random acts of senseless beauty

I was going to come straight after work tonight and chill; have an early night.

Then Steve played a track on the show by a new band called Umlaut. Another young Sheffield band, who’ve played only a handful of gigs – but the single Wintercoat is coming out on Fantastic Plastic and is really very promising. Turns out they were playing tonight with Dr Dog at the Dublin Castle…

Umlaut need to practise. And maybe need a new drummer, but the potential is all there. Good songs, good attitude and pretty, sulky, female bass player. it’s a winner.

Dr Dog’s album has been one of the delights of my summer and they didn’t dissappoint. One of the lead vocalists (there are 2) had completely lost his voice, leaving the band to take up the slack on a couple of songs, and then they initiated the first ever Dr Dog Karaoke moment, inviting members of the audience to take the lead for one Oh No. They provided a lyric sheet, and three people – including label boss and all round good fella James Endeacott – took them up on it.

It was one of those moments that you get at gigs from time to time when you think – I might be saying “I was there” about this in a couple of years time.

Cracking.

And a good night all-round for Rough Trade with their boy Antony (& the Johnsons) being a surprisingly worthy recipient of the Mercury Music Prize. I’m more than happy with that. Not doing the little dance I may have been if Hard-Fi had taken it… but then I freely admit to being totally biased.

Hoorah.