Last night saw the triumphant return to Glasgow for former Great Western Road resident Lloyd Cole. He played a solo gig fairly recently but this time he was backed up with a full band in the shape of Glasgow cult band, The Leopards. Starting off with Rattlesnakes and Weeping Wine it was obvious from the start that this was going to be a very special night indeed. I first saw Lloyd live back in the 80's with the Commotions, and cannot recall seeing a sub-standard Lloyd Cole gig over the years. Last night was certainly up there with the best of them. The ever deadpan Cole was on good form and he could not have chosen a better band to play with than Mick Slaven's The Leopards. The set was a nice mix of Commotions tracks, some solo material and a fair amount from his latest album, Standards. The show concluded with the ever wonderful Forest Fire, allowing Mick Slaven the opportunity to do justice to that inimitable guitar solo.
Last night was well worth arriving early doors to see The Jazzatears, playing only their second gig in 30 years. They were well worth waiting for with the band playing their eponymous debut album from start to finish and then rounding things off with a cracking cover of Boys Keep Swinging. Their set sounded remarkably fresh for something which has been lying dormant for all of 30 years with Grahame Skinner's suave vocals rarely sounding better. Elements of The Velvets, New York Dolls and Postcard Records all blended together perfectly.
Great gig, both bands on the top of their game. Have a feeling already that this will be in my list of gigs of the year come December.
Past Imperfect
I worked beside someone who went out with Campbell Owens. She found him "a wee bit boring" and chucked him....a couple of days later he was on Top of the Pops with Aztec Camera.
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