Ten for Today

Apologies for the lack of recent posts - sunshine and the World Cup have taken precedent!

Anyway, here's ten songs that I've listened to today on my iPod whilst out in the sunshine:

1.Broken Social Scene - World Sick
2.American Analog Set - First of Four
3. Rare Earth - Get Ready
4.Love is All - Spinning and Scratching
5.Four Tet - Harmony One
6.Secret Machines - Lightning Blue Eyes
7.M Ward - Sad, Sad Song
8.Galaxie 500 - Jerome
9.R.E.M - Swan Swan H (acoustic)
10.The Ruby Suns - Trepidation, Pt.1

Here's a preview of what's to come on the blog: reviews of the latest releases from Blitzen Trapper, Mountain Man and Local Natives. The latter isn't particularly new, but it's new to me!

It's Hard To Be Humble When You're From Alabama

Last night, in the Captain's Rest in Glasgow, magic happened.

Phosphorescent played at the venue for what I count as being the third time in as many years. In a sweltering basement, Matthew Houck and his band played a set heavy with songs from new album Here's To Taking It Easy, plus some ecstatically received classic from earlier albums.

It's comforting to report that as well as being a talented musician, Matthew Houck is an all-round good egg, full of southern charm and generosity. He kindly allowed a ticketless friend of mine into the sold-out gig, which was greeted with a proposal of marriage. I've yet to hear if this proposal was accepted.

Before we get to the actual gig, it's worth mentioning support band Forest Fire. They were a marvellous surprise, a band with nods to 70s country rock, Smog, Jason Molina and Kingsbury Manx. Worth checking out, even just for the incredible moustaches.

On, then, to Phosphorescent. The new songs translated brilliantly to a live setting, it's clear that this band love playing with each other, transforming the album tracks into country classics worthy of a place at the Grand Ole Opry. However, it's the well-worn Phosphorescent tracks that always leave me breathless.

I will never, ever, tire of hearing 'Wolves', 'Joe Tex, These Taming Blues...', 'A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise' and gig standout 'Dead Heart', which morphed into a Crazy Horse style rocker to end the night in curfew-breaking style.

There was still room, earlier in the night, mind, to fit in a couple of Willie Nelson standards, as finely crooned as they were on 2009's To Willie.

This was absolutely worth braving the heat, sweat, and general airlessness of the Captain's Rest on a Friday night. A beautiful gig by a beautiful man.