diary
Refugee Week Scotland
I was invited recently to take part in the launch of this year’s Refugee Week, and in particular the part played by the Scottish Refugee Council, based in Glasgow.
Having never really got to grips with geography or modern studies at school, I must admit I questioned the Council’s wisdom in approaching me but as the focus of this year’s event is Home and what it means to refugees now making a life in Glasgow, I thought I would at least be able to contribute to this having lived in the fair city for 20 years now. 20 years? How the hell did that happen?
Myself, John Byrne and a few other folks who I didn’t have the opportunity to meet were invited to ‘interview’ a few refugees who now live in Glasgow and are making a new home here, leaving behind an unimaginable troubled past in the country they had to flee. The interviews were recorded and I believe can be found on YouTube and various other places on the internet.
It was a quite unique experience to take part in. I visited a couple of women in their flats in Glasgow and they proceeded to give me their own personal account of what life had been like for them since arriving here. Despite the fact that they may have no possessions to speak of, have family remaining in their home country and an uncertain future, these women were both extremely positive about and extremely appreciative of their current position. What they wanted out of life was by the standards of the West modest but their appreciation of it apparent. They were both studying or planning to study, with high profile jobs or achievements already behind them, and with plans of work helping future refugees in their sights.
Having somewhat disappointingly been warned of Glasgow being ‘racist and dangerous’ before they arrived here they happily have both had a very positive experience settling in, finding the city’s people to be consistently helpful, approachable, supportive and sympathetic to their position. The media does have a lot to answer for in my opinion prolonging negative coverage of supposed racist attitudes in Scotland, and the UK for that matter, but the accounts of these 2 women would support the fact that Glasgow is a wonderfully welcoming city and one that they now happily see as home.
It’s only too easy to just have a rough awareness of these issues, gradually borne through media and third party experience, but I must admit that to actually take part in something has made the whole reality of the situation much more tangible and digestible to me.
If you fancy taking part, going along to one of the many events or just reading a bit more to find out the background of many of our country’s refugees take a look at the Refugee Week Events list and Simple Acts campaign.
Homegame 2009
I need to write this quickly as I’m in the middle of watching an episode of ‘Deadwood’ and I’m finally managing to get the hang of it. Paul has also gone to make some toast so I really need to be quick here as he’ll be back in a minute…
Homegame was magic. It’s the first time I’ve taken the whole family up and we’ve spent the weekend there. I played a rather compromised set on the Friday night as the sound guy (sorry, you mean there was one?) managed to fuck the sound up so much that Paul had to take over from halfway through the first song.
I was oblivious to all of this of course and was busy concentrating on trying to get to the end of the five new songs that I played as part of the set. For two of them, ‘The Night Is Heavy’ and ‘Chemistry Will Find Me’ I had Adem join me on stage as he’s recorded vocals with me for both songs on the new album and they sound fantastic.
Right after the solo set, I had to run over to another hall to play The Burns Unit set, which was a whirlwind affair and over before we knew it. Our usual bass player Sushil Dade was unable to play with us on Friday as he was ill so we drafted in Dave McGowan (Teenage Fanclub, Isobel Campbell) to fill in at the last minute. I really do mean the last minute – he was sent the songs the night before at 5pm and managed to play them faultlessly just over 24 hrs later.
And I was standing on stage with my lyrics still in front of me.
Easter Break? What Easter Break?
Apparently it’s a bank holiday this weekend. I wouldn’t know however, as I’m currently holed up in the studio (Chem19 in sunny Blantyre) trying to make sense of the collection of words and music that is to become album number two.
It’s quite easy to forget about holidays when you’re self employed and have no one to tell you when you need to start working, which of course I’m sure sounds lovely, but also leads to the unfortunate fact that no one tells you when to stop working either and go on holiday.
So it would appear that everyone and their dog is currently on holiday just now, pretending the British weather is better than it actually is and prancing about on windy beaches trying hard not to get sand in their mouth and lay their towel down on a defiled section of British beach.
What a horrid image. I think I’m going to just keep working…
Happy Easter everyone.
Lazy, Lazy Arse
I have been racked with guilt recently with the knowledge that my diary has been so neglected. So here I am now, at last to try and redeem myself. The year so far hasn’t been quiet – I just haven’t been telling you about it. Sometimes it’s easy to get out of the way of a diary, especially when you find it hard to find the words, as I so often do. I’m not a born communicator – don’t like the phone much, can’t be bothered with chat for the sake of chat. So diaries are a little alien to me. Important though, which is why I’m here now writing instead of searching the kitchen cupboards for something that might pass for lunch.
I’ve been touring in Spain in March, touring with the Burnsong Project in May and playing festivals in both Spain and the UK during the summer. And then there’s been the writing of new material on and off since the new year.
Spain was wonderful – both the tour in March and the festival, Contempopranea, in July. Delgados always did pretty well over there. We’d arrive having sold ten albums and get a sell out audience in Madrid in a large hall. Mental. It’s the piracy thing. A load of people know your music, but they didn’t pay for it – they blagged it. At least they can still sing along at the gigs though.
I lost my voice during the gigs in March in Spain. Proper lost it. Couldn’t speak. In fact during the Murcia gig I cancelled the gig during the day but was then persuaded to go to a local private hospital, get a steroid injection (to relax my throat muscles) so I could still sing for the show. I did the gig that night at about 1am with only acoustic backing so I didn’t have to yell over the full drum kit. It went fine, but I pretty much knackered my voice for a few months after it and didn’t have the same range or control. Now that was pretty scary. Don’t do it kids!
I have much to tell about what has gone on over the past months, but as I don’t like to make diary entries too long, I’ll save some retrospective musings till next time.
I’m off for my lunch.
Bye for now.
New Pornographers Tour Diary Part 3
Okay – I know this is so late it’s almost not worth putting up anymore, but here is the last of the tour diary I kept whilst on tour with the band in the US last year. It stops at Seattle because I was so frazzled by that point that I couldn’t write it anymore.
The remaining gigs on the West Coast were great fun though and we got to spend some time with Jim Putnam of the Radar Bros. as he was doing sound for us. Top bloke. The Radar Bros. have got a new album coming out very soon on Chemikal Underground by the way and it’s marvellous.
Anyway, here goes…
29th
Atlanta – Day Off
Today we have a day off. I usually don’t like days off as I get bored and end up sleeping as I don’t have a gig to wake me up. Today was great though and Erin and I went to the cinema (Tara Theatre) to see The Darjeeling Ltd. It’s a
great film by Wes Anderson and I loved it. Great cinematography, characters and a great atmosphere to it. Came out very happy and then headed to the Spybee just in enough time to have one of the greatest Thai meals I’ve ever had. Joy.
Jonny and Graeme and Jamie went on a shopping spree. They all came back with new jeans and sunglasses. I thought I was the one that was meant to do that?
30th
Atlanta – Variety Playhouse
Today our bus driver was fired. This was pretty funny but pretty intense for our poor tour manager. The driver, who shall remain nameless, had been dumping the chemical toilet on the highway, which as well as being downright out of order is also highly illegal. Jenn, our tour manager, pointed this out to him and he went ballistic. He called her an incompetent bitch and then Jenn fired him. I’ve never lost a driver in all the years Delgados were together so this is a first. I hope we have someone to drive us to New Orleans tonight.
There was a fantastic bike shop next to the venue today
31st
New Orleans – House Of Blues
Halloween tonight and in this city they take it very seriously. All of the New Pornographers are getting dressed up for it and so feeling under pressure to do something ourselves I took a walk round the nearby streets for inspiration. I came across a bunch of amazing antique shops (makes a change from bars) and found a shop that sold out watches. I’ve always had a thing for watches. There are few things I’m willing to spend a lot of cash on, for example I really don’t enjoy shopping for clothes to anywhere near the extent of most of my female friends, but watches, shoes and bags are worth every penny if you find the right ones. However, I wasn’t really in a position to part with $500 for an antique Rolex, beautiful though it was.
I eventually found a shop full of opera glasses and was convinced that was the answer for our costumes. I went back to find the rest of the band and we went shopping. We found some feather boas next door and the job was done. You really have to see the photos to understand quite what Jamie looked like as words fail me.
1st Nov
Houston – Warehouse Live
This weather is insane! I got off the bus today and couldn’t believe how oppressive it was. This is November and everyone has shorts and t-shirt on. I do love warm weather but I couldn’t do this every day. No way.
There’s a massive car park outside the venue so after the gig we played Frisbee which even in the dark was immense fun. We then had a car park party. The temperature post midnight is more my kind of thing.
2nd Nov
Dallas – House Of Blues
Frightened Rabbit were playing tonight at the Cavern so we all fled over there as soon as the NPs came off stage. It was good to see them and hear some more Scottish accents. They’ve been on tour for the same length of time as us and they’ll be supporting Mum later on too. Catch them if you can.
3rd Nov
Austin – Fun Fun Fun Festival
Another extraordinarily hot day with us playing early afternoon so under the full heat of the sun. I was exhausted playing today. Afternoon gigs in daylight are just weird. I met a friend afterwards and we drank margaritas in front of the Colorado River at the back of a hotel off Red River Road. It was a welcome sight and I realised how much I pine for large expanses of water when I’m away from Glasgow. I always head up north to Loch Lomond after touring the US to get my fix.
7th November
Evanston, WY – Day Off
We’re on our way to Seattle now and have parked at a Best Western Hotel in the middle of nowhere. We’re so bored that we did the laundry today, as it was actually the most exciting option available to us. We were the only people in the Laundromat and I bought a pack of cards and played patience for a while. Rock and Roll. Then we visited the local supermarket and bought a chicken for dinner.
Now we’re back at the hotel watching Die Hard, and Jamie’s shoes have just been thrown outside the room, as they smelled so bad we couldn’t breathe.
It was chemical warfare. That boy really does have to sort his feet out or he’ll be hitching to Seattle.
8th November
Seattle – Crocodile Café
It may be a cliché already but Seattle really does offer the best coffee.
I’ve been in the US for weeks now and so far the coffee experience has left me wanting. I’m a bit of a coffee fan and look forward to a good one every day. Problem here though is that your average diner coffee is filter and usually stewed and not the best. And then there’s Ratio Rage… I’m all for free refills, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want someone coming up and refilling my cup once I’ve worked hard at getting the coffee/milk/sugar ratio just right. What do you do? You can try and guess at how much extra sugar you might need but you might as well forget about adding more milk as there’s no room anymore. Disaster.