Saturday 21st October 2023
My trip in the UK has definitely been 'live music' focused and tonight was another concert.
Lindesfarne- a folk rock band that is part of the soundtrack of my youth.
A while back I was wondering which bands would I still like to see, and this one and Moody Blues were the two I thought of. I saw an ad promoting tonight's show and the timing fitted in so I booked it. My brother is still on holiday in Spain so it meant that I was going solo. After my early morning bus didn't arrive on my race running day a few weeks back, I panicked thinking about getting across the river to Paisley late at night. So I found a great deal for a hotel fairly close to the venue and that's where I'm writing this from.
The concert was held in the MacKintosh Church, which I didn't know existed. Ironically it was in the area where my late uncle used to live and I must have passed it many times on route to visit him, when I was 21. Charles Rennie MacKintosh is a favourite designer of mine (and many Scots) so it was extra special when I discovered that he'd actually designed the building I was heading towards.
I had had an early dinner and planned to walk to the venue seeing as the rain clouds vanished and late afternoon sun was making all the buildings glow. I recognised the area where my Gran had lived and I spotted some street art. The walk was delightful although a touch icy. But seeing the church shine from afar made me smile and being really early I took many photos and walked around for 40 minutes before a queue formed outside the venue.
Once inside, I sat in the narrow church pews of the converted Church of Scotland and gaped at the space. The simple details on the wood panels, the telltale design of Charles in the huge alter/stage windows and the elegant roof are quite a contrast to some of the more ornately decorated churches I've been in. The acoustics weren't that good unfortunately, but I may have sat too close to the front, I could hear the actual drums louder than the speakers, but that's my sound mixer side complaining.
The band were excellent and they had 13 guitars, 1 keys, 1 double bass, 1 violin (fiddle?) And a set of drums.
5 men all squeezed on a tiny alter. It was nice seeing them so close and I was reminded how great it is to hear live music. The 400+ crowd were lively and happy and the band seemed genuinely thankful for the Glasgow welcome. A lot of the songs I didn't know, so it was good to simply listen and appreciate the skill of the musicians. I'm amazed that the guitarist, Rod Clements manages to play so well at the age of 75 without arthritic fingers. The present lead vocalist is married to the late original vocalist's daughter, and now sings the songs of his father in law. It was a great show.
'Fog on the Tyne' was 'meeting me on the corner' as I decided to not 'run for home' and got an Uber instead. (Those are song titles, lol) it's midnight and my jokes are weak. But my heart is full.
Comments