PSB and other stories

 So we went to Glasgow, I'd not been there for quite a while. A Turkish meal - 

Through the window.

Public Service Broadcasting have a new album, The Last Flight, it's based around Amelia Earhart's story. The stage set is like the cockpit of an aircraft, it reminded meof flying out to North Ronaldsay, and Papay.

PSB in full-flight.

The subtlties of the album are largely lost in live performance, but all the same. A great new album and of course they played all our favourites as well. Barrowlands is well suited to their music.

I've been remiss in not mentioning that we went to Edinburgh during the festival, just for a day. Small venues and front row seats for stand-up are not really my thing, but we had got in the queue early and we were ushered to the front of a small but packed venue for Alok. If you don't know them Alok is a bit of a phenomenon (and is not a Brazilian DJ) - 

 

...this Alok https://www.alokvmenon.com/ not the other dj one. (Photo Alok's website, an amazing image, not mine, sadly.)

Politically astute, clever, intelligent and pointed "comedy", funny, but sometimes horrific, not ha-ha. The men in the urinal gag is a good one - especially as heading for a pee later I was fortunate in just avoiding them, perhaps. I think I would have seized up!

Something good to eat and then on to Lisa O'Neill. One of my most favourite artists. Lisa did not disappoint, and a big thank you to her for performing so soon after the death of a close relative. There's a lot of chat between and around the songs, most of it political, Lisa is a woman in tune with our times. It was so impressive that two people could so brilliantly re-create the complex sounds of the last album, stunning. Don't miss Lisa if she plays near you, you will not be disappointed.

https://lisaoneill.ie/home/shop/

Back to the present, or, at least the more recent past.

Much time expended in trying to prevent the closure of our local library. Not unexpectedly the SNP majority council (but not controlled) behaving in a shitty manner. OK, so there's no money, or at least not enough, but, FFS this is a democracy not your own fiefdom. More proof that the SNP's time is done, like Blair's Labour, a hugely wasted opportunity, a chance to do something lasting and good pretty much entirely squandered for short-term politics and the distraction of independence (their hopeless pipe-dream). Having sat, or at least pondered sitting, briefly, on the independent fence (I voted No though) their performance of recent years has convinced me that this is not a party capable of independent government, let alone a party to be trusted with anything more consequential than Hornby OO.

Younger daughter and I watched Paterson, she'd never seen it. It remains my most likely contender for favourite movie ever. I love the cyclical, intentionally coincidential nature of it. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch it is a work of gentle genius. And coincidentally elder daughter had recently, and entirely independently, declared her liking for it. 

Lastly, the play list.... some great stuff in this one with new albums by Bill Callaghan (Live), Fontaines D.C. and Arab Strap. Also, a new entrant to my greatest ever pop single collection, welcome Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan.