James McAvoy and the Viet Cong...

Glasgow Noir. A surprisingly small genre. The city lends itself to the dark shadows, dodgy characters and indecipherable dialogue that noir demands. I don't doubt that one of the reasons for Taggart's success (see 100 murrrderrrs and counting... ) is down to the noirish qualities of the city of Glasgow.

The Near Room was released in 1995, and disappeared about a week later. I saw it at a Friday night late show at the ABC in the slot they used to put 'cult' films. I remember it as being rather good, so was pleased when it was recently released on DVD. Directed and starring David Hayman, the strong cast also includes a young Julie Graham, Tom Watson, David O'Hara, the always excellent Adrian Dunbar, Andy Serkis and the first on film appearance of Mr Tumnus himself, little James McAvoy.

It is undoubtedly dark. Set in the underground world of pornography,drugs and prostitution the film revels in the seedier side of life, as is only right for noir. I haven't seen it since '95, but I'm going to be showing it this Friday at Glasgow University's Scottish Film Society and I'm hoping that my memory of it holds up. I have it in my mind that it is beautifully shot, so dark in some scenes as to be almost pitch, and that it's a genuinely thrilling film. Below is a rare clip, including some excellent swearing. It features McAvoy, and suggests that he has a portrait in his attic as he doesn't seem to have aged in the last 15 years:

This is a Glasgow film that avoids many of the cliches that you may expect. It uses the city, but is not a slave to its reputation. If you like your cinema to unsettle, then you should have a look at The Near Room.

How could I forget...

The Glasgow Film Festival. Yet more decisions to be made, and more money to be found down the back of the sofa. The festival has various 'themes', including modern Japanese cinema, fashion on film, restored classics, British Independent cinema and a Cary Grant selection. It also contains many smaller festivals including the Youth Film Festival, Short Film Festival, Music & Film Festival and Frightfest (which has the greatest film title on show, the Icelandic horror Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre.)

All the details can be found at http://www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk/

The festival opens with Jean-Pierre Jeunet's latest film MicMacs. If Jeunet's previous work is anything to go by (Delicatessen, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement) this should be a bit special. Here's the trailer to whet the appetite:

Another magical film maker whose latest work will be shown is Hayao Miyazaki, whose film Ponyo has been eagerly awaited. Miyazaki is a modern master, whose previous films include Howls Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and, my favourite, My Friend Totoro. If you think these films are only for kids then you are missing some of the most beautiful cinema around today. I take Studio Ghibli over Pixar all day long.

There's really too much to talk about here. I always think that the film festival is the one where it is worth taking a chance by going to see films, and shorts, which you know nothing about. Maybe this is just me, but I believe that even bad cinema is worth viewing. There's always something to take from seeing someones vision on screen, perhaps because there are so many obstacles to getting it there. Usually you find at least one gem that you fall in love with.

There are two films I would urge you not to miss. The first would be Gregory's Girl (of course) which is celebrating it's 30th anniversary, and will be re-uniting some of the cast to help celebrate. You may have watched it many times, but you should see it on the big screen if you haven't done so.

The other film would be North by North West, which is probably the perfect Hitchcock thriller. I love Cary Grant, without whom George Clooney would have a very different career, and this is one of his best performances. But this is not simply a Cary Grant film, which some of the films he made were. He's a great screen actor, but did sometimes phone in his performance when allowed. He could never do that in North by North West. Hitchcock directs, Grant stars, James Mason and Eve Maire Saint co-star. That is just about as good as cinema every gets. Below is the trailer:

There are lots of events on at the festival as well as the films. Talks by Coatbridge's own Mark Millar (comic book writer, WANTED, The Authority, The Ultimates) director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, State of Play) and James Earl Jones (Darth Vader...and other things, obviously) are amongst the highlights, but there are many others. For music lovers there are films and events that will appeal. Bands featured include Mogwai, Pere Ubu, The White Stripes and The Doors. Lots and lots for me and you ...

Aye Write...

Celtic Connections is just getting into full swing when this year's Aye Write Book Festival line-up is released into the public domain. All relevant details can be found by clicking on http://www.ayewrite.com/. Considering that the Glasgow Comedy Festival (see http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/) is also on at the beginning of March no one can say that Glasgow is not being well served in terms of festivals. I just hope that fatigue doesn't set in.

But Aye Write always has at least a few standouts and this year these include Janice Galloway reading from a new collection of short stories, Louise Welsh launching her new novel Naming the Bones, Don Patterson, alongside fellow poet Robin Robertson, reading his latest poems and Martin Stannard talking about his recent biography of Muriel Spark.

But if I had to choose two to recommend, which I don't but I will, they would be Edwyn Collins and his wife Grace Maxwell discussing Grace's moving book Falling & Laughing which details Edwyn's recovery, and her own vital role in it, from a major brain hemorrhage to making music once more.

I have spoken about this book previously (it was one of my non-fiction books of the 00's. See Top Ten Scottish non-fiction books of the 00's...) It is incredibly moving and honest, and, perhaps in part because he is one of my musical heroes, (see Orange Juice jonesing) one of the most uplifting books I've read in some time. This event will be even more special as Edwyn is also going to play at it. I can't wait. To get both of us in the mood here is You'll Never Know from Edwyn's last album Home Again:

The other 'must see' is a double bill of young novelists; Dan Rhodes and Alan Bisset. I've seen both of these guys read before and it as much about the performance as it is about the literature. I can guarantee that they will be funnier than many comics working the Comedy Festival elsewhere in the city.

Both have new books to promote, but I've only got around to reading Alan Bisset's Death of a Ladies Man. The man is putting together an impressive body of work. His debut Boyracers was one of those novels about young men growing up that modern Scottish writers seem to do so well, and it deserves it's place alongside Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting and Gordon Legge's The Shoe. But Bisset has managed to move on from that successful debut to produce an even better second novel The Incredible Adam Spark. He keeps the quality of writing high for the 'difficult third novel', the aforementioned Death of a Ladies Man. By this point in their writing career many novelists, particularly those whose novels are humorous, have thrown all their ideas at the first two, or try and repeat what it was that brought them that initial acclaim. I'm sure you can think of examples. Bisset has now written three very individual novels while remaining distinctly 'Alan Bisset' novels. If you have the time I would urge you to read them all, and in chronological order.

P.S. I've just noticed that Tom Leonard is also reading from a new collection of poetry. Forget all of the above, if you only go to one thing at Aye Write, go and see Tom Leonard instead. You won't regret it.

Songs of Scotland...

I was lucky enough to get a ticket to the Scottish Songbook concert at the Concert Hall in Glasgow on Saturday night (Thanks Chris!) I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but it was a grand evening. More contemporary than I was expecting. Performers included Karine Polwart, who was the director of the evening, Ricky Ross and his missus Lorraine MacIntosh, Emma Pollock, King Creosote, Kris Dever, Maeve Mackinnon and ... B.A. Robertson!

B.A. was looking fit and rakish. To borrow from Chris, he looked like Andrew Neil's healthier, younger brother, and the patter was back in full effect. When Ross came onto to cue his time to leave the stage he threatened not to leave, wanting to lead a chorus of We Have a Dream, or even Kool in the Kaftan (perish the thought).

Robertson was always the kind of pop performer that was never taken seriously, even by himself. He was quite popular in the primary playground because he was daft, lanky and deeply uncool, and young kids don't care about such matters. He also wrote Scotland's best World Cup Song (admittedly there is not strong competition) with the aforementioned We Have a Dream. Fronted by Gregory himself (John Gordon Sinclair) and backed by the 1982 squad, the song captured the optimism that used to accompany following Scotland. No chance of that these days. Robertson throws the kitchen sink at it. I've tried to find a clip of them on Top of the Pops, but to no avail. However, here it is with some relevant imagery:

Back to the Concert Hall. The form of the evening was that performers chose their favourite Scottish Songs to sing. It started with The Eurythmics' Here Comes the Rain morphing into Bronski Beat's Small Town Boy and finished with everyone coming back on for a rousing Sunshine on Leith. Highlights included Emma Pollock doing The Humblebums' Everybody Knows That and Kenny Anderson doing Ronnie Clark and Carl McDougall's Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice. Here's a great wee clip of Kenny performing the song with James Yorkston and Pictish Trail. The quality, and the speed, of the film add to the manic nature of the performance:

Emma Pollock and Kenny Anderson gave themselves, what I considered to be, the biggest of challenges of the evening with two of their choices. Emma, backed by Karine Polwart, went for The Blue Nile's Downtown Lights, (and you'll have gathered by now my feelings towards them). They sang beautifully but missed the aching sadness, the effortless emotion, that is present in Paul Buchanan's original vocal.

Kenny, even more courageously, plumped for The Associates Party Fears Two. Perhaps I am too close to these songs, they mean too much to me, but these were brave attempts that only made me pine for the originals. Billy Mackenzie's soaring vocals in particular gives Party Fears Two a magical quality. Here are The Associates performing it on Belgian TV:

God I miss Billy Mackenzie. If I ever start hearing voices then I hope it's his telling me to take out the queue at the post-office.

Sunday night was Laura Veirs at the Oran Mor, and apparently was the first night of her tour. She is good on record, but was great live, after a slow start. If you have the opportunity to see her in the future I would highly recommend it.

Alasdair Roberts and St Kilda...

A quick heads up about another gem buried away in the Celtic Connections programme. It's an unusual double-bill where Alasdair Roberts shares headline honours with David Allison's multi-media performance of the St Kilda Tapes. Here's what the programme notes say about Roberts:

'Sometimes likened to a Scottish Will Oldham, Alasdair Roberts forges his own distinctive alloy of ancient and modern balladry, alternately brooding and tender, mythic and deeply personal.'

Roberts last album Spoils was a fantastic piece of work, and 2003's Farewell Sorrows is another that is highly recommended. Here he is performing Carousing:

The St Kilda Tapes uses footage from the last days of habitation, and the emigration, of that now uninhabited island. It is part of a larger project, The Island Tapes, which was shown at the festival in 2007. Celtic Connections says:

'Combining archive film, newly created video and live music performed on guitar, zither, ukulele and sampler, David Allison’s The St Kilda Tapes is a moving multi-media meditation on themes of home, displacement, travel and belonging.'

Here's the brief introduction that gives a taste of what to expect. Having seen the archive footage on its own, as it were, I think this cannot fail to be a moving and fascinating show.

They are on at St Andrew's in the Square on Friday 22/1/10. I may see you there.

Get Connected...

This year's Celtic Connections has a genuinely exciting line-up (find all the information you require @http://www.celticconnections.com/).

Yes you'll have to remortgage the house to see all the things that you would want to, but there are some things worth going into debt for.

These include Natalie Merchant, The Low Anthem, The Swell Season, Joe Pernice, Cara Dillon... I could go on and on. The legendary Bobby McFerrin is also in attendance. If you get the chance I would advise going to see him. The man is incredible, and if you want some proof check this clip of him performing with The Motion Trio from The Warsaw Summer Jazz Festival in 2002. He is a stunning performer:

Terrible choices have to be made, and the three definites that I'll be going to see are the lovely Laura Veirs, the Chemikal Underground night at the ABC and someone who I always try and catch when he's in town, the beautiful Boo Hewerdine. Here's just a few clips that will hopefully explain my choices.

The first is Laura Veirs with Wandering Star:

Next up is Emma Pollock, who will be appearing at the ABC, with Paper and Glue:

And I round off with Boo who is appearing at the Tron theatre. Boo Hewerdine, for those who are not familiar, once fronted a band called The Bible. As with many of the bands I loved they were not as successful as any right minded person would have expected, despite making some unspeakably moving music. He has written for other artists, perhaps most successfully for Eddie Reader, but his songs make sense to me when he performs them. I was going to post an old Bible clip, then thought it would be a better advert for his gigs to show something more recent. I then realised I could do what I liked, so here's a bit of both.

First off here's Boo singing Patience of Angels:

And here's my nostalgic indulgence. This is The Bible on The Tube with Mahalia. It's joyous:

Celtic Connections has something for everyone who loves music and should be supported, if possible, as we often don't realise what we've got until it's gone. Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a marvelous wee festival called Mayfest...

Tennant's Special...

Never has the term 'ubiquitous' applied more relevantly than to David Tennant on our TV's and radios this Christmas and New Year, and it says a lot about the charm of the man that even after all this (over?) exposure I still warm to him. This feeling was reinforced by his appearance on Desert Island Discs. Not only was the banter with Kirsty Young effortless (not always the case), but how can you not respect someone whose musical choices included The Proclaimers' Over and Done With, Elvis Costello's Oliver's Army and, best of all, The Housemartins' Me and the Farmer.

But the first time I set eyes on the good doctor was in a very fondly remembered BBC drama Takin' Over the Asylum (1994). The show was sold as a vehicle for Ken Stott, but the supporting cast were superb and once the characters had been introduced this emerged as a real ensemble piece. Stott plays Eddie, a double-glazing salesman by day who dreams of being a radio DJ. He gets the job as the radio presenter in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital, where he meets, amongst others, Tennant's 'Campbell', Kate Murphy's 'Francine' and Angus McFadyen's 'Fergus'. All have distinct mental health problems, such as OCD, schizophrenia and manic depression, which the writer, Donna Franceschild, deals with in a knowlegable and sensitive manner. If that sounds like a depressing premise then you are mistaken. There is real comedy as well as heartbreaking drama on show. Although many of those involved have gone on to better paid roles, they will not have been involved in anything as charming and moving.

The DVD of the series came out last year and it's worth having a look at as it is that rare beast, quality Scottish TV comedy/drama, and the cast are as good as anything John Byrne put together, as high praise as I can possibly give it. Here's a clip as a taster:

Father David of Dalgarnock...

This month's Dear Scotland column can now be found @http://dearscotland.com/2010/01/04/indelible-ink-be-near-me/ It looks at Andrew O'Hagan's 2006 novel Be Near Me, and in particular the central chracter of Father David Anderton whose fall from grace forms the plot of the book.

The novel was one of my top ten novels of the last ten years (see Top Ten Scottish Novels of the 00's... ) and almost demands more than one reading. If you've read it then please pop over to Dear Scotland and have your say. If not then I hope I can persuade you. Its not perfect by any means, but O'Hagan, through the character of David, asks interesting questions about Scotland, and makes the reader do the same.

If you want a 'heads up' about the novels that will be under discussion in the future here is a list for the next five months. In order they will be:

John Niven Kill Your Friends (Feb)
Janice Galloway The Trick is to Keep Breathing (March)
Irvine Welsh Trainspotting (April)
Louise Welsh The Cutting Room (May)
Gordon Legge The Shoe (Jun)

I hope there's something on there to tempt you...

The Boy David...

One of my favourite gifts that I received over Christmas comprised of two books of David Shrigley's postcards, Evil Thoughts and Rules. Shrigley is a name I was first made aware of when he directed the videos for Blur's 2003 single Good Song and Bonnie Prince Billy's 2004 Agnes Queen of Sorrow.I have already posted an example of his work in the form of the video clip from the titles of the film Hallam Foe, where Shrigley's animation is married to Orange Juice's Blue Boy. You can find that here: Top Ten Scottish Films of the 00's...

His deceptively simplistic style belies often disturbing and even violent imagery, as if a highly intelligent but deeply troubled child had been asked to express the thoughts in their head.

Shrigley's work is not only dark, but genuinely funny (and how often can you say that about a contemporary artist?). Instead of trying to explain why his work appeals to me I'm simply going to fill this post with some examples so that you can decide for yourself, starting with the aforementioned Blur video:

If you like this selection then you're probably going to like all his work, and there is plenty of stuff to check out. If, however, he's not for you then you probably won't enjoy the following, which is the short animation that David Shrigley made with fellow artist Chris Shepard who some may remember for animating the brilliant 'World Staring Championships' for the sketch show Big Train.

Who I Am and What I Want is based on Shrigley's book of the same name, and the central character of Pete, for all you comedy nerds, is voiced by Kevin Eldon: