OOTB 320 – 30 Oct 2008
OOTB 320 – 30 Oct 2008
A very warm welcome back, and congrats in his new apointment, to Mr Darren
Thornberry, who fittingly provides the review this week…
Out Of the Bedroom 30 Oct 08
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Ian Sclater, Ross Neilson, Ms. Fi, Norman Lamont, Broken Tooth, Main act:
Alistair Kilgour, Duncan Drever, Wahid, John Fink, Steve
Ian Sclater takes the listener on a sentimental journey. Is he plucking
heartstrings or guitar strings? “Days Go By” is a tale of four seasons
represented by characters like Dr Winter, who pronounces Autumn dead. I
know this imagery is true when I step outside at the break. Brrrr! “This
Time Around” is a strummy number that asks for second chances and promises
to do things different.
Get Ross Neilson to tell you the funny story about the lyrics in “Change
of Heart.” No spoilers here. Anyway, his marquee title goes down strong;
then he moves on to a first-time-playing-live-ditty, “Heavy Head.”
Something feels wrong and it might be that the chorus has him singing and
playing in very different keys. Anyhoo some fine-tuning will put it right
or maybe it’s just my hearing is going. Ross’ last song, a sad outing,
turns a cool phrase about every time the sun bled in her eyes. I like it a
lot.
Fiona Thom aka Ms. Fi makes me want to waltz to “Afterglow.” Number two
is a short song, so short that I miss taking notes while distracted by
someone speaking to me. “Rise” is a song we all need to hear at 6 a.m.
when the alarm sounds. Great song about an everyday morning done with a
hint of joy, like when toast pops up to greet the day.
Norman Lamont dazzles with Ms. Fi on percussion, BGVs and bass. His songs
wink mournfully, pregnant with irony, and Norman sounds a bit like Mark
Lanegan but with a better voice. Tonight he’s playing songs from his new
album, “Roadblock,” and the barnburner is “When I Came Home From Egypt.”
This song is badass. Norman is a very engaging singer whose knowing lyrics
definitely punch a hole. If this review seems particularly rosy, then
you’re getting my point. Above average set, with groovy bass by Ms Fi, and
songs from a worthy new album.
Taking the moral high ground, Broken Tooth announces that his new cd will
be available for one night only, at Secret Cds this week, and that all
proceeds will be given to Amnesty International. So stick that in your
rainy day fund! Toothy rips into “Riding on the Rail” and before you know
it you’re mixing it up with hobos somewhere outside New Orleans.
“Borderline” begs you to think about Jimmy Paige with some beefy riffs and
would be an absolute scorcher on electric guitar. I like the line about
going out to the ocean to let the tears roll down. I would like to do
that.
MAIN ACT: ALISTAIR KILGOUR
“Letter” has a gorgeous instrumental intro, so long in fact that I briefly
believe it to be its own song. The lyrics, about a letter of application
and how there’s no going back once it’s read, are surely metaphor and I’d
be curious to know what’s under there. Next “Woodland” is a touching song
that promises it would take snow-capped mountains to keep the writer from
the object of his desire. There’s a true instrumental thrown in now, very
fast and furious, and the audience loves it. (Also the room is packed.)
The next three songs serve up well-placed key changes, great lyrics and a
dynamite finishing instrumental flourish. Alistair is a sound guitarist
and may as well consider this OOTB gig the first of his Scottish tour.
Then, the world.
Hullo Duncan Drever, singing a folk tale of sorts called The Black
Douglas. On first hearing The Black Douglas is on some sort of pilgrimage
and seems to be a pretty self-aware guy. A quick glance at Wikipedia … the
Black Douglas is none other than Guid Sir James, soldier and cohort of
Robert the Bruce who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Pretty
sweet. Clever song. There’s also a tune about being lonely for his Orkney
Islands. I really dig the word pictures … sailing ghosts, ancient cliff
face … and I love the line about “shuffling home when I have nothing.”
Duncan Drever impresses. He’s flippin’ tall, too.
Wahid the Squashee. Man this cat has some energy. It’s bluesy, reggae-ish,
aggressive, and uplifting. A rallying cry to “our people” to get up, free
your mind and find a reason to keep believing. Fair enough. The OOTB
audience eats it up.
John Fink is competing now with some chatty folk, but he holds ground. His
second song is cool. “Put things back, put them right. Things will turn
bad if you don’t.” I’m a bit frustrated for John because we’ve reached
that very unmagical time of night when people start buggering off mid
song. All in all great potential and I hope he comes back and gets an
earlier start. John’s third is a well-played, lovely tune.
I think Steve is a bit surprised that there’s time for him to play, but
here he comes like a sardonic court jester. He’s funny, but that doesn’t
make him funny, if you know what I mean. His songs go for the big-chorus
jugular. Sample topics include sleeping till he’s dead, pulling s*** out
of pensioners’ bums, and a hatred for smelly deadlocks. I can’t do the
tunes justice here – you really need the context. When Steve finishes, I
rattle off a thank you and goodbye, but there’s nothing more to say,
really.
Review/Compere: Darren Thornberry
Sound/Tech: Malcolm Mclean