The conversation got to the author remarking that he hadn’t listened to much more-or-less-political music with the impact of Strummer’s work (with and without The Clash) since the late punk’s death.
Conversely, I don’t seem to be able to listen to anything that isn’t angry about something right now. Not least since, now he’s five, the Wee Man is all
Public Enemy, the Bee Gees or die, Sucker!
My son, every day (not really (but yeah, kinda))
Maybe by the end of the month, I can expand his palette to include Run The Jewels, Sleaford Mods and the great new(ish) Leith/Peebles band I checked out at the Banshee Labyrinth last month, Gutterblood.
Poor wee sod.
Oh yeah, and Mrs Stroke Bloke stumbled across an article about Killer Mike from Run The Jewels in the paper today.
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So glad you’re back, Ricky! Top o’ the mornin’ to ye! Oh, wait. That’s Irish, isn’t it?
Nice to be back, and to hear from you, Joyce – in that lovely Irish brogue, too! If I may drop into Scottish Gaelic, Feasgar math!
So here is what Google Maps says about Leith:
“Leith is a buzzing port district, home to hip creatives and longtime locals. Waterfront seafood bistros and traditional pubs dot the Shore area. The Royal Yacht Britannia, a former ocean-going royal residence, showcases elaborate state apartments and an onboard Rolls-Royce. The riverside Water of Leith Walkway and Leith Walk, a busy street with food and thrift shops, link the area with the city centre.”
Now, IIRC, Leith used to be a very working class district for dock workers. Back in the day, “Gutterblood” might have meant some rotten liquid oozing on the docks, from any number of suspect sources. These days, the meaning of Gutterblood is quite different in this home to hip creatives, full of hipster irony and bands that read poetry to atonal rock music.
So yeah, I think there is definitely some Alienation Reprise happening in the seafood bistros and traditional pubs in the area. 🙂
Mate. Having grown up at the midway point between Leith Library and the 1st Leith scout troop hall, lemme tell you about 2022 Edinburgh and Leith, where this recovering ageing Brooklyn hipster who buys his Sunday morning bagels at The Bearded Baker feels like the vanguard of authenticity. It’s a lot.
tbf to Gutterblood, given the folk they work with and their various ages and class-based politics, I don’t think they’re hipsters in the modern, pejorative sense. But then, I think that Mogwai are – if you’ll excuse the term – fairly authentic, maaaan.
To clarify: the wife and I would trade NYC for Edinburgh at the drop of a hat, if we could make it work. So mostly I’m just jealous of your fair city and its environs. 🙂
Also, Gutterblood would be a great name for a beer. Maybe you could convince one of the many breweries in Leith to craft such a brew?