July Saturday Nights

‘Funny how a melody sounds like a memory…’ Oh it is Eric, it really is. I have found myself engaging fully with Eric Church’s classic ‘Springsteen‘ a little over the last week as though of you who have seen us may have found out. (17,000 over the last three shows, thank you) When Eric Church first released that song some fifteen years ago I was the last one to really get it. I think I resisted as I (think) I suspected it was trying to carpetbag on the name. I was wrong and I regret not embracing it. I quickly got over it and went out to buy Chief and became a paid up member of ‘The Church Choir.’

Springsteen is a definitive summer country song but it’s not Eric’s only seasonal classic. On this week’s AC we will play another song of EC’s which seeps summer and it will be one of many songs sprinkled throughout the show celebrating the end of school and the start of the holidays. Last week we fought off the heat in England as we travelled through and although Scotland seems to be experiencing its usual mixed summer weather Deacon Blue will be back in the south and in Wales this week and I hope to see some of you there.

Optimism

I spent Monday of this week alongside my musical family at Glasgow University’s graduation ceremony where we were honoured to be the first collective recipient of an honorary doctorate in the 575 of the University’s existence. We were as surprised as we were grateful. It was fascinating spending an afternoon among a few hundred graduands all about to begin their new lives. What came over was a sense of optimism that despite the recent uncertainties in the employment market the people I spoke to were excited to make their mark on the world. It is that sense of optimism, courage and devil may care I used to see when co writing with with artists who were starting out. I often reflect on those who have had success since I first met them over guitar and notebooks in makeshift writing rooms. Perhaps they always knew what they wanted to do and because of that were more certain of how to get there. It was always exciting to be in their presence and yesterday’s room full of of aspiring world changers was equally exciting.

Landon

On the subject of exuberant youth you will hear Landon Smith on this week’s AC. I encourage you to listen to him but also check out the video. It’s as low budget as it gets but it captures the energy and ambition of his music perfectly. I think we will be playing and loving Landon a lot over the next while. On this week’s show you will also hear wonderful new songs by Bella White, Little Big Town and Bayker Blankenship (a recent Glasgow visitor during C2C), a beautiful new track from Margaret Glaspy as well as brand new artist Minna. There’s so much to enjoy we really can’t fit it all in…