SAY Award

2014 -  Young Fathers - Tape 2

2013  -  RM Hubbert - Thirteen Lost and Found

2012 -  Aiden Moffat & Bill Wells - Everything's Getting older  
http://www.sayaward.com 

Scottish artists and musicians no longer need to travel and live in London, perhaps because the world wide web brings us all closer than ever before. 

This Scottish Album of the Year Award is for some of the top innovative new music in Scotland.

The style ranges from indie, hip-hop, rock, electronica and flamenco guitar.

Nominated Scottish Artists in 2014

Edwyn Collins – Understated (4AD)

Biffy Clyro – Opposites (14^th Floor)

Chvrches - The Bones Of What you Believe (Virgin)

Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest (Warp)

Hector Bizerk - Nobody See Nothing (self released)

Mogwai - Les Revenant (Rock Action)

Steve Mason - Monkey Minds in the Dark (Double Six)

The Pastels - Slow Sonnets (Domino)

Young Fathers - Tape 2 (Auticon)

http://www.young-fathers.com/

RM Hubbert Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2014

Guitarist and singer songwriter RM Hubbert supported Glasgow band Mogwai at the Glasgow concert hall. I had read that Hubbert's 2013 album had won the SAY (Scottish Album of the Year Award) 2013, so I came with some expectations to this concert. Even so, some artists take you off guard and as I have followed music over many years it can be all too easy to become jaded hearing samey songs.

Hubbert appeared genuine and unassuming musician, whose music was all about his guitar.

He played mostly instrumental tunes. For his second song he played his own very good interpretation of I Once Loved a Lass, a favourite folk song of mine. His next tune had moody beating drums guitar and a husky voice. He showed a clear understanding that music is firstly about what moves us and secondly about techniques and using those skilled to best ability.

He played his tunes with unexpected subtleties, strong strumming, dancing fingers, slow pauses, hesitant steps guitar strings plucking and questioning notes. He also managed to hold the packed concert hall attention throughout with both his informal chat and well crafted tunes.

On one particularly emotional tune, entitle For Joe, he spoke first about his parents death and that he felt able to speak to an audience - and I guess he gets to speak through his music too. This tune had talking guitar and expressed the many complex feelings of grief and loss – from  missing you to happy memories and returned to missing you feelings.

 

The singer Aiden Moffat joined Hubbert on stage of Car Song which was another highlight.    

I was truly impress and even bought the CD - this doesn't happen a lot! 

Hubbert is a member Scottish post rock band El Hombre Trajeado, and also a member of the Glaswegian DIY music scene since 1991.

Mogwai and RM Hubbert Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2014

 

Mogwai were the main event at this concert hall night. The band have recently released their studio album Rave Tapes to excellent reviews and with the album making the top ten UK.  I had heard of Scottish indie rockers or post rock band Mogwai but had never managed to see them live. 

It made a change to see a standing packed concert hall full of a younger crowd. Mogwai played a wall of blistering power driven guitar and synthesizer rock (or post rock).  The band played a few songs with vocals but mostly instrumental tracks.

Their music was heavily atmospheric with driving beats, long walls of sound alleyways, thunderous bass and strong dynamics - sometimes dark moody skies, forgotten places. They also took the tempo up for clearer skies too!.

It appeared that the band were lead by guitarist Stuart Braithwaite who played his guitar with a deep strength. They played energetic percussion and steady beats. They performed a slower song with only guitar, slow paced drums and hypnotic voice. For their encore set they added an electric violin.  

SET LIST here - http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mogwai/2014/royal-concert-hall-glasgow

Their sound reminded me of futuristic films such as the iconic Blade Runner. They also sounded somewhat like Icelandic band Sigor Ros who I saw live here a few years back. I went to look up what 'post rock' is and sure enough Sigor Ros are also post rock!   

This was the loudest gig I've ever been to at the concert hall!  I am certainly not sure the Celtic connections of their music except they are one of the biggest Scottish bands - so far removed from an acoustic singer songwriter or those fiddle reels!  I was also proud too of the evening, both of the high quality and diversity of music we have coming out of Scotland these days.   

RM Hubbert was the support for Mogwai - he was so good I am posting a separate review for him.  
Photos and Review Pauline Keightley - http://pkimage.co.uk/

Guitarist RM Hubbert

Sometimes the support artists are as interesting as the main artist at a gig. Such was the case for last night’s concert when guitarist and singer RM Hubbert took to the concert hall stage in support of Glasgow band Mogwai, Celtic Connections 2014,  (full review to follow)