Do you ever get the feeling that your day is about to take a turn for the worse? Apparently, the ladies toilet can be mistaken for the entrance to the Buff Club. Found that out the hard way in case you are wondering. So, somewhat delayed by that particular diversion, the first band were just about finished. I'm not entirely sure who they were but there were three of them - two guys on acoustic guitars and polished harmonies and what appeared to be a shambling drunk making the occasional grunt and moan for added colour. I'm probably making them sound worse then they actually were but my Guinness was served in a squidgy plastic "glass" and I urgently needed something to raise my spirits.
With a wave of her wand, Magic Box Mistress took to the stage. Declaring in the words of her first song that she would "give up all of her shoes" (I'm told that this is the ultimate sacrifice a woman can make), it was clear that this was a woman that was to be taken seriously. Regarding her songs, they were indeed quite serious being both personal and actually quite dark in their tone. I mention that as she is an effervescent and charming performer so that lyrical content doesn't hit you until after she has left the stage.
Next on was a three piece band from Edinburgh going by the name of Machar Granite. They had the kind of mellow feel of seventies west coast of America music mixed with the more angular feel of our very own Scottish folk music and were clearly very capable musicians. The sound in the venue was doing a very effective job of masking the vocals but, on the evidence of tonight, this is a band worthy of investigation.
Last on were the Sweet Janes. I recall seeing them before and getting an overwhelming urge for fried food and having to leave. It seemed only fair to persevere this time so here it goes. There were three of them - a young guy with a deft touch on the guitar and a remarkably pure and clean voice, a Neil Young impersonator without a deft touch on the guitar and a saxophone player on the run from an avant garde jazz trio. Their journey to the stage tonight had unfortunately not involved a stop at the rehearsal rooms so the end result was a rambling and unconvincing set. However, they did give me an overwhelming urge for fried food again.
I'm on the bus to heart attack city again.