Sabai

Some time around late November we made a decision to retreat into our own heads for a little while - we felt we’d had a successful year, playing in venues across Edinburgh, London, and various festivals. We’d held up Whitesnake in Derbyshire, steamed up Citizen Smith’s on Rose Street, made the crusties dance at Knochengorroch, and more besides. We’d caught trains, missed flights, done gigs on two hours’ notice, driven along dark country roads through fog. We were battle-hardened, and over the preceding year we’d really gelled as a four-piece.

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The first Music Section kicked off in style with Action Group. Playing a stripped down acoustic set (with a stripped down band, in terms of numbers), the guys  delivered tunes off their latest album with real flair. Watching them in this intimate setting was a departure from their usual shows where synths, drums, and electronics fill out the sound,  but this just brought home the fact that they’re a fantastic bunch of musicians who can knock out a great tune.

We took the stage next, which involved some careful placing of body parts & instruments in order to squeeze in front of the bay window. I managed not to fall on the drum kit as as we inspired a couple to dance an impromptu jig while playing ‘Pigeon Loft’.

The pub was filled to the brim with locals, friends, and a few passers-by so all in all it was deemed a successful beginning to the Music Section.

Get yourselves down to The Golf bar in Leith on Friday 5th June for some great music from team Sabai and local heroes Action Group. 

It’s the first night of the ‘Music Section’, two bands playing stripped back sets in the relaxed environs of a much loved Leith institute (well Dom & Roy love it!). It’s going to be (hopefully) the first Friday of each month with the bands rotating each time.

It starts early (7-10pm) so as not to clash with any plans you might have for your Friday nights. It’s also free. See you there music lovers.

The images look strange (like they’ve been photo-copied because the film used was over 3 years out of date. They still look pretty cool although, the prints look better than the scans shown here.

We released our demo disc as a full band. If you have one with the accompanying booklet, then keep hold of it, we only printed 100 discs and 50 booklets. You never know…

(The booklets were, incidentally hand sewn by M’s fair finger-pickin’ hands. We won’t be doing that again in a hurry as it took quite a while.)

It was made for promotional purposes and most are in the hands of radio people. A small number were dished out At the Ark bar gig on the 29th April. The booklet contains photos, lyrics and a band bio.

The tracklisting is:

1 - Black Dog

2 - Arisaig

3 - Daddy’s Gun

Some of the songs have appeared on various demos/recordings in the past. This is the first time they’ve been put down with Sabai as a four-piece. Daddy’s Gun has its origins in a track called Number 1 which appears on a very early recording.

The tracks can be heard right here on our dandy music player below.

All tracks (c) & (p) Raggatt / Swift 2009. Recorded at Verden Studios, Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland. It was produced by Graeme Steel.

Enjoy!