OOTB 298 – 26 April 2008

This week, Cat Douglas gives the measured critique. Read on…
Michael Dunnigan, Colin Milne, Broken Tooth, Kat Healy (Main Act), Nyk,
Ross Neilson, Julien, Stephen Harrison, Angus Wallace.

Michael Dunnigan-

This was Michael’s 3rd and final time at OOTB as he has to return to
London. Well, at least until his brother has another baby!

What a great final slot! We were treated to a monarchy in music – starting
with ‘The Queen of Sheeba’ then ‘The King is Dead’. This was a song about
the late John Peel and I’m certain the legend would have approved. He
ended on an apt Scottish ballad about the beauty of West Lothian. What a
challenge to set oneself! However, Michael rose and produced a great wee
song about Binnie Craig.

You will be missed. See you next time you’re up.

Colin Milne-

Even before Colin starts I’m instantly intrigued by his instrument he has
with him. I’m not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to music
(I’m happy to admit that) and I just thought it was a mandolin. I was soon
put right when I was told that it is if fact a glute and it’s the only one
in existence as Colin made the thing himself! I’m very impressed.

His set was equally impressive. Great melodies paired with cracking
lyrics. I particularly enjoyed the one about the lassies. I didn’t
actually catch any of the names but I smiled throughout. I also liked the
way he didn’t use the mic. I felt it added intimacy to the room.

Broken Tooth-

Tonight, apparently, he had been asked to ‘just go for it’. Not quite sure
what that means but I presume we’re in for an intense 15 mins.

He started with ‘Sing my Funeral’. His gravely voice has a rocky feel to
it and his guitar playing also has quite a hard rock influence. Both first
and second songs had quite a frantic feel to them with some very fast
finger work. It showed off his talent well, but I can’t help thinking it
was a bit fiddly (possibly just personal taste). He ended on a slow song
called ‘Dust Around the Sun’ which I felt was a bit clichéd in the lyrics.

Overall I enjoyed the set but I would have liked to get a little more
emotion from the lyrics.

Kat Healy (Main Act)-

Kat has a very warm and unpretentious air on stage which endears and
engages the audience right from the start. Oh and she has a great name
too. So I like her already…..
>
Once she starts playing the room is instantly mesmerised by her beautiful
and powerful voice. A once bustling and talkative room is turned to
silence, captivated. She sings with a great mixture of high notes and full
voice. I could maybe have done with a little bit more definition on the
words as I couldn’t always make out what she was saying. However, I did
really enjoy the song about being and tart and pulling a famous person
(I’m so intrigued about who it is). As Kat sang the lyrics to this sultry
song “Hold me” I could sense every man in the room wanting to run up on
stage!

Next was a song called ‘Breakdown’. Is this perhaps because the famous guy
didn’t call? Whatever it was, just by the tone of her voice I could sense
some real emotion. I do love that in a song.

Seamlessly, she moved to a man hating song called ‘Frozen Smile’. Am I
sensing a theme here? This was quite a dark song but again I found it
difficult to make out the words.

Kat ended on an old song which she was asked to sing randomly when she was
in Australia called Sweet November. With the lyrics ‘Marry me’ sung so
softly I can guarantee most of us probably would. What a perfect end.

Thanks a lot for coming and please come back.

Nyk-

With a ‘Y’. Sorry I got that wrong last time.

Slightly disappointing start when Nyk announced he would not be taking his
shirt off for the set. Gutted, but I’m sure we’ll survive!

As usual we were in for a real treat with Nyk. I enjoy when he just lets
rip on the guitar which he did in his second song ‘Out of the Fire, into
the Rain’. This also had quite a bluesy feel to it which I liked a lot.

For his final song he asked Broken Tooth to join him on stage. I’m not
quite sure what happened next but it involved a pine cone and green
monkeys. Interesting to say the least!

Thanks Nyk. Never a dull set.

Ross Neilson-

Ross informs us that his set is going to be a bit bruised and battered
tonight. That’s ok, we like that, and after all that’s what ootb is all
about.

His first song is called ‘Halo’ where he shows that he has quite a good
vocal range. I like this song and think the chorus is quite catchy. I did
feel that his voice went a little scratchy on some of the high notes
though.

When you write lyrics like ‘Bitterness and pain is all I see’ I can see
what he meant about it being bruised and battered. I hope that’s not
coming from personal experience!

I don’t think he told us the names of the songs but I enjoyed the set.

Julien-

Julien’s French accent instantly makes me want to like him. I know its
shallow but oh well at least I’m honest!

He is our one and only squashee this evening.

His song is dark, interesting and quite refreshing. I can’t make out many
of the lyrics (possibly the accent again) but he hits the high notes with
a touch of Thom York. Great.

Don’t leave it so long next time.

Stephen Harrison-

Stephen brings to the stage the first electric guitar of the evening and
starts with his song ‘Sad and Blue’. His low sultry voice brought this
song to life.

Next a small plug for one of his albums ‘Chips for Supper’. I do love that
title.

His second song was quite lovely with lyrics ‘I believe I found you
innocent’. I thought this was beautiful, poignant and quite heartfelt.

After another plug for his old album ‘Faded Colours’ Stephen finished with
his song called ‘Tomorrow’. This lacked a little in focus but I still
enjoyed it.

Good set, I liked the tone of Stephen’s voice.

Angus Wallace-

Ironically the act with the most Scottish sounding name is actually
Australian.

Angus has a funky, plucky way of playing that I liked and a voice to match.

We were treated to a full range of songs from politics to his home
country. I’m not sure anyone really ‘got’ the one about unions, or maybe
it was just over my head!

He ended with a kind of retort to Michael’s Scottish song earlier. With
his song about Oz, Angus was pretty convincing about its beauty. Maybe we
should all go and do a special OOTB from there!

Great ending.