The way to beat fundamentalism is to find yourself interred at a fundamentalist drug rehabilitation facility for eighteen months as a teenager. “I was only on pills for half as long,” says John Murry about the pharmaceutical speed he was given as a “slow” student at his Mississippi high school. “They gave me the pills and then they locked me up when I took them. I trafficked in righteous indignation when they let me out, but god damn it, it turned out they were right.” Years later, dead from heroin, San Francisco’s first responders showed him how Lazarus felt. A few times. Not born again, but not dead either.
John Murry began recording The Graceless Age (produced by Murry, Tim Mooney, and Kevin Cubbins) four years ago in San Francisco. From there, he brought the tapes to Memphis and back again, adding layers of sound as thick as, what? San Francisco fog? Mississippi mud? No. That’s fucking ridiculous. As John Murry says, “No matter how many fuzz pedals I use, no matter how many synths, they’re always going to say ‘Mississippi’ and ‘southern rock.’” Of course territory figures into the songs of The Graceless Age, but good luck pigeonholing.
It’s a big sound at times – backup singers, panoramic guitar noise, sweet piano melodies, an orchestra of strings, bells, horns… – but no matter how ethereal or expansive, at the heart of each song is something simple maybe written on an acoustic guitar or upright piano about loss and solitude and bad fucking-up, not always with a guilty conscience. Listen to “California” with its mechanical loops over a constant, hypnotic guitar line. It’s pretty. It’s also easy to imagine riding alone over the Bay Bridge from San Francisco to Oakland, generally disgusted with the scenery, as though it’s the scenery’s fault. Listen to “Little Colored Balloons” – sparse with piano, cello, mournful backup singing, and John Murry’s hoarse voice protesting too much. Drugs, bad choices, melody and countermelody.
John Murry knows what it sounds like to be Elvis, alone in Memphis, bloated with pills and mistakes, about to hit the floor. There’s a gospel choir and backwards guitar.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Don't miss soul singer, songwriter and pianist Izo FitzRoy when she brings her 'A Good Woman' tour to The Voodoo Rooms on Wednesday 24th April!
READ MOREMidnight Lunar Market, Scotland's first alternative night market, presents their Beltane Edition at The Voodoo Rooms on Tuesday 30th April!
READ MORECome along and experience a night of live music provided to you by three of Edinburgh's up-and-coming female musicians at The Voodoo Rooms on 2nd May!
READ MOREJah Wobble and The Invaders of the Heart return to Edinburgh in May with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on Friday the 3rd!
READ MOREThe Deadly Winters released "ever onwards", a new collection of songs in 2023 and are on stage at The Voodoo Rooms in May to play the songs live to you!
READ MOREBilly Walton is an accomplished guitar master from the vibrant New Jersey Shore music scene. The Billy Walton Band grew out of this rich musical heritage and they play The Voodoo Rooms on 12th May.
READ MOREThe Monochrome Set return to Scotland to promote their new album of 'Marc Riley Sessions from 2011 to 2022 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 24th May!
READ MOREFor the first time in 36 years, Johnny Hates Jazz will be embarking on their first ever headline tour of the UK and overseas! Don't miss them live at the Voodoo Rooms on Wednesday 29th May!
READ MOREJohn Bramwell, an English singer-songwriter and frontman for the three-piece alternative rock band I Am Kloot, plays The Voodoo Rooms on Thursday 13th June!
READ MORECatch Bernard Butler, a Brit and Grammy Award winning musician, when he plays The Voodoo Rooms Edinburgh on Friday 21st June!
READ MOREComedy rap series, Epic Rap Battles of History, which pits notable historical and pop culture figures against one another in a rap battle format is coming to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 30th June!
READ MOREThis is a Band at the top of their game, and with Dana’s dynamic vocals at the fore, it’s a toe-tapping, hand-clapping, shake your blues away sort of night.
READ MOREAfter repeated sell out shows, Anne Gair and her band are taking the show on the road in 2024 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 18th July!
READ MOREVeteran drummer for PIL, Killing Joke, Nine Inch Nails and Pigface, Martin Atkins will be showing slides and telling stories at The Voodoo Rooms on 5th August.
READ MOREHeathen Apostles are doing a three day residency at The Voodoo Rooms from 5th to 7th August as part of the Fringe Festival.
READ MOREEdinburgh based Lizzie and the Banshees are a Siouxsie & The Banshees Tribute band and if you've yet to see them perform, you're in for a real treat!
READ MOREEdinburgh Blues Club presents Kara Grainger at The Voodoo Rooms on Thursday 19th September!
READ MOREComing to Edinburgh... The Amy Winehouse Experience provide, without doubt, the most authentic recreation of Amy Winehouse, designed to entertain and deliver the experience of Amy at her very best!
READ MOREIndie folk duo The Bygones are on a UK tour in 2024 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 21st September!
READ MORENashville based singer-songwriter Jill Andrews is on a UK in September with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on the 25th!
READ MOREVeteran broadcaster and songwriter Tom Robinson comes to The Voodoo Rooms on 5th October, playing songs from the albums 'Power in the Darkness' and 'TRB Two'!
READ MOREStone Foundation have collaborated with Paul Weller, Nolan Porter, Graham Parker, Carleen Anderson, Kathryn Williams and many more... catch them live at The Voodoo Rooms on 12th October!
READ MOREStone Foundation have collaborated with Paul Weller, Nolan Porter, Graham Parker, Carleen Anderson, Kathryn Williams and many more... catch them live at The Voodoo Rooms on 12th October!
READ MOREGerry Jablonski and the Electric Band have a unique trademark sound and style and you can hear them when they return to The Voodoo Rooms on 25th October!
READ MOREThe Icicle Works bring an evening of acoustic music to The Voodoo Rooms on Saturday 26th October!
READ MORELack of Afro brings the 'Square One' Live Tour to The Voodoo Rooms on Friday 15th November!
READ MORESmoove & Turrell, a funk & soul group hailing from Gateshead, return to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 17th November!
READ MOREJoin The White Heather Ceilidh Club for a bonnie (and wild!) evening of Scottish Ceilidh Dancing in the heart of Edinburgh!
READ MOREJoin the Alba Flamenca Penya for a show full of fiery intensity and joyful celebration in our beautiful and intimate ‘tablao’!
READ MOREScotland's silliest surgeon, Dr. Bonk, is back with his hit SELL-OUT SHOW 'Dr Bonk's Macarbaret', an evening of drag, burlesque, music, comedy, and medical mayhem!
READ MOREAll welcome to the Scots Music Group fabulous monthly fundraising ceilidhs at the St Brides Centre! Come on your own, with friends or in a group.
READ MOREJoin host Michael Dodds every Wednesday at The Three Sisters for an evening of music, singing, poetry, comedy and much more!
READ MOREIn these sessions, Fionnbarr, Little Plaza's resident musician will play and sing for the kids and parents, with elements like singing and clapping along for those who want to.
READ MOREEdinburgh Ceilidhs invites you to a ceilidh in the Charteris Centre with caller Ken Gourlay, ceilidh band and piper.
READ MORECome bring all your friends and sing all night to all your favourite rockaoke classics on Mondays at Legends!
READ MORE