KEITH JAMES at the GFT

A special evening of an incredible musical project by Keith James performing his personal interpretations of the musical genius of Joni Mitchell ; Neil Young and Leonard Cohen.

Keith James holds a special place for taking on an earlier project commissioned by the trustees of the estate of legendary Poet Federico Lorca to transcribe some of his poems into musical arrangements.Elvis Costello had been initially asked to do so but had not managed to deliver.In stepped Keith James with 2 remarkable albums , in some cases translating the works of Lorca into English for the first time himself and then working them into a viable musical format.

The event started of with a documentary on the music and life of Joni Mitchell.Here is an emotionally charged uplifting scene from it relating Joni meeting her daughter ( who she had given up to foster parents many years before in a story similar to the experiences of Patti Smith)for the first time after nearly two decades of suppressed yearning.



The programme also included a rare never before transcribed poem of Leonard Cohens from 1956 ( when he was only 22)made into a musical arrangement for the very first time.



And Last , and definitely not least, a rare treat , a happy and uplifting paced song by Leonard Cohen , superbly sung by Keith.

DEEP PURPLE at the SECC

Cheap Trick as a support act , i couldnt believe my eyes and ears.Apparently the State of Illinois has an Official Cheap Trick Day - April 1st , i for one believe it.Only halfway into their set did it sink in this was no imitation band.Very stylish rockers from the old school.



The beauty of Deep Purple is they have stuck to what they do best , they have become the best blues band on the circuit with an added rock bass.

Here is an example of where they originally came from and what they have gone back to:



Ian Gillan disappeared several times backstage , like a diabetic constantly needing a leak.His vocal performance and pitch were dead-on.

The generic outcrops of Deep Purple , namely Whitesnake used to skip the songs and go straight into the nauseating solos.The band now have cut this to a minimum , acceptable long intros would be a more accurate description.

The good thing about Deep Purple is they do not try to the repertoire they could only do several decades back.Instead they do a classic blues and rock show with a crisp freshness with subtle touches of the progressive rock they were masters of in the seventies.

The orchestra was an odd touch , it was like the law of the jungle on stage as the band gave no leeway or quarter to the orchestra who had to carve out a sound for themselves if and when they could.Some would say that is the best and only way to listen to an Orchestra these days.

Here is another example of their current brilliant blues rock style:



And just to show they have still got it here is an example of their ability to mix progressive rock with a blues foundation:

SMASHING PUMPKINS at the GLASGOW CARLING ACADEMY

Quality rockers with modern lifestyle lyrics and a love for innovative musical expression , never completely abandoning the guitar in a small enclosed venue , a mix that keeps giving.

Like Green Day the Smashing Pumpkins attract three kinds of fans.The first are the types who always bemoan the line-up of yesteryear was better , the second want less exploration of the musical themes of the songs and more "hits".The former are arseholes who think they own the band , the latter think the band are nothing more than a three dimensional jukebox , a glorified ipod.And the third , thats me , are happy to see the band perform what they see fits the situation and times best as long as they do not disrespect the audience and are wholly sincere in what they do.A band , at the end of the day must express themselves honestly.

I managed to weasel my way to the very front , into that magical zone where the pushing and shoving is going on all around , leaving us to stand in the tranquil eye of the force and enjoy a modern spiritual experience.

At first there was a very disconcerting sight i have never seen before , the lead singer sticking earplugs on before commencing with the concert.The mix did not seem to work as his voice for the first two songs did not rise at all.Silent miming , it was like being in a crowd for top of the pops.

By the third song it had all fallen into place , an immense song called Starla:



Throughout the concert there was a burly bouncertype roadcrew member looking like an overfed Taleban with Mona Lisa type eyes that seemed to bore right into me no matter if i even tried to hide my head behind someone else , those eyes were still there glaring at me.The vibe of his stare seemed to say " you bastard , just wait to the end of the gig im going to get you".

The encore had the popular song Bullet with Butterfly Wings



Still those Mona Lisa eyes were laser trained on me , saying " you bastard , i know what your all about , concert nearly over , im going to beat the shit out of you."

And below is a video of the actual concert , featuring the song Martha.



And so we return to the attitude of those who could not enjoy the night in its own right because the line-up was not what it was a decade and a half ago , or there was to much guitar playing and not enough parade of older "hits".The former are the worst kind of snobs - Underground music snobs.The latter have to accept the band are entitled to showcase new material and not become a insincere tribute band to the beck and call to an insular musical attitude whose very breaking and challenging was what made The Smashing Pumpkins the band they became in the first place.They do not have a spiritual appreciation of music , rather a commodified liking of it.

The next time i go to a Smashing Pumpkins concert i will know that i will enjoy every minute of it as i will have the right attitude before the first note is even struck.

At last i made my way out an obscure side door and ran all the way home , never looking back.

YES at the CLYDE AUDITORIUM

The Yes song "A Time And A Word" was the first time that music spoke to me in a meaningful way.It became my mission statement , as Martin O'Neil would say my "benchmark" for all projects.

Its been a long 27 years or so ive been waiting to see Yes.When i got into them they had just made Drama , and then stopped touring for what appeared to be ever.There were always tantalising rumours they might get back together , but always one or another was not up for it.

Eventually they got back with a brilliant triumphant return album called 90125 , this time with former lead singer Jon Anderson returning , only to have Steve Howe absent.And so it went on for many more years , with Lawyers becoming involved to "simplify" matters, at one stage the only official members of Yes were Steve Howe ( too busy with new band Asia) and Jeff Downes ( the other half of the Buggles).

Alas the years have not been kind to the external appearances of the band line-up

Steve Howe looks like he has just been interrupted from an indefinite spell of Somnambulistic therapy in a coffin , dusted down with as much mascara as John Lewis perfumery department could provide , then rounded of with a dusting of whiter than white cement from Perkins and Travis.

Chris Squire takes after the Giant Haystack on a eating crawl bender Look , he took no prisoners if any former-Yes member ever lost focus , now he appears to be doing the same with desserts.

Drummer Alan White looks in worse nick than Steve Howe and Jeff Downes looks like only a half member of the Buggles can.

But dont get me wrong , that is only a superficial comment on the worst aspect of the music business scene , the external appearances.Music is the Food of the Soul and these Musicians are , and especially tonight , beautiful in every long term Human way.

Though they have been doing full length versions of "Close To The Edge" on this tour the song they done from that Album was the majestically haunting harmony to all loved ones called "And You And I" from side Two.



Another glorious song they performed was from the incredible landmark Drama Album titled "Machine Messiah".



A Yes concert is first and foremost a Rock Show , with the progressive part being a most valued added factor of the Rock Show , that is why , no matter how their material may appear in the studio album format , a Live Yes concert is one of the greatest experiences in Art.