Old Saint Lukes, Glasgow
Dec 19th
Dec 19th
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Sound 
Atmosphere Performance
Atmosphere Performance *
I had such great anticipation for the Yellow Movements Christmas Party, as you know on the whole my festival commitments during the Summer months are taken up by activities that distract me from experiencing the musical brilliance on offer. So when i got the rather wonderful invitation to review this festive day of musical delights. I was fare brimming over with excitement because I knew all of the Bands that played.
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Independently as people and as friends but in some cases,Like Mercy las Vegas, Dohnut (The Band Formally Known As eating Disorder) I have never seen live. The Girobabies who I have seen, but for various reasons had never seen them perform their new album (Who Took) Utopia. So this day of musical adventure was a sure way of fitting in what i had missed during the Summer months.
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I awoke early on the Morning of the Gig, Completed a heart process that had been working me and started to put my day into order, Make up, wardrobe and then an appointment with the hairdressers to reacquaint myself with the Mohawk that I so relished in the summer months. Today was an important day, so Divine had to look his best. I jumped onto the 1pm Megabus from Edinburgh to Glasgow. walked swiftly with helpful directions to The Barrowlands in search of Old St Lukes. Now Old St Lukes is Divines kind of venue, a renovated church with a brilliant massive mural outside depicting St Luke as a bull with wings. The only thing that was different from a church of worship, was the removal of the pews and the inclusion of a bar serving drinks. Everything else was still Divine and Holy. Church’s are built for sound as well as worship so it made complete sense for this to be a healing venue that would compliment the excellent selection of Rock N Roll performances that had gathered here today.
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Divine arrived just in time to witness the early acoustic set from the Dijon Juniors. This was a heart warming performance with all the little ones thoroughly getting into the Mustards groove. With all of the audience participation that we have come to love and respect from The Good Colonel and the Dijon Five.
Next on stage came a rather wonderful cabaret section to the days entertainment, which incorporated musical delight, mime and comedy from a duo called The Creative Martyrs. A Brilliant Magician called The Great Aziz that produced white doves out of thin air. Everybody,s mouths dropped open and echo’s of, “How did he do that” wrung throughout the day. Also in this Cabaret section, The very beautiful Miss Peggy P, a ventriloquist with the most amazing green eyeshadow. Divine approved and the junior congregation lapped it up. Then the Rock n Roll warm up began. With a solo artist called Haystack Monolith. Delivering original songs with voice and guitar, with a rather wonderful spoken word poetry section.
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Brass Aye! assembled on stage. A Brass band with a difference playing contemporary interpretations of modern classics and traditional Jazz in a very Punky fashion. The Woven Tents then graced the stage. To take the musical proceedings on a more progressive musical journey. Rich and original smoking numbers that got the jolly congregation swinging. The evening was revving up as this handsome band of talented musicians graced us with a warmth that left a lasting impression on Divinexx Good Time!
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Now Have Mercy Las Vegas, are another band that stems from the same Eden fold as Divine. But because of Divine duties at the very wonderful Eden Festival. I have never had the delight of experiencing them before. From this point on I knew that the night was to become more and more spectacular as each moment passed. The excitement was building and everyone was dancing. And Yes Have Mercy Las Vegas did the night proud. There were so many people in the audience that I know and love, In the interval between Have Mercy Las Vegas, I was outside having a fag taking in the Saint Luke Mural depicting a bull with wings.. Wondering! Hmmm just what is the significance? I still dinnae know.
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Things were really beginning to heat up with excitement for Jamie and Shoony. This was one of the main draws for Divine. I have been championing this brilliant. Rock N Roll band for a few years now. And have had the pleasure to watch them rise up through the ranks with deserved Rock N Roll Grace. Shoony has always played a mean guitar coupled with the amazing showmanship and vocal prowess of Jamie. I knew that this was gonna be a performance of excellence. The uninitiated were about to find out why.
Jamie is a true front man who sings through the whole of his being with a power and vitality that can only be seen as a true Rock n Roll Star within our midst. With total engagement with this capacity audience he had the venue in the palm of his hand. Shoony’s Musical prowess as a guitarist also sang with a confidence, reminiscent of David Bowie, Scary Monsters era. Thoroughly captivating, With a brilliant rhythm section to compliment proceedings. The performance was also filmed for a future video release. The Yellow Movement Christmas Party was becoming more and more spectacular by the moment. Its a good job I’m fit, dancing for six hours is fun and with three more hours to dance. I summoned the angels to sooth my tired legs and energized back to dancing strength.
Next up, another example of Scotland’s brilliant rising unsigned Brilliance. Supa N DaKryptonites Just like Jamie and Shoony. Divine has championed them for some time. Lead by the amazing jay Jay Supa one of Divines favorite MC’s I was first mesmerized by Jay’s Vocal prowess when he was MCing at one the Beatmasters DnB gigz in Edinburgh. Then had the Joy of reviewing their first incarnation play at Audio Soups Winter Bash last year. Since that time this band of musicians have performed some of Scotlands biggest stages. With mesmerizing success its been a brilliant year for this rock n roll unit. With a superb horn Section, Supa N DaKryptonites certainly perform with a big band excellence that is at once unique as it is entertaining. A well rehearsed band on the rise. moving from strength to strength. The groove was Getting Groovier. The fun was getting funkier.
Like all the right components of a really yummy Christmas Cake coming together, The Yellow Movements Christmas Party was becoming Yummiest Christmas Cake on the planet. With all the right ingredients to make this a true festive Rock N Roll delight. Then Mark, Jess, Robbie, Jo D Arc and Gordy walked onto stage. The Girobabies took position and delivered the much anticipated performance of (Who Took) Utopia. Divine missed his first two opportunities, much to my own disappointment. So This was to be third time lucky for Divine.
Divine and The Girobabies go back a long way. I first championed Mark McG and his band as the voice of a silent Generation. Performing songs about things that really matter as long as five years ago. Indeed, the longer I have known the lead singer of this brilliant band. The more I have got to know a true maverick of our times. Gordy is a drummer that plays with an intensity and a skill that I have seldom experienced. Jess on effects and electronics is a celebrated addition to the line up. With Robbies guitar licks whipping everything into shape. To produce a collective art house collage. With flavors of The Velvet Underground meeting The Stranglers (Circa Jean Jacque Burnel.) .Powerful Punk as fuck references ringing throughout. Delivered by the voice of a true poet of our times. The whole Gig was thrilling, The Girobabies whipped the audience into a frenzy and with true Punk Rock spirit, a mosh pit erupted at the front of the stage. Divine was having a ball.
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The Divine anticipation was at fever pitch for the next musical delight. Dohnut (The Band Formerly Known As Eating Disorder) This band had been coming at me from all directions for about 6 months, So tonight I was able to Experience Dohnut for the first time. With a much revered sartorial elegance Dohnut delivered with a passion. a rock N roll experience drawn from many many years of determination. A Master class in stage presentation and theatrical delivery. Age and maturity does have some benefits. The Dohnuts presented a sterling performance with its roots firmly planted in Glamrock. Divine and the Audience loved it.
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During the interval between Dohnut and the crescendo performance of the very revered Colonel Mustard And The Dijon 5. Divine slipped into the Diner which is part of The Saint Lukes experience. A cool as fuck Dj was spinning Girlfriend Is Better by the Talking Heads Divine just had to dance.
Ohh yeh it took me. Just as it finished, The Mustards took to the stage and Divine slid back in just as rapturous applause greeted the Hero’s of this wonderful day packed with very entertaining entertainment indeed, The whole audience were up for it. The venue was bouncing. Colonel Mustard And The Dijon All Stars became one with audience. It was brilliant, as above so below, the Angels were loving it too and God definitely approved. as the grace of love blessed everyone.
It was one of those moments when one knows that someones hard work and determination had paid off. Everyone could feel it. It was one of them moments when people will be saying for years after. “I was there.” The Yellow Movements Christmas Party Was A Brilliant Experience
I was thinking about alternative titles for this review. I came up with a few.
I was thinking about alternative titles for this review. I came up with a few.
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Divine’s Dreaming Of a Yellow Christmas
Or Divines Christmas Stocking.
Or Divines Christmas Stocking.
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Reviewer : Mark ‘Divine’ Calvert
Photography : Zul Bhatia
Atmosphere 
Performance 
Other instruments featured were the trumpet, trombone and guitar. For those wishing to explore further, The Roamin’ Jasmine released their first official CD last year (self-titled). They explore many influences from different eras and genres- sounds of Dixie are woven through with swing, blues, classic jazz and some of the songs were definitely rocking a Latino twang, with a couple of lovely calypso numbers reminiscent of long, white beaches, palm trees swaying in the wind and olive skinned señoritas.
Scotland, Edinburgh, & especially East Lothian, are massive fans of the Charlatans. Its a tremendously family affair whenever they rock into town & despite the gig being on a Monday night, the lovely, large, yet intimacy-retaining, Usher hall was packed. The gig came half way through their second British tour of 2015, ostensibly to support their first studio album in 5 years – Mother Nature. Five years after their gentle songwriting session with Penny Rimbaud, turned into their 11th album, Who We Touch, they resurfaced into the musical ether with the understated but often brilliant electro, psychejazzy sounding ‘Modern Nature.‘ Born somewhat out of the loss of original drummer, Jon Brookes, who died in 2010, of its creation Tim Burgess told the Mumble;
Mumble Music 