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 Great gift from Hazel E.

The Steamie, Kings Theatre

This old play was a good enough reason to go to the refurbished Kings Theatre, and very smart and crisp it is. Staged very well, but I don't remember any songs in it originally?

I was grumpily thinking along the lines of twee, bittersweet, Glasgow is still terrible etc. etc. but then my mind wandered to Granny and Grampa Jimmy, who brought up 5 children in Caledonian Crescent with just a sink in the kitchen. Dalry Baths for laundry and baths. They had the luxury of an inside lavvy pan. I can just remember Granny holding me up to put a shilling in the meter, she died in 1964 crossing the bridge at Yeaman Place coming up to see us. My first death and I remember my mum's instant grief.

Their youngest child (who would have been my auntie)  Grace died in 1936 of measles and bronchopneumonia, this was not rare. 

Put things into perspective somehow and I'm glad I went.

Angine de Poitrine, Usher Hall

Angine de Poitrine in fully fledged flight at the Usher Hall this afternoon, absolutely top entertainment, an atmosphere like I have never known. Had to faff around from 11.30 by going up to Summerhall for a wristband then over to the Usher Hall to another queue, for hours. Worth it though , got the best seat Row C Grand Circle in the centre by the aisle. Stalls standing, completely mobbed, I wouldn't have enjoyed it. Good to look at all the dancing and polka dot/ dice balloons.

The actual music was tremendous, like all the videos basically but rockily loud and extremely powerful.

The guys are geniuses, massively talented, and had the audience eating out of their hands, getting everyone to grunt Eeee and Ohhh like aliens. Great rock poses. Very funny, letting the Bleep and Booster discordant 7/ 8 riff from Fabienk loop while Khn and Klek had some water from spotty flasks and red tubes, Khn with his left leg lolling nonchalantly on the neck of the bass guitar.

Luckily for me they started the set with the doomy plodding Angor which you have to be in the mood for, but they got it out of the way any played everything else apart from Utxp. Lots of added frills, I thought they had boobed in Fabienk but no, they just had extra twiddles.

The crowd went mental, and I thought my life considerably the richer, yes, it was that good.

Also.....

On first was Gwenno, Brythonic Synthpop balladeeress. Obviously, no one was there to hear her but she was a good sport and did a sterling performance. I was grumpy for the first few numbers but thawed out and enjoyed it. Good back projection of her ghosting away like the Bohemian Rhapsody video which I was jealous of, could we do that for the Dancing Mice?

Atilla - Early Music Show

 

Excellent afternoon show at St Cecelia's Hall. Atilla the Stockbroker performing songs playing recorders, crumhorn, violin accompanied by a guitarist/ backing singer. Amusing take on the Civil War, regretting the reinstatement of the parasitic monarchy, 366 years later. Must read up about The Diggers, The Ranters, Abenezer someone or other. 

Dale and Helen enjoyed it too.

Shinjuku

 

Claudie performing at the Fringe, RSE building. Modern grim take on ghastly schools and ghastly teachers and downtrodden women and arsehole men. Not badly done though. 

Eclipse

 

91% eclipse over Edinburgh, not that you can really tell. Slightly eerie.

American Utopia

 

Went courtesy of Rachel Petrie to the Cameo to see this thoroughly excellent film, on the back of the Playhouse concert recently.  Had the advantage of not having to stand up and sit down every couple of songs. 

Also, went beforehand to the newly opened Kings Theatre cafe, very acceptable coffee and scone.