Elba Sessions

I know, I know, the review of the gig really should have been up more promptly. I mean after last month I’m sure it’s what you’ve all come to expect after Kim’s fantastic play by play of Elba Sessions Presents…(One) appearing on site well within her alloted deadline. Unfortunately due to bad timekeeping on the part of a gaggle of physiotherapists, unwellness and the inability to make time travel happen, you’re stuck with my thoughts this month.

Bonfire Night saw the second in our monthly series Elba Sessions Presents gigs at The Liquid Ship and I really felt on Thursday that over winter there is not many better places to be than in a candlelit basement bar listening to heart warming music with a pint of Weihenstephan in hand (note; my favourite beer). Of course this could apply to any gig, but on Thursday it was the turn of Julia and The Doogans, John Hinshelwood & Sandra Gellatly and Andrea Marini to stir the senses.

Julia and her scaled down Doogans (sans drummer) opened the evening and captivated everyone in the room with their blend of acoustic folk. Julia’s voice is fantastic and is a rare thing in that it sounds even more perfect live than it does recorded. I’m a sucker for a banjo so one of the set standouts for me was the brilliant ‘Collide’. Although notable mentions go to New York and Hummingbird. If you haven’t already caught Julia and the Doogans live, I urge you to do so soon. Trust me, it will make your life better!

Next up was the rootsy folk of John Hinshelwood who was accompanied by the voice of Sandra Gellatly and Tim Black on guitar. John, an established face on the Scottish roots and country scene blasted through a set of original material and covers. Personally, I was delighted at his Gene Clark cover as ‘White Light’, is one of my favourite albums and the combination of his and Sandra’s voice got my toe a tappin’.

Our final artist of the evening was October’s Elba Sessions Podcast guest, Andrea Marini. There is something about Andrea’s music that he makes look effortless and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an artist look more comfortable and at ease when performing than he does. Accompanied by a full band for the evening Andrea treated us to a heartfelt set of his songs. The outstanding ‘Windmills’ was a real standout and is one of the tracks on his ‘IV Songs’ cd which was left ‘just in the middle, over there’ for us to help ourselves to, which we gladly did. It was a great way to end the evening and sent us off out into the guy fawkes night mist happy and contented.

Next month will see a slight change to the usual format of Elba Sessions Presents but that’s a different story for another day! Needless to say, we’re all pretty excited about the Christmas bonanza that we have planned for you all!

Photos by Steph Mulligan

We had a great night at Elba Sessions Presents…(One) and are equally excited for what should be a cracking second night next Thursday (5/11).

On the bill we have Julia and The Doogans, John Hinshelwood & Sandra Gellatly and Andrea Marini. Andrea has just done a podcast for Elba Sessions which you can hear on the myspace.

I hope you will all join us for what should be a great evening (well, not everyone, I mean, not that you’re not welcome but The Liquid Ship really isn’t the biggest place on earth!). Myself and Chris popped along to see Julia at the Captains Rest last month and were blown away so we are really looking forward seeing her and her cohorts at The Liquid Ship and hopefully we can bag ourselves a fridge magnet!

If you do pop along, come and say hello! No excuses, it’s free to get in!

Evenin’ ladies and gents,

There’s been a whole load of stuff happening here at Elba Towers as well as happening everywhere else so I just thought I’d post a wee update…

We’ve been in the studio recording next months podcast with Martin John Henry (ex-De Rosa) and it’s gonna be a goodie. The double bill of October podcasts featuring Andrea Marini and Salon Society are still up on the myspace page for those who haven’t listened yet (note to self; do something about making them downloadable!).

Elba Studios‘ Stephen has been fairly busy in the studio recently whilst also masquerading as a keyboard virtuoso. He’s been practicing with the afore mentioned Salon Society for their album launch this coming FRIDAY (30/10) at Arta. We’ve been told rehearsals are coming on well and it should be a great show!

The second Elba Sessions Presents…evening on November 5th is all sorted and ready to go. We’re feeling super organised this time and still buzzing slightly after the last one! We’ve got a great line-up on the night featuring Julia and The Doogans, John Hinshelwood & Sandra Gellatly and Andrea Marini. It would be great to see some of you down at The Liquid Ship, after all it is a recession busting £0 to get in!

Myself and Chris Elba are off to see Chris T-T at Sleazies this week, really looking forward to it, some good local supports playing as well. Other notable gigs in the next 7 days are Camera Obscura + Emma Pollock at Barrowlands (29/10), Los Campesinos + Copy Haho + Sparky Deathcap at King Tuts and Glasgow PodcART’s big gig at The Classic Grand featuring Esperi, Debutant, Panda Su and Yahweh, who we caught at Sloans last night and were mightily impressed with!

Also, for everyone who likes a good freebie and hasn’t done so already, go here to download some tracks which The Scottish Enlightenment are just giving away!!!

Our Christmas album debate has now had a couple of responses, all bigging up LOW and in Al’s case, posting us a youtube video which is still chilling us to our very core…all very HO HO HO! Join in here…

Night! x

P.S. We have just set up a facebook, if you have one too, just search facebook for Elba Sessions, be a fan!

P.P.S Muller Little Stars Jelly Pots are dynamite!

Elba Sessions - Andrea Marini

Instalment 2 of our October Podcast is now live.

Andrea Marini joined us at Elba to play three stunning live tracks. Andrea opened with a track ‘with no name yet’…(that’s what we like to call yet another Elba exclusive…) before closing with ‘Windmills’ and ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’.

Andrea also shared with us how he works, key influences and reveals how close the album is to completion.

Andrea Marini can be seen live in the coming weeks at our very own Elba Sessions Presents…@ Liquid Ship on 5th November (Free Entry) with John Hinshelwood/Sandra Gellatly & Julia & The Doogans.

Also Live – 25th October – Brunswick Hotel (OXJAM Festival) & 25th November – Captain’s Rest.

Head down to check him out live…and pick up a CD…They’re Free!!!!

Lets face it: the weekend really does start on a Thursday night nowadays. There’s nothing like nursing a light alcohol induced headache on a Friday at work. Perhaps indulging in a little sneaky something that’ll pick you up at lunch time. Maybe even taking a half day. It is unfathomably gratifying to ease into the weekend. The first instalment of ‘Elba Sessions Presents’ last night certainly proved itself to be an imperative addition to this new tradition.

The Liquid Ship played host to the first live chapter of Elba, brought to you from the regular stage of The Free Candy Sessions, and what a night it was. There really could have been no better a setting; the subterranean ambient nook is perfect. To step into the calming and cosy lantern and candle lit venue to such pleasing acoustics…well…I’m pretty much drooling reminiscing over how delightful it was.

The gentle sounds of Paul McLinden opened the evening. There is something graceful about how he performs. On record his songs are serene but live they are almost lulling, yet all the while captivating. He has perfected that ‘warm your soul’ feeling that comes when someone merges their instrument and voice so completely.

Whilst we’re on the subject of soul, Calum MacDonald really knows how to bear his. The room was hushed to a revered silence as his minimal guitar accompanied honest vocals. This man could out-do Frightened Rabbit in emotional stakes single handedly. An impressive cover of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ showed weight and promise. We at Elba now also have a rather unexpected fixation on Calum’s hairdo.

Four piece Only Living Boys opened things up again with their keyboard rooted light indie. Even with a full line up these guys managed to hold back rather than blow the windows out of a small venue. Not only this but they provided the “Only Living Snare” for our headline act of the evening Le Reno Amps.

Le Reno and what I like to think of as their semi-acoustic set showed Al and Scott on unmissable and crowd pleasing form. Their set encompassed the very best of the band. Old favourites including 1969 and Get You Wet were warmly welcomed alongside an array of tracks from latest album Tear It Open (Drift Records). Out of this, Outlaws really is the one that shows the boys (and lady on days when she is present) as we know and love them. It has a guitar riff and vocal yowl that’ll grip you like no other dark country tinted song can. Al literally ripped up his guitar on stage during the solo, pulling a ‘knob’ off in the process. Why is it I always find myself saying such things that elicit mild titters after a Le Reno Amps show? One wonders. I implore you to catch this band right now, they really are at their best. They’ll also sell you their records for:

‘Whatever you like really. We’re mental…like Radiohead. Unless it’s under a tenner…’

What’s that they say about Aberdonians again?

Thanks to everyone who came along and big thank you to all the bands. We really hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Next month is looking just as lavish with John Hinshelwood & Sandra Gellatly, Andrea Marini and Julia and the Doogans confirmed for Thursday 5th November.

Thanks also to Steph Mulligan for the fab photos!!! We’ll have more up on the myspace soon!

*The Word From Elba HQ*

Just a quick update for anyone eagerly awaiting the two podcasts for October. Due to busy schedules by all parties we are launching these a couple of days later than normal on the 5th October.

Our two podcasts involve Salon Society & Andrea Marini.

Salon Society who’s single PREACHING THE BLUES is out on 1st October followed by the album ‘Promenade’ at the end of the month with launch night at Arta on 30th October.

Andrea Marini who will be playing at the Elba Sessions second night at Liquid Ship on 5th November is also playing Oxjam Festival in October and will have news on this and more in the podcast.

So check back for those on the 5th October for the above and in the meantime check out our September podcast with Le Reno Amps who have just finished their UK tour promoting new EP ‘The Stand Off’ and will be headlining the Elba Sessions 8th October night at Liquid Ship.

Laters!!!

Al Nero proclaimed that most of the cool alternative kids were probably at Stereo to see Fuck Buttons (review here by Club Hott) but there was still a good turnout for a stellar line up at the 13th Note.

First up were the ‘new look’ Elvis Suicide complete with a new bass player, drummer and guitarist, powered along by Chris Devotion. I’m pleased to say that they still play their own brand of breakneck, riotous rock n roll which makes them such a good live band. Next up were Peter Parker who were then followed by the fabulous Super Adventure Club. It was the first time I’d seen them and I was totally impressed by them. Finishing off the evening was Le Reno Amps, promoting their new EP ‘The Stand Off’. No strangers to Elba, Le Reno played a set of newies, oldies and all goodies and had a right good hoe-down!

It was a grand way to start the weekend early!!

*Le Reno Amps will play an acoustic set for us at The Liquid Ship on October 8th.

We have finally confirmed the line-up for our first live Elba Sessions! Over the next couple of months the lovely dudes at The Free Candy Sessions and The Liquid Ship will play host to ‘Elba Sessions Presents…’

Our first night is on October the 8th and we have a cracking line-up. Headed up by September podcasters Le Reno Amps (Drift) they will be joined at The Liquid Ship by Paul McLinden, Only Living Boys and Calum MacDonald. As with all good Free Candy shows, there is no tax on the door making it an absolute steal!

We will have more info on our Bonfire Night spectacular soon but we are already very excited by the line up!

Ciao!