We spoke for a while about his role as Club Manager at Stonehaven Golf Club, not because I'm interested in the slightest but you have to feign interest to warm people up on air. His description of his work wasn't in total accord with the account members provided when I researched my guest in the lead up to our set piece interview. Ian boldly claimed that he earned a living the hard way when rumour in fact has it that he sits in his Cowie based ivory tower (photo of his office attached), receiving tea and tiffin on a silver platter every hour while toasting his toes against a roaring open fire, resplendent in his smoking jacket and carpet slippers. He'll put his cigar down for long enough to supp Earl Grey from a china cup before reclining once again, perhaps nibbling a garibaldi or raising an arse cheek to break wind at the waitress before sending her on her way. It sure is a tough life being a golf club manager.
But onto the music. I present below the full list of offerings brought forth by Mr Hastie, you'll see for yourself that there's room for improvement when next he appears. It started well with a melancholic shuffle by Sunhouse but took an immediate dive when Loudon Wainright lampooned my hero Bob Dylan with an outrageous pastiche of Talking World War III Blues. Order was restored by a catchy Divine Comedy number but again we drifted back into humdrum centre ground with Ryan Adams before a welcome recovery with REM cantering through an excellent track. The show ended with the Jayhawks. Ian had intended for the show to finish with a Lambchop number but I'd lost faith in him by then so stamped my authority on proceedings, vetoing his suggestion and playing a Jayhawks number that to be fair, Ian had indeed introduced me to some time ago.
Thanks for coming along Ian (despite the outright lies regards the 'work' you do, I fear you may struggle to look yourself in the mirror most mornings) and a special thanks also to Tracey Duncan who bailed the show out when sharing details of a super fundraising event taking place on March 11th, four local bands putting a gig together in support of Aberlour Children's Charity. Looks like a cracking night, myself and Ian will be attending provided we're on speaking terms by then. For more info see this link right here
Ian Hastie's selections
1. Sunhouse - A Good Day To Die
2. Ryan Adams - To Be Young
3. Loudon Wainright III - Talking New Bob Dylan
4. Divine Comedy - The Pop Singer's Fear Of The Pollen Count
5. REM - The Outsiders
6. Jayhawks - Blue
The cigar is just a downright lie - it's a non smoking environment.
ReplyDeleteI'm also dismayed that you managed to evade the tight security that surrounds Stonehaven GC central and sneak in and photograph my chambers. It’s particularly concerning as we have a very large number of unsold copies of Stoney Baloney and theft is potentially an issue (not that it’s happened with said publication yet). I must have a stern word with Oddjob who presumably took an unscheduled break that day.
I’ll treat most of your negative comments with the derision they deserve but stating that Ryan Adams is “humdrum centre ground” is one statement I cannot accept, no matter how qualified a music critic you undoubtedly are.
Clearly, a DJ that plays a track from Depeche Mode every week, is difficult to slate, considering how said band blazed a trail and shaped the UK music scene these last 30 years (and they emerged from Basildon – the best thing to come out from there since lined 60g notepaper), however, I have started a crowdfunding appeal to try and raise the necessary amount to have your ears syringed in time for your next show.
I don’t expect a further invitation but I’m always on hand to help your musical education along – Loudon Wainwright has issued over 30 albums so I’ve plenty to pick from. PS I have also seen Runrig and sampled homemade shortbread from Donnie Munro. (Scorrybreac – Isle of Skye – highly recommended). If I can admit to being a birder then I can admit that.