1999

MADDER ROSE
29th January
G2, Glasgow
support : Dark Star

Fryday was a bit of a flop, so I'd no problem getting away from work early for the gig. The G2
was good, (especially the aftershow club). Like the last time I saw them, there were quite a few
disappointing omissions from the set, but they did at least do "Madder rose", and "Car song".
Nice to see Mary hang around onstage afterwards to chat with the fans and sell t-shirts, one of
which I purchased myself. And it has to be said Billy Cote is a great guitarist. Dark Star weren't
anything special, thought they did have some nice fairy lights. Good for them.


BIS
31st March
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
support : Velocette, Brassy

How good was this? Two of my fave bands at the time supporting, a free cd for everyone, got a
t-shirt, lp, bottle-opener and a bunch of unbelievable bruises. Plus I got some truly great pics.
This is what it's all about, crushed up against the stage right from the intro of "Action and drama",
totally inable to move or breathe and loving every minute of it. "Eurodisco", blew everyone
away, including the band methinks, and the encore of "Kandy pop", and "School Disco" was
mental. Up there with The Dandy Warhols at the Garage for best ever gig.


CHICKS
31st May
The Garage, Glasgow
supporting : Idlewild

A few notable firsts here. First gig I ever really "saw", thanks to my contact lenses, and the first gig
I was able to relive on my walkman, thanks to my sister at home and Radio 1. Lot of arseholes
booing and throwing stuff during the set, which ruined things a little, but things settled down
a bit, and the band finished off with a cover again, "Don't change that song". Hung around for
Idlewild, and was pleasantly surprised, pretty rocking stuff actually.


THE GARDEN PARTY
1st July
Princes st. Gardens, Edinburgh
featuring : Garbage, Idlewild, The Delgados

Glad we only get a parliament every 300 years, this was a fabulous day. When you see
Concorde and the Red Arrows fly over you when you're waiting on the 46, you know it's going
 to be a bit special. Beautiful sunny day in the nation's capital, and a few beers beforehand.
The Delgados kicked things off superbly, but I think me and Denham were the only ones down
the front who really knew any of their stuff. Next up, Idlewild, who managed to get a bit more
reaction from the crowd. We then had to suffer a party political broadcast from Donald Dewar,
 before the main event came on. Once again, Shirley was clearly loving being in front of her
hometown crowd, especially on such a special day, as she continuously reminded us at various
points during the show. Everybody loves Garbage though, and we let her off with it, 'cos the
cover of "John Anderson", was nice. So too was the shower of tinsel during "Only happy when it
rains", and the singalong with "When I grow up" at the end. A great gig, and it didn't end there,
'cos we had the fireworks in Princes st. and then we saw a mighty fine band by the name of The
Roods at Whistle Binkies. An excellent day, and a fine warm up for T in the park.


T IN THE PARK
10th/11th July
Balado Airfield, Kinross


FAITHLESS
Saturday, Main stage

Didn't know the back catalogue inside out, but I'd seen enough of them play other festivals on tv
to know this would be an excellent start to the weeekend's music. Had great fun dancing away
with some girl down the front, although I was slightly alarmed when she grabbed my camera
from me, but it was just to take a picture of me dancing. Obviously, everybody loves "Insomniac",
but I really enjoyed "God is a DJ", too. This is the kind of band that can rock out a festival crowd,
and the audience lapped it up bigtime.


SURREAL MADRID
Saturday, Evening Session Stage

Okay, so I was just getting in early to make sure I saw Chicks, and I had nothing else to do, but
damn me, this was the best band of the weekend. Within a minute of coming into the tent, I
was down the front dancing away like mad to this band's irresistible big beat groove. And it
wasn't long before the more reserved members of the crowd took my lead and started shaking
it about too. It wasn't just the music though, it was the dancing cowman, the girls of the nite
and the water cannons. This band are just having the biggest party ever onstage. Highlight
of the weekend, probably even more so 'cos it was unexpected from someone whose music
I'd never heard.


CHICKS
Saturday, Evening Session Stage

After meeting the band earlier in the day and getting my picture taken with them, the gig
seemed kinda' incidental. Pretty much the exact same set as a few weeks previous, only this
time without the arseholes throwing stuff. And, for the first time I can remember at a Chicks
gig, there was a bit of a moshpit developed down the front by the end. Cool.


BIS
Saturday, Evening Session Stage

It took me a while to work it out. After all, I couldn't see the badge for his guitar strap, But when
I saw the letters on his socks, I realised the awful truth - Sci-fi Steven was wearing an Ayr Utd
strip. One of my pop heroes was a darkie! Says a lot for how much I love Bis that I didn't mind
too much. All the usual "Social dancing", stuff was there, plus a great new track called "Why
are we waiting", and they dedicated "Starbright boy" to everyone who was at the King Tut's gig
in March. And there was an unexpected bit of rock n' roll at the end when Steven trashed his
guitar at the end of "Making people normal". Rock on!


BELLATRIX
Sunday, Evening Session Stage

What a lovely way to start your Sunday off. Despite the early hour, this band are clearly having
the time of their life and enjoying themselves enormously. If the audience had been a bit
more awake, this could easily have been the show of the weekend. As it was, I was one of
the happy few who was sober enough to enjoy it to the full. A very fine cover of "All together
now" to round off an energetic set.


DOT ALLISON
Sunday, Stage Two

Hadn't really heard much of her stuff, but I always liked One Dove, so I had to see her. Not bad
at all, especially the first couple of numbers, although, shockingly, I found myself dozing off
a bit later on, not due to the music but the complete and utter lack of sleep the night before, no
thanks to the drunken weegie bampots and their boombox in the tent next to us. To think they
had the cheek to complain about me playing Bleach at 7am, having finally given up trying
to get any kip...


PLACEBO
Sunday, Main Stage

Since I'd taken the time to paint my nails that morning, I had to go see Brian and co. It was
extremely hot that afternoon, and I couldn't get anywhere near the free sunblock stall at the
first aid post, so I was worried about getting some major sunburn. Luckily enough, there were
a few nice gothic girls down the front who were so impressed with my nails and my face
 glitter, that they volunteered to rub some of their suntan lotion on me. Which was nice. Oh,
"Pure morning" was pretty good, the rest was okay. Amusing dig from Brain at Cliff from Gay Dad
at the start - apparently it's not just his band that sucks. Ooh Brain, you're terrible!


THE DELGADOS
Sunday, Evening Session Stage

This band get better with each listen. A longer set than The Garden Party, and a much more
appreciative audience too. All the classics from "Peloton", and a few old favourites too, rounded
off by an astounding "13". Such a tight band live as well, why aren't they more famous?


IDLEWILD
Sunday, Evening Session Stage

Deja vu' here, with Idlewild following The Delgados for the second week in a row. Definately
the moshpit of the weekend, perpetrated by Idlewild's loyal followers. Another great band live,
despite the technical problems at the start. God, I could have died when Denham shouted
"come on Idlewild" in his naiive, enthusiastic way, and was treated to a frosty stare from Roddy.
A rockin set as you would expect.


MERCURY REV
Sunday, Evening Session Stage

Several choices of how to round off the weekend. The welsh wankers on the main stage, the manx
trippers on Stage Two, the over-hyped dj in the dance tent, or the obscure American band on the
Evening Session Stage. No contest really. Although I'd heard practically none of their stuff, and
 been put off by a lot of the hype around them, I was well impressed with them, a really good
band, tight onstage, good show. Nice way to round off the weekend.


BRASSY
23rd August
The Attic, Edinburgh
support : Gilded Lil, Moniack

The only decent show out of a poor Planet Pop line-up. Brassy were as full of attitude as you
might expect from the name, and oozed cool all over the place. Top marks to the drummer
who can scratch at the same time, and to Stefan for doing his best to get the crowd into the
spirit of things. On a lighter note, I got it on with a Brummie chick with a lithp - it's cruel, but
just try and imagine in your head what she sounded like asking for two pinth of tennenth.


SLEATER-KINNEY
31st August
13th Note Club, Glasgow
support : The Yummy Fur

I'd been meaning to get the album for ages, then I found out about the gig the day before.
Got the cd in the morning, listened to as much of it as possible, and made my way through to
Glasgow for the gig. The 13th Note's a cool wee place, though the acoustics don't seem to
be the best. A great gig, enjoyed by both Bis and Chicks, amongst others. Loved the show, and
managerd to join in the singalong to "Get up", the one song I had managed to learn beforehand.
And I got a smart black t-shirt too.


STEREOLAB
29th October
The Garage, Glasgow
support : Notwist

Didn't own a single record by the band, but I felt it was someone I should really go see, and I
was right. I thought it would be a bit more intense and beard-stroking than it actually was, it
turned out to be a rockin' wee night, they had some great tunes to get the crowd going, And they
all seemed so overawed by it, grinning broadly at the fun they were giving us. Only minus
point was that enourmous guy who shoved his way down the front right at the start, and then
shouted non-stop for "Jenny Ondioline", even after it had been played. What a tit.


BROADCAST
2nd November
13th Note Club, Glasgow
support : ?

A truly awful night. We had a good few beers beforehand, enjoyed the support (whoever they were),
 and Broadcast were good too. So what ruined the whole night? For the first time ever, I had to leave
early, 'cos we were minutes away from missing the last bus back to Edinburgh. A massive, massive
disappointment. At least we saw "The Book Lovers", before we had to leave.


BELLATRIX
9th November
The Attic, Edinburgh
support : Coldplay, Mercedes

Not for the first time in my life, we came in the wrong door and stumbled in on the
 soundcheck - tee hee! Made a promising discovery in the shape of Mercedes, who
came somewhere in between Slowdive and Alison's Halo, and we unashamadely
grooved to them on our own down the front. This was actually a co-headlining tour
with Bellatrix and Coldplay, and Bellatrix were on first, and did a kinda' shortish set,
(which hopefully meant thay would play second the next night in Glasgow and do a
longer set). We enjoyed what they did though, then given a choice between hanging
around for Coldplay or getting pissed, we said our goodbyes and went to Bar Kohl.


BELLATRIX
10th November
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
support : Coldplay, Mercedes

As we suspected, tonight Coldplay came on first and did a crap wee student-indie set, then
made way for the mighty Bellatrix. However, first we renewed acquaintence with the lovely
Mercedes, who remembered us from the night before, and, thrilled at having a few fans to play
to, played a cracking set, dedicating "Nailed" to myself and Jacob, which made our night. We
chatted to them afterwards, buying their single and all that. As for Bellatrix, they were as full
of fun as ever, with the obligatory rowdy "All together now" finishing things off on a high. Got
t-shirts, and even befriended the manager too. Good night.


BIS
20th December
13th Note Club, Glasgow

What better way to round off the gig-going century than seeing Glasgow's own cheeky pop heroes
on their own turf. A great wee set, although were briefly distracted by watching our drunken
mate getting a bit of a doing, fine justice for his "sorry, they said there's no tickets left" routine
earlier in the evening. And imagine my mortification when I learned at the end I'd been
 dancing away all night next to my good penfriend and supplier of obscure platters, Gayle, and
 that it had been her pal that had beat up my pal. We laughed about that later. Oh, and we caught
the last bus after all Andrew.

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