Live Performance Review: Nick Cave, Tuesday 28.04.2015 20:00 The Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh

This gig was advertised as a solo performance. This was not the case. He had some 'Bad Seeds' with him, though it was a parred back version to that which I have seen before and he did some songs by himself, which was nice. The setting and lighting was very nice and the view from where I was in the 3rd row could not have got much better. Nick and his chief collaborator, Mr. Warren Ellis, were superb showmen as always. 

This was the fourth time in total that I have seen Nick and his Seeds. I have seen them twice on the first leg of a tour after albums have come out and now twice with more distance to album releases. I prefer seeing him in the performances that have more distance to album releases as he tends to do more of a spread of work from across his career with the Seeds. This show had works spreading from his most recent album, back to the very first and contained many of my favourite songs by Mr. Cave. The performance lasted 2 & 1/4 Hours and was top notch throughout, what more could you want.  

Rating: 10/10.    

Live Performance Review: Laura Marling, Saturday 25.04.2015 19:00, O2 Academy, Glasgow

The following is not a review, although I will mention details about the performance. As with Josie Long during the Edinburgh Festivals in August last year, I have to admit that I can no longer be objective in regard to how great I think they are. 

This is the eighth time I have seen Laura perform since the first time in 2009. This time, Laura performed with people on drums, bass and guitar. Although I have seen her perform with a group of musicians a couple of times before, the tone of this performance was a new area for Little Miss Marling (as I like to think of her). Laura herself was using a range of electric, semi-acoustic and acoustic guitars. The performance itself, I would not class as rock, though it had a harder element to the sound than what I have heard from her before. She played songs from her second album, 'I Speak Because I Can' (2010) to her most recent 'Short Movie' (2015), along with a couple of covers and (I think) a newie. 

With some of the songs from previous albums she was approaching them within the manner of her new work. I have seen musicians previously do this well such as Iron & Wine, and others do this really badly such as Bon Iver. Thankfully Laura was able to manage this with aplomb. She was performing songs that I know well, that were still instantly recognisable to me, though which sounded quite different. The manner in which she has evolved her sound causes me to think that it is no longer fair to consider her within the stricture of being a 'folk' musician, though she should just be considered as a great musician.  

Her musical skill in terms of guitar playing and singing were faultless. There were a couple of times where she stumbled onto a wrong note, gave humble recognition and moved on, which in my eyes just added to the charm. There was very sweet banter and interaction with the very appreciative crowd and there were several songs where I was having goosebumps. This also appeared to be the most relaxed I have seen her when she has been performing, laughing and smiling at various points throughout the performance, which is always nice to see.

Within the opening suite of songs I was already transfixed and aware of mentally saying to myself, 'who am I kidding with (occasionally) questioning how great I think you are, you're perfect'. In my mind, there is nothing sexier than someone who is a masterful musician. When this is matched with physical beauty and a manner of poise & dignity, along with being intelligent and eloquent, that becomes for me a package of perfection. I used to feel slightly like a 'dirty-old-man' finding her hot with being 14 years older and her being this refined youthful beauty. From this performance it was evident that she still has that refined beauty, though for me, this is now balanced with a sexy bad-ass element to her, and it is this new aspect which enables me to no longer feel like a pervert.

I feel this is probably a good point for me to wrap this up otherwise I will dribble and get to a point of embarrassing myself. If it were not already clear and by means of summing up, I am besotted.