What a lot to get through, and it’s the Equinox, Hector thus declares the end of winter. Nigel, landlord of Staggs Bar (Musselburgh) was through in Glasgow to join, Marg, Hector, Howard and Steve at St. Luke’s to see The Pineapple Thief featuring Gavin Harrison (ex Porcupine Tree) supported by O.R.k. featuring Colin Edwin (ex Porcupine Tree). Nigel has twice previously joined – The Company – to see Steven Wilson (ex Porcupine Tree). There’s a pattern there, somewhere, if only I could spot it.
There had to be food afore, Chaakoo Bombay Cafe (79 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5TF) was the chosen city centre venue, Mags and Yvonne would complete the foursome for Nigel’s second food intake of the day.
Chaakoo is a Tapas Restaurant, having visited twice previously, the better experience was Visit #1 when the Lunchtime Menu was available (Monday – Friday, 12.00 – 16.00). Thursday afternoon felt like an optimum time to visit. Nigel was sitting at the Bar, an unusual sight, when Hector arrived and declined Bier. Nigel was astonished, but Hector would stick to his principles, Water would accompany Hector’s Curry. When Mags and Yvonne arrived, they had other ideas, a Bottle of Wine (£25.95) to be shared by three, would inflate – The Bill – dramatically. Who orders Wine with Curry?
On Visit #1, Hector took the Grill & Curry (£9.95) option with an extra Dish from the Main Menu, a most satisfying plan. Mags saw sense in this, Yvonne would stick to the Grill & Curry, Nigel, well, he had his own plan.
For Hector: Tandoori Spiced Wings, Rogan Josh, Jeera Rice plus Lamb Saagwalla (£6.95). Yvonne: Tulsi Chicken Tikka, Chicken Madras, Jeera Rice and a Naan (£1.95). Yvonne declared that her Rice would be up for grabs, this was duly noted. Mags: Tandoori Spiced Wings, Garlic Chilli Chicken, Jeera Rice plus Bombay Potatoes (£3.95). Mags have a Curry without Potatoes? No chance. Nigel chose from the Menu: Masahari (£4.95) which is Chicken Pakora for the uninitiated, Garlic Lamb Bhuna (£6.95) plus a Naan. He knew he could go back for more, maybe he already knew something Hector didn’t.
The Waiter took the Order and checked that some of us had been to Chaakoo before. Craig and Yvonne have been twice in recent weeks, it is a venue which serve food to their liking. However, Yvonne knows that Hector is more discerning and prefers the full on Desi/Apna-style Dishes. The food would all arrive simultaneously, why Chaakoo persist with this remains a mystery, something has to get cold.
The Order arrived faster than I could believe, Yvonne was pleased with this having not been impressed by the very long wait to feed thirteen of us at Karahi Palace – Visit #100 – a couple of weeks ago. One venue has – The Big Curry Pot – the other prepares to order. It’s all a matter of preference.
The plates from which we ate were side-plate sized, eating more than one Tapas at a time was nigh impossible. I decided to abandon the Tandoori Spiced Wings, Chicken I do not mind eating – cold. I decanted my Rice, I could have eked it out for both Curry portions, however, we had a surplus on the table.
Rogan Josh
Six impressively large pieces of Lamb were decanted, I have experienced less in a so-called full sized portion at too many a venue. The Masala was Blended, Abundant. The Menu description mentions – Peppers – but experience has taught Hector that at Chaakoo, these are well cooked in, invisible, therefore acceptable. This was classic Mainstream Curry.
The Kick hit the back of the throat immediately, this Curry was far from Bland. The Seasoning was well below what I hoped for. On Visit #1 to Chaakoo, I congratulated Chef Manou on his bravery, the Curry that day was so well Seasoned. The Meat was decidedly – Soft, I am always impressed when Chefs are able to get their Lamb towards the edge of turning to pulp as sadly was the Beef Stew I presented to Marg on Sunday. This Rogan Josh was pleasant, enjoyable.
Lamb Saagwalla
Dr. Stan had this on Visit #1 and was impressed. I was taken by the hint of Spinach rather than the – total Herb, where’s the Masala? – which has featured in recent weeks on Curry-Heute as served at Karahi Palace.
Yvonne’s Rice was put to good use here. It was difficult to tell if the encountered Cloves and Cardamom had come from the Rice or the Curry, whichever, the Cumin Seeds also added to the overall experience. Again, there were six large pieces of Lamb. As seen previously, the Masala was invitingly Dark and Rich in appearance. The Meat in the Saagwalla was even softer than the Rogan Josh, remarkable. The oft feared – Bitterness – was not present, however, this was only a little more than Competent Curry. Karahi Palace and Yadgar are quite simply in another league.
Tandoori Spiced Wings
Four Wings covered in a Chilli Sauce. Yes, they were pretty much – cold – by the time I reached for them. I had already heard from across the table that they were indeed – Spicy. Mags was happy to share her portion with Nigel who was keen to hoover up anything approaching – left over. Nigel kept eyeing my Wings, no chance, Hector share? Aye right. Had I eaten these first, the impact would have more favourable, but who wants to eat cold Curry and Rice? Why serve everything simultaneously?
Tulsi Chicken Tikka
Yvonne received two pieces of Chicken, on Visit #1, Hector received three.
Chicken Madras
I was worried that I may get all of the different Curry Dishes mixed up given the similarity of the Masala. Those who like Chicken Curry enjoy Chicken Curry.
Yvonne: Delicious and very good service.
I failed to take a photo of the Naan, so the Reader can take my word that it was Peely Wally and Thin.
Garlic Chilli Chicken
I could see very little difference between this and the Chicken Madras.
Bombay Potato
Now we’re talking. The Potatoes were shrouded in a decent looking Thick Masala with Mustard/Onions Seeds visible. Mags had chosen well, a Vegetable Dish and a Meat Dish as Hector had done on Visit #1. This was a better choice than Hector’s Daal Makhani on that day.
This was Mags’ first visit to Chaakoo: Lots better than I was expecting. Spicy Chicken Wings, and as for the Potatoes, bloody marvellous.
Masahari
Crispy fried Chicken Pakora – says the Menu. This looked like a very decent portion for the money charged. Again, I have witnessed measly portions for more.
Garlic Lamb Bhuna
Topped with Caramelised Onions, in a Dark Masala, this could well have been the best Curry choice of the day. The Masala here was significantly different than three of the four Dishes above. I could see myself back here soon to try this Curry with the Bombay Potatoes as backup.
Nigel used the Masala as a Dip for his Pakora. He was in raptures from the start and was finished long before anyone else. He should have ordered more, but I didn’t know Nigel would require – Dinner at 19.00 – as is his daily ritual.
Nigel: That was brilliant, outstanding.
This he repeated quite a few times whilst still at Chaakoo and many more times as the day progressed. He will be coming back here on his next visit to Glasgow. I bet he adopts the Hector Model for ordering that day.
The Bill
£82.50 For lunch? Scandalous! As is written above, Hector stuck to the Water.
The Aftermath
And so we departed to rendezvous with some more of – The Company – at the State Bar and watch Scotland v Kazakhstan. Ffs!
Marg phoned just before 19.00, she was already at St. Luke’s. Nigel was hungry.
St. Luke’s & The Winged Ox – to give the venue its full title. Many chose to wait outside until the doors opened to the main room just after the official 19.00. Nigel asked about food. Apparently it had to be pre-ordered. Whilst the rest of us had Music in mind, Nigel managed to arrange a Pizza to be served during the support band. I like St. Luke’s, so much better than the BAad venue across the way. Information was clear, when the support act would perform, who they were, and when the main act would take to the stage. All was well until @1920 when the thud of Colin Edwin’s Bass caused the connecting door to vibrate. O.R.k. were onstage, early.
O.R.k.
I have seen Colin Edwin many times with Porcupine Tree, a tidy Bass player, never flamboyant, perhaps that’s why Steven Wilson dropped him when he went solo? The Drums were set up stage left which is where Marg and Hector found themselves, three rows of heads in front of us. On the far side of the stage, the youngest member, and one of the two Italians onstage: Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari – LEF – for convenience, was playing a keyboard and singing. I could barely make out a word, not that this bothers me, lyrics to me are fillers between the instrumental breaks. There are vocalists one immediately take to, Paul Manzi (Arena, Cats in Space) sets the standard presently. LEF simply did not have it.
The Drummer spoke, after the silence from stage last week at Tangerine Dream, and I still don’t know who supported, this was almost a treat. The accent gave it away, Pat Mastelotto is from Texas. The Band’s website says he is the Drummer in King Crimson, what happened to Bill Bruford? On Guitar and occasional almost grunge-like vocals was Marta Sui Tubi‘s Carmelo Pipitone. I have many a CD by Italian Prog Bands, Marta Sui Tubi is a new act to me.
O.R.k. Played well, LEF’s vocals were clearer when he took centre stage and abandoned the keyboard. The first pieces played were from older albums, the quality of music appeared to improve as the set progressed. Much of what we were then listening to was from the latest album – Ramagehead. This may be worthy of further investigation.
The photos are poor, the lighting was either too red or too blue to capture anything decent. It was good to hear Colin Edwin finally speak onstage, his expected Australian accent may have been tempered by living/working in the UK for so long. It was also good to hear the response from the audience when he did address us. It’s a Porcupine Tree thing.
The Pineapple Thief
My first encounter with Adrian – Bruce – Soord was back in 1995. In the dark ages before t’Internet, Malcolm Parker’s mail order company and his own Cyclops record label was – the – reliable source for Progressive Rock. Vulgar Unicorn featured the artist who would go on to found The Pineapple Thief, I must give their – Under the Umbrella – another play. The first The Pineapple Thief album in 1999 was called Abducting the Unicorn. A couple of years ago, Nigel started to rave about The Pineapple Thief, their third album Variations on a Dream (2002) he still holds in the highest regard. Try getting a hold of that album at a sensible price. Hector joined the party once more by purchasing the 2012 release – all the wars – which remained largely unplayed. Last year’s release – Dissolution – featured Gavin Harrison who indirectly replaced his namesake – Keith. Interest was restored, Nigel was up for it, tickets were purchased, and it was not a Steven Wilson gig.
Barclay James Harvest were self deprecating enough to record the track – Poor Man’s Moody Blues. Listening to The Pineapple Thief, I wonder how many agree that Bruce Soord has been living in the shadow of Steven Wilson? Porcupine Tree, Pineapple Thief, the songs often have the same level of emotion, SW does compose more complex arrangements. Steve Kitch (Keyboards) has been aboard for over a decade, after tonight’s gig I was left feeling that he hadn’t done enough. I wonder what would happen if Richard Barbieri (ex Porcupine Tree) joined The Pineapple Thief?
The band took to the stage exactly at the advertised time – 20.40, the curfew was at 22.20. Thirteen songs were performed up to 22.00, the encore featured three more. A Roadie was pointing to his watch as the final song commenced, but, hey, this is Glasgow. When we like a Band, we let them know it, they respond.
As expected, the latest album – Dissolution – featured prominently: Far Below, Not Naming any Names, Shed a Light, Threatening War, Try as I Might, Uncovering Your Tracks and White Mist. I should have purchased the previous 2016 album – Your Wilderness – from which In Exile, No Man’s Land, That Shore and The Final Thing on My Mind were performed. With nothing from – all the wars – it was very much a case of take on board the unfamiliar and wish I had more thoroughly learned all of Dissolution.
The lack of strong themes, if there is weakness to TPT’s music it is that the well crafted songs tend towards a Guitar climax. Bruce Soord is a more than able guitarist, though George Marios, a hired hand?, was often given the opperchancity to shine. Marios’ solos on Fender-style guitars were too clean. When he played other machines the sound was much more – distorted, way better. Marg was hearing and seeing The Pineapple Thief for the first time today. She shared my observation that John Sykes on Bass was truly remarkable on vocals. What LEF lacked, he had in abundance. This meant that Bruce Soord on Lead Vocals, his compositions, was more than ably supported. The weakness was the Keyboards, too little, not until the encore did Steve Kitch get a chance to shine. Hector likes swathing keyboards, grand orchestral sounds a la Anathema, Pallas, Moria Falls…there’s a blast from the past.
Of the songs unheard by Hector until this evening, the show stopper was Nothing at Best from Someone Here is Missing (2010), plus the one track from Magnolia (2014) – Alone at Sea. For Nigel, there was one track played from Variations on a Dream – Part Zero.
They just got on with it – remarked Marg on the drive home.
Nay banter. Some bands do, some don’t, but those who do not even introduce themselves… I will have to purchase more albums by The Pineapple Thief.
Steve, yes he was here too, left early for his train. Nigel and Howard loved the gig.
There’s more!
Last week after Tangerine Dream I spotted what I took to be a Kebap Shop on Gallowgate. The signage rotated, tonight I saw the words – Bombay Bad Boy (279 Gallowgate, Glasgow G4 0RU), this could only mean Curry. Nigel was hungry, again. In we went, Nigel for a Kebap, Hector to investigate. There is a shelf to sit at whilst eating one’s Curry in what is clearly a Takeaway. Open at 15.30, and yes I can eat in, this was enough to entice me back. Staff Curry Section – Lamb Curry on-the-bone (£7.95) was not actually available tonight. I shall phone them next week.
Nigel: This will probably be my best Thursday of the year.
Hector: Pity it’s not a Tuesday.