Added on Monday 28 Dec 2009

West End Volume 19

There's a feeling of dread that normally overcomes me in the run up to Christmas. It isn't the thought of seeing relatives that I'd rather not see either. Or the thought of slow lingering death by turkey and cranberry sauce. It's the sudden inrush of the amateur drinker to the watering holes of dear old Glasgow.

Only this year it didn't really happen. In fact, there didn't seem to be very much of any kind of drinker out to enjoy the festive cheer. Crossing Glasgow to do another review, I walked by many restaurants that were barely occupied and bars that were likewise far from busy. I'm diligent in my research so I stopped in out of the cold at few times just to confirm things.

The venues with live music had pretty much the same people that you normally see at gigs too. I don't think it was all due to the recession either. Christmas doesn't really matter anymore. Certainly not in music anyway and I doubt you'll ever see the likes of a Phil Spector Christmas Album again (unless Simon Cowell deems there should be one, of course). The UK Music Charts give little indication of the time of the year barring the fact that the likes of The Pogues and Mariah Carey have gotten dusted off once more. There are times when you miss Cliff Richard...

So what am I listening to at the moment? Actually, it's not Christmas songs. It's a hand rolled Havana cigar of an EP just out by Louise McVey and Cracks in the Concrete. I've been lighting that one up a lot recently. I enjoy being consumed by its fire.

Louise McVey and Cracks in the Concrete - www.myspace.com/louiseandcracks