Cotton Jones – Rio Ranger EP
Given that this band has its roots in the lovely, borderline gospel, old-time Americana of the Cotton Jones Basket Ride, I’d say that Rio Ranger was a bit of a surprise, as an EP. I don’t know if I’m just being perverse, because a lot of the same elements are still there, but this atmosphere seems a little different now.  Maybe that was the reason for the name change – maybe they felt they’d settled on the kind of band they wanted to be after the demise of Page France, and the sound

Live in Edinburgh This Week – 8th November 2009
After attending a birthday party which involved the scarfing of five pig’s heads yesterday I still don’t feel capable of eating anything. I may have to fast for the next few days before that little lot gets digested, in fact. Fucking hell that was a meal and a half. There will be no giggenfun for me this week, unfortunately, despite a couple of natty lineups on the horizon. The label is going to require an absolutel shitload of admin work this week and if I go out gallvanting there is no way I am going

Toadcast #94 – The Not-Notcraigcast
I know I promised the Notcraigcast last week, but it didn’t happen I’m afraid.  After last week’s amazing Craigcast Neil and I were intending to introduce Craig to all sorts of modern music which we thought continued some of the traditions of the blues music he was d

Daniel Johnston – Live at the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Wednesday 4th November 2009
I don’t mean to irk the purists in the first sentence, but I am not quite the slavering Daniel Johnston acolyte I might be.  I went because I find his stuff intriguing, because loads of bands I love hold him in such high regard, but largely because I was curious about how someone quite so halting, awkward and, lets face it, weird ended up being such a cult hero for so many people. I arrived late, due to radio commitments, so I missed pretty much everything up until Laura Marling’s support slot which was… de

Friday has Fallen Fould of Five Natural Disasters
This week’s disaster theme came from a conversation I had with Blueback Birthday Boy Dylan last night, but for the life of me I can’t remember how we got onto the subject of total cock-ups.  I was DJing though, so maybe that had something to do with it. Actually, I know I’ve had an uneasy relationship with DJing in the past, but last night’s effort was brilliant fun.  It’s all rather dependent on the occasion with me – too much of a dancefloor and it doesn’t suit the