My Ear Candy #33 Stewart Smith & Drew McDonald

One of the peculiarities of modern day community radio, and there are plenty, is that one can broadcast from an Aberdeenshire studio yet be heard in countries throughout the world. Take my show on Mearns FM for example, there we are waffling away in a dungeon at the back of Stonehaven Town Hall, yet online listeners can pick us up in Poland, Australia and the States. And Kineff. Whether punters choose to or not is a different matter but let’s not spoil a beautiful illusion. My ego’s taken a pounding lately and needs stroking, I don’t think I’ll ever live down the national media’s graphic photograph of me in that leopardskin thong.

Local Scotmid managers Stewart Smith and Drew McDonald were my guests on Friday and mighty fine ones too, despite Stewart’s unpardonable selection of a Bon Jovi track. Bit of a cheek really, I take the trouble to honour his roots by playing a classic from Leed’s finest band, The Wedding Present, and he rewards me with a naff poodle rock number by way of reply. Thankfully Drew compensated for his colleague’s lamentable taste by nominating a Depeche Mode number later by way of an equaliser. And talking of football speak, spot the lame segway, we enjoyed some knockabout chat regards their respective football allegiances. The least said about Drew’s Man United the better, but I have a grudging respect for Stewart’s Leeds United, probably because his club and mine (Villa) have shared turbulent times in recent decades so have a certain empathy for one another. I did however take the trouble to remind Stewart of his club’s inglorious capitulation to mine in the 1994 League Cup Final when the only entertainment Leeds United offered was to wheel the enormous Thomas Brolin on as substitute for everyone to snigger at. Their fans serenaded Brolin to the tune of Dolly Parton’s hit ‘Jolene’ but I’m not sure the lyrics need repeating here.

Scotmid are very genuine about their care in the community, spending hundreds of thousands on local projects and the guys outlined how community organisations could apply, more details here. Stewart and Drew’s nature epitomises the ethos of the company, good, genuine and true although they let themselves down when I enquired whether the Aberdeenshire branch of the Aston Villa Supporters Club (ie. me and my two sons) qualified for funding, somewhat abruptly giving me short shrift. Hopefully your application is received with rather less contempt than mine, apparently they prefer to support such frippery as woodland activity centres for kids, care home garden titivation and various other charitable causes. This is all very well but surely the financing of fortnights trips from Auchenblae to Villa Park should feature somewhere toward the summit of their pecking order.

That being said, I’d like to thank Stewart and Drew for their contributions to a very enjoyable show (I refer chiefly of course to their chat and not their music). If you missed the broadcast then, first, consider yourself admonished and, second, click this link and choose Stoney Baloney, it’s available till April 6th. Happy Easter y’all.

Stewart’s selections
1. Slate - Coz I Luv You
2. Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
3. Credence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
4. Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
5. Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
6. Fleetwood MAC - Albatross
7. Bad Touch - 99%