Open Mic Night - Royal
Hotel - May 4th 08
You know
what’s so good about an Open Mic night? You never know what
to expect. It can be as bad as a drunken stag / hen party
karaoke night. Or you can get a whole bunch of amateur
musicians who’d put the professionals to shame. Tonight was
the latter! What a fantastic wealth of talent we have in the
Penicuik area.
I’ve
seen a whole load of professional bands in my time. Everything
from Genesis to the Jam. And I’ll say it here & now,
we in Penicuik could put a good 30 – 40% of them to shame!
In fact I’d put the Jam in 1982 as the worst band I’ve
seen, & I was a huge fan at the time. Closely followed by
Kiss in 88. To be honest I don't think I've seen anything
in Penicuik as bad as those two.
Stu
Goodall a man of many talents hosts the evening. I’ve
heard Stu play Mandolin, Guitar & now keyboards. And to
boot he has a good singing voice too. Plus he’s not scared
to give the odd tune his own rearrangement. 
Kings
Tears got the night off to a Rocking start. Woody on drums was
pounding out a beat that would have put a chain gang working
smashing rocks right at home. This was Kings Tears first outing
in Penicuik. And for a band who’ve only been together
for the last six weeks or so, fantastic! Gritty, raw vocals,
thumping drums, pounding bass & downright sexy rocking lead
guitar. This was the band that actually made me curious to come
to the Open Mic night. And my curiosity did not kill the cat
(I here by can categorically state if your cat died last night
I’m not to blame, & I do have witnesses). The lads
will be supporting No Dice later on in the year. I think No
Dice will have a real run for their money! Watch this space,
the old original team of John Owens & Jocky are back better
than ever. Like a Gold Swiss watch they’re sharp &
faultless.
It
was also great to see so many of the Penicuik Musicians up on
stage showing people how it should be done. Gary Oliver playing
instead of mixing, Steve on bass, Alex Vesco on lead, & I forgot
how bloody phenomenal Tony was on drums.
There were also a couple of lads I’ve never seen before. I
should have got their names. Playing the blues, which whether
staged or not, turned into once superb bluesy jam session. When
Gary Oliver, Steve & Tony got on stage with them. Made
me realise how much I miss hearing the Blues live.
To
top things off we had the lovely Sarah up there giving us a
few numbers. What a voice! Fan bloody tastic! Sarah has a voice
direct from the Angels.
Some small
towns only have a handful of talent. Geez we’ve got
bucketfuls. They are so good, and are so unassumingly nice
people. If I think about it, I don’t think I’ve heard one of
the musicians tonight ever bragging about their talent. And
I think that’s why I enjoy them all so much. In fact they’ll
tell you, that they’ve made too many mistakes etc. or
they’ll be slightly disappointed about their performances.
You know what? It doesn’t matter. Any mistakes are so slight
you’d have to have a trained ear to hear them. And I
certainly don't have one.
I got a bit
lambasted last night from loads of people about my previous reviews. But don’t
think I’ve changed because of this review. Tonight we were
all treated to a musical feast. And practice shone through.
Sure there were the odd mistakes on the night. But on the
whole everyone was tight. And contrary to recent popular
beliefs, I’m not out to slag the bands. But gone are the
days of happy bland reviews. I’ll give what I feel are
honest & open reviews. If you’re in a band I’ve seen many
times over the past few years. And you’re expecting Hodge to
come along snap a few photo’s & say you’re the best thing
since Salad Cream Sandwiches. Sorry think again. Reading the
lyrics off lecterns, drunken half assed performances. Will
be honestly & openly written about, no frills & not just the
spills. I'll be honest about what I see & hear. You expect the public to pay to watch; the public
in return expect a modicum of professionalism. They don’t
however expect faultless performances, & neither do I.
Because
tonight quite frankly shows what talent we do have. It shows
how practice can make almost perfect, and on an Open Mic
evening to boot! I was overjoyed to be entertained tonight
by so many great talents & artists. A huge thank you to
everyone on the night. Sorry I don’t know all your names but
believe me you were all very much appreciated.
AD/DC-Volts with Apocalypse Jones in support - Sat 27th April 08
It’s not the
nicest job in the world reviewing bands. Because you can give
people the wrong impression of an evening, for instance this
gig. And you can totally upset people to boot. I don’t want to
do either, but I have to say it as I see & hear it. And what
other musicians were also telling me at the time.
I have to be
brutally honest the sound wasn’t good for the first band.
But after the first two or three songs
(added 1st May see comments below)
of the main act it had improved a lot, but not to Gary
Oliver standards. "However it should
be pointed out it had improved to very good standards" (added
1st May see comments below). My problem is, I’ve been spoiled by Gary’s
standards. He is an extremely hard act to follow. There’s only
one other man I think could do a job as good as Gary, & that’s
Stevie Moffat. The actual sound was far too loud (for
the first band added 1st May see
comments below), & a good 20 –
30 people commented to me on that, so it’s not just me saying
so. Now this could have been down to a couple of factors;
-
The sound desk
technician wasn’t familiar with the acoustics of the Town
Hall, now the new desk has been installed.
-
The musicians
decided to turn up the dials! (Usually the case). In which
case gentlemen you seriously spoiled it for yourselves.
If it’s the latter
of the two please guys don’t do this, you really spoil it for
yourselves. It totally distorts it for the people you want to
impress. The Hall is not the best for sound, & if the desk has
set the levels to the rehearsals. Don’t fiddle with the dials!
Remember Spinal Tap was a parody, it’s not a manual!
Right
rant over & honestly sorry to the technicians, you’ve
got a hard job. Apocalypse Jones, think this is the first time
I’ve saw them. I’m sorry lads I only managed a couple
of songs, my ears hurt too much. I ended up standing downstairs
listening in. And you don’t get a great impression from
there. So I’ll have to pass judgement. But a good mix
of tunes, all the same.
Down
to the headline act, I totally had reservations about an AC/DC
tribute. But they were completely unfounded as I was soon to
find out. I had impressions of a “Brian Johnston”
AC/DC tribute. But was really pleasantly surprised by a Bon
Scott tribute, of reasonably high standards. Not to say that
the first wouldn’t have been as good. As Back in
Black proved one of AC/DC’s biggest selling albums. But
lets be honest Bon Scott was the voice of AC/DC to most us old farts. 
AC/DC -Volts
we’re, well really pretty good, I can’t say fantastic. Because
well although I like AC/DC I only have three albums. So I’m not
a huge authority. But I don’t have to be, because you only had
to stand for a couple of minutes to feel it. The floor was
actually bouncing around me with people tapping (well stamping)
their feet. And the crowd loved them to bits. There were a
couple of young lads who stood at the stage all night. Good on
ya boys, nice to see the yoof of today sober, non high &
enjoying the music.
All the
classics were played "Highway to Hell", "if you
want blood", etc ya de da de da. And played extremely well
too.
I should warn all
prospective bands playing Penicuik. Look we’re a conservative
lot at first. So don’t expect truck loads of dancers, until the
fermented vegetable, fruit & grain juices start working. Then
the floor starts filling up. Think this perplexed the band at
first, “we’re playing great music & no-one’s dancing, why?” it’s
a Midlothian thing; we’re too posh to mosh!
It was a great
night all in all. I apologise to the lads on the desk, but I
have to be honest. To the main act, excellent! I’d certainly
come & see you again, as will a good 99% of the people there
tonight. Thanks I fair enjoyed it
Oh one last
thing, get rid of that bloody smoke machine! it adds absolutely
nothing to the acts & gives everyone a sore throat. it also
totally spoils any chance of a decent photograph. All you people
taking photo's on your mobiles, no it wasn't your cameras taking
bad photos. It was the smoke diffusing the light. Again &
again people tell me they hate it, the bands hate it. So why
oh why is it used over & over again at every gig? It's very
80's & this is 2008 nearly 3 decades on & were still
using crappy smoke effects. Please no more smoke, I beg of you!
Keep it for atmospherics i.e. musicals like Phantom of the Opera
etc.
Below is
from the sound man on the night (always fair to hear it from the
other side)
Comments from the Mixing desk
- The guitar player in the first band was using a couple of
effects processors whose patches were all at different levels
and so it was really difficult to do anything with his sound and
whatever I did it sounded tinny. No disrespect to the guitar
player (and I spoke to him after his gig and said the same
thing) but although he is obviously a phenomenal guitar player
his sound would be better through a valve amp and he could do
himself a favour and spend a little time getting his sounds
sorted out via his processors.
Gary has done hundreds of sound gigs ....
I've done one. I also asked a lot of people how it sounded and
including the band themselves they said they were happy and
could hear everything on stage (something, dare I say it, that
other more experienced and lauded sound engineers fail to do for
the band ...talking from personal experience ) but that it was a
bit on the quiet side for an ac/dc tribute.
You would have thought that if so many
people were unhappy with the sound they might have approached
us. Only you did at the start of the night and I thought you
were joking when you said it was too loud! a) I heard you
easily when you said that b) it's an AC/DC tribute; it's meant
to be loud. c) No Dice are painfully loud.... never read your
criticisms about that....but then of course it's usually Gary or
their own engineers at the desk. The feed back we got ( I must
have asked around 20 people as well ) was that the sound was
fine.
Let me
tell you; I've attended gigs there at the town hall where the
sound has been a lot worse. Where either the vocals are so low
in the mix you can't hear them. Where the guitar solo is
inaudible. Where the bass is overwhelming etc. where there is
micro phonic feedback all over the place, where circuits pop and
equipment fails....None of that happened on Thursday. Even if I
say so myself (and I was stone cold sober the whole night)
everything was audible; all Angus's guitar solo's leapt out and
were distinct. As were the vocals. I dare say a more experienced
sound engineer could have added extra sizzle to the drums but
apart from the first band and the first couple of ac/dc songs
the main act's gig sounded big and meaty. I don't think we did
that bad for a first go at doing the sound. I think you might
have had more justification for writing such a scathing report
on the sound had we totally f****** it up. We spoke to the band
at the end of the night, they shook our hands and told us they
were happy. As were most of the punters who were there. Mike
Scot also congratulated us on the sound. Joe Ignition told me
that the first couple of songs were ropey but was sounding
"great" for the rest of the gig.
Disappointedly,
Alex
Webmaster reviewer
comments - Now I don't
think you messed up at all Alex, I think you need to read it
again. Look at the points I made & you've just verified them. It
was your first time & there was a technical fault via the actual
band. You did a bloody good job for a first time at the hall.
However I will stand by what people were saying to me, too noisy
at first. But I should (& I openly apologise!) say that the
sound markedly improved during the Volts set to a very good,
high standard. But I can't change what people were telling me
outside the hall at the beginning of the night. However every
one of them without fail all totally enjoyed the evening.
Yes Gary has had loads of gigs
under his belt, and actually I have commented quite a few times
in the past on the sound being too loud (even with Gary or Kenny
on the desk, & I commented to them at the time too). And all
those times it's been down to the bands doing the "Spinal Tap"
thing. I'm genuinely sorry that you feel I've not been fair.
Reviewing is only one persons
opinion, & that from one who doesn't have a technical or musical
background. You young man are musician & know more about music
than I ever will. But as a punter I have to say what I hear.
Seriously I wasn't being scathing about your abilities, which if
you read again will see. This is why I personally don't like
reviewing, & would love it if more people would review bands for
me. Even better if it were people with a musical background. But
so far only yourself, Stuart & Ian Boulton have ever sent in
reviews for me to publish in the 6 or 7 years I've been doing
the site. Despite asking loads of musicians to do reviews, &
time &time again getting promises of yes we'll send something
in. And weeks later still no reviews.
You did a
good job on the night Alex, & if you read the fourth paragraph I
did say "honestly
sorry to the technicians, you’ve got a hard job".
Thanks for your comments & as you see I'm
more than happy to publish them, you wouldn't get that from the
real music press!
Sunday
Roast - Royal Hotel - Sat 27th April
A bit
bloody silly having a gig on the same night as a main Town Hall
event! Or is it? The big gig finishes & everyone piles in
for the last hour. Managed to get a couple of numbers in & I
could also hear & see from the Town Hall Door too. Sounding
pretty good.
The
Roast are musically a predictable outfit, not in a bad way I
hasten to add. They play good tunes well, maybe at times they're
ever so slightly off. What I mean is a pretty decent lead
guitar, very good drums, fantastic singer. But rhythm & bass
could do with tightening up at times. Again nothing bad it just
spoils it a tad at times, hardly noticeable. But when you have a
lead singer like Louisa the whole outfit needs to be as one. And
any small mistakes are magnified.
Yes
Louisa is a crowd pleaser, great voice, one of the best in the
area in my opinion. She really has the type of voice that
deserves a top notch band, then she'd seriously go places. And I
think The Roast with a little work could do it.
So I'd
personally say tighten up the rhythm & bass. Practice your songs
more, get rid of the lectern it's not very professional almost
karaoke. I know the temptation is to play a lot of current
numbers. But it's much better to have a tight confident set. And
slowly build your musical repertoire up.
Otherwise a great wee band, with an outstanding singer. Playing
a good mix of toe tapping tunes, that the crowd certainly enjoy.
Bryan
Adam Experience with Sunday Roast in Support - Sat 26th January 08
A
Sunday Roast - Well Done.
Local
rock powerhouse Sunday Roast delivered a typically "well done"
set in support of The Brian Adams Experience.
Their
selection of challenging covers was executed with flair, energy, enthusiasm and
precision, with expert guitar work by Ryan and new lead player Davie
Coyle (of Borders Boogie Band renown). This outstanding top-end input
was balanced nicely by the most animated rhythm section this reviewer
has seen since early Gods of Glam days in Cafe Biaritz. "Mad
Dog" Ben Garrad and drummer Liam laid down a confident, solid
and inventive foundation throughout the hour long set, enabling soloists
the required latitude for inventive playing. It was a treat, and the
Cowan Hall was moving (literally) in response. Of particular
note, lead vocalist Louisa overcame pre-show nerves to deliver a perfectly
pitched and unfailingly powerful vocal performance. Overall, Sunday
Roast chose a broad musical target in their diverse set, and they
hit it, effortlessly, every time.
Reviewed
by IC Boulton.
Bryan Adams
Tribute
Well
he looked like the bloke in question, he even sounded like the bloke
in question. Two of the best reasons to be in a tribute band. Professional,
sounded good, looked good (erm well if you think Mr. Adams looks good
that is).
Yes okay
personally I'm not a Bryan Adams fan. But what the heck does that
matter? The guy was good. Recognised a few of the tunes. They were
executed well & the crowd really seemed to enjoy the night.
Personally I
didn't stay all night, but I did see a lot of the first set. Now
don't go moaning how can you review a gig without staying? Well you
could be right, but also think of it this way. If something is not
to your taste would you stay? I'm afraid Bryan Adams does not float
my boat. But I can appreciate when someone is good though.
Seriously the
guy was really good. The musicianship was excellent, top hole. The
crowd loved the night, & that is a whole lot more important than one
reviewers views. The dance floor was busy. If you like Bryan
Adams you'd have loved the night. I'm sure they'll be back & if they
do & you like his music I'd really recommend going. Review by
the Webmaster
The
Three Wheelers - Raemartin Hotel West Linton - Sat 1st December
Well,
there weren’t too many from Penicuik there. Whether it was the long
and winding road through the dark , lonely moor to West Linton being
a smidge too far on such a cold and blustery night or whether the
lads didn’t advertise too prominently, it didn’t really matter a hoot,
because they had a great reception at the Raemartin without the old
‘rent a crowd’ safety net. Well, I don’t know what constitutes being
packed out at the Raemartin ‘cause I’ve never visited the place before,
but there wasn’t a spare seat and the place had a buzzing atmosphere
even before they were on.
Sound
check complete at 21.00 with Gary at the desk getting the band all
mixed up and ready to deliver with his usual panache…. (Noted with
interest his line 6 guitar leaning up against the desk….more later)
The Three
Wheelers kicked off with their usual energy plus some extra
adrenalin from venturing out with the local circuit. Fantastic. The
lads have had a bit of a clean sweep of their set tonight and it was
great to hear some of their new ideas. A rendition of Alvin
Stardust’s coo ca choo ( you know it!
Sweetness - I like
your dress now take it off and show me the rest…
or something like that.)
had everyone grinning like Cheshire cats, doing
the Alvin microphone hold and hopping about all over the joint… Even
the young lad behind the bar was dancing despite himself. Sharp
looks and icy coolness all forgotten about for two or three
minutes.. And all the codgers old enough to remember this hit in
their plooky youth were singing along with gusto.
What I
really like about the Three Wheelers is the rapid fire, no nonsense
song after song attitude. They followed one great song by another
and you really get a good deal for your money. First set was over
all too soon but the guys had a quick drink and were back on the
case with the bar all nicely warmed up.
Second
set. Back in with some more new songs for them….Squeeze “Now is that
love…..” Brilliant choice and really nicely played, Hoobastank ….
“The Reason” was excellent and it went down so well they played it
twice… and why not? Next, some tried and tested Undertones and Green
Day had all the local lads in the top corner bouncing up and down on
their chairs slapping their thighs…. (all too cool to dance you
know) except for one white shirted lad who gave it all up to dervish
and jump and flail all over the dance floor. He was having a great
time and so was everyone else.
Breaking the law by
Judas Priest next. These top corner guys were now in raptures…no
way! What a cover! And if that wasn’t good enough, Gary (Yngwie)
Oliver insouciantly made his way over to the sound desk, picked up
his guitar, plugged it in and pulled off a B L I N D E R of a solo
which really was the luscious icing atop a prime quality cake.
They
played so many songs I can’t remember. They were really entertaining
and finally they came off, fairly exhausted. I bought Stuart a drink
and he told me he was ready for his jammies and bed. Rock and Roll
Stuart!
Guys, a
fantastic gig. Really nice venue. Great crowd. Should do it more
often. Nice one. Really enjoyed it.
Alex
Vesco
The
Border Boogie Band – Penicuik Town Hall Aug 11th 2007
The
Border Boogie Band has been around for what seems an eternity. There
brand of music does border on the boogie. But much more than this
they are probably one of the best most professional bands to tour
the small own circuit. I seriously don’t know why they have never
made it more than just local heroes.
Now before I go on, they really aren’t my taste in music. But just
because I don’t have a Rolls Royce I can still appreciate its
prestige, class & style.
Now I might be totally shot down here. But to me they are a bit like
Runrig in a way. Music that has a more Scottish appeal than
anything. Possibly this is why they have remained more Market
Square Heroes, than international superstars. But as musicians they
are most definitely the Bentley, Rolls Royce of the scene.
I
only recognised one song of the whole set. But it didn’t matter
because the songs are all played with such consummate class that it
doesn’t matter. Visually they’re not the pretty boys of the scene by
any means. And the lead singer has some very strange moves. But
vocally they sound clean, the harmonies are spot on. This is one of
the few bands you will go and see who sound like a CD. They don’t
need any gimmicks. I’ve personally been so disappointed in the past
going to see big named bands. And the vocals have been so poor that
you’d have thought there’s no way they recorded their music. No such
disappointment with The Border Boogie Band.
This
is why I’ve seen them about a dozen times over the past 25 years.
You’re always guaranteed top class musicianship. They may not
be my personal taste in music, but they could seriously teach any
up and coming bands how to play & sound. And yes I’ll go and see
them again if they play locally. Why? Because they are different,
they are quite simply the best live band on the small circuit.
And finally the Town Hall’s new sound system came into its own. A
massive thanks to Gary Oliver on the mixing desk, for an almost
perfect sound. When you have top class musicians & a sound man who
knows his stuff. It puts Penicuik Town Hall on the music map. It’s
now down to the concert organisers to start booking more diverse
acts to show the surrounding towns we have a premier music venue.
Please we need fresh new acts and possibly better seating
arrangements.
Glamd & disco Penicuik Town Hall Saturday 9th
June
Well
you’ll all be very glad to here that I’m not going to write too much
on this gig. Basically because I stood downstairs most of the night.
I hasten to add not because the band was bad. Or because of any technical
malfunctions. No basically because it was not music I like.
And before I
go any further it should also be pointed out that there was a Disco
too. Which was tops by the way. Just embarrass the DJ your mum
pointed out I'd missed you out of the review!!! Sorry Gail (DJ's
mum) I've lost the name of Mummies little soldier. He did do a great
job tho'. Update - The DJ's moniker is
DJ C (Jamie Craig)
The band Glamd
was actually very, very good. At times I had to think “have they got
a backing track playing? “ There harmonies were great at times. They
played a whole pile of classic Glam numbers from the Sweet, Marc
Bolan even Suzy Quattro (wasn’t too keen on that one, sorry I think
it suites a female voice better).
If it’s
seventies music, I’m a late seventies new wave / punk man. Or early
seventies I like the greats like Pink Floyd, Free etc. the Glam
stuff was fun personally I find it a bit too cheesy.
But tonight was
all in the aid of charity & the band was excellent for the genre.
The sound by Gary Oliver was top notch. In fact I personally thought
it was better than the first opening night. It was clear & precise &
quite a few people commented on this. So all in all a very good
night the dance floor was busy & everyone seemed to enjoy
themselves. The charities who’ll be benefiting are; Bridge End
Project & Marie Curie
Hotel California
with Kitless Tom & Whale Engineering Saturday 5th May 2007
Before I actually
get down to the bands I'd like to thank local councillor Adam Montgomery.
Finally a Councillor with sense to get the Town Hall sound & lighting
sorted out. It's now a top class venue with a dedicated Bar area &
sound & lighting console. Both properly sectioned off to stop
the local interfering. No more rickety tables & old cloths. With
the help of Gary Oliver & Kenny Archibald the council got the
best set up for the Hall.
Now to some of
the societies who use the Town Hall. Seriously folks in this case
progress is good! Drama & Musical societies now have a solid grounding
for putting on great productions. No more CD players plugged into
sockets with dodgy tinny sound. You'll have crisp clear sound! And
a lighting rig that puts many a small venue to shame. So if I read
in the local press that these societies are slagging things off, I'll
be most disappointed. Penicuik is a community & the Community
council has just put Community back into the Town Hall. A big round
of applause to Midlothian Council for doing something right for Penicuik
which is not sport orientated (we're not all sport fans). And if you
use the Hall treat it with respect folks. She's a grand old lady,
lets all enjoy her for what she was built for, The Community.
Okay, now onto
the event well….sorry not quite. More congratulations & thanks.
Councillor Adam Montgomery made an announcement that tonight's concerts
proceeds would go to a local charity. All the bands, engineers &
Midlothian Council waved their fees for tonight. And the ticket money
is going to the Broomhill Day Centre. Fantastic, it's a charity very
close to my own heart (check them out on this website).
Right
first up was Kitless Tom (great name! & there is a good story
behind it, & no I'm not going into it). A young band & I mean
young these lads are only around 15. With loads of potential brewing
away there. Okay they hit a couple of snags, a guitar going out of
tune. But in my mind, they showed up some of the local older acts
I've seen over the last few years. Liked the patter of the lead singer,
slightly cocky at times but not over the top. Real nice, but don't
over do it. Keep it nice & tongue in cheek. They're along the
lines of the Fratellis, Franz Ferdinand etc. not bad at all. Well
done lads.
Then it was Hotel
California, with a new line up. And again personally, I think
a much improved line up. It grieves me to say (only cause the Eagles
are not my thing) probably one of the best tribute acts in Scotland.
No it doesn't grieve me at all. Good grief Hodge they're "Fae
Penicuik"! I think you'd have to be stone deaf to not have heard
an Eagles number. So if you're familiar with them & you missed
Hotel California last night. Get your partner to swiftly kick your
a****. Or if you're single put a shoe on a door knob & swing the
door at your bottom. You missed a real class act. They sound so similar
to the real thing it's a bit frightening at times. And because they're
mostly local lads, I think some of us take them for granted.
I
will make one small criticism however. Gus made a comment about "we're
not the type of audience / venue we're used to" (down to people
mostly sitting now getting up dancing at that point of the evening)
Now I totally realise that it was tongue in cheek. It almost certainly
was I realise that. But to a few of us non Eagles fans it smacked
off "we're better than the Eagles! It did spoil it for me I have
to admit. But I cannot speak for everyone else in the room, only myself.
Everyone seemed to love the band. And the dance floor was busy quite
a few times. Great band, fantastic harmonies top class musicianship.
Seriously one of the best tribute acts in the UK. And they're off
to Australia soon for a tour.
And finally Whale
Engineering folks. I've wrote praises of this band on quite a
few occasions on this site. They have a stage presence which blows
away all the competition. But alas tonight although the presence was
there, the choice of songs wasn't quite right. Stuart was as usual
on top form. His one liners are legendary & class! And the actual
musicianship was and is, getting better everytime. I think where they
slightly went wrong was doing so many of their own numbers. Always
a very contentious point I know, & I don't like being negative.
But I think this time I should be because I wasn't the only one saying
this. And I've been accused of being too nice at times in my reviews.
You
have an extremely talented band wanting people to hear their own creations.
But as an audience we need markers to judge your tunes by. Seriously
any other bands out there I'd say one cover to two of your own numbers,
at the very least especially in Penicuik. And probably in that set
up too. It really must be so frustrating to play other bands songs.
But the covers help get the audience on your side. I think that's
why Garner never did better than they should have. They very rarely
played covers.
Stuart I really
love "Car Crash" by the way. And I'm on my way to Wolverhampton
in a couple of weeks mmmm. Taking the train tho'! And I adored the
little touch of brass too. Fantastic!
Seriously folks
I think Whale Engineering are one of the best young bands in the Lothian's
today. If this was your first time seeing them & sure you'll agree
they're something else. Powerful, energetic absolutely marvelous!
Just a wee bit sad that they never spaced the covers out better.
The sound tonight
for just about all the bands was superb. The first bands sound was
ever so slightly not as good as the rest. I was told probably because
the boys had their instruments turned up a bit too much. But that'll
come with experience. So a huge thanks to Fergus on the sound console.
Lighting was down to Gary Oliver on his daughter's torch. And the
headband torch was a genius touch Gary! Those Duracell batteries last
a long time. Great night, great sound well done to everyone working
last night.
Update
Just to show that I'm not like reviewers you read in the papers. I'm
more than willing to let others write their reviews too. And below
is something from the one of Hotel California.
Hi Craig,
Mark Anderson here-Thanks for the review of the gig at the town
hall.
Was a good night.
I can assure you that Gus's comment was not in any way meant to
offend
and was down to the fact that folk got up to dance, which was great!
The band do encourage crowd participation and us Penicuikian's
always
appreciate your support in the band reviews.
Enjoy Wolverhampton!
Regards,
Mark.
Hi
Craig - Can I (via your site) thank Adam Montgomery and all involved
in the Eagles Tribute Night at the Town Hall for donating the
proceeds to Broomhill Day Centre? The cash is still coming in but is
in excess
of £900! Thanks again Diane Allan, Broomhill Day Centre
