In the wild west end of Glasgow anything can happen. Well not everything. You are hardly likely to get a drive by shooting as this isn't south central LA but the Bermuda triangle effect is there (in Glasgow, this is normally referred to as the Steps Bar effect, named after a well known hostelry where the strangest things can, and do, happen). Anyway, Bluesbunny is in the Liquid Ship on Great Western Road for a Free Candy Session and putting themselves at the mercy of chance tonight are Alexander Murray, Salon Society, Thomas Carrigan and Caragh Nugent.
Bluesbunny arms himself with a precautionary beer as Alexander Murray takes to the stage. We've not seen him for a few months but it is a welcome return. Starting off with a new one to our ears called "Rainy Day", his voice shows the power and confidence that we have come to expect of him. "River So Wide" is one great song (it was one of our songs of the year for 2007, after all) and we get a fine version of it tonight as well. Once again we have to remark that he writes a mean song and that his voice keeps getting better. Ending his short set with "Smile", he is gone all too soon.
Next on are Salon Society. To provide us with the opportunity for a literary segue, they play a song called "Smile" as well and in case you are unfamiliar with them, Salon Society can be relied on to throw a bit of drama into their performance. Singer Roxanne really gets into the delivery thing emoting her way throughout their set with much in the way of swooping arms and similarly scary stagecraft. Dorothy's guitar playing is, as always, a perfect balance between technique and passion. Whatever way you look at it, it works well for them and it certainly entertains our ears as well. The wondrously over the top "Don't Die Inside" ends their set and at this point the relative sanity of the proceedings ends.
Thomas Carrigan takes to the stage. Last seen by the Bluesbunny back in November, he appears to have a fan. At least she might have been his fan or maybe just a fan of anything in trousers. Anyway, tonight Mr Carrigan has some new material to try out on the audience. The second song seemed rather fine although we missed most of it due to a truly bizarre exchange between said young lady and what appeared to be a perfect stranger involving a glass of rosé wine. Well, if you don't ask, you don't get or so we suppose. Getting back to Thomas Carrigan, we note that the Oasis influences are still strong but you can tell he is on the road to writing his own populist anthem or two. Maybe "Something Better Change" could be that song. In the meantime, his voice does not currently do his songs justice but that is probably just a matter of practice. Mind you, he could also have been put off by the impromptu harmonies (oh, the sarcasm…) of his female admirer.
And the weirdness continues. Last on stage tonight is Caragh Nugent. She gets through her better known songs like "Motorcycle by the Sea" and "Bulletproof" in her usual classy manner and then she announces the next song will be "Pink Carnation". Great - Bluesbunny likes that one. She barely makes it through the first verse before she is interrupted by the sound of a woman crying. Yes, Thomas Carrigan's fan has decided once more to join in the fun. Decidedly emotional - it is indeed a beautiful and touching song after all - she splatters the song with surround sound tears. Aghast, Ms Nugent abandons the song declaring that she "can't have that on my conscience". She pushes on with "Pink Carnation" and, judging by the silence that falls on the room, the crowd know who they have come to hear. Another highlight of her set to the Bluesbunny ears was the sensitive and emotional "Troubled Man". No problems with Ms Nugent's performance tonight then but we do wish that she would release some of her songs commercially so we don't have to come out in the rain to hear her.
Another wet Thursday and another Free Candy Session ends. Not only do you get free music but you also get free ad libs although the Bluesbunny doubts that some of the performers enjoyed the interruptions as much as we did. Our job here is done so once more we answer the call of the chicken pakora. Amen to that, brother!