My Ear Candy #34 Andy Simpson

You never know what life’s gonna throw at you. Ask Herbie, a young lad who travelled from Coventry to Stonehaven on Friday, expecting an onward journey directly to his Uncle’s gaff in Drumlithie once he stepped off the train. Instead, he wound up in the Mearns FM studio,  broadcasting to the wider world while his uncle collected an Indian takeaway, an unscheduled radio appearance for Herbie that signalled his debut as a broadcaster. Welcome to the club young man. We played The Specials in honour of his hometown, he said hi to his Mum as she listened online, somewhat bemused no doubt, and he shuffled off to Drumlithie, scratching his head wondering how the hell that happened. Let that be a lesson young man, you just don’t know what’s around the corner, this is the stuff of life.

Herbie was the first of two guests on Friday, the second being Andy Simpson, owner of local company Angus 3D Design and all round good egg. Some folk are just easy company aren’t they? He played six of his favourite tracks, hitting the heights with five of them but letting himself down big style with an absolute howler by Texas, the lamest band to have come out of the UK since Black Lace, proof positive that if you’re in the right place at the right time it doesn’t much matter if you’re any good or not, you just surf the wave and hope nobody notices that the empereror’s wearing no clothes. Texas are so middle of the road they should have dashed white lines painted on them, playing it safe, sticking to a formula that appeals to the lowest common denominator and, in the words of 90s band Electronic, they’ve been ‘getting away with it all my life’. I put the kettle on while Andy shoe shuffled his way through this rotten track but I reckon, privately, even he felt a pang of revulsion as this assault upon our eardrums plodded interminably on.

But let’s focus on the positives. Madness kicked his selections off, their lesser known hit ‘My Girl’ chosen in tribute to Andy’s days as a Rude Boy back in the 80s, when his frame was adorned with full Rudy regalia; trilby, black loafers, Harrington jacket etc. He’s got a cheeky smile Andy,  he’d have been a hit with the ladies for sure, right up till the moment they spotted he was wearing white socks. We learned more about his business in 3D printing and his former career travelling the world in the oil & gas industry, alighting in Dubai for several happy years. The furthest I’ve travelled for work is Tipton, doesn’t benefit from comparison really does it? His two sons are living Dad inspired lives, one in the US, the other pondering Edinburgh or St Andrews, oh to be young again.

The  good music kept coming after the calamitous Texas interlude; the Stones, Manics, even INXS, not a band I’d usually laud but New Sensation grabs you for sure. We had a good natter but the wheels came off toward the end of the show,  all concentration being lost by the presenter. Let me explain. Cardiff City were playing Wolves while the show was on and I had a vested interest in the outcome, if Cardiff lost it heightened the chances of my team (Villa) getting promoted next month. I was keeping the listenership abreast of goings on in the principality, my fingernails totalled as Wolves went into injury time leading 1-0. Then all hell broke loose, Cardiff winning a penalty and missing it, then winning another and missing that too! Joy unconfined in the Mearns FM studio, Wolves winning, Cardiff losing and Villa may yet secure that automatic promotion slot. I punched the air, lost composure on the mic, and Andy Simpson looked on in non-plussed bemusement and with a level of pity. Welcome to community radio my friend, where anything goes, yes even blinkin’ Texas.

Thanks Andy for being a terrific guest. If any of you missed the show just click this link and choose Stoney Baloney.

Andy’s selections
1. Madness - My Girl
2. The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
3. Texas - Say What You Want
4. INXS - New Sensation
5. Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone
6. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - By The Way