Three cups of coffee and two bars of tablet mean that sitting still and watching television is unlikely to occur tonight. Need to walk off all that hyperactivity but, baby, it's cold outside. Another plan occurs to me. It must be a good one as it involves beer and music. Time to visit the Free Candy Sessions featuring First Tiger, Dumb Instrument, Andrea Marini and Jim Dead.
Jim Dead? Hell of a good name for a start. I wasn't expecting jokes from him and indeed Jim Dead seasoned his melancholy songs with that blackened bone dry humour that could only come from Glasgow. Unlike so many one man and a guitar outfits on the local circuit, he avoids self obsession and instead presents a rather bleak yet strangely compelling commentary on the difficulties of life.
Next on were Dumb Instrument. This five piece band had a cornucopia of cleverly styled songs filled with oddball lyrics and immaculately performed melodies. Tom Murray's laconic vocals easily sold this curious mix of light heartedness and quirkiness to the audience. It was an understated performance but a rewarding one nonetheless.
Rather less understated was Andrea Marini. Last time I saw him - and that was quite some time ago - he was a solo artist but this time he has brought along some additional musical firepower to realise his musical ideas. Again, there were many subtle pleasures to be had, not least of which was his unique and distinctly dangerous voice. Of the songs, the exquisite and Brel-esque "Paris" proved to be the highlight of a satisfying set.
Last on were First Tiger. I'll get the sexism out of the way first. First Tiger had a female drummer. As women are notoriously late for everything, finding one behind a drum kit where timing is rather important was a bit of a surprise. That said, she proved to be rather good indeed with a remarkably busy style. Likewise, the rest of the band were polished in their approach to their songs lending a feeling of understated elegance to the proceedings. Those songs are curious things too possessing all sorts of contradictory influences with the Pastels, Wham and even the dreaded Morrissey - OK, an alternative reality where they have a happy Morrissey - coming to mind.
As the winter creeps in to chill your bones once more, you need a reason to leave your centrally heated prison cell. I think I've given you not just one but four.