“THE SOUND OF YOUNG SCOTLAND”
Billy Bremner, Haggis, Orange Juice, Archie Gemmill, Irvine Welsh, Jim Clark, Alexander Graham Bell, Josef K, Kenny Dalglish, Irn Bru, Peter Finnegan, The Clouds, Tartan, Robert Burns, Queen of the South, Dennis Law, The Browns, Willie Carson, Belle & Sebastian, Billy Connolly, John Buchan, Cocteau Twins, Jock Stein, Greyfriar’s Bobby, Eddie Gray, Robert the Bruce, Ian Rankin, Bay City Rollers, John Logie Baird, Oor Wullie, James VI, Buckfast, Sheena Easton……..

You can add to this impressive list Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers and Washington Irving. Two great bands from North of the border. And two good reasons for not allowing independence. What will we do without our cousins from the land of tartan if they cannot play in England without visas and permission from the Queen? Will we still get their albums on import?
Will we be allowed to cheer them on and buy them whiskies or will we have to boo them and throw Union Jacks at them? Hopefully these questions will never have to be answered as we stick together rather than tear our great island apart. And if we do lose all our great Scottish bands then we can always look to the wave of brand new bands from the North of England as worthy substitutes. Which brings us nicely to last nights opening act;

CALICO
This was the first ever gig from these noiseniks from Middlesbrough. Created from the ashes of a slurry of local acts; Grandma’s House, Said the Gramaphone, Rikki & the Porters, Heavy Dense to name but 4. Like a local Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young they have put the word super into super group. They started a bit tentatively but they soon warmed up as the crowd cheered and egged them on. The final four tracks were superb. Not superb as in its their first gig give them a chance. But superb as in….. superb!! Chiming guitars and shared vocal duties they come on like a teenage Sonic Youth mixed with the Pixies. Echoes of the Pale Saints, My Bloody Valentine and the Wedding Present in their prime. I predict great things for these scamps. They’ve also got a facebook page!! Whatever next?

WASHINGTON IRVING
These boys were our band of the year for 2011 so I feel they need no introduction. They’re great. I love them. That’s it. Actually that almost is it. There’s photos here (see link below for more at our Facebook page) also a video of their superb track; “Sisi”. Plus a full set list. What else do you want? Maybe a bit of inside information on the longest wait for an album since Chinese Democracy!! It’s going to be recorded in Glasgow in March and should be out for the festival season in the summer. I really cannot wait. Tonight they did loads of new stuff. A couple of old tracks. Including “Islands” for which they were paid in whiskey. A cover of “She moved through the fair” you know, the one from the Guiness advert a few years ago. I know I’m not keen on covers but it was great. The crowd were all up for them as its their third gig in Stockton in less than a year. I’m eager for their return already.
SET LIST:
You’ve Seen the Last
Holy Company
Palomides
Sisi
Babble
She Moved through the Fair
Abbey Gallop
Balloch
Islands
The Duel

WOODENBOX WITH A FISTFUL OF FIVERS
These boys have played Stockton or Middlesbrough about half a dozen times in the last couple of years and its paying dividends. A very healthy crowd greeted them like returning heroes. They sang along to all the songs, they even got a dance going for the last few numbers. These boys are brilliant. Like a younger, better looking Pogues. Fronted by the happiest man on the planet. He’s got a good right to be happy. Their second album is well on its way and it promises to propel these lads to stardom. This was their first gig of 2012 but there was no rustiness or lack of match practice. They run through a set with energy and enthusiasm of a band knowing they are on the up. We only hope that independence doesn’t stop their rise.
SET LIST:
Mule
Everyone
Draw a line
Life from above
Easy life
besides the Point
Kings Liar
Royal Mile
hang the Noose
Twisted Mile
Scottish Fold

A big thank-you to Ciara at The Georgian Theatre, Andy and Phil at The Kids are Solid Gold and all the band members who made last night one of the gigs of the year in January!!!!

LINKS:

SISI by Washington Irving: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3oAxxO7lg4&feature=youtu.be

More Photos at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150495827616640.367793.153421781639&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10150495827616640.367793.153421781639&type=1

The Kids Are Solid Gold: http://www.thekidsaresolidgold.co.uk/

CALICO: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150495827616640.367793.153421781639&type=1#!/pages/CALICO/294617830589572

WASHINGTON IRVING: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=539542291&ref=tn_tnmn#!/washingtonirvingtheband

WOODENBOX WITH A FISTFUL OF FIVERS: http://www.myspace.com/awoodenbox

GEORGIAN THEATRE: http://www.teesmusicalliance.org.uk/georgiantheatre/

By peter on January 29, 2012