There are worse ways to spend a birthday than watching one of your musical heroes perform in a small venue. In fact, I’d struggle to think of many better. So when Ian McNabb was playing Bannermans in Edinburgh around my birthday, the decision to attend required very little thought.
For anyone unfamiliar with Ian McNabb, he first came to prominence as the driving force behind The Icicle Works before establishing a highly respected solo career. While commercial success has come and gone over the years, his songwriting has remained consistently impressive. Those who know his work tend to be fiercely loyal, and it’s easy to understand why. He has a knack for combining memorable melodies, thoughtful lyrics and a dry sense of humour that makes his live performances every bit as enjoyable as his records.
One of the things I love about venues like Bannermans is how intimate they are. There is very little distance between artist and audience, which creates an atmosphere that larger venues simply can’t replicate. You’re not watching events unfold from hundreds of feet away. You’re right there in the room, sharing the experience as it happens.
As Emma and I arrived, we apparently managed to make an impression almost immediately. Whether that was due to our impeccable sense of style, our dazzling personalities or simply our ability to attract attention wherever we go remains unclear. Whatever the reason, it set the tone for a memorable evening.
McNabb himself was in excellent form. Some artists become increasingly detached from their audience as their careers progress, but Ian has always seemed to enjoy the connection that comes from playing smaller venues. There was plenty of banter, plenty of stories and, most importantly, plenty of great songs. The combination made for exactly the kind of birthday entertainment I had hoped for.
One of the unexpected benefits of running BillyWatson.tv is that it occasionally creates opportunities to connect with artists whose work you’ve admired for years. As the evening came to a close, I handed Ian a copy of my book before leaving. It felt like a fitting end to the night. I’ve spent years writing about musicians, filming concerts and sharing stories, so being able to place something I had created into the hands of someone whose music I had enjoyed for decades was a nice moment.
Whether he ever read it is another matter entirely.
Looking back, this was one of those birthdays that didn’t require anything elaborate. A great venue, a talented songwriter and good company were more than enough. Sometimes the simplest celebrations turn out to be the most memorable.
The videos and photographs below capture an excellent evening with one of Britain’s finest songwriters. Not a bad way to spend a birthday at all.
The Photos
Cheers!
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