My Ear Candy #28 Luke Ellix

I wish the surname of tonight's guest was mine, I'd be called Alex Ellix. Instead, my guest Luke is beneficiary of said moniker and, as we were to discover, many other assets too. A blokes' pride is easily dented, it doesn't take much for us to feel inadequate, so you can imagine how a guest about to climb Everest made me feel. (*mental note, make sure next guest is a couch potato).

In just a couple of weeks, Luke is climbing to Mount Everest's base camp to raise funds for Children In Need. That's a 19 day trek reaching altitudes of 17,000 feet, makes your eyes water thinking about it. Temperatures will drop to -20, possibly the only element of the project which he'll be comfortable with given he lives in Aberdeenshire, that's a summer's day.  Luke and his friend Gerard have raised over four grand so far, if you think you can top that up do visit this link which tells you all about the expedition and how to donate.

On to the music and I found myself faced with six tracks I'd never heard of but it makes a pleasant change to try new stuff. In the event none bowled me over and none offended me, each selection I enjoyed yet wouldn't buy, that sure reads as damnation by faint praise but isn't the intention. P'raps I'll stop digging and start a new paragraph instead.

There was quite an eclectic mixture of guitar slaloms, earthy singing and mellow ambience (despite tracks from Disturbed and Linkin Park) and very pleasant they were too. I think it was the John Butler Trio track which boasted a twelve string guitar and one of the others seemed to incorporate every musical instrument known to man, I can't remember which. The final track was a dance floor filler, were you that way inclined, I'm not cos I've three left feet never mind two. It was performed by a Danish singer which completed an impressive tour of the world taking in Iceland, Australia, America and, of course, Scotland. We enjoyed a good night of music and an inspirational talk about climbing, despite my lack of knowledge on the subject since the highest I've ever journeyed is the back of Villa Park's Holte End, although that can be classed as dangerous territory in itself.

We send Luke all of our prayers for a safe and enjoyable Mount Everest experience and look forward to hearing about it when he returns as my guest again.

Luke's selections
1 - Skerryvore - Blown Away
2 - Kaleo - Way Down We Go
3 - John Butler Trio - Take
4 - Disturbed - The Sound of Silence
5 - Linkin Park - Iridescent
6 - MØ - Final Song

My Ear Candy #27 Amy Eley

Only the chosen few are invited back as guests on the Stoney Baloney Show, either because they’re great company or because they’ve serious making up to do for shambolic selections first time around. Tonight’s guest, Amy Eley, qualified on both counts, how’s that for a back handed compliment? Apologies Amy.

This was my last show for a fortnight, I’m off to visit my brother in Florida, so wanted to sign off in style. Thanks to Amy we carried off a splendid show, her selections largely sound and including a Leonard Cohen track, the most poignant song I’ve heard in a long time. Cohen knew he was dying and wrote this song to embrace faith, death and humour, quite a combo, delivering it in his trademark jagged voiced style. Another belter came from the Mystery Jets and combined with Cohen, they outweighed the horrible spectacle of a Status Quo number, a band hitherto barred from my show. What a din, never again.

Amy’s calm, gentle nature was the perfect antidote to my endless, aimless waffle , a well poised and beautiful swan floating alongside the ugliest of panicked ducklings. I was nervous about the forthcoming Aston Villa v Birmingham City fixture and couldn’t seem to settle, any time we play that mob I get the willies, defeat too horrendous a concept to contemplate. Amy patiently tolerated my Villaspeak and we gassed our way through two very pleasant hours together (I’m referring to chat not wind breaking). Listen to the playback here, just choose ‘Stoney Baloney’.

Some folk are the easiest of company, spending time with them akin to wearing a pair of well loved slippers. Thank you Amy for being my comfy tartan baffies.

Amy’s Selections
1. The Man - The Killers
2. Bubblegum - Mystery Jets
3. Pictures Of Matchstick Men - Status Quo (😔)
4. PS. You Rock My World - Eels
5. You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen
6. Come And Get Your Love - Redbone

My Ear Candy #26 Gayle Culross

Community radio is a blast. You play your own music, goof around with your friends, drink coffee till it comes out your ears and in my case sermonise on all things Aston Villa. Mearns FM broadcasts from a studio in Stonehaven’s Town Hall, a pleasant if dank dungeon at the rear of the building, and there are times when our broadcasts are serenaded by the din emanating from the main hall, tonight was one of those nights. The annual Farmer’s Ball was in full swing, we had to wade through cattle, sheep and goats to get into the studio, wellied up dungaree wearing bumpkins too. Still, they seemed to be enjoying themselves and I’m sure the food was exceptional, if you can’t get a good side of beef at the farmer’s dinner then we all need to pack up and go home.

Back in the studio, struggling to drown out the marauding farming fraternity, sat myself and special guest Gayle Culross. I get some guests on who, like me, have a face for radio but I’ve been blessed lately with women of startling beauty and Gayle falls comfortably into this category. It’s perhaps inappropriate for me to make mention of this but listeners need to know why I was babbling even more randomly  than normal, I felt a little overawed. All attempts at seduction were straight batted however and upon learning of Gayle’s blissfully happy eighteen year marriage to Greg, I conceded defeat. Men, we really are pathetic.

Onto the music and Gayle’s six selections were a mixed bag of country, electronica and pap. The tales behind each selection were entertaining; misjudged fancy dress outfits at Dolly Parton concerts, illegal recordings of radio chart shows, unfulfilled devotion to Wham’s lead singer, a Mike Flowers impersonating elder brother, a sporting giant of a husband (his perception only) and treasured memories of a beloved mother. The chat off air was even more entertaining but you ain’t gettin any of that because there’d be a contract put out on me. What I can divulge is that her friends sound as mad as a box of frogs and if you plan an evening out in Dundee anytime soon perhaps best choose Aberdeen instead. 

Big thanks to Blaze Manufacturing for releasing your Head Of Communications into the wild, she proved more than a measure for this hapless, community radio wannabe and, if she promises not to request Dolly Parton again, is welcome back anytime. 

Gayle’s Selections 

1. Dolly Parton - Jolene

2. Soft Cell - Tainted Love

3. George Michael - Freedom 

4. Oasis - Wonderwall

5. The Killers - Mr Brightside

6. David Guetta - Titanium