Review: Blue Rose Code at The Tolbooth
The Tolbooth was sold out on Friday night for the hottest ticket in town.
The music of Ross Wilson (aka Blue Rose Code) has been compared with Van Morrison and John Martyn for good reason.
His work has many of the same influences and styles, from Caledonian Soul and Jazz to Pop and Alt-Folk, and is delivered with sincerity, passion and tenderness. In the wrong hands, this could simply be pastiche but these are the perfect hands.
Blue Rose Code’s fourth Album,‘The Water of Leith’, won Scottish Album of the Year in 2017 and includes collaborations with a who’s who of top Scottish musicians.
All four of the band’s albums were represented in a wonderfully varied set. Some influences are immediately recognisable, such as‘Ebb & Flow’(Van Morrison) and ‘Bluebell’(Ray Lamontagne), but other songs, such as opener‘In the Morning’,‘Sandaig’and ‘Nashville Blue’are the divine dishes that result from a huge range of styles and influences being thrown into the melting pot.
The underlying theme of Wilson’s work is movement. Nothing stays the same. We are in a constant state of fluidity. Wilson constantly changes the performing band line-up, the setlist, the way the songs are performed and every show is different.
Sometimes he will have a 40-plus choir and a large band on stage. On Friday night, it was just two guitars and accordion and piano.
The measure of great songs is that they can be reinterpreted each night without losing any of their poignancy. Percussion came from Wilson’s hugely effective foot stomping, guitar slaps and rhythmic playing.
Although the band personnel is fluid, at the core of Blue Rose Code with Wilson are Angus Lyon (accordion/piano) and‘Wild’Lyle Watt (guitar). Watt’s guitar playing was a highlight in an already outstanding performance. His runs, accents and solos were sublime, adding texture and style to compliment each song perfectly. Another truly great musical talent.
After years of welldocumented problems with alcohol and addiction, now teatotal and a new father, Edinburgh born Wilson’s joy in discovering life and Scotland is tangible. From the beautiful ‘Daughter’to the absolute foot-stomping thrill of‘Leaves’, the whole show is a celebration of life, warts and all. There is not a bagpipe or piece of tartan in sight, but the music is so undeniably Scottish, your heart swells with emotion and joy. Yes, Blue Rose Code really are that good.
The penultimate song, ‘Grateful’is“the song that sums me up”said Wilson. He knows first hand how tough life can be and genuinely appreciates everything that has happened since turning his life around and returning home. His mantra is ‘Love and Respect’and the audience left full of both on Friday night.
The new EP,‘Red Kites/I Will Lay You Down’, is out on 9th November. Blue Rose Code are touring with Deacon Blue and you can catch them at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow on December 15, 2018. They are also appearing at next year’s Celtic Connections. See them on January 19 at‘This is Caledonian Soul’(with Eddie Reader, Hamish Stuart and more) at City Halls, Glasgow and on January 27, at‘Grace & Danger - A Celebration of John Martyn’ (with Paul Weller and more) at Glasgow Royal Concert Halls. If you don’t manage to get tickets for any of those, Blue Rose Code’s tour will be back in Scotland in March 2019. Alan MacInnes