The Rockingbirds, Edwyn Collins and Roddy Frame
The only Oyster Card holder that matters…
This weekend I’ve been to the Heavenly birthday celebrations in the South Bank.
The Rockingbirds are an eccentric bunch, they look the same now as they did 16 years ago when I first saw them. My sisters/friends and I opted to see them over the Magic Numbers (it’s hard to muster up much enthusiasm for the latter these days). Just to explain, it was an indoors festival, where you can wander between bands (it was quite odd to have allocated seats in a formal setting and be able to wander around, it felt quite disrespectful to have people slope off mid-song, but that’s festivals for you).
Later Andy Hackett and Sean from The Rockingbirds joined Edwyn Collins on stage, as did Roddy Frame. But it was a good 15 mins before I noticed the latter, I was too preoccupied being strangely fascinated and a bit shocked by how Collins’ has deteriorated. That was some stroke. Roddy Frame breathed incredible life into ‘rip it up’ and I dread to think how tired it would have sounded without him there, under the circumstances. Aztec Camera were the first band I saw in the late 80s, I thought he was cute then, and he’s still lovely.
The last time I saw Edwyn Collins live was at a friend’s wedding reception, 4 years ago now, so it was quite scary to see him last night, but he seems a brave soul and everyone looked like they were having a ball on stage, including him, so that was nice to see.
It was unexpectedly moving to celebrate 18 years of Heavenly. The main players are firm family friends; the label, its events and parties have been a part of my whole adult life. I first met some of them when I was just 16, which is, kerching, 18 years ago. Cue lots of mutual, how time flies conversations, but time really does fly, children, marriage, it’s all made us a bit more grown up. I even managed the Chemical Brothers after-show thingymajiggy sober. I couldn’t have imagined that a few years ago…
Edit: Now that’s an oyster card holder. I love it.
14/09/2008 at 09:40
Edders does look a bit shocking, but I’ve seen him do two post-brain haemhorrage gigs and although it is initially horrid to see Our Hero like that, after a few songs you realise the voice and wit are still there. Still, never to be able to stride on stage like some tall, broad, witty Gretsch god must be a horrid prospect.
You going to see Rodders at the Cadogan Hall?
14/09/2008 at 11:11
After last night, may well do Clair. Will look into it…
15/09/2008 at 13:12
So did you see the Manics?!!!!!
15/09/2008 at 15:34
Unfortunately not Cocktails but apparently they were better than ace!
16/09/2008 at 06:54
Ah, young Roddy Frame.
I work about 5 minutes from Westwood in East Kilbride, the place that he sings about in Aztec Camera’s ‘Somewhere In My Heart’.
“From Westwood to Hollywood
The one thing that’s understood…”
Hardly a claim to fame, granted.
16/09/2008 at 09:19
He’s lookin’ good, kid.