Ballboy

Four years ago in south Osaka, and whilst searching for something else, I stumbled upon the tunes of Ballboy. They were to do with nothing in my life at the time but came to be integral in the music I'd listen to whilst heading into the mountains over to Wakayama on the bike. I knew nothing about the band, and despite the powers of Mr and Mrs Google, decided to leave it that way. A luxury these days, to not let the internet influence you one way or the other. I could tell they were Scottish but didn't know if they were new or old, if they still produced records, toured, what.

'I lost you but I found country music,' is a song recommended for anyone undergoing a separation and one which will always have the potential to make me cry. This was Echoed when I subsequently moved back to Scotland and reacquainted with old friend Gregor who had formed Western influenced, Sparrow and the Workshop. Last night though, Gordon MacIntyre, voice and guitar of Ballboy, was at pains to point out this wasn't necessarily advice.

Last week I noticed that Gordon was playing at Carters this week so there was no doubt of heading along for what was a great wee show on a cold night with much IPA, chesterfield and radiator action. Songs about running naked make you laugh, a narrative about going into space so profound and 'The sash my father wore' can't help but strike a big chord. It was great to finally see, locally and informally, what had been so much of an occidental influence in the orient.