29 July 2008 (gig)
30 July 2008
Have you ever turned up to a party not knowing exactly what to expect only to discover some of your friends that you hadn't seen in years are there and it turned out to be a night to remember forever? That's how it was last night when I went to see Edwyn Collins perform at the stiflingly intimate 12 bar club in London.
I had never seen his seminal band Orange Juice (they cancelled when meant to be supporting the Undertones in 1980) but knew their music well. The effervescent 1982 hit Rip it Up followed and brought the band to a wider audience. However chart success was limited till the smash hit Never met a Girl Like you Before in the 1990s. Then disaster struck. Three years ago, a stroke left Edwyn Collins unable to walk, talk or even play the guitar. It was six months before he was finally discharged from hospital. Barely able to speak or walk, he faced a gruelling rehabilitation programme with no guarantee of recovery. That is all now in the past and he proved he could still cut it with an effortlessly charming gig where he was very ably supported on acoustic guitars by fellow Scots crooner Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera fame and Andy Hackett formerly of the Rockin Birds.
Naturally he gave us the hits rounding off with a rousing version of the classic Blue Boy. Although still clearly suffering from some motor problems his sweet, unique voice still managed to transport everyone present back to a better place in time when all that mattered were girls, music and haircuts. He still listens to the Velvet Underground, but there are few things smoother than the sound of Collins cajoling an audience with his lyrical mastery and ear for an easy rhythm. Welcome back old friend.
