The Bluesbunny is noted for his observational skills (aka spotting the bleeding obvious!) and he has concluded that music and basements go together. The Liquid Ship, the 13th Note, Tennent's Bar and now Pivo Pivo. Perhaps all music is underground music until it is discovered. Well, here we all are in a basement again and the unique selling point for this acoustic evening is … pizza. Yes, you get free pizza. Now this is a marketing masterstroke. Not only do you get free music but you also get fed. Promoter Frankie from Break out the Jams deserves an award for that idea. Anyway, enough rambling as also on tonight's menu are Jimmy Fast Keys, Sparrahawk, The Scarlet and Coogs.
Jimmy "Fast Keys" is first on stage tonight. He looks strangely familiar looking like a guy Bluesbunny saw at a Glasgow Songwriter's Club a while back. Might be the same guy or it might not but he can certainly write a song. "Billy the Kid" and "Hide and Don't Feed" show an acerbic wit and a strong understanding of melody. A better songwriter than a singer, Jimmy "Fast Keys" made for an interesting start to the evening. Wonder why they call him "Fast Keys" - he was playing a guitar, after all.
Next up is Sparrahawk. Bluesbunny is surprised when he starts off with some poetry. That is the kind of behaviour you expect in arty Edinburgh. Fortunately this guy is funny; much like John Cooper Clark was back in the days. He also sings and treats us to what will be hailed as a future classic called "Seagulls" who "… circle over me looking for kebab". Urban poetry, that is what this is. You only get that kind of insight after years of proper, grown up drinking. There is some political commentary too in "Opiates and Oil" and then he stops for some more of that black-humoured poetry. Then he ponders the question of our time - what is a Ned? - before launching into the less than complementary (to Neds anyway) "Frank of the Jungle". Sparrahawk has got a unique charm and the only parallel to him that we can think of is America's master of the bizarre Mystr Treefrog.
Something more conventional next with The Scarlet. A four piece band, they play an aurally pleasing blend of indie pop. "Take Me to Tokyo" opens their set and sets the tone for their songs. Well constructed, this band would seem to be right in the commercial groove. Lead singer Barbara Bland's vocals have a warm, almost dreamlike quality that makes you wish she would sing you a lullaby. Their best song, to our ears, was the haunting "You Get Me". If you want a comparison, The Scarlet come across like a less boisterous version of The Hussy's and are none the worse for that. Certainly, Bluesbunny would like to hear them again. Like we said, easy on the ear.
Next up is Coatbridge's own Coogs. It is hard to believe that anything good can come out of that god forsaken town but to hear him is to believe him. Whilst he will no doubt always be cursed with having to perform those classics "Coatbridge Boys" and "Pullin'" - there have been no finer (or funnier) observations of the mating rituals of the youth of today - it was pleasing to note that he has been developing his style since we last saw them. He experiments with a KT Tunstall style effects box tonight to demonstrate his latest songs. His sound is maturing and at times showed influences going all the way back to Delaney Bramlett. It is abundantly clear that there is a lot more to come from him and it looks like it all will be interesting stuff. For now, he is a crowd pleaser and that counts for a lot.
Time for the verdict. Jimmy "Fast Keys" should do quite nicely as a songwriter. The Scarlet had the most commercial potential. Coogs is shaping up nicely as a performer and there is no doubt that the best is yet to come from him. That makes tonight's winner Sparrahawk. Back in the days of punk, music and poetry often collided and it was good to see it happen again. If Bluesbunny wanted to make money, he would take The Scarlet into the studio but if he wanted indulge his eclectic tastes then it would be Sparrahawk. Well done, that man!
NB - Journey Box were also on the bill tonight but unfortunately logistical difficulties i.e. the last train prevented us from staying long enough to hear their set.