Right, got to stay focussed here. I was going to start on a rant about the declining quality of the Guinness in the bars and clubs at the student end of Sauchiehall Street but you want to hear about music, don't you? So, in between visits to the State Bar for some proper beer, three bands found themselves standing before the judge in the Court of the Bluesbunny.
First up were Dennis Law Jr. Four men good and strong, the tried to prove their case by having more fun on stage than the audience could. Hampered by woeful sound - I don't think the singer was really meant to sound like he was singing down a drainpipe - and a curious lack of focus, they failed to make an impact. Sentenced to three months in a rehearsal room. Time for a recess so back to the pub…
On returning, things had taken a serious turn for the better as The Jaks had taken to the stage. Somehow squeezing six of them on to that small stage was impressive enough but so was managing to fire out a set of punchy songs that reached out to the very back of the room. Musically, they were tight as the proverbial and singer Graeme Thom exuded the kind of charisma that a lead singer should. Referred to a higher court as they were too good to be sentenced by me.
Then it was amateur night at the bar time. Finding somewhere in Glasgow that can actually serve Sailor Jerry's correctly can be a bit of a challenge but this was the first time that I had ever been asked if I wanted lime cordial in it. Sentenced her to 300 hours of community service working in a chip shop in Baillieston. That'll sort her out!
Last on were The Scruffs. They're young and from Barrhead (call for social enquiry reports right way…) and they play rock songs. Rocks songs American style at that. Guitarist Stephen Dowling made the most of every opportunity to put the band's case across but being on last wasn't working to their advantage. The bar was noisier than the band were by this time and consequently they had a hard time getting heard. Given the circumstances, I'll let them off with a caution.
With that, the court closed for the night. Get me a taxi!