The Gallowgate Calypso

So after the Rod gig last night we walked back through Hampden, Queen's Park, Gorbals, Toryglen type area. There are streets here where the only people in it are from an Asian background. No pasty weejies in sight. Quite incredible the size of the communities. Different from the pockets in Edinburgh.

We headed for McGinn's Bar in Glesgae toon. My guide for the evening is good pals, through his work, with the owner of the bar, Paul McGinn - nephew of Matt McGinn . He gave us a pint of Guinness each on the house. Top man. Top hospitality. We exchanged some chat surrounding our respective green n' white fitba teams and his uncle's contribution to the history and folk songs of the Catholic/Socialist Glasgow. His pictures adorn all the walls in here.
He's listed twice in the American Smithsonian Institute's list of 100 greatest folk songs of the 20th Century. Up there with Bob Dylan and the like. His body of work ranged from the balladic to comedic (Billy Connolly heard the call), from political to nursery rhyme. check here

We then kicked back to enjoy some of the locals' vocal performances on the karaMacoke. Almost all were Rod numbers. One from a big fella with blood spattered shirt. One from a Nigerian immigrant who could barely read Rod's words. And the obligatory number from one of the permed ladies dressed up like the Bay City Rollers who were waving their saltires and lion rampants at the gig.
Despite of all these delights we only managed to stay for one.

Then it was back on to the streets of Glasgow. What a metropolis that becomes on the eye at night. Skyscraper high, high defintion, digital advertising towering over you as you try to wind through the heaving traffic in the pouring rain, blinded by headlights and neon. This is Blade Runner.

Back to Rick's place for a nose through some of his work and his music. He was always a bedroom rock star at school. Still got the whole rock god, guitar hero thing going on. Hope he keeps like that his whole life. Here's his wee toy before I headed home at 1.30am..... A Gibson Les Paul.