Tonight's the night for Crawford Smith, dear readers. That sweet boy who runs the acoustic evenings out at Linen 1906 in the south side of Glasgow is releasing his first CD called "Stand Alone", and very tasteful it is too, by the way. Just to entice me from an evening at the (soap) opera, he has even laid on some free champagne and a buffet. I do so like the bobby … err, bubbly. God, it's warm in here! To entertain our ears as well tonight we have The Fortunate Sons and Some Boy.
Now, dearest Crawford is something to do with Scheme Records and starting off tonight are some of his compatriots who go by the name of Some Boy. They look like boys who can handle themselves and they bemoan their tardy drummer - later found at the bar and scoffing chicken parcels - but oh, weren't they good! Lead singer Al Wright is having a bad hair day - I know the feeling, dear - but it does not stop him from delivering a quite delicious vocal performance. This band has a conscience too and there is something rather evangelical about their songs - gritty yet uplifting. "River of Air" was a bit spiritual in the way that Beatle boy George Harrison went in the seventies. They don't forget humour either as Al tells an anecdote about the diva like antics of Crawford during the recording sessions. Darlings, the artistic temperament is a wonderful thing and I can just see him sweeping his long hair back and storming off in a manner befitting Diana Ross.
Even though it is Crawford's night, he goes on stage next. He announces that he is going to sing all the songs from his EP and that is what he does. I like a man who keeps his word. Bouncing about like a happy puppy, he launches into "Become One" and it is clear that he is loving every minute of it. You just can't help but be captivated by his charismatic performance. "Stand Alone" is one of my favourites and is coincidentally the first song that I ever heard him sing. They say that salesmen are born and not made and maybe what we are seeing therefore is the birth of another great performer. Handsome Bluesbunny - when he is not stuffing his face with chicken parcels (a popular choice from the buffet table!) - often says that there is a big difference between being a singer and being a performer. Being prone to drama, he would do a swoop of the arm and say something like "… a singer sings but a performer lives to sing". Crawford Smith looks so natural and happy on stage that he must truly be classed as a performer. He gets plenty of well deserved applause too. By the time he sings "Back to the Start" which - he tells us - is about why he became a musician, I feel the need to adopt him. Handsome Bluesbunny growls at this thought. Anyway, Crawford gave me champagne so get over it!
Last on tonight are the Fortunate Sons. They did not even get to the end of their first song before I decided that these boys were fab! Nice looking too, if I ignore the 'taches and dodgy barnets, and definitely superb performers. They play an excellent song called "Lucille" that causes my escorts, Big Peter and Handsome Bluesbunny, to start counting off all the other songs that are named "Lucille" (I think Handsome Bluesbunny used to be a trainspotter before I housetrained him). The fiddle player, Graham McGeoch, really impressed me and that is not easy. I just love those spot on harmonies and Calum McCann's strong vocals just, well, charmed me. Mind you, he is one boy who would look extremely handsome without a beard. That cute drummer boy shows excellence in the control of rhythm which will bode well for his social life too. Darlings, they were just wonderful and by the time they ended with "This Train", I was ready to jump aboard and leave town with them.
Well, by the end of the night the CDs were flying off Crawford Smith's table. I do hope that he sells loads of them when it goes on public sale soon. I had such a lovely evening and there was such a wonderful atmosphere that I was sorry to go. All the performers were excellent and if you missed it, shame on you, darlings!