Edgy - New Indie Night in Glasgow

The Admiral Bar on Waterloo Street, From 10pm.
All Welcome.     Free

Edgy

Pointless Promotions are pleased to announce the 312th opening of an Indie Night in Glasgow in the last 4 months. Despite the name 'Doomed to Immediate Failure' being voted most appropriate, the organisers have gone with the more in-tune 'Edgy'. Promter Josh explains, 'today it is all about branding but this is a diy indie evening and we found that it was just too expensive to have 'Doomed to Immediate Failure' embroidered on our faux silk tour jackets, whilst 'Edgy' was a darn sight cheaper'.
Bar Owner, Dave picks up the theme. 'The dj's came up with some pretentious names for their night, most based on dead American poets or iconclastic 60's legends. I ain't been to no art school but I know that 'Edgy' is gonna work better. Lawyers for Dave point out he didn't actually use the word iconclastic but a shorter one, a much shorter one indeed.
Dj Sisyphus retorted, 'I'll be back behind the decks once these anti-biotics kick in', which proves that one should take more care when scanning through the Yellow Pages. Meanwhile, when finally approached, Dj Sisyphus revealed, he was happy to be rolling the boulder of indie music up the mountain of publlic indifference only to watch it crash to the bottom a hairsbreadth from the summit. Partner Dj Jed said he saw the night as a launching pad to help him meet his dream of one day cueing up a Ned's Atomic Dustbin B-side for a less talented but better known headliner at The Garage.
New York Market Researchers, 'Stating the Obvious' were approached to help position the new night within the Glasgow entertainment scene. Their expensive advice has helped both Djs. Sisyphus takes up the tale, 'It appears that our target audience like The Smiths and, well mostly The Smiths. So our whole night will be us playing tunes by The Smiths. We might slip in something by Morrissey as we've noted that he sounds very similar to The Smiths.

Only Electro Night promoter, ' Hear those tills ring sounds' a discordant note, 'Kids come along to our Progressive House night instead. Yes all the music sounds the same but the drugs are better and you have just the slightest chance that you can rub your undernourished carcass up against a loved up fresher in a Pacha t-shirt and no bra'
Alternatively, 'Edgy' at The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, Glasgow on Friday 14th October. From 10pm.

Back at Wellies

Surprise return to Wellies Bar to dj at a 30th party. I was the resident dj there for five years playing every Saturday. It was a mixed crowd, more older than young and few rather than more. Still I learned a lot about djing. Like how to play a bar with goths in one corner and grannies in the other, how to dj a bar with less punters than bar optics, how to do the last hour of any bar and how to deal with the 'your music is shit' brigade. I also discovered that Ray Charles, James Brown and Stevie Wonder will never let you down and will get you out of any musical cul de sac that your dj blindness leads you into. More importantly, I worked out how to play a lot of tunes that folk didn't really know but would happily listen to without recourse to extreme violence.

It was back in the day before you used a laptop so the tracks played are hazy to the memory. Some of the cds are still kicking about and a quick perusal flings up names like Little Feat, 10,000 Maniacs, Kate Rusby, The Byrds, Elmore James and Donovan. The usual suspects included The Smiths, The Go-Betweens, Prince, and Etta James. The evening usually started with some Ibiza chill like Zero 7, Royksopp then meandered off down various musical paths depending on the crowd that were there that night. This could include New Order, Todd Rundgren, Otis Redding, Free, Fratellis, Toots & Maytals, Shuggie Otis, Hold Steady, The Jam etc etc. I learned a lot about taking the music from one genre to another. I learned how to get from punk to northern soul, from soul to the blues, from disco to house. Al good dues to pay.

We parted company as I found the committment to every Saturday too much after five years.
So it was quite a surprise to get a call and asked to return and dj at a 30th for one of the regulars.
Which I did and this is what was played.

1 Smokey Joe's La La - Googie Rene Combo

2 Sensual Seduction - Hidden Beach Recordings
3 One Step Too Far - Faithless
4 Barefoot In The Head - A Man Called Adam
5 You Can't Hurry Love (Early Listen Mix) - The Supremes
6 My One Temptation (Paris Remix) - Mica Paris
7 Sunshine - Gabrielle
8 Everyday - Fiona Apple, Jon Brion
9 Trouble (Acoustic Live) - Coldplay
10 Chase The Sun - Ibiza Beat Remix - David Tort, Norman Doray
11 Lady (S-Beat Remix) - Modjo
12 What's My Name (Saul Ru - Rihanna
13 Deeper In Love - Bobby & Steve
14 A Higher Place - Peyton
15 Tainted Love - Imelda May
16 Black Velvet - Alannah Myles*
17 Losing My Religion - REM
18 Z ephyr Song - Chili Peppers
19 Molly's Chambers - Kings Of Leon

20 Kids Are Alright - The Who

21 Raise Your Glass - Pink

22 Poker Face - Lady Gaga*

23 Coma Cat (Round Table Knights Remix) - Tensnake

24 Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys*

25 2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson*

26 A Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins

27 Mr Blue Sky - Lily Allen

28 You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

29 Let's Dance (Dimitri Remix) - Dimitri From Paris

30 Congratulations - Cliff Richard

31 The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

32 S&M (Come On) - Rihanna

33 Last Friday Night (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry

34 Sweet Dreams (Sansixto 2011 Remix)- - Eurythmics

35 Rock The Casbah (Orig-Inal Mix) - Truelove

36 Move- On Up - Curtis Mayfield

37 Living In America - James Brown

38 Feel The Need In Me (Eddie Tour Edit) - Detroit Emeralds

39 Sweet Home Chicago - The Blues Brothers

40 Under My Thumb - Rolling Stones

41 Time Of Yr Life - Green Day

42 The Galway Girl - Steve Earle

43 I Still Believe - Frank Turner

44 The Cave - Mumford & Sons

45 Take It Easy - The Eagles

46 Mr Rock & Roll - Amy Macdonald

47 If You Find Yourself Caught In Love - Belle And Sebastian

48 Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand*

49 Otherside - Chili Peppers*

50 Don’t Stop Believing - Journey*

51 Little Lion Man ( Van Doorn Remix) - Mumford & Sons

52 Save The World - Swedish House Mafia

53 Rolling In The Deep - Adele

54 Pon De Replay - Rihanna

55 Superstition - Stevie Wonder

56 Satisfaction Skank (Party Ben's Version) - Party Ben

57 Last Nite - The Strokes

58 The Edge Of Glory - Lady Gaga*

59 Personal Jesus (The Stargate Mix) - Depeche Mode

60 Laid - James

61 Come Up And See Me, Make Me Smile - Cockney Rebel

62 She Moves In Her Own Way - The Kooks

63 Mess Around - Ray Charles

64 Mr Brightside - Paul Anka

65 Do Your Thing (Instrumental) - Metropole Orkest

 

* Request.

 

Babicz to Buddy

Back at the bar for the first time in 5 weeks and it seems I have another 5 to wait until I return, hmm.

Anyway, to the task in hand.

I thought the place would be quiet as a result of the gorgeous summer sunshine that had made a surprise return to this part of the world. Whether folk had spent their day in the garden and then felt like a trip to the pub or whether everyone was down to see the Big Fight, I'm not sure, but the bar was busy. In the lead up to the start of the boxing it just got busier and busier.

In the build up I began with those piano notes in Limerick's 'Where Love Lies' to gain some attention and move the mood over to some house tunes. Kept the Old Skool vibe with 'Reachin' before , very happily, going into Babicz's 'Bangaday'. Softened it a little with the summer vibe of 'You' by Plej before going back into the Techno with Jamie Jones, Steffi and Maya Jane Coles. 'Sweet Dreams' and 'Deep Inside' gave some familiarity. I felt this built up a fine atmosphere with the deep bass bouncing around the bar underpinning the increasing excitement and noise as everyone anticipated the big fight.

I got a break through the fight, so I was glad it went the distance. Kept it high tempo for a good fifteen minutes and then as the place settled back down swung the tunes back into happy party mode.

Last hour, as usual, some sing along stuff as folk made their way off to the nightclub up the street. Happy to fire off Betty Wright's 'Where is the Love?', Al Green and Sinatra's 'Cheek to Cheek' Before signing off with Mr Darin.

All in all a quick evening with everyone happy and the bar profits pretty high. Only loser on the evening being Mr Haye.

Tracks Below

1 One Step To Cuba - Faithless

2 Estelle - A Man Called Adam
3 Always The Last To Know - Del Amitri
4 Better Together - Jack Johnson
5 Boys Of Summer - Don Henley
6 Take It Easy - The Eagles
7 Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
8 New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
9 Black Horse & The Cherry Tree - Kt Tunstall
10 Here Comes The Summer - The Undertones
11 Common People - Pulp
12 Buffallo Soldier - Bob Marley & The Wailers*
13 Where Love Lies (Morales Mix) - Alison Limerick
14 Reachin' (Brotherhood Mix) - Phase Ii
15 Bangaday - Robert Babicz
16 You - Plej
17 Summertime ( Beach Mix) - Jamie Jones
18 Sadness - Steffi
19 Sweet Dreams (Sansixto 2011 Remix) - Eurythmics
20 Deep Inside (Jesse Rose Mix) - Hardrive
21 What They Say - Maya Jane Coles
22 Happy Brasilia - Scotti, Paolo & James Last
23 Jump Around (Deadmau5 Remix) - House Of Pain
24 Intro (Xx Booty Mix) - Sander Van Doorn
25 Save The World (Radio Mix) - Swedish House Mafia
26 Da Hool Vs Domain Vs Storm - Bootleg
27 You've Got The Love (Mark Knight Remix) - Florence And The Machine
28 Show Me In The Deep (Djs From Mars) - Adele Vs. Robin S
29 Too Busy (Black Tiger Refix) - Marvin Gaye
30 Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
31 Working My Way Back To You - Spinners
32 You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
33 Mr Blue Sky - Lily Allen
34 Jump - Van Halen
35 Yeah 3x (Po Clean Edit) - Chris Brown
36 Move For The Party (No Body Edit ) - Kaskade Vs Lmfao
37 Satisfaction - Rolling Stones*
38 A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
39 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
40 Hold Up A Light - Take That
41 I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
42 Where Is The Love - Betty Wright
43 Twisting The Night Away - Sam Cooke
44 Bossa Nova Baby - Elvis Presley
45 That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly
46 La Bamba - Los Lobos
47 The Devil Went Down To Georgia - The Charlie Daniels Band
48 The Gambler - Kenny Rogers*
49 Lets Stay Together - Al Green
50 Cheek To Cheek - Sinatra
51 Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin*


* Request

A Surfing 21st

Lorna's 21st turned out to be a bit different. Not that holding it in a large byre is particularly unusual but hiring a twelve foot surf board

simulator is.

The music was to start at 7pm and run on till late. Late turned out to be 0130, so a good six and a half hours of tuneage was required.

I was late in the day picking up on the surf theme and only had a couple of nights to dig out as many surf related songs that I could. This is certainly where the internet comes into its own. In the old days this would have meant a frantic rush to HMV or Tower records to grab as many cds with a picture of someone hanging on to a surf board on the front. Now with the immediate help of Google and an i-tunes account you can listen to, sort out what will work, buy it and drag  the song into your playlist. All this in a matter of no time at all and all from the comfort of your own home. Thank You Mr Internet Inventor person.

The indoor surf simulator worked really well. First as an ice breaker as everyone basically just stood and looked at it, and then after some liquid dutch courage as a fun way to get people mixing and so start the party vibe. It helped validate the fact that nearly everyone had made the effort to dress up in a Hawaiian Style.

I started with lots of guitar based, surf sounding tunes mixed in some more modern sounds and, as the oldies were hanging around watching the fun,  some more mature rock. This helped to keep the whole group together and focussed in the party room. Later in when the music went younger the older folk headed off somewhere quieter but the early section went well.

My favourites were 'Surf's Up' by The Atlantics, an obscure , even in The Atlantics own household, Aussie Surf Band from the '60s and 'Southbound' by The Allmans followed by the less well known Skynyrd version of J J Cale's, 'Call me the Breeze'.  Fleetwood Mac's take on 'Shake your Money Maker' and Dick Dale with 'Misirilou' sounded stomping.

Kicked on with the current charts and party tunes from the back of nine on until the oldies commanded the floor at the back of one to rock out.

As ever Mumford & Sons filled the floor, the White Stripes kept the indie kids happy and the very loud Afrojack mix of Sweat followed by this summer's dance anthem 'Badman Riddim brought some serious dancefloor action from the youngsters. I was quite pleased, firstly because I like nothing better than really loud music and secondly because last October I killed a 21st for about 5 minutes when I dropped in a harsh mix of Gold Dust. This part of Scotland was not yet ready to embrace dubstep, But give it nine months and...

As ever, the next day you sit and think of another two dozen songs you could easily of played. When I started this game I used to worry about running out of tunes and playing all the big hits too early. Now I just go for it if it feels right. Get the party going any way you can and the songs will come. 

A fine night with the lights and the smoke and the tunes and the volume turned up and people dancing. Almost made me think about returning to mobile work.   Almost.  Until I had to pack it all away the next day.

Back at the pub soon.

Tracks played are , as ever, here.

1 Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter

2 Soul-Limbo - Booker T. & The Mg's

3 Guantanamera - The Sandpipers

4 Oye Como Va - Santana

5 Conga - Gloria Estefan

6 Cada Vez - Negrocan

7 Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings

8 Cuba - Gibson Brothers

9 Guaglione - Pérez Prado

10 Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

11 Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como

12 Tequila - The Champs

13 A Minha Menina - The Bees

14 Cantaloupe Island - Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers

15 Surf's Up - The Atlantics

16 Shindig - Shadows

17 Good Vibrations - Beach Boys

18 Beach Baby - First Class

19 Hawaii Five O - The Ventures

20 Freakout - The Atlantics

21 Seven Nation Army ( Patchworks Mix) - The Dynamics

22 Beach Side - Kings Of Leon

23 Rock This House - B.B. King

24 Shake Your Money Maker - Fleetwood Mac

25 Misirilou - Dick Dale

26 Juicebox - The Strokes

27 Down On The Beach Tonite - The Drifters

28 Wake Up Little Susie - Everley Brothers

29 Surfin' Usa - Beach Boys

30 Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend

31 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

32 Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac

33 Feeling Groovy - Simon And Garfunkle

34 California Girls - Beach Boys

35 Pipeline - The Chantays

36 Southbound - Allman Brothers Band

37 Call Me The Breeze - Lynyrd Skynyrd

38 Molly's Chambers - Kings Of Leon

39 Wipeout - The Surfaris

40 Tequila - The Champs

41 Bossa Nova Baby - Elvis Presley

42 Bamboleo - Gipsy Kings

43 Sun Is Shining - Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe

44 Sunchyme - Dario G

45 Chase The Sun – (Ibiza Beat Remix) - David Tort, Norman Doray

46 Shelter ( Talabot's Feel It Too Remix) - The Xx

47 Clocks Cuba - Coldplay

48 Soul-Limbo - Booker T. & The Mg's

49 Cuba - Gibson Brothers

50 Apache - The Shadows

51 Cha Cha Twist - Detroit Cobras

52 Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochrane

53 I Fought The Law - Bobby Fuller Four

54 Johnny Got A Boom Boom - Imelda May

55 Toss The Feathers - The Corrs

56 I Usta Love Her - Saw Doctors

57 The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

58 Forget You - Cee Lo Green

59 Tonight_(Im_Lovin_You) - Iglesias Vs. Eurythmics

60 On The Floor (Ccw Radio Mix) - Jennifer Lopez

61 It Just Won’t Do - Tim Deluxe

62 Hotel California (Latino Summer Mix) - Nils Vs Eagles

63 The Cave - Mumford & Sons

64 The Galway Girl - Steve Earle

65 If I Should Fall From Grace - The Pogues

66 It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones

67 Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter

68 Twist And Shout - Beatles

69 Baby Love (Halfby Shambles Remix) - The Supremes

70 Working My Way Back To You 45 - Detroit Spinners

71 Show Me In The Deep (Djs From Mars Bootleg) - Adele Vs. Robin S

72 Raise Your Glass - Pink

73 Love Takes Over - David Guetta

74 You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

75 Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra

76 Black Horse & The Cherry Tree - Kt Tunstall

77 I Usta Love Her - Saw Doctors

78 Candy - Paolo Nutini

79 Hold Up A Light - Take That

80 Walking On A Dream (Treasure F Remix) - Empire Of The Sun

81 Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People

82 Love Shack - B 52s

83 Message In A Bottle - The Police

84 Summer Of 69 - Bryan Adams

85 Kids (Skyve Reuters Bunkalifony Edit) - Mgmt

86 Mr Brightside - The Killers

87 Papillon (Tiesto Remix) - Editors

88 The Girls - Calvin Harris

89 Written In Stars Vs Pass Out Vs Kickstarts - Tinie Tempah Vs Example

90 Prayin' - Plan B

91 Horse Outside - The Rubberbandits

92 Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons
93 Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

94 Congratulations - Cliff Richard

95 Hotel Yorba - White Stripes

96 Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealer's Wheel

97 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party - Paolo Nutini Vs Lou Bega

98 The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

99 S&M (Come On) - 128 - 2a - 128 - Rihanna

100 Bass Down Low (Explicit Edit) - Dev Feat The Cataracs

101 Hips Don't Lie - Shakira

102 Badman Riddim ( Friction Mix) - Vato Gonzales

103 Sweat (Afrojack Dub Mix) - Snoop Dogg & David Guetta

104 Sweet Dreams Tonight - Iglesias Vs. Eurythmics
105 Soul-Limbo - Booker T. & The Mg's
106 Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of ...) - Lou Bega
107 Macarena - Los Del Rio
108 9 - 5 - Dolly Parton

109 Crazy In Love Feat. Jay Z - Beyonce

110 Pon De Replay - Rihanna

111 Superstition - Stevie Wonder

112 Kickstarts - Example

113 Bounce  - Calvin_Harris

114 Yeah 3x - - Chris Brown

115 I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

116 Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon

117 A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

118 All The Small Things - Blink 182

119 Rock The Boat - Hues Corp

120 Oops Upside Your Head - The Gap Band

121 Dancing Queen - Abba

122 Back In Black (Powerpack Vocal Mix) - Acdc

123 Ace Of Spades - Motorhead

124 Rock And Roll - Led Zeppelin

125 Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como

126 Brown Eyed Girl - Reel Big Fish

127 Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond

128 New York New York - Sinatra

Sun in Drizzleland

Sun shone today up here in Drizzleland. What a pleasure driving back from work with this track playing loud.
The perfect soundtrack for summer.
Makes me dream again of returning to Ibiza.

That Desperate Thing - U2

Many moons ago,around about 1981ish, I was quite into U2. I asked for a copy of Boy the week it was released for my 21st birthday. I had heard their first ep on John Peel and liked the tumbling, rushing guitar sound and the lead singer's breathless vocals. They seemed a band to name drop to the trendies. I also caught them a couple of times live. Once at a stadium gig at Gateshead where the band were  low down the running order, I think, but maybe they weren't, how am I supposed to remember it was 30 odd years ago? And once at a gig at the Playhouse in Edinburgh. This I remember better because I still have the ticket stub. 

I perversely quite liked October when it was released and also thought highly of War. But then equally thrawn, I was disappointed by 'The Joshua Tree' and our paths separated. Although I had nothing against 'One' or 'The Sweetest Thing' neither did I find the time to play them very often.

I mused on all this when watching the band play at Glastonbury. I was trying to figure out why it is difficult to love U2. I think they try too hard and are too desperate to be loved. It is as if this anxiousness to please drives out any real emotion. But looking back it appears that this breathless rush to engage has been their focus since '11 0'Clock Tick Tock'. 

In my years of djing, I don't play U2 often. I once dropped in' Stories for Boys' when I was going through some energetic tunes about 5 years past. Obviously, I gave 'Vertigo' a good airing when it was high in the charts and likewise with 'One' and 'Sweetest Thing' but no-one really asks for them anymore and I don't see  any great need to play them.

Strange then, how a band so desperate to be loved have one of the most ridiculed frontsmen around whilst everyone else just yawns with indifference.

Now Pendulum. I thought they were great.