The Hook ’n’ Pull Gang – Live at Clowns on the 4th of April 1986

Another great gig by this wonderful band that sadly published only one record during its first incarnation.
This tape was given to me by Fritz Van Helsing who sadly passed away a while back.
The sound has been cleaned a bit, thanks to Robin Woods. Don’t worry though. It’s still fiercely raw.



Set list:
• Pour it down your throat
• King clown
• Revenge of Al Green
• Gasoline
• Lick the pavement
• The ride
• Lovers
• Gonna be strong
• Headless chicken
• The ride
• Revenge of Al Green

The Thanes – Live in 1987 at Rumours

I'm afraid that I have been neglecting this blog for a few months. Given that I left you last October with The Green Telescopes, it seems appropriate to me to resume with The Thanes.

This concert was filmed in 1987 during a series of Thursday nights organized by Avalanche Records in the Cavern and Rumours, Edinburgh. The videos of the gigs were to be shown later in Avalanche Records shop.

Here they are at last for you lo-fi viewing / listening pleasure.

Warning: This video may feature a grumpy Lenny 😉

The Green Telescope – Live at De Stip (Amsterdam) – 30 August 1986

The Green Telescope were an amazing garage/psych mid-eighties band from Edinburgh, Scotland. They released two 45s, The “Two by Two” EP and “Face in a Crowd” single and participated to the “The Waking Dream” and “Beyond The Wildwood - A Tribute To Syd Barrett” compilations.

Lenny Helsing was on guitar and vocals, Alan McLeanon on bass, Bruce Lyall on organ and Gavin Henderson on drums which was replaced by Mal Kergan.

They later changed their name to The Thanes of Cawdor then The Thanes and are still active to this day under that name.

Here they are, recorded live in Amsterdam on the 30th of August 1986. Angus McPake is playing bass on that recording. He was standing in for Alan Mclean, just for that tour.



Setlist:
• Thinkin’ about today
• She was mine
• (I’m so) frustrated
• I could be happy
• Touch
• X+Y=13
• I am alone
• I cried my eyes out
• Who knows?
• It’s gonna rain
• Face in a crown
• Make me stay
• Kicks and chicks

Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes - Live at Rumours (Edinburgh) - 5 February 1987

If Rote Kapelle was on the Fall / Cravats side of the scene, Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes were Edinburgh somewhat darker answer to Blondie.

Andrew Tully, Angus McPake (bass guitar) and Margarita Vasquez-Ponte (drums) were in both bands. Kevin McMahon (guitars), Stuart Clarke (guitar) & Fran Schoppler (vocals) completed the line-up.

They may have been the proper happy sad pop band Edinburgh was looking for and would more than deserve to see their records reissued.

This concert was filmed in 1987 during a series of Thursday nights organized by Avalanche Records in the Cavern and Rumours, Edinburgh. The videos of the gigs were to be shown later in Avalanche Records shop.

Baby’s Got a Gun – Live in 1987 at the Cavern (Edinburgh)

“Baby’s Got a Gun” was the third album by the Only Ones, released in 1980.

It was also a Scottish band, active from 1985 until 1995 who, by their own admission, “punk’d up the eighties rock scene”. Here they are, live in Edinburgh at the Cavern in 1987.

The peculiar concert was filmed in 1987 during a series of Thursday nights organized by Avalanche Records in the Cavern and Rumours, Edinburgh. The videos of the gigs would be shown later in Avalanche Records shop. Since I was to leave Scotland before this would materialize, I begged Kevin Buckle to sell me advance copies of what had been filmed so far. He was kind enough to oblige me and here it is in all its lo-fi glory!

Sonic Youth – Live at Splash One (Glasgow) – 18 May 1986

On May 1986 our American cousins, Sonic Youth, came to visit Scotland.

On the 5th, they gave a feverish concert in Glasgow. They were at the peak of their Bad Moon Rising / Evol area. I still remember being in the front rows during the whole set and taking photographs (but more of that in a forthcoming post).

A few days later, in Edinburgh, I met someone who filmed that gig and who accepted to give me a copy. Here it is, digitized at last!

PS: If anyone knows the person who used to film indie gigs in Edinburgh and Glasgow around 1986, I would very much like to get in contact with him. He must have amazing archives, should he accept to share them 😉

The Pastels – Live at the Onion Cellar (Edinburgh) - 3 February 1986

The Pastels played the Onion Cellar on the 3 February 1986. Here is a bootleg tape I bought at the time.

I digitized it for your lo-fi enjoyment 😉