Ok, OK, can't remember precisely which songs when and what have you, but basically this is my own personal review of Saturday and Sunday nights performances. Some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Saturday Night. Missed most of Arab Strap, what with alcohol being confined to the small bar space outside the main hall, but finished my drink and wandered on in. Crowded upstairs in the Town Hall, the ceilings look massive and the stage is sprawling out like some twisted arm, I decide to stand just sort of in the middle somewhere, between the two speakers, and waited until an assorted motley crue lolloped on stage, smiled and picked up their instruments. They 'launch' or rather, fall into the first which is sweet and pretty (look I told you I can't remember which songs OK?), but so very quiet. What follows is the sort of dissarray that B&S have seem to have made their trademark, false starts, different members of the bands playing different songs, Stuart Murdoch forgetting the words, and standing around nonchalantly tuning instruments. One half of the audience laps it up, laughing each time theres a slip up, and clapping if they actually GET IT RIGHT, as if by complete accident they manage to pull off a song. If Stuart Murdoch had simply walked on and taken a piss, there would have been applause. The other half, like me, are waiting, loving the songs themselves but standing around muttering during the long disorganised breaks, so wanting and willing them to pull off a couple of songs in succession so we can actually get going and the exhilaration can carry over. Instead it just dissolves, flattened by the sheer incompetency of what seems at times like your little brother's high school band. Someone behind me shouts out 'Get your fucking act together' when again, a song collapses and Stuart shuffles and mumbles 'this is just embarrasing' . I sigh . Look, if you're going to play, like, one gig a year, at least bother to rehearse beforehand? Sunday Night. Again, cannot comment on the support, so I'll leave a gap for you to fill in with your own thoughts, or some doodles of flowers or something... Right, walk in and wait for the Rum Bunch to assemble once again, half resigned to the shambles of the night before.. Instead, they start off with (?) and suddenly the sound is richer and deeper than the previous, Stuarts voice sounds fantastic and the melodies surge in waves . I cross my fingers and hope... A couple of songs in, it all breaks down again, theres something wrong with Isobels cello , I think 'Oh God here we go again..' but I needn't have worried as when finally they start again after an impromtu 'and he painted matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs' by Stuart and Stevie, the songs roll on, sounding bigger and better. When 'Get me away' starts , the difference is astounding, last night it was weak and thin, but tonight it gushes and flows. I'm in heaven at this point, the dissapointments of yesterday all forgotten. One after another they roll past, The State I am in, Modern Rock Song, Judy, Century of Elvis, She's Losing it, Le Pastie, etc. THIS is who I came to see, they're playing together, the sound levels perhaps tweaked overnight, they are wonderful and the audience starts to dance. I love it. Isobels solo number, she stands gazing skywards, her eyelashes fluttering wildly and her glittery top catching the flashes of a thousand camera flashes. If Stuart has got all of us eating out of the palm of his hand by now, then God only knows what they're doing to Isobel. Watching Stevie play guitar is my latest fascination, the way he pouts and plucks with his mad flailing right arm, ' someone shouts 'Stevie go solo' and Stuart M grins and retorts 'ssshhhhhhhh !'. I come away thrilled and smiling. ******************************************************************************** We're four boys in our corduroys, we're terrific but incompetent !! ******************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------