April 30, the Hector knows what he would like for his birthday. The choice of venue for the Birthday Curry has varied over the years. Today a long overdue return to DumPukht Lahori (39-41 Paisley Rd. West, Glasgow G51 1LG), whose advertised 16.30 opening time does not generally fit in with the Hector’s schedule.
Today was different, with breakfast at The Green Hotel, Kinross, where Prog Rock Band – Arena – were also to be found after last night’s gig at the same locus. Curry first.
Arriving just on 17.30, Aqeel, Mein Host, had yet to open the new doorway. Seeing Marg and Hector outside, this was quickly rectified. Having opened an alternative entrance, the main door are has permitted another table and six seats to be installed. Hopefully this reflects an increase in the number of sit-in customers.
Aqeel asked for a few minutes to set up, his assistant arrived moments behind us.
The menu was duly provided as we took our seats at our customary table. As expected, prices have increased significantly since our list visit to DumPukht, eighteen months ago. Then, prices were unsustainably low, this evening our kilo of Lamb Lahori Karahi (£39.99) is at the top end of what one pays in this city. Very much a birthday treat then.
A kilo between two, quite ambitious these days, but with the car parked around the corner, any surplus could be taken home. Note, car parking on Portland Street is currently free. Hopefully, Curry-Heute has no readers in the council.
To accompany, Marg was sticking to her usual Roti (£1.50) and Hector the Til Nan (£2.50). A jug of tap water was the chosen tipple.
The assistant brought a Modest Salad and Raita, which are chargeable. The background Qawwali music was quite familiar: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. 
During our wait for the food to be prepared, I took the opperchancity to photograph the new layout.
Both Breads were served whole, always the preferred way. The Wholemeal Roti suited Marg. Somehow, she managed to eat the entire Roti then help out with the Til Naan. Firm and risen, the Naan had a rich topping of Sesame Seeds, these would add an extra and pronounced Flavour to the meal.
Lamb Lahori Karahi
Coriander, Ginger Strips and Green Chillies halved lengthways, topped a somewhat – wet – looking Karahi. Brown, with an Oily hue, the Masala was decidedly Shorva-esque, not what was expected. As would become apparent, the Oil content was distinctly minimal. Wot, no Oil? A healthy Karahi.
On taking our starting portions from the flat karahi, I was confident that we would finish all before us. There was clearly a lot of Bones here, every piece I took was on-the-bone. Marg’s deft ladling had secured pieces which were Meat only.
Sucky Bones and Ribs, confirmation that the increase in price was justified. Better cuts of Meat, and today, no sign of Offal attachments which had been a feature of DumPukht previously. There were, however, bits of Meat with fatty attachments, just a couple, not a problem.
Dipping the Naan in the Masala confirmed a good level of Spice and Seasoning. Marg would not make her frequent – It’s Spicy– comment, so well pitched. I bit the stem off one of the Green Chillies and ate the entire piece, my audience reacted with a slight shake of the head.
Flecks of Black Pepper were prominent in the Masala. In time, the Pepper absorbed by the Meat came through. The intensity of the Lamb’s own Flavour was noted. Soft Meat, minimal chewing, the tenderness was remarkable. Yet, such was the Bone content, every intake of Lamb had to be treated with care.
The second half of the meal was markedly different. Having mopped up the excess Masala, that which remained had taken on a more familiar Tomato consistency. There was a sense of it being more Creamy also. This could have been due to Raita on the dinner plate drifting towards the Masala.
Marg had placed her Bones in the bowl provided, I kept mine on my plate. Our different experiences are thus manifested. A lot of Bones, but such was the overall Flavour in this Karahi, forgivable. Sesame infused Salt & Pepper lingered long on the palate.
Marg had quite a few words to add:
I had managed to work up an appetite before our kilo of lamb on the bone, arrived sizzling hot. There was a variety of pieces on the bone as well a small cuts of meat with some fatty ends. I was not too sure of the quality, but after tasting the meat in my Roti, the overall flavour was strong and very enjoyable. The sauce was minimal in oil, but used the bread to gain the spicy, oily, coriander and ginger strips within the sauce. A rich taste which complemented the tender meat pieces around the bone. I picked out the bones and ate my whole Roti with the rich sauce and meat pieces.
The Salad consisted of onion, cucumber and tiny pieces of tomato with creamy Raita sauce to add. A lovely combination with the meat and a very enjoyable meal.
The Bill
£47.50
The Aftermath
There was discussion with Aqeel about opening times. He did point out that on Saturday and Sunday he opens in the morning for Nashta.
Puri, Nihari and Paya were quoted. The Hector would certainly trot on past the Paya.
And so to the previous twenty four hours…
We arrived at The Green Hotel, Kinross, just after 16.00. This would allow time to investigate the Leven Brewery which was directly across from our allocated room window. Not so great.
We did spot Clive Nolan, co founder of Arena, and active keyboard player in Pendragon also, who of course appeared on Close To The Edge.
It feels like only three weeks ago since we had breakfast together on deck.
Clive admits to facial-recognition-blindness, so although always happy to chat, he needs a cue. Hector’s t-shirt was also a visual clue.
Catching up once more, and a continuation of our last conversation, having to learn all the Arena material again in such a short time had been a challenge. The band had played last night to a half empty room in these very premises. A show added late to the tour, and with Marg returning from Belgium, not considered. Now the promoter knows, but at least he is getting bands to Scotland albeit in Fife. Without a car, Kinross is impossible, staying over seemed the sensible thing to do after seeing Pendragon here on the eve of – The Plague.
With a prompt 20.00 start planned, and a 22.00 curfew imposed by the management, the original setlist would have to be curtailed. Being the 30th Anniversary Tour, the plan was to cover all ten studio albums of which Hector has nine.
The hotel staff advised that the bar in venue, Backstage at The Green, would open at 19.00. Coming down from our room at 18.45, to queue to get in, felt very much like being back on the Norwegian Gem. Marg wouldn’t let me attend the show in my slippers, however, but I did feel at home.
The venue was open already, only six people seated. Why not take the front row seats directly opposite the keyboards and John Mitchell’s guitar setup? On the floor beside the pedals was tonight’s setlist, two songs scored off due to the time restriction. A couple of people spotted what I was doing, and they too came down to take a photo.
Marg chatted with Susan, a prog guru, Marg couldn’t bluff as she can do with the breweries of Bamberg. A familiar face entered from the rear and greeted the few who had joined us.
There’s a solitary witness – was my greeting to Damian Wilson, current vocalist in Arena, who Hector saw twice way back in ’94 at The Marquee (London). The title of Landmarq’s first album and opening lyric to their second, was of course recognised.
That I saw him at The Marquee was down to The Science of Coincidence, sorry. Pendragon were playing The Marquee, Landmarq supported. It was the same story when I returned a few weeks later to see the recently reformed IQ on the – Ever – tour. Marg knows the music of Landmarq, it is played oft in the car. I also assured her that Damian is one of the finest singers she will ever see/hear live.
Associated with that, I asked about his collaborations with Rick Wakeman, also seen recently on Cruise To The Edge. I have few of Rick’s albums because I cannot stand the vocals. It has long been my theory, that the lyrics are set in impossible keys. In a roundabout way, Damian concurred.
Welcome To The Stage
With the setlist to hand, it was very much a case of which songs I would know better than others. The first two albums less so, even allowing for their inclusion on the first live album. There would have been an even greater level of familiarity had Covid not happened. Tickets for the postponed London show in 2020 were valid for the rearranged show in 2021. Sadly, the date didn’t suit.
Marg and Hector saw Arena perform all of The Visitor in Yorkshire back in 2018. Marg knows The Visitor by heart. John took centre stage, well as far as his lead would let him, for the instrumental Serenity, before the band launched into (Don’t Forget To) Breathe. Big smiles on my left.
Four songs would feature from their 2022, and latest studio album – The Theory of Molecular Inheritance. Marg has played this oft on drives to/from Aberdoom. She knows it well. There is a live album from 2023 – Lifian – which features Damian on vocals. This might appear in someone’s xmas stocking as Live & Life did back in 2004.
Here Damian was singing the Arena music he is most associated with. Though as Clive told in his between song – Arena Factoids – Damian could have been the singer in this band many years ago, on two occasions.
Having played the part of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Damian is stage experienced and can hold an audience. With a longer mike lead, he was able to pace up and down the central isle. He sang to us all, and to each of us individually, captivating.
Kylan Amos remains on Bass and still looks like John Jowitt, his predecessor, albeit, with hair. Behind the drum-kit, and obscured from my camera all night, remains Mick Pointer, founding member of Marillion. Whatever happened to them?
How many John Mitchell albums do I possess? Arena, Frost*, Kino, the collection keeps growing. Always serious, he has to remember which solo is in which song in which band – I reminded Marg. He did beam at the conclusion to one of the – Arena Factoids. Clive the M.C., he is set free with Arena. In Pendragon, it’s his school chum Nick Barrett who has the limelight.
There was a requested standing ovation between the final song and the encore. With no stage wings left or right, the band had nowhere to go. The ovation delivered, there was another spontaneous one at the end.
Bar profits – were mentioned in one – Factoid – as being the reason for the curfew. We did our bit. Clive approached me cola in hand, an honour, after the show, and asked if I had enjoyed the set. A – thank you – was duly delivered. We did discuss prog bands playing to hundreds in the UK and thousands across Europe. Clive reckons the Boerderij in Zoetermeer (Nederland) is his favourite venue. If the Hector is ever to get to see Mystery (Canada) it may well be there.
There had to be a photo with Damian, and indeed, so familiar were we becoming, he came over at breakfast this morning to bid us farewell.
I had suggested to Marg that she have him sing Happy Birthday at midnight, not to be.