Elba Sessions

Here in Elba-blog-land we are feeling very fresh faced and it’s not entirely to do with the sub zero temperatures our fair city is enduring. The runny noses can certainly be blamed on the frosty days and brisk breezes. However, we are riding on the heels of musical majesty and growing more excited as some eagerly anticipated events are starting to come together.

On Friday night, another successful Elba Presents… took place at The Liquid Ship. Thanks to all who came along to the fourth live Elba outing. It was a nice wee turn out. For those who didn’t make it, it was a most delightful night featuring King James, Maple Leaves, Craig Davidson and Cuddly Shark. There’s talk of a release from King James in the near future and following their awe inducing set it’s one to look forward to. Their stripped back folk and layered harmonies are bewitching.

Now on to the rather tasty news that was delivered to our inbox last week. On Saturday
3rd April the multi-venue music and art festival, Hinterland, returns. The Arches, Sub Club, Macsorleys Music Bar, The Admiral, Pivo Pivo and Rockers amongst other will provide the base for a myriad of eclectic bands both local and from further afield:

Mystery Jets
British Sea Power
Jeffrey Lewis
Friendly Fires (DJ)
Joe Goddard Hot Chip (DJ Set)
Hot Club de Paris
Wave Pictures
GrecoRoman Soundsystem
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Fenech Soler
Johnny Foreigner
French Wives
Ambulances
Bleech
Kitty the Lion
Midnight Lion
Ballers Social Presents…..
Cooly G
Marcus Nasty
Spectrals
Eclair FiFi
Art installations by Konx Om Pax & Christina Kernohan
Make Sparks
Little Yellow Ukuleles
Pulled Apart By Horses
plus more TBC

That last statement, that more will be announced, has me practically drooling as the list already promises so much on many fronts. I can foresee the 3rd of April as a whirlwind of adventure with much racing about the city in the hope of catching… EVERYTHING. The end of the day looks like it’ll be quite the party too with the inclusion of Friendly Fires and Joe Goddard on DJ duties for the later running events. In the lead up to the festival Phil and I will feature some of the acts that we’re hoping to catch at Hinterland. This clearly has the potential to turn into a marathon posting event. We’ll do our best to keep the short-list short and to be cut-throat in the selection process. I know what you’re thinking. You don’t think we’ve got that in us. Well! You’re quite right. I’d advise getting an early bird ticket due to its low cost of just £10 right now available from www.thehinterlandfestival.com.

Time for another Elba gig methinks.

We”ll be back at The Liquid Ship on Friday 19th February and we’ve assembled somewhat of an eclectic, but totally rad (excuse the outdated slang term but I’ve been listening to Pavement) lineup. Heading up the bill for our first gig of 2010 are King James. Hailing from somewhere between the Cornwall coast and Berlin they are made up in numbers by an amalgamation of Thirty Pounds of Bone and The Diamond Family Archive. Their music is a collection of folk-tinged gospel music (according to The Source, ‘with a bit of Hank Williams thrown in for good measure’) and is actually pretty uplifting listen to! We’re really excited to get them up (and over) to Scotland before they head over to Germany for a string of dates.

Also on the bill for the night are Glasgow’s very own Maple Leaves. Tipped for big things this year they have the ability to surround me with a warm glow everytime I listen to them so they should have no trouble in putting a spring in the step of everybody’s weekend. Next up we have Craig Davidson, a singer songwriter hailing, like myself, from the chilly north east of Scotland. His influences range from Elliot Smith and Nick Drake all the way to The Teardrop Explodes and Pink Floyd. There’s a definite element of psychedelia to his work which you can check out on his myspace.

Plus, if three bands weren’t enough, we’ve organised what can only be described as a ‘wee treat’. Called out recently for being nothing but angry on their debut album, we’ve taken up the role of therapist to try and tame the beast that is Cuddly Shark. We’ve twisted their arm, and some more, and persuaded them that whilst turning their amps up to 11 is great, that we think they would sound just swell stripped down to nothing more than some quiet guitars and percussion. This could go either way folks…(!).

So there you have it, first lineup of the year. Will hopefully see some new faces along and as ever, kick off is at 9pm and the gig is free!

There was a period where everytime I looked at gig listings, Andrea Marini seemed to have a gig! We were lucky enough to have Andrea to Elba Sessions Presents at The Liquid Ship in November. A cracking evening where previous Elba Annual contributors Julia and the Doogans also played. At the time I said that Andrea’s music was effortless and having now had a chance to really listen to his back catalogue, it’s still as soothing as before.

A short and sweet entry today, here’s Andrea’s answers. We’d like to think favourite gig that he played was at The Liquid Ship but far be it from us to put words in his mouth!!!

Album of The Year – Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle, Bill Callahan

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To -Looking forward to finishing my record and hearing the new Vampire Weekend record

All of Andrea’s previous material can be downloaded for absolutely nowt on his bandcamp page.

Today sees the fifth installment of our Elba Sessions Annual and our guest today is Julia of Julia and the Doogans. I first came across Julia earlier this year and still play her EP several times a week on the old i-pod. We had Julia and her band along to November’s Elba Sessions Presents…at The Liquid Ship and it was definitely one of my highlights of the year. Here are Julia’s…

Album of The Year – Sea Sew – Lisa Hannigan.

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To – Continue to meet really nice people as we go on as a band. Writing and recording new stuff. Releasing some stuff. Being creative and taking each step as it comes. Not rushing and just enjoying what we do and hopefully others will continue to do so too. And getting out and doing more gigs and giving away free fridge magnets!

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a fridge magnet but if you fancy a wee Christmas gift from the band, sign up to their mailing list here. You also get a nice letter from Julia every so often!

I don’t think it’s any secret that we here at Elba Sessions *heart* Le Reno Amps. Not only have they popped up on an Elba Podcast and an Elba Sessions Presents…at the Liquid Ship, we’re also helping them give a rousing send off to their bassist this Thursday at the Grand Ole Opry deep in Glasgow’s cowboy country! Indeed, Al and Scott almost single handedly changed the face of the Elba Sessions because for 30 worrying minutes at The Liquid Ship, being bombarded by their patter, we questioned whether the Elba Sessions were actually made for wannabe stand up comics. Thankfully a few months on, we’re still concentrating on bands, and the booking agents of northern England’s working mens clubs are not booking Le Reno Amps. Phew. We’d like to think last months appearance on the cover CD of WORD Magazine and this month’s review in MOJO is down to their appearances with Elba, but we can’t take all the credit…the four of them are affa hard workers!

Album of The Year

Scott: Heavy Trash – “Midnight Soul Serenade”

Al: Bloody Hell just one! I’d probably plump for… De Rosa – Prevention,

but worthy mentions…
St Vincent – Actor
Golden Silvers – True Romance
Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Jason Lytle – Yours Truely, The Commuter

Favourite New Band

Scott: Last ‘new to me’ band I heard and keep returning to are Empire of the Sun, reckon that album’s going to be with me for years to come. How very populist of me! I’m also currently very taken with the Dirty Projectors – or possibly not! They did a brilliant track with David Byrne on ‘Dark was the Night’, investigating further I learned they did a concept album in 2007 called ‘Rise Above’, which is (Wiki quote) “…an attempt by band leader Dave Longstreth to remember and reinterpret the entire Black Flag album Damaged after not hearing it for almost 15 years”. Now, I learned to play guitar by listening to Black Flag and the Circle Jerks – unless Dave Longstreth heard Black Flag through a coma from his hospital bed, this album is short on remembering and heavy on re-interpretation! I think I may love it, but it’s too early to say, I may wake up one morning and realise I actually hate it and forever refer to them as fucking BAWC’S! (Brooklyn Art Wanker Cunt Students)

Al: I really love the Golden Silvers album so yeah Golden Silvers. I’ve been listening to Super Adventure Club’s “Chalk Horror!” album a lot of late too, so yeah they’d both be my favourite “new” bands!

Best Gig – Le Reno Amps

Scott: The Windmill in Brixton

Al: Ooh this year, eh, we had a couple of belting London shows at The Windmill in Brixton and The Sheep Walk in Leytonstone back in April, they were both really great. More recently we did a Merchant City Festival show with Super Adventure Club and The Elvis Suicide. It were a lot of fun too.

Best Gig – Other

Scott: Faith No More at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh

Al: I cannae mind what I did last week let alone all year but Morrissey at Barras in May was totally amazing. Wilco at Greenman was brilliant, I was very very merry on cheap red wine. Eh what else, Field Music very recently at Captains Rest in Glasgow was great too. There’s been too many. I should stay in more.

Best Memories of 2009

Scott: Touring and gigging to promote the album – i.e. playing with Brakes, spending time with our friends from Drift and Cottonmouth Rocks. OF COURSE – THE ELBA SESSION AND GIG! YAAY! (ed: clearly a man of taste)

Al: Being right up the front for Field Music, literally felt like I was invading Peter Brewis personal space it was so rammed in the Captains Rest. That band deserve a bigger stage for sure! I was grinning something awful.

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To

Scott: Hope I don’t drop the baby (ed: you’ve been in a band with Al for years. You’ll be just fine!). Looking forward to FINALLY finishing this next album, hoping it sounds as good as its current promise. Also, hoping my PC doesn’t pack in before I finish the bloody album.

Al: I’ve been working hard on setting up a record label with a collective spirit. It’s called Armellodie. I’ve been doing it for a while but having just released our first longplayer (Cuddly Shark’s eponymous debut) I’m getting my teeth into it now and am set to release some corking records next year. You can check out Armellodie at www.armellodie.com. The website is launched in December 09.

I also cannae wait for Spoon at Tuts on Valentines Night. My better half’s not bothered about Spoon but I love them. So much so I persuaded her to get us tickets cos I’m skinto, of course I’ll buy her a drink at it, I’m romantic like that!

Le Reno Amps play ‘The Wolf’s Last Stand‘ at the Grand Ole Opry, Glasgow, this Thursday 3rd December with The Moth and The Mirror, Rags and Feathers and Conor Mason.

It’s been a hectic old year for The Elvis Suicide. As well as sharing stages with Black Lips, Crystal Antlers and Shy Child, the Glasgow based band were also named ‘the best support band by far on their UK tour’ by Patrick of Titus Andronicus. Throw in an almost complete line up change and you can’t quite figure out how they managed it all. Oh, and did I mention they also released 7 track EP ‘Sweethearts’. Lead singer Chris Devotion answered some of our deep and meaningful questions and it’s here that the Elba Annual 2009 begins…

Album of The Year – The Reigning Sound – Love and Curses (most people haven’t heard of this band, most people need to sort it out and buy all their records)

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To -We shall be embarking on a tour and getting into the studio to unleash the new line up on the MP3 players of the nation, this will once again prove that the The Elvis Suicide are fucking champions. But I am probably more than anything looking forward to the new Doctor Who series.

Chris Devotion plays a solo acoustic set full of depressing country songs at Elba Sessions Presents…(Three) at The Liquid Ship, Glasgow on Friday 4th December.

The Elvis Suicide’s critially acclaimed EP Sweethearts is out now on all major download sites.

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!

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!