. We took a makeshift spot down along with back wall. Ronnie took a chair, I sat on a wooden crate. The conversation continued as well as it could in a packed bar/restaurant. We had some chips. It was a grand way to wile away the time.
When the doors open for the gig, we made our way in. I picked a spot at the front – it was on offer, so why not take it? The barrier is my friend. I nipped to the ladies and when I came back, Ronnie was chatting away to the couple next to him. They were Blue Nile fans and had been at the annual fan meet-up that had happened recently a Oran Mor. They mentioned Michelle and I said I knew her, that we’re friends. Small world! A few moments later as I looked around and up at the balcony, I spied Glasgow’s new gig-buddy pairing of … Billy Sloan and Paul Buchanan! I guess Billy’s other pal spends his days in southern Italy to be any kind of gig buddy these days. And well, if he ain’t climbing the hills up to Castelmola, then he’s on a stage himself still anyways.
Ronnie and I were joined by James who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Caezar gig back in February. We missed catching up at the SM Hydro gigs, so it was great to have the opportunity to catch up again.
First off was Zoe Graham as support. I really enjoyed her at the Echo and the Bunnymen gig at Kelvingrove Bandstand in August. To be honest, she was the best thing about the gig by far that night. I was really looking forward to seeing her again. She didn’t disappoint. Unlike at the bandstand, she had a full band with her for the St Luke’s gig. She was fabulous. Great songs. I love the song ‘Evilin’ and had a wee little frisson when she pointed her guitar at me when she delivered the line ‘No one could work quite as hard as you’ – making a point of looking directly at me on the ‘you.’ Ah…I don’t feel worthy of such an acknowledgement – truly, Zoe! Her most recent single ‘Even Though I’m Scared’ sounded pretty splendid too – with a fantastic vocal performance to boot. In the weeks to come she’s the support for Admiral Fallow at the MacArts in Galashiels (28 Nov) as well as at the La Belle Angele in Edinburgh (29 Nov). Catch her if you can!
On to Lo Moon. They were astounding! After they finished their set I turned round to James and said ‘Well, how bloody good was THAT?!’ They were fantastic. Great musicianship. Their drummer! He was fantastic. The singer, Matthew, has a wonderful voice with an effortless falsetto to it. I captured just a part of a song on video as I didn’t want my head in my phone. Took a few pics which are mostly all shit. Lol. Just trust me when I say they were fantastic. I will DEFINITELY be seeing them again. Ronnie, James and myself were all agreement that we had seen a fantastic gig.
The rest of the week has seen my head buried in the books for study. Trying very hard not to fall behind having now read all of the second novel for English Lit. studies, Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country. Undine Spragg as a character – OMG! Don’t get me started!
Yesterday I got my hair cut. Today I’ve had a tutorial. Busy, busy, busy!
Next week might be a little bit quiet here. We have visitors coming up to stay with us, namely Birdy and Sue, and the three of us will be going to see Derek Forbes at St Luke’s on Wednesday night. Will probably be doing one or two other things too – and trying to keep the study going in between. The first assignment for the year is due on 21 November – a 2000 word critical analysis of two passages of both the books we’ve read so far. Fun! My first proper foray into Eng. Lit like this, as last module we studied the things we read more as writers rather than as English Literature students. So….yeah. I might find it a little tough going …. but we’ll see.
Oh…and finally – yes, I did it! I made sure I was up on time the next day to get my ticket for Simple Minds at Bellahouston Park next June. I mean…how could I miss out on another chance to see Hamish – right? *smirks*