Luke Combs - Beautiful Crazy

Jessica Lynn - Crazy Idea - Official Music Video

Saw Jessica last week and although she wasn't my thing she is really energetic - really like this track.

The Rolling Stones and Richard Ashcroft - Murrayfield

A bit late in reviewing but I went to the Stones at Murrayfield. Wasn't sure what to expect and certainly wasn't expecting anything new....which is more or less what we were treated to.

Firstly Richard Ashcroft as a support act was a superb addition to the bill and as expected was absolutely superb - great band and a short but excellent set:

 

 

Set list as follows:

 

Hold On

Sonnet

This Is How It Feels

Break the Night With Colour

Space and Time

Lucky Man

The Drugs Don't Work

Bitter Sweet Symphony

 

The Rolling Stones did more or less what you would expect but Jaggers energy was incredible. Highlights were many but Gimme Shelter in particular amazing.

 

The sound was excellent and a great stage set up.

 

I wont bother listing the set - no surprises in it really but a good day out.

 

Darden Smith - Two Dollar Novels

I hadn't heard this track until the Boo and Darden gig last week. I thought it was very much worth sharing.

Two Dollar Novels

Boo Hewerdine and Darden Smith - Glad Cafe, Glasgow

Was really delighted to be able to get along to the Boo Hewerdine and Darden Smith show in Glasgow recently. The Glad Café is a very small venue and I was pleased to see the show had sold out.

Like most I was there to here the duet tracks from the Evidence album which was released in 1996. A great lp and a little bit of a cult album I guess.

Unfortunately I cannot locate a setlist or any videos but the highlights were all there. Standouts were Little Victories, Evidence, Reminds Me a Little of You, Graceland, Patience of Angels.

A great night from 2 outstanding songwriters.

 

 

 

 

Bryan Ferry Glasgow

Interesting set list from Bryan Ferry - very light on "hits" and some real Roxy obscure material. Probably on the back of the debut album re-release. Really good concert and the band were superb. I would expect more hits at the Bandstand later this year if you happen to be going.

The Main Thing

Slave to Love

Ladytron

Out of the Blue

Windswept

Oh Yeah

If There Is Something

Simple Twist of Fate

Avalon

In Every Dream Home a Heartache

More Than This

Zamba

Bête Noire

Bittersweet

Love Is the Drug

Virginia Plain

Remake/remodel

Jealous Guy

Do the Strand

Eric Paslay Broadcast Friday 6 July

I don't know anything about him but he comes highly recommended. Playing in Broadcast, Glasgow and I am hoping for another strong Americana show. Here is the wiki blurb:

Eric Thomas Paslay (born January 29, 1983, Abilene, Texas, United States) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released one album for EMI Nashville, which contains the hit singles "Friday Night", "Song About a Girl", and "She Don't Love You". In addition to these, Paslay has written several hit singles for other artists, and has collaborated with Amy Grant, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley, among others.

And a couple of clips:

Southern Fried Festival

Once again an outstanding line up for Southern Fried Festival.

Steve Earle and Rodney / Iris for me for definite.

Spot the connection

 

Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain

Courtney Marie Andrews has become a strong favourite of mine and I have been lucky enough to see her a few times. 

This is a 4th lp and is getting outstanding reviews. I am really looking forward to hearing it properly. I know she is touring again this year so if you get the chance I would go and see her.

 

 

The Guardian had this to say:

 

"It’s one of the elements – along with the organ and Mark Howard’s spacious but focused production – that gives the album an unusual intensity. May Your Kindness Remain sounds forever on the brink of eruption – no shucks-we-were-drinking-beer-in-your-truck here. Andrews has said the theme of the album is coming to terms with depression, which you can sense without even listening to the lyrics.
Amid the misery, though, there is a search for moments of levity. This House is a long way from Madness’s house or Graham Nash’s house – “Empty cans on the counter / And the laundry’s never done,” Andrews sings, detailing the shortcomings of the surroundings, even as she insists “this house ain’t much of a house, but it’s a home”. May Your Kindness Remain confirms Andrews’ rise. It’s a brilliant record, proof that old forms can still be timeless."

 

 



John Prine - Hello In There

Have been talking about Alzheimer's and Dementia and this song sprung to mind. John Prine is an incredible songwriter and the 10,000 Maniacs also covered the track brilliantly.

 

And here is a wee bit of the great chocolate Genius:

 

 

 

Chris Stapleton - I Want Love (Audio)

This is a classic track - one of my favourites and great to hear Chris Stapleton version.



As a reminder here is the original with a superb video:

And a wee bonus!

Bob Dylan - Trouble No More

Ok love him or loathe him there is no denying that Dylan's trio of "gospel" albums are a pivotal moment in his career - and in my view completely underrated.
 
Each album has at least several great tracks and Shot of Love is superb from start to finish (its not totally a Gospel album though).

At 108 tracks I would suggest stick to the 2Cd edition - however I have to say this is an astonishing Live Document. I ordered the 6lp vinyl set which also has 2 CD's and this allows you to "autorip" the full 108 tracks - you don't get the concert DVD but it is much cheaper than the £140 box set! It does have the added bonus of the worst artwork in the planet! Anyway...

Dylan's voice is powerful, the band and backing singers just incredible. The live versions add so much to the studio ones I am amazed that a Live album was not released before now. The set also has a smattering of outtakes and rehearsal versions of unreleased songs.

Really worth checking out.

 

Solid Rock

 

 

Pressing On

 

 

Every Grain of Sand (much later version)

Phil Vassar ABC Glasgow 8th April

 

Another Day In Paradise (first Number 1)

I have to admit I know next to nothing about Phil Vassar - however a few of my friends going to see him at the ABC so as always happy to go along for some live music.

Lifting from his bio : Phil Vassar is one of a handful of musicians to have multiple hits as a songwriter AND as an artist. He has 10 Number 1s, 15 Top 10s, and 26 TOP 40s.  Top songs include Just Another Day in Paradise. Carlene, Six Pack Summer, American Child, For a Little While & My Next Thirty Years (Tim McGraw), Right on the Money (Alan Jackson), I’m All Right & Bye Bye (Jodee Messina) and many more. American Soul is Phil’s ninth album.

So he certainly has a good pedigree and I am looking forward to the gig and I particularly like this version of Another Day In Paradise and no wonder this was a huge hit.

Last Day Of My Life

 

Six Pack Summer

Revolution In The Round, Classic Grand, Glasgow 29th March

I am really looking forward to this gig. It is a format I really like where several singers strip back their songs, tell some stories and join in with each other.

I must admit I don't know any of these artists but they come highly recommended. Kevin Morris regularly puts on these types of shows during his Glasgow Americana Festival, notably in 2016 where Roddy Hart, Boo Hewerdine Ben Glover put on a great show.

More recently at C2C in London I was lucky enough to be at the Songwriters show featuring Luke Combs, Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Kip Moore. This was an utterly superb show with every performer outstanding on the night.

Here is Luke Combes with One Man, One Guitar.


https://youtu.be/GD614G00uGI

Ryan

He can’t help being so good