Food for Songs

I'm sure everyone who reads this blog is well aware that Neil Finn makes my knees weak from sheer songwriting talent and that voice. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a perfect pop song, BUT someone I love for all the same reasons is Justin Currie and I don't talk about it as much because not many people know who he is.

When he was just in his teens, he formed the band Del Amitri in Glasgow. They are one of those bands that you love when they come on the radio but often forget to go buy their records. We were outraged when they did not make the list of Scotland's Top 50 bands of all time. Robbery! Justin's solo career is even more obscure, but the songs are just as good, the lyrics are sarcastic and slightly toxic at times (which I like) but always poetic, he has a great sense of alliteration and the voice is perfection.

Seconds before midnight at the Toad Tavern:

I have been obsessed with Justin's new album The Great War since it came out, and was actually super-torn when U2 was scheduled on the same day as his Denver show. Ultimately, I did not have to choose due to the U2 date being postponed because of Bono's back surgery (Get well soon!).

Saturday night was the show, and Randy actually got off work early to come with me. We bought a ticket for him while standing in line to get in and made some new friends, sisters Karen & Jane, in line who had much in common with me musically. We discussed the Neil Finn obsession, the Hoodoo Gurus, and how great that Alarm show at the Rainbow Music Hall was.

My Glaswegian friend Doug has met Justin a couple times and told me that he had said he would no longer be performing Del Amitri song, but to our surprise, Justin mixed several Del Amitri songs in the set. I was glued, and probably looked like a real geek from the permanent smile on my face throughout the show.

Afterwards, we went up to say hello and discussed a bit of Glasgow neighborhood geography. It made me homesick for our "other" hometown and the simple life we had there for just a short time in 2004. I told him we lived near the council flats in the shadow of the Finnieston Crane.

"What a weird neighborhood to stay in," he said. "There are definitely some neighborhoods you wouldn't want to walk in at night in Glasgow."

"We felt pretty safe there until we told a Belfast man that we heard no gunshots and he told us the knives don't make any noise unless they hit a rib."

"Oh, for f^(k$ sake!" he said laughing.

I really miss hearing Scottish people swear. Something about that accent makes it seem right instead of wrong. Is that bad?

Mostly, though, the show inspired me musically.

Since the show, I find myself conflicted between feeling a real urge to pick up the guitar and write better, more poetic lyrics, and the sinking feeling that I will never ever do it as well as this guy. Yesterday, I picked the guitar up and gave it a whirl. Nothing solid yet, but I am listening obsessively to the entire Del Amitri/Justin Currie collection in hopes that something intangible will sink in.

Setlist (not in perfect order)

Always The Last To Know
Never Too Late to be Alone
Just Like a Man
A Man With Nothing to Do
Home Is Anywhere (I'm Away from You)

Move Away Jimmie Blue
Why Would I Do That?
Not Where It's At
The Way That It Falls
Tell Her
What Is Love For
Driving With the Brakes On
The Fight to Be Human
Whiskey Remorse
Nothing Ever Happens
Can't Let Go Of Her Now
No Family Man

Be My Downfall
No, Surrender