As Roddy bounds onto stage looking the right side of 30 rather than his true age and as skinny as a whippet. I think to myself is there a picture in a loft somehere in Glasgow showing the real image of the once boy wonder? Time has been kind to him. Time has also been kind to his art. He produces songs from almost 30 years ago that sound as fresh today as they did the first time I saw him in a sweaty club in Newcastle on a warm summers evening in 1983. I was 16 and it was my first “proper” club gig. I’d been to the City Hall and other big venues but Dingwalls was my first experience of seeing a band head on. Not looking up at a stage but staring them in the eye. I recall thinking how young Roddy looked then! Some things never change. Tonight he did 5 tracks from one of my all time favourite albums, High Land, Hard Rain. He also did songs from his recent solo albums which if I’d heard them before may well be as good. They did sound good, especially White Pony but like all new songs its difficult to truly appreciate them on first listen.
Roddys band sounded as good as that original Aztec camera line-up. Although nothing can compare with hearing Down the Dip in 83 tonights rendition did come close. As did We could send letters, one of my all time favourites. Roddy talked of long and short clappers and was genuinely appreciative of the audiences response. I think I can say everyone enjoyed it. Speaking to people afterwards everyone was in agreement that he had been wonderful.
T-shirts and bags with the “postcard cat” on them brought back happy memories. Still probably my favourite record label! Do people have favourite record labels??? Maybe there is a feature in that somewhere!
A great night in the company of a true legend. Catch Roddy if you can. Ask him his secret of eternal youth. Buy his solo stuff. Find a vinyl copy of High Land, Hard Rain or better still a 7 inch picture disc of Pillar to Post. (Yes, I own one of those!!!) Re-live your youth, or if you are still young stop watching X-Factor and get into something decent.

SET LIST:
The Crying Scene
Reason for Living
Back to the one
The North Star
Day of Reckoning
Western Skies
The Coast
Killermont Street
We could send letters
White Pony
Bigger Brighter Better
Forty Days of Rain
Sun
Oblivious
Walk out to Winter
Pillar to Post

ENCORE:
Down the Dip
How men are
The Birth of the true
Somewhere in my heart

Check out some extra photos at our Facebook page (Link below) A big thank-you to Ciara at the Town Hall for all her help.

LINKS:

RODDY FRAME: http://roddyframe.com/

TOWN HALL:

http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/what-s-on/what-s-on-arts-and-entertainment/town-hall-whats-on/

FACEBOOK PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/thenorthernline#!/photo.php?fbid=10150319931596640&set=a.10150319931521640.341050.153421781639&type=1&theater

By peter on October 15, 2011