Three From Leith

Three songs, two from the East of Scotland and one from the West ! Evening News and Evening Times - yes, Edinburgh and Glasgow !

This week's show was done whilst reclining in my lovely new chair; does it make me sound more laid back ?!



I seem to be on a run of Scottish music at the moment, but as I explain in the show I'm being inundated with incredible music from local bands. Doing one show a week playing three tracks means that I'm just not able to fit in everything that I want to play. So, to all the bands still waiting to be played, bear with me - I'm getting there !!

This week's bands who came out of the big lucky bag of splendiferous tunes are:



The Silent Revolution - Tonight
Email the band
MySpace
Buy the music

Chocyamo - Bernard Drake
Email the band
MySpace
Buy the music - contact the band for details

The Ocean Floor - The Whole Animal
Email the band
MySpace
Buy the music

Splendid soundbeds as always by torchomatic

Comments by Jasna
TFL Synth voices by Alex Aitken

This week's Scottish Expression is "blether" as I'm sometimes accusing Jasna of being one when she havers on (I'll cover 'haver' another time !!)

Apologies for the rather shortened shownotes this week; I'm still looking after Jasna more nights a week than usual so time is rather short again. Maybe next week....

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

If you've found your way here from the Edinburgh Evening News article, welcome !

Three From Leith has one purpose - to bring you music that you'd probably never hear anywhere else. Be it local, national or international; it's all from independent or unsigned bands who're ploughing their own musical furrow without record industry support or interference.

Please don't take from this that the music is of an inferior quality or will be a muffled, crackly demo that's unlistenable. It's most definitely not ! It's all incredible stuff which is superbly produced and put together. These artists don't need to fulfil any contractual obligations to put an album out by a certain date, so you'll not find filler tracks that are only there to pad out the one or two decent songs that they'd written in the allocated time. They can take their time and stay true to their own artistic vision with no need to compromise.

It seems that the press and the industry are slowly catching on, following the success of Nizlopi and now the Arctic Monkeys, who're successful of their own accord and who don't need record-company millions pumped into publicity campaigns to get there. They're now realising that artists can do it themselves and make money, and they're getting worried.

So - sit back, download a few shows and enjoy the incredible wealth of talent that's out there. If you like what you hear, you can contact the artists direct and you'll get a personal reply. How many artists that you buy in HMV or Virgin would do that ? How many will take the time to chat to you and will be genuinely pleased that you got in touch ?

And if you really enjoy the music, why not spend a few quid and buy from the artist direct ? Help them continue to make great music and provide you and I with unmeasurable listening pleasure. You won't regret it.

Apologies to the bands who I'd been planning to play this week, but after the Dropkick / Dead Beat Club gig at the Caledonian Backpackers Hostel last Friday I was put in the mood to play the bands I'd heard plus one which was new to me (I'd fallen into conversation with one of the band members and looked them up when I got home).

So, for a flavour of the gig I bring to you:

Dropkick - Top Of The World
From the amazingly catchy and incredibly witty 'Music To Watch Sheep By' album, which you really should buy. Tell the boys how much you enjoy them and pester Alastair to get the lyrics put online here. Or go and be their friend on their MySpace page.

The Dead Beat Club - Everything Turns To You
The band are going into the studio this week to record a 'live' performance of some of their material to capture that essence of the magic you feel at a gig. No multitracking, just setting up as a band and recording the whole band playing together. Keep your eye on their site and their MySpace page for details. Drop them a wee note here with some words of support and buy their wares.

The Sundowns - Wendy
I can't believe I hadn't heard this band before, but luckily I was speaking by chance to band member Ross who'd come along to see Dropkick and the Dead Beat Club. You can find out more at their site or on their MySpace page, and drop them a line via the message function on MySpace (as I don't have an email address for them and can't find one on their site).


The soundbed was supplied once more by the wonderful torchomatic.


Honourable mentions during the show to the following:
Sooz Rowan's "Cruisin' With Susan podcast" - TFL's 18-wheel lady US trucker friend
Molly From Omaha
Slowjet
Port O' Leith bar
Edinburgh Evening News


This week's Scottish Expression is the haws, as in "this scone is really nice - it's the haws, so it is"


Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Are you still local ?

Over the last few months, I've been receiving lots and lots of CDs from many local bands. Once more, I'm staggered at the sheer quality of music coming out of Auld Reekie and by the number of bands living, recording and playing in the city. You've heard some of the tracks spaced over the last month or so, but today is another all-Edinburgh show for your enjoyment. Three tracks, three different styles, three more treats for your ears !

Douglas Kay - How Can I Be Sure
A track from Douglas's brilliant "Of All The Towns To Sleep In" album which you can buy or download from his site. Visit his MySpace page or email Douglas with your feedback / comments.

A Very Secret History - Hatcheck Girl
RIP 'Calvin', here's Edinburgh's alt-popsters with a new name to reflect their sound and style. Visit their MySpace page or email them your feedback / comments.

The Mars Patrol - Turn It Around
Rock'n'Roll with the lovely Davina Devine and the band. Pop by their site, click their Shop link and check out the Hotpants for sale along side the CDs! Or you can visit them on MySpace or email them with your feedback / comments.


The soundbed music was supplied by the excellent torchomatic


This week's Scottish Expression was "to go your dinger", as in "she was fair gaun' her dinger" (she was extremely angry).

'Molly From Omaha says "promote"!' - Molly's blog for tips on promoting your podcasts

'The Electrical Language podcast' - Three From Leith's friend Gabor's excellent show !


Please feel free to leave comments about the show, music or just say 'hi'. Alternatively, drop me an email, visit my MySpace page or leave your pin on my Frappr map; details are in the sidebar on the right !


Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

You may have noticed that the site was all messed up graphically over the 11th - 13th January.

I'd had horrendous problems with my external webhosting and had cancelled the contract and taken my own personal domain name elsewhere. I forgot, however, that the CSS files and some of the graphics used on this blog page were hosted there so they went when the hosting went !

I've got new hosting sorted out now and hopefully the new company will be a much better and less stressful experience all round.

If you notice anything missing or looking strange (apart from me in my photo), please email me or leave a comment.

Thanks for being patient whilst this went on !

Welcome to Show 21 from the all-new, easier to remember www.threefromleith.com ! Yes, I've registered a snappier domain name to get you to the site. Hope you find it a bit handier !

After a few weeks where the shows have been leaning more towards the laid-back, it's time to change gear and veer more towards rock for today's show. Presuming you're all getting back into work (which I was when I recorded the show at the end of last week), this lot should kick-start you back into the working year:

King Bear - Fantasy Of Killing
Self-styled as 'Edinburgh's premier musical quartet', sounding like a cross between The Fall and Sigur Ros and featuring my old workmate Ian Jeffries, the band have only just put up their website. Email them with any comments or feedback.

Luva-Anna - The Ballad O' Boaby Smith
The boys from Dundee also have a MySpace page here, which has more information about them and their excellent blend of folk, indie and rock. You can email the band here.

The Haze - Restless and Wild
A Radiohead-esque track from this Bristol 4-piece. I can't find a website per-se, but they do have an online forum for the band where you can leave your feedback or ask them how to get hold of their music.


As always, the bands really appreciate hearing what you think about their music and are grateful for the support you show by buying their CDs and merchandise. 'Podcasting' was the word of the year in 2005 - let's make 2006 the year of the podsafe music artists. Even if you just email them and say 'Hi, heard you on Three From Leith', every single contact brings a little joy into their hearts !

Finally, check out loyal listener and commenter Gabor Kovac's great new show, 'The Electrical Language podcast' and the equally loyal and podcast-loving Molly's blog 'Molly From Omaha says "promote"!' for tips on promoting your podcast. My apologies to both - I waffled so much during the recording of the show that I overlooked my shownote bulletpoint 'mention Molly and Gabor's sites'. D'Oh....


Background music was 'The Silk Route' by Satya, and Denis Kitchen's 'Cebrella'.

A Happy and Prosperous New Year to everyone from Three From Leith ! I actually recorded the show on the 30th December, but these show notes are being written on January the 2nd as I wanted to see in 2006 before totally 'completing' show 20. I hope you all had a good one; hopefully the resulting hangovers are all a distant memory by now and you're making the best possible start to any resolutions you've set yourself for the coming 12 months. I'm aiming to start shifting off the weight I've put on since I stopped smoking on January 4th 2004; two years of extra poundage I'd love to lose again ! If you're saying goodbye to the nicotine habit, good luck ! All I can say is that it's worth every ounce of willpower in the end.

Listen out for the new feature, "Scottish Expression Of The Week", and let me know what you think of it ! And remember it's a new month, so pop along and vote for Three From Leith and all your other favourite shows at Podcast Alley (link on the right).

And so to this week's selection of new music for the New Year:

Hungry Lucy - Rainfall
"May you have brighter tomorrows.." The fabulous War-N and Christa Belle with a hauntingly beautiful start to 2006. I've used the Christmas money I got from my Grandad and I've placed my order for their "To Kill A King" CD . Check out their latest 'Tea With Hungry Lucy' podcast, watch their documentaries, buy their music and drop War-N a note of encouragement. He's a great, gentle guy and he always replies to emails.


Lena - Oh My Lady
The stunningly compelling vocal and songwriting talents of Lena Anderssen, in collaboration with Niclas Johannesen (whose efforts in getting me a copy of the "Can't Erase It" album get my undying thanks and gratitude). It's not available in the UK or the US yet, but it can be downloaded from this Danish site (if you understand Danish !) for around 7 GBP or about 12 USD at current exchange rates. You can also email Marie Hecht at artpeople and ask for release details for other parts of the world.


Fischer-Z - Beep
From an artist who's been a personal favourite and hero of mine since I discovered him and Fischer-Z in 1983 , I'm thrilled - with permission from John - to be able to start bringing you John Watts' music. In my opinion, one of the UK's finest singer / songwriters who deserves much more recognition for his talents. This song was taken from the 'Ether' album, which was "a combination of music album and accompanying road movie applying the principles of spontaneous live music-making to the recording process." In simple terms, he set off around the world with some rough song outlines, a laptop and recording software and met up with musicians and the public along the way to turn these into the finished items.

This year’s new double album and poetry book ‘Real Life Is Good Enough’ represents "a fresh new era for John; a return to more organic music-making, humorous writing and presenting his new work live on an extensive concert tour in a two-piece format with drummer and multi-instrumentalist Sam Walker." It's coming soon to the UK, so keep your eyes on the website !

Soundbed music this week was Cebrella by Denis Kitchen

Sorry everyone; for some reason, Blogger decided to create a feed to give you 'Tea With Hungry Lucy - 7' rather than Three From Leith 20. Seems that if you link to another podcast show within a post, it thinks that's your show file.... arghhh !!

I'm attempting to reinstate show 20 now...

My apologies.