Ross Maclean

It was Byrne’s Night and as close to a homecoming gig as you’re going to get. David Byrne is an artist I’ve been longing to see for years and I’m glad I got a chance in Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ with a show that was absolutely extraordinary, life affirming stuff.

When the actual number is a nice round 25, why would you write it up as “nearly 30”?

Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ and a first time seeing Lily Allen at her first ever public performance of West End Girl in its entirety, staged like a retro 60s one-woman play.

Incidentally, One Day: The Musical was really wonderful. Brilliantly captured a 90s Brit romcom vibe (right down to a performance channeling Hugh Grant) and powerfully staged in the round. Run, don’t walk (and definitely don’t cycle) to get a ticket.

Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ marches on and somehow, inexplicably this was my first gig at the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. Die Spitz were a helluva band to christen my raucous first visit with.

Yes, very impressive!

No worries! It threw me for a loop when I booked too. Basically, none of the usual stalls seating is used and they’ve built a raised central stage over what would be the front of the stage and front of the stalls, then added new seating to both sides.

Really good! And so much movement that there’s no favouritism of one perspective.

Not sure I can quite wrap my head round this being @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social. Talk about a revamp for One Day: The Musical. We’re sat on stage I guess!

Sounds like it was a shitshow this morning. I was lucky that I spotted they randomly launched the presale at about 10.30pm on Wednesday night.

I have sympathy for everyone affected by this and that definitely includes Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. But the reason I single out John is that he’s the one whose actions are being scrutinised and they’re being ascribed intention that wasn’t there.

Sorry, I get what you’re saying but he doesn’t owe anyone an apology for having a disability and that disability manifesting in the worst possible way, which he has no control over. It was horrible, there’s no getting around that. But it happened and no one wins here.

Nobody wanted to hear it. That’s why I said it was deeply unpleasant to see. But, importantly, he didn’t want to say it.

No one is saying it wasn’t deeply unpleasant to see but a bit of understanding would be a solid idea.

Lotta Tourette’s experts logging on tonight.

Feel awful for John Davidson, a man who has done so much good work, to have his condition and intentions scrutinised like this on the biggest platform he’s ever had and in an age of worldwide social media armchair analysis.

Galashiels shoutout at the #EEBAFTAs klaxon!

Priscilla (Sofia Coppola, 2023)

The only thing that’s disappointing about Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC is that we came sooo close to getting the remastered version of this footage and didn’t.

They Are Gutting a Body of Water (TAGABOW) are a band I was only introduced to recently but watching them in the middle of The Classic Grand last night was already a punchy, woozy highlight of Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™.

Another entry in Ross’s Second Year of Live Music™ and one of the most reliably great live acts around, Suede, giving the songs from their newest album a run out at The Usher Hall alongside some of my favourite songs ever.

Yes, very much Not Ideal.

Going to see Jodie Comer performing in Prima Facie while Louis CK plays to a sold out crowd in the building right next door is quite the vibe.

Jason Statham’s little lighthouse island in the film Shelter was filmed on Uri Geller’s Lamb island in the Forth, just off North Berwick (he’s thanked in the credits and everything). Yes, the same island where he just granted Trump presidency.

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Their response on Facebook was… to block me then just swap out my image for someone else’s uncredited image. But I wouldn’t know since I can no longer see their presence on Facebook whatsoever.

Oh, just @stereogum.com using one of my images to illustrate their story over on Facebook without any credit.