What Is It About Elbow And Why Did Fish Have To Leave Marillion?

I absolutely love Elbow. The band, that is. I just downloaded their newest 'album', "The Seldom Seen Kid", (not yet available in the States) and again, another fantastic musical journey from them. What is it that draws me in so much? Is it Guy Garvey's vocals? Is it the fascinating collection of weird sounds intermixed beautifully with flowing melodies? I think it is everything. So many unique and now easily identifiable 'Elbowescences' yet you never know what you're going to get next. Fantastic stuff!

So far, "A Cast Of Thousands" is still my favorite but "The Seldom Seen Kid" has tons of potential and could propel it upward in my obscure and ever-changing ranking of favorite recordings. If you've not heard them, I urge you to check them out as soon as humanly possible. I first heard them (and probably NEVER would have otherwise) on Vic Galloway's show, Mondays on BBC Radio Scotland, available both in real time and by 'Listen Again' for up to a week after on the BBC Radio Scotland website.

I also drug out Marillion's "Misplaced Childhood" again today. This and "Clutching At Straws" are my favorite Marillion 'albums' although I find no fault in "Script For A Jester's Tear" nor "Fugazi" - in short, I love Fish era Marillion. It is such a tragedy that that particular lineup could not stay together. I do not wish present day Marillion any ill-will but the music they made during the Fish years was second to none and in my opinion stands the test of time. It has not been surpassed by any band of this 'ilk', 'genre', whatever one wishes to call it. And Fish hasn't achieved anything anywhere near the quality of this music despite doing some decent stuff as a solo artist.

On a completely unrelated subject. Tomorrow (Saturday) is yet another Glasgow Derby between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox. Rangers lead the SPL over Celtic by a mere 3 points so GO CELTIC!

Unfortunately, still no Boilermaker pots!

Out!
Neil

The Waiting Is The Hardest Part!

Yes, I am as impatient as a small child when it comes to waiting for something I have been consumed with desire for. Yes, you know, that "I MUST have it!" feeling that grips one upon first seeing something new and exciting that will most certainly change one's life.

What is this newest something that has so captured my longing? Why, new brewpots of course! Not just any brewpots, no. These are (or had better be) THE coolest brewpots on the planet! They are called "Boilermakers" made by Blichmann Engineering in my home state of Indiana (pictured right). Now, since I also went to Purdue University, home of the Purdue BOILERMAKERS, this was one of the first things that gripped me about this new pot for homebrewing that reached out to me and said "you will be mine!". But, it is not the name that makes these so awe inspiring. It is the design and the 'all of the best features' aspect that makes these so compelling. The homebrew digests around the web all complain about the price but for the quality of what you are getting I don't consider it out of line. So much so that I've decided to replace my current mash tun and brewing 'copper' with two new Boilermakers. I already own just about everything John Blichmann has designed with the exception of a conical fermenter and have found everything to be of the best quality of anything I've purchased and all well engineered. I'm most eager to try out the mash tun false bottom design. This is the most unique one I have seen and is supposed to be the best of both the straight false bottom and the manifold false bottom designs. You can learn more about them at: www.blichmannengineering.com.

Now, the hard part, Tom Petty - The Waiting. I placed my order over two weeks ago and John responded to a recent email that it might be another two weeks before they are on their way to me. Apparently, demand has been high which is a good thing. This is very difficult for someone as impatient as me to deal with but, as Monty Python said "Wait for it!...". More to come, stay posted.

SXSW

Well, another South-By-Southwest Music Festival has come and gone. Unlike most Austinites who flee the city during this week of mayhem, the last few years I've attended the Scottish Showcase promoted by the Scottish Arts Council and hosted by the one and only Vic Galloway (pictured here) of BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio One. This year I also attended showcases for new music from Wales and from Northern Ireland. While nearly all the bands were very good, I have to say in all honesty the Scottish bands this year were the best and perhaps the finest set representing Scotland sent to SXSW over the years.



All the British showcases were held at a club called Latitude 30, temporarily renamed the British Music Embassy (pictured right). In the New Music From Wales Showcase on Thursday I had really hoped to catch Duffy, the hot new R&B artist from Wales. Well, as I highly suspicioned, she was removed from the list probably due to her newly found fame. This happens quite often with SXSW for some reason. Many artists are signed on for the festival as virtual nobodies but a hit single or CD released just before SXSW propels them out of that status and they no longer perform in anything but exclusive gigs. I don't think, stylistically, she would have molded very well with the other Welsh artists, however. The other bands, in particular, People In Planes, were all really good. I also quite enjoyed Christopher Rees. Sincere congratulations to the Welsh Rugby team as well for their incredible Grand Slam in the Six Nations!

As for Scotland, I think the biggest buzz was surrounding Frightened Rabbit (pictured left). I was unable to catch their showcase gig and although their appearance at the Scottish Showcase was fraught with equipment issues and them being rushed due to the showcase being behind schedule, they were absolutely brilliant!

The other band I really enjoyed were The Dykeenies (pictured right). Again, unfortunately, I didn't make their showcase gig but their performance at the Scottish Showcase was one of, if not the, best and the crowd was really, really in to them. Outstanding performance.



All the other Scottish performers at the showcase were fantastic as well and all were real crowd-pleasers. It is not possible to say a bad thing about any of their performances. Sons & Daughters and Make Model were great and I really liked Inverness band Jyrojets.

I felt really bad for the opening act, Stornoway based Our Lunar Activities (pictured left). As if it wasn't bad enough that their equipment never made it to Austin and they had to borrow from their country-mates as well as a kind donation from Taylor Guitars, they were unreasonably delayed in starting due to equipment problems that ultimately put the entire showcase behind by about an hour. Cheers to them, they rolled with the punches and put in a great performance!

All in all, an outstanding showing from all the Scottish artists. I hope they enjoyed their time in Austin as much as we enjoyed having them.

Cheers!
Neil

Brewing, More 6 Nations, and Upcoming SXSW

Well, it's a weekend of excitement. It's the next to the last weekend of the best Rugby tournament in the world - the Six Nations. For the weekend, the excitement will be Ireland facing undefeated Wales and Scotland v England at Murrayfield. I hope it is pishing rain and howling wind in Edinburgh! Go Scotland!

Brewing day tomorrow, exciting as well. Two all grain batches to be done so a full day. It'll be my signature IPA and a complete "wing it" I call "Welsh Dragon". Since Scotland has gone belly up in the Six Nations and Ireland already has a loss, I'm counting on Wales to be undefeated and this will be a celebration ale in tribute to Wales. If something goes wrong, it'll be a "drown your sorrows". As long as a Celtic team wins, I'll still manage. It will also hopefully be the last day for my current brewing setup. I have two new brewing pots on order - the Blichmann Boilermaker pots - to replace my current mash tun and brewing kettle. These are the most awesome homebrewing pots I've seen. When I first saw them advertised, I knew I had to have them. Besides being the coolest pots on the planet at present, I went to Purdue - a "Boilermaker", and I grew up in Indiana, where Blichmann Engineering originates. If you're curious:
Boilermaker Brewing Pots. Did I mention this worldwide hop shortage SUCKS!?

Next week brings what most Austinites dread: the South-By-Southwest (SXSW) Music & Film Festival. Well, I don't dread it, I look forward to it every year once I found out you don't have to only do the wee hour shows. BBC Radio Scotland host and friend Vic Galloway will be here again next week and I'll be going to the Scotland and Wales showcases as well as any gigs I can get to for Scottish acts. Looking forward to Frightened Rabbit, Sons and Daughters and The Law from Scotland this year and Duffy from Wales.

Music wise, up next is The Hold Steady at Emo's end of March.

More after tomorrow's marathon brewing session.