1998

DUBSTAR
9th February
KingTut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
support : Santa Cruz

Two postponements and a change of venue, but I finally got to see Dubstar for the third
time. All the stuff from the new album shook out well live, and the onstage band had
expanded a bit from previous tours. Again though, I wish Sarah would move about or
 something, their gigs could be so much better with something for the audience to feed
off. Highlight was the encore of "Elevator Song", with just Sarah and Chris on guitar, which
I thought was really nice. Got a setlist and a t-shirt, good night.


CATATONIA
22nd March
The Barrowlands, Glasgow
Evening Session tour with Travis and Idlewild

The band get bigger and the fans get further from the stage. The evening was slightly
ruined by Jen losing her ticket beforehand, and the Travis fans at the front who weren't even
remotely interested in Catatonia. Still a good show though. Glad Cerys didn't put on that
Motherwell shirt that was thrown onstage, she would've gone down in my estimation. We
didn't fancy the t-shirts, but we got some nice badges. And I got a copy of the "Chains Changed" ep
in Missing before the show, which made up for the fact that I was missing Kristin Hersh, who was
also playing in Glasgow that night.


SAINT ETIENNE
8th May
The Garage, Glasgow
support : Velocette

Pretty damn near the perfect gig. Velocette were the ideal support, I was over the moon when
I found out it would be them. Saint Etienne were fab, there was a really good atmosphere, and
I got a setlist and a wicked shirt too. Can you beat that for a night? "He's on the phone" rounded
off a generous set, although I'd have liked a few of the old classics in there. It was still fantastic
though.


THE DANDY WARHOLS
31st August
The Garage, Glasgow
support : Six By Seven

"Baby you're my ride!" Undoubtedly the most fantastic gig I've been to. The crowd were so
up for it, I knew it'd be good, but I thought it would take a few songs to get going. Right from
the first chorus of opener "Be in", it was moshing all the way. "Ride","Rave up", and "Holiday",
all kicked ass. Six by Seven were crap, and I didn't have any money for any of the cool t-shirts,
and it was still a classic. This was absolutely nothing to do with meeting the lovely Karen down
the front, and getting it on during, appropriately enough, "Hard on for Jesus". Great banter
from Courtney and the band, a really cool film show in the background to go with the show,
a fucking damn perfect gig.


BELLE AND SEBASTIAN
1st September
Maryhill Community Centre, Glasgow

Maybe not just quite as rock n' roll as the previous night's gig, but still pretty good. I'd heard
they were rubbish live, but there was a certain ramshackle something about the whole thing. I'm
afraid I can't really report any more specific details about the night, as I was busy getting drunk
and getting down with Karen, which maybe made it seem a lot better than it actually was.


VELOCETTE
5th October
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
supporting : Kenickie

Not the first time I've gone to a gig to see the support, although at least this time it didn't cost me
twenty-five quid. They only did six songs, but that was enough for me, "Submarines", was
excellent. Got a couple of promo cards, a setlist, t-shirt, and a couple of free posters (one of
which is now framed and hanging in my bathroom no less!) Only stayed for a few Kenickie
numbers, they did the only one I really like, "I would fix you", fairly early, and I felt free to
go after that. They deserve some credit for opening with a cover of "Eye of the tiger", though.


MOJAVE 3
23rd October
The Attic, Edinburgh
support : Ellis

Had to do a crash-course on the album, which I only got the night before. Just as well I did too, 'cos
they did nothing from the first album, which was a big disappointment. But they were still good,
came across as really nice people (does that souind kinda' corny?) The whole thing was, y'know,
nice, though I was annoyed that for some mysterious reason my photos never came out. Curses.
First time at The Attic too, good wee venue.


CHICKS
16th December
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
support : Lungleg

Top class post riot-girrl entertainment. Lungleg offered mighty support, it was more like a
double headlining gig. Shortish set from Chicks, not much of a back catalogue for them to draw
on, but they did finish with a fine cover of "Rebel Girl". Got a setlist, t-shirt, and a plectrum,
plus we met the band in Sauchiehall st. after the gig and I got my setlist autographed. If only
I hadn't used up the last two shots in my camera film in Canton Express.

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