During the week that saw us attend a gig at the Drygate in Glasgow, our choice this week has been an easy one. The support act on the night was a lad from Massachusetts in the States. You know, the place that holds an annual dentists’ convention! Ok, but seriously, we first came across Stephen Kellog in around 2015 when he played a gig on Sauchiehall St here in town, and we then saw him again a couple of years back in the Hug and a Pint on Great Western Road. At our first encounter, a gig we just decided to attend knowing nothing about Stephen, he performed as part of a duo, and the second time he had brought over a band. However, this time he performed solo and brought his particular brand of musical magic to each of his ten or so songs.
Stephen is a joy to listen to, and he fills in the gaps between songs with panache and humour. One story he recounted involved the dilemma of telling a house full of party guests on Thanksgiving that he had only just found out that his water supply had been contaminated with Salmonella! He then went on to tell us that he was playing a borrowed guitar, however, I for one, could not tell, so good was his proficiency!
This year's To you, Old Friend marks the release of his twentieth album since 1994, and it is to 2013 and his album Blunderstone Rookery that we have gone to select the song Thanksgiving. The song is typical of the artist as it contains a veritable shedload of lyrics, and it also highlights everything this decent man is all about….
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