There are few better ways to get yourself into the mood for a spot of reviewing than a hearty meal of man food. They do man food at Macsorleys. They do real burgers topped with vicious, raw chillies that are guaranteed to boost your testosterone levels. After wolfing one of those beasts down, many a man would have decided to invade a small country. I decided on a short stroll to the Classic Grand instead as there was a gig to support the Love Music Hate Racism cause on.
Maybe it was because the event had worthy aims or maybe it was compensation for the ridiculous price of Guinness in a plastic glass but things started off well. Really well in fact. The first band were called Laki Mera and they were a delight. You might characterise them as part of the ambient electronica genre but they were far from being robotic or cold. With Laura Donnelly's wistful voice to steal your heart and all those delicate melodies layered on top of a solid rhythmic foundation, they soon entranced me. Truly a pleasure.
Next on were Aaron Wright and the Aprils. Well, the April as there was only one guy on stage with our Mr Wright. Nonetheless, it was clear right from the start that this was a band with mainstream appeal. Taking ingredients from folk, Americana and even rock, Aaron Wright cooked up something mellow and satisfying that would surely please the appetites of a lot of people.
After a short break, the room was filled with charm by High Heel and the Soles. The band soon settled into a mellow, near jazzy groove that sounded like Sade if she had taken Burt Bacharach into her arms and danced the night way. Awash with urban cool and eminently endearing, this was the kind of music that makes you want to hold that special person in your life.
Last on were The Bum Clock and they have quirky stamped all over them. Tam Dean Burn was wearing a white suit for a start. Even for Edinburgh - from whence they came - that's got to be a dodgy fashion decision. Driven on by the pulsating edginess of Malcolm Ross's guitar, weird tales of alternate universes where Robert Burns exists at the same time as Iggy Pop unfold to entertain and bemuse you. Perhaps The Bum Clock will confuse you too but from the art house to the street, it was all in there. Groovy, baby!
Good cause. Good music. Nuff said.