Reviews...
Saturday 23rd August 2014 - Oceana, Edinburgh
Oceana was jumping, pretty much start to finish, which is always great. I have fun, the crowd have fun, and the night flies in! We had a lovely bunch of folk in who were very appreciative and very vocal too! I even stopped at one point to sing "Mercedes Benz" along with one lassie who had an amazing voice!
An early finish at this gig means I am home for midnight too!
Sunday, March 2nd 2014 - Cabaret
- Oceana, Edinburgh
I like a Sunday at Oceana. It’s laid back and full of characters. And there’s a nice guy who brings me a baguette! A day out and a meal!
Saturday 19th October 2013 - Oceana, Edinburgh
What can I say about this gig? Not much that hasn't been said before. Good venue, nice folk.
Sunday 2nd June 2013 - Oceana Sports Bar, Edinburgh
A beautiful afternoon in June, and where am I? outside in the sunshine with a chilled glass of something? Nope, I was in Leith, watching other people sitting outside in the sunshine...
Not much to say about this gig, as per usual. An average gig at this pub, with the usual faces. I had a few requests for material I might do a little work on though - some Randy Crawford and Joan Armatrading! Not what I expected them to ask at all! Just goes to show you that you can't judge a person's musical taste by their looks!
Saturday 16th March 2013 - Oceana, Edinburgh
Ah Oceana. What can I say that hasn't been said before. Tonight the good people of Oceana Sports Bar were a little quiet for my liking. Maybe it's because I had had a big tribute night the night before, but I found this one went a bit slow. Bit of a slog. I hope next time they'll be up for a bit of banter and back to their old selves...
Saturday 19th January 2013 - Oceana, Edinburgh
There are some venues where you go along wondering what the night will bring. This is one such venue. Sometimes it can be quiet, and a bit of a hard slog (I know, singing isn't like working down a mine or on a building site, but some gigs seem longer than others).
So I set up, fully expecting to do my usual material, only to find there was a birthday party going on, and a LOT of people out for a good night.
I started with a set of mixed songs from the vaults, and went on to throw in a couple of my new 80's songs - only to find they loved them! So I went through a fair few of my new songs, again getting to hear any brand new ones at full performance volume, which can make all the difference. Even my Rick Astley song went down well, and that's a niche 80's song if ever there was one!
The place was jumping, the crowd were dancing and singing along, and I had a great night. It just shows you - you should always go along with a good attitude, as you don't know how your gig will go!
Saturday 10th November 2012 - Oceana Sports Bar, Edinburgh
I was glad to be back and fighting fit (mostly) for this gig. After three weeks off I was happy to be out doing what I do best. That's singing, by the way. Oceana was the perfect venue for me to try out the old pipes after my bout of flu, as I know the place well and they know me.
Having said that, I usually do a Sunday here, so I was surprised to find a Saturday night crowd a bit subdued to say the least. I think I actually tapped the mic at one point and asked if it was on. I'm a cheeky besom...
I had the usual "well done, we enjoyed that" at the end of the night, which can be a bit frustrating....why people don't applaud now and then amazes me.But hey, if you've read a few of my reviews, I'm in danger of repeating myself.
The gig DID start at 7.30pm though, which I guess is a little early.
Sunday 23rd September 2012 - Oceana, Edinburgh
Well I don't have much different to say about this wee pub. It's a friendly wee place, and the bar staff like a bit of a boogie behind the bar as they work and I perform.
Things got off to a good start, and the first set was greeted with warm applause and a bit of banter. The second and third, not so much. Mind you, it was a Sunday and people tend to come and go throughout the day on Sunday, so the crowd changes a lot.
One really generous man (sorry I didn't get your name) gave me lovely home made ham salad roll. After the previous night's performance as Adele I was in need of a bit of a pick me up, so I was happy to accept a bit of food to keep me going. I don't normally take food from strangers, but Al was there, so there you go.
The afternoon/evening went quickly, and I had a good time. That's pretty much the perfect gig, isn't it?
Sunday 22nd July 2012 - Oceana, Leith, Edinburgh
What can I say about Oceana? This nice wee pub in Leith is a friendly one, and the punters like a bit of banter, which suits me.
The set up area was clear on our arrival, and Al soon got to work putting everything together. It's a small area, and the two of us in it just makes for a grumpy Al...
This was such a quick gig I can hardly remember it! I no sooner started than it was break time, and then again , then finish time! I really enjoyed myself, and pretty much everyone in the place was dancing and singing along to every song.
Can't ask for better than that, eh?
Sunday 20th May 2012 - Oceana, Leith, Edinburgh
The day after the big Scottish Cup Final? On aye, no problem. Turns out that the team from this part of Edinburgh were not the winners, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
What I had was a pub full of people who were out to enjoy themselves on a Sunday afternoon. Excellent. The afternoon went quickly, and we had a good time.
Saturday 10th March 2012 - Oceana, Edinburgh
The sound in this pub is a bit of a nightmare. shiny surfaces abound, and feedback can be a problem. but hey ho, we have to adapt, and by the second of my three "halves" we had the sound sorted out.
I found the crowd a little unresponsive, but I saw them dancing, tapping their feet and singing along, so sometimes that will just have to do, eh?
Saturday 20th August 2011 - Oceana Sports Bar, Edinburgh
This was a difficult night for me. I could sugar coat it, but that's the truth. Unfortunately problems with sound levels and complaints from the neighbours are big problems here. The venue had decided to move the acts into a room off to the side, which gave us a bit of a challenge. The sound inside the wee side room was deafening me, but Al told me that the bar could barely hear it.
It seems, however, that the neighbours who had the problem with the volume live right above the wee side room, and were down very quickly to ask the bar to turn me down. I had to turn the volume right down, and cut as much of my bass end as I could. Not ideal, when my last set usually consists of a LOT of rock music.
I took the opportunity to break out my new Adele songs, and kept things to a quieter level, hoping that the crowd would stop to listen rather than have me play over them. I'll give them their due - they did! It was more of an intimate gig, and despite the problems I think I did quite well. I hope, however, that the bar can solve their sound problems before my next visit.
Sunday 5th June 2011 - Oceana Sports Bar, Ferry Road, Edinburgh
The second gig for my new agent. And a Sunday gig, which are few and far between too! We had passed this venue on the way to Grapes the previous night, and so we had a good idea of parking and unloading etc.
As soon as you walk through the doors of this lovely wee bar the friendly atmosphere is apparent. The staff are very friendly, as are the punters! From the very start, I had a keen audience, who were obviously curious to see a new face in the pub on a Sunday. One of the pool tables was in front of me, and covered over to make a table/seat for the crowd.
The pub filled up even more as the day went on, and the joint was fairly jumping by the end of my last set, which included a LOT of rock - "Sweet Child of Mine" went down especially well.
I have another gig here this year, and I'm looking forward to it!