#billwells

#thesensoryillusions #billwells #music #folk #tuba #🇬🇧 #音楽 #cd #cdジャケット #artwork #アートワーク #morerecords #モアレコ入荷情報 #大宮 (more records) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpRcw0svg13/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#thesensoryillusions #billwells #danielleprice #🇬🇧 #music #folk #pop #jazz #bossanova #tuba #glasgow #音楽 #フォーク #チューバ #cd #cdジャケット #artwork #アートワーク #morerecords #モアレコ入荷情報 #大宮 (more records) https://www.instagram.com/more_records/p/BtAchlPFb3J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15thkzkpzk1xm

Bill wells & Isobel Campbell - Ghost Of Yesterday https://youtu.be/pC1TwmG2U_g Tracklist: 1.All Alone (04:19) 2.Ghost of Yesterday (02:19) 3.Who Needs You? (03:46) 4.Please Don't Do It In Here (02:26) 5.Preacher Boy (01:54) 6.Tell Me More and More (and Then Some) (01:23) 7.Somebody's On My Mind (02:50) #BillieHolliday  #IsobelCampbell #BillWells https://open.spotify.com/album/0VS19e8D4PtStlwAln95Xx?si=54UqjLBrTbm_jwiLGx-9GA

Sunday evening was certainly one that me and several of my friends had been greatly anticipating for quite some time and for various reasons. Firstly because the evening provided the chance to see two of the best Scottish acts of recent times playing together in the best not too big/not too small venue Aberdeen has to offer. Secondly because the venue is a stones-throw away from one of my very favourite curry houses (I suspect this is the primary reason my friend Dylan was so excited) and thirdly because overall it looked, on paper, to be one of those evening’s that would be both greatly enjoyable and also meaningful on a grander scale. More about that later. We’ll start with the curry.  Lahore Karahi is a King Street curry house which seems to be a bit under the radar but those who have experienced it seem to be thoroughly impressed. Since discovering it a few months ago I have been far too many times and there seemed no better place to kick off the evening. One of it’s greatest assets is its ‘bring your own booze’ policy which my party has thoroughly abused on most of our visits. There’s just something so satisfying about the beer and wine flowing freely without worrying about the often ridiculous costs that restaurants charge for their alcohol. Anyway we sat down to our meal and all four of us found ourselves debating whether to stick with our usual favourites or whether to branch out. In the end we all seemed to be feeling adventurous and ordered something different; myself going for a mixed vegetable curry but upping the spice stakes. Risky on such an important evening.  As I was enjoying my mushroom pakora starter, I cracked a filling which somewhat dulled the exciting news that the man himself, Aidan Moffat and his band were gathered outside and seemed like they would be entering for a meal. When I returned from the bathroom I found this was very much the case but the disappointment of my dental situation was dulling my enjoyment of everything. It was important at this point to push on and move past my initial misfortunes. The mains arrived and our respective gambles paid off, with everyone soon finding themselves satisfied and uncomfortably full. Just what you want before heading to a gig.  We soldiered onwards to the Lemon Tree and got ourselves a drink and somewhere to stand before it all kicked off. It wasn’t long before Kathryn Joseph was taking to the stage and in truth I’m not sure that anyone can ever be emotionally prepared for seeing Kathryn live. Over the past few years I have seen Kathryn play several times in a few different formats and each time I find myself falling in love with her music all over again. It’s by no means a light experience, the music and lyrics are extremely gripping and Kathryn really engages with the audience despite being behind a piano. It’d be easy for her to just sit back and let the music do the talking but each song see’s her connecting with the audience who repay her with being silent and attentive; which in itself is something very rare and is a massive testament to the level of performance. Marcus Mackay (who produced debut album ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I’ve Spilled) is on hand as always to accompany Kathryn with percussion and bass-y synthesisers and the delicate placement of these really add something special to the whole ensemble. There’s not much more I can say. If you haven’t seen her, do it.  Up next, of course was Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat. I’m not quite sure how to describe them other than to say I can’t really think of anyone else quite like them on the UK or possibly global circuit. Their set drifts between their more sombre and piano based tracks and more jazzy and up beat efforts; all with the reflections of lyrical stalwart Aidan Moffat over the top. It’s a set which has many moments of humour and parts which are incredibly sad but the heartfelt honesty throughout weaves the highs and lows together which gives the whole performance a life-affirming edge. Or at least that’s how it seemed to me after about a bottle and a half of red wine. What wasn’t up for debate was the quality of musicianship and the professional delivery of the whole affair. Aidan never fails to entertain and the band were on it the whole way through. Again if you haven’t seen them, you really ought to.  Like I said earlier this gig to me, on paper, looked to be a night I’d love and remember for a long time and I’m glad to say on that front it certainly didn’t disappoint. I think it’d also be fair to say that, on paper, this was a coming together of two artists known for delving deep into topics which are often viewed as depressing or miserable but this was in no way a dark evening. This was not a meeting of depressed people listening to depressing music so they can carry on being depressed. For me, these kind of gigs are the best kind. The ones with music which is honest and explores those things that are perhaps the darkest. It’s a pretty special feeling coming together which a group of people who can understand and enjoy music which has such emotional intensity and it’s also great to see artists turning these things into music which is so beautiful and relate-able. It’s a cliché to say these kinds of nights can serve as a reminder that you are definitely not the only one who has dark or difficult times and to see the positives that can come from it but it is entirely true and it’s this, which I think, makes nights such as this one the most important. That, and the great curry. 

Remembering Phat Dat: 1. Stevie Jackson and Bill Wells at The Glasshouse in Queens Park, Glasgow #phatdat #billwells #steviejackson