Despite not being able to go out anywhere, the bucketloads of time I seemingly should have to catch up on my ever-growing list of tasks doesn’t seem to have transpired. I’m fortunate that work is keeping me busy Monday to Friday, in actual fact, busier than ever. At the weekend, my usual weekend chores keep me busy. To be honest, apart from not having to commute to work and not being able to go to gigs, life hasn’t changed that much. Gigs though…
Online Gigs
I doubt any of us will be getting to any gigs anytime soon, but that hasn’t stopped me enjoying live music. So far I have managed to catch a few “gigs” since lockdown. Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies, Carol Hodge (twice), SEIL LIEN (twice too), Glen Matlock & Earl Slick, Jason How, JC Carroll and a certain young bloke fae Dundee. All online and live from their living rooms. I don’t think it’ll ever replace the experience of seeing a band in the flesh in a hot sticky club, but it is certainly plugging a gap in the meantime.
A few major album releases have had to be pushed back too. But there is still music being released every week that deserves to be heard.
Of the aforementioned artists I’ve had the fortune witness live online, SEIL LIEN released their debut album last week to high praise, Carol Hodge has followed up Hold on to That Flame with her latest masterpiece Savage Purge. And a certain young Dundonian gent who goes by the name of David Delinquent has released an EP.
You’re so boring…
Not content with output of Delinquents and Spacers, the affable frontman has released an EP of three acoustic led solo tracks. The impact of relationships not running smoothly is the theme that runs through the three heartfelt and often heartbreaking tracks. Still laced with wry dark humour though. The title of the lead track tells the story of the song – You’re So Boring You Make Me Wanna Die, with Replacements/Husker Du influenced electric guitar backing up the lead acoustic guitar . The little riff also reminds me of Everclear’s Heartspark Dollarsign. A song that may reflect the influence of lockdown on some relationships.
I could have been your Bill Hicks
The tables are turned on Prince Charmless. This time haunting keys back up the acoustic lead. “You could have been my Princess Leia, I could have been your Bill Hicks” kicks off the tale of love lost. A love that tried to defy the odds “All my friends think you are stuck up and you think they are pricks”. There is a hint of Pete Doherty in the delivery of the vocal on this one. Give him one more chance! He could be your Prince Charmless…
“I’m all or nothing or nothing at all” is a refrain repeated throughout Homefires. A line that I’m sure resonates with many when it comes to falling in love. This last track is a moving song tackling the impact of the mental health of one of those in the relationship. “Your hope it helps me to breathe” sings David thankful that the partner keeps the flame alive for him. The electric guitar backing rises and soars matching the emotion of the song.
All in all, three cracking tracks all charming and stirringly emotional.
David Delinquent Facebook