There's always a spring in the step of this writer when the opportunity to catch a live show in an intimate location comes around. Even the fact that the sole came off my right shoe en route wasn't enough to keep me back from seeing Alastair Moock at Greenock's West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club.
Local boys The Lazarenkos - or two of them at least - graced the club with a last minute support slot. The depleted line-up made little difference to the colourful strumming and pretty vocal harmonies that The Lazarenkos are so revered for. From the harmonica-kissed Springsteen-frightening "Gone for Good" to the ruminations of "The Lasting Kind", The Lazarenkos - without busting as much as a smile - once again justified their popularity in the local community.
Alastair Moock, having acquainted himself with his surroundings, introduced himself and started into "God Saw Fit to Make Tears", a song so well spiced by Moock's weathered voice. Sounding not unlike the lovechild of Captain Beefheart and Dusty Springfield, it was compelling listening. Taking influence from such authentic American voices as Dave van Ronk, Merle Haggard, and most notably Woody Guthrie - the basis for "Woody's Lament" - Alastair's own compositions boil over with layers of purity and wisdom that belie his tender age. Regaling his already swooning crowd with a clever prelude to the delightfully-worded "Yin Yang Blues", it was apparent that Alastair had the audience firmly under his spell.
One set not being adequate, Alastair was welcomed back for a second helping. "Fortune Street" saw Alastair's observational lyrics peak at almost Dylan-esque heights of brilliance. One of the best songs of the night was to come in the form of "Cloudsplitter", a song of 19th century slave trade abolitionist John Brown. In a very similar vein to Katy Moffatt's "Sojourner Truth", "Cloudsplitter" is Alastair's impassioned ode to an American rebel. Proving he is also capable of catering for kids parties, Alastair sang us the ridiculously enjoyable "Cows Says Moo".
Sounding very much unlike the New York-born Boston boy that he is, Alastair is a young lad with a gripping voice and knack for writing songs that cannot be ignored, and is surely destined for the big time. His ability not only to perform to a crowd, but to include his fans in his music, is set to take him far. I'd bet my good shoe on it.