What day of the week is it? Why, it is Friday and Friday is supposed to be party night so off I merrily go in a search of some good time music in dear old Coatbridge and, lo and behold, it looks like I might just have found what I am looking for in the Georgian Hotel with Mellow Party and Colin Hunter ready and willing to take to the stage and bring joy to the world.
Admittedly, Colin Hunter is pretty much the antithesis of joy but his introspective songs nonetheless radiated a literate melancholy that served as a near perfect counterpoint to all that was to follow. That said, anybody with the audacity to include a dead dog on the beach story in his banter surely can’t be a perpetual swimmer in the pool of doom and his new album – “The King Of The Rats” – might well contain proof of that.
Anyway, Colin Hunter is also one of Mellow Party and, with many more on stage to keep him company, the happiness counter in the room soon started on its upward journey. Whilst superficially sounding like grandchildren of that hallowed sixties folk music scene beloved of beard scratchers everywhere, the Mellow Party way is to add community spirit, laconic lyrics and that oh so very Scottish dry humour and use those ingredients to create songs that, without any apparent effort, grow into anthems that convince you that a massed singalong is the only way to go. Duly and verily, a singalong is just what happened and this turned into a standing ovation by the end of the extended, and somewhat sweaty, set. Was that standing ovation deserved? You bet it was.
Good time music was found and enjoyed. Friday night in Coatbridge was, for once, truly a party night.