"Wake Up" Glasgow

They're an energetic bunch that Arcade Fire, after a busy year of touring you would forgive them for feeling a little lethargic, but the truth is this band couldn't be much more lively, they radiate get up and go and even on a cold Sunday night the essence of the Canadian 8 piece is infectious. The gig at Glasgow's SECC was the last of their current tour and they certainly ended on a high. Rest assured, these guys love their job.

They're a fascinating band to watch, lively, engaging and obviously incredibly talented, they take turns at instruments on a rotational basis and throw themselves entirely into the music they play.

'I know a place where no cars go' sings Butler to the sold out crowd (thankfully the thaw has ensured that that 'place' is no longer the M8) The hauntingly brilliant My Body is a Cage follows and breaks into The Suburbs, the title track from the latest album.

They disappear behind the curtains before returning for the encore of all encores. Wake Up - the chugging riff builds sending the crowd into a euphoric frenzy of 'woah oh oh oh oh ohing' (this will make sense if you know the song) . It takes a very special band to fill the rather vast surroundings of the SECC but Arcade Fire do it with ease. Utterly brilliant, tingles up the spine brilliant.

Glasgow: Artistic and Tasty

Two wins for Glasgow this week (well 3 if you include the city's wellie manufacturers - damn you pesky snow slush!)

Firstly Glasgow born Susan Philipsz won the Turner Prize for her sound installation Lowlands. She is the first female Scottish winner of the prize and now joins fellow Scots and Scots based Turner winners Douglas Gordon, Martin Creed, Simon Starling and Richard Wright. (We're an artistic bunch up here don't you know)

Lowlands was an installation originally presented at the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art earlier this year. Recordings of Philipsz singing three versions of the folk song Lowlands were installed under George V Bridge, the Caledonian Road Bridge and Glasgow Bridge. It is also the first time a sound installation has won the coveted prize.

Secondly a subject very close to my heart...curry.

Glasgow has regained its title as Curry Capital of Britain. And rightly so...anyone who has ever eaten at Mother India's Cafe will concur. The competition was organised as part of National Curry Week, an excuse to indulge in pakora and chana daal if ever there was.

Mr November...in the snow

Today Glasgow lies under a blanket of snow - very picturesque and very, very slippy!

I went to see The National on Friday night, best gig of the year, by miles, times a hundred. I could listen to that baritone voice for ever, lovely and gloomy, hauntingly beautiful lyrics and a dapper two piece suit, what more could you ask for on a Friday. The Glasgow crowd made a path as singer Matt took a daunder through the crowd during Mr November, he made it as far as the bar, well when you need a gin you need a gin I suppose.

There was a nice wee sing along at the end, someone with a significantly more hi tech phone captured it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4i_zdmtrcg

Glasgow Boys Exhibition

This weekend I'm going to indulge the culture vulture hidden deep deep within and visit The Glasgow Boys exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/Pages/home.aspx.

The exhibition has had great reviews and I've been meaning to visit for weeks. Now that run training is done and dusted I'll be able to pop along which is just as well as it closes and heads to London town on September 27 (the exhibition, not the museum...that would be quite the logistical operation)

I've been reading a lot about the Glasgow Boys for work and I'm looking forward to seeing their work up close. I particularly like 'The Druids - Bringing in the misteltoe' - the painting at the top of this post.

Oh my legs...

On Sunday morning with a belly full of weetabix and banana, I donned my running kit and threw some lack lustre stretching shapes. Lucozade in hand and bum bag on,well, bum, (occupational hazard of the diabetic) I left the flat ready for the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon.

2 hours and 4 minutes later I crossed the finish line. Woo hoo.

It's now Thursday and I have at last regained enough strength in my thighs to bend down and pick up my laptop from the bottom shelf.

Yes, it is fair to say I was in a fair amount of pain but it was worth it, I guess it's good to push yourself every once in a while.

I really enjoyed the run, the lovely people of Glasgow were out in force cheering on the runners and thankfully the sun stayed behind the clouds for most of the race. Special thanks go to the man with the garden hose on mile 9, much appreciated!

Eye of the tiger...

Ahoy m'hearty's,

Again I have failed to meet my blogging quota. Must do better.

As mentioned in my last post those many moons ago I have decided to embark on my second half marathon. Alas much of the last few weeks have been spent in trainers and short shorts - my concerns about exposing my peely wally legs to the good people of Glasgow were soon overcome as my body temperature reached tropical climes as soon as I broke into a mild canter. Turns out Glasgow's uncharacteristicly warm weather is posing a challenge to my training...but then again so is The West Wing Box set, ah Mr President.

Despite the sweat and the wobbly legs I'm actually really enjoying it. Not only does it feel good to push yourself but it's also a great way to check out the parks of our Dear Green Place.

Try starting off in Kelvingrove Park, true it's a tad hilly in parts but it's a great work out and you're rewarded with some cracking views when you reach the top. Kelvingrove is connected to the Botanic Gardens by a series of wooded paths and tunnels that run by the Kelvin - it's a lovely route popular with runners and cyclists (and, on the downside, every joggers nightmare, dog walkers. I doubt there's a runner out there who's not been involved in a comedy sprint off with an exciteable spaniel) Today I rounded off this route with a Rocky style sprint up some stairs...next week, shadow boxing ;)

Latitude - pass me the houmous

Last week a band of merry chums and I packed into a polo and ventured south seeking sounds and sunshine.

Ok, ok, so this isn't quite Glasgow related however our fine city was well represented in the fields of Latitude amongst the sea of Guardian readers and mountains of falafel. T in the Park it was not.

Belle and Sebastian were amazing. They played crowd favourites The Boy with the Arab Strap and cheerily titled Get Me Away from Here I'm Dying before inviting a crowd of people on stage for a dance and sing song. Frightened Rabbit also played a blinding set, a nice mixture of tunes off the old and new albums.

In the comedy tent comedian Kevin Bridges went down a storm and we also checked out relative newcomers to the Glasgow scene Mitchell Museum. I'd read reviews raving about them and they certainly held their own.

I also got to see my favourite band in the world The National....utterly splendid. Can't wait until November when they play the 02 Academy!

All in all a good weekend!

By the by check out the winching sheep...

Three Blind Wolves at King Tut's

I bought tickets for this gig on a bit of whim, I saw them support Frightened Rabbit last year and liked their sound...plus King Tut's is about 10 minutes from my flat and I predicted (correctly) that I'd probably need a pint after my first post holiday day at work.

Three Blind Wolves are Glasgow based and clearly relished playing at the holy grail of Glasgow venues, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. The band were great and the venue was packed out. Sweaty. Very sweaty.

Soaring four way harmonies, unexpected surges in volume and endearingly honest lyrics that suggest a fair bit of heartbreak make this band one to watch. 'Emily Rose' and self titled track 'Three Blind Wolves' were particular favourites.

It's a style of music hard to pin down but try to imagine a dirtier, bluesier Mumford and Sons with extra kick crossed with a bluegrass tinged Frightened Rabbit.... Or just buy their their recently released album Sound of the Storm, it's been on repeat on my iPod all week.

The band are playing Stereo, another of Glasgow's little gems, in October. Get a ticket, you won't be disappointed!