Scottish musician heading for New York City

Glasgow based Scottish singer song writer John Rush is heading back to New York City in September.  He has his sights set on the "Big Apple" after an inspiring busking trip back in September 2011.  Rush (31), originally from Paisley, is flying out to New York on Thursday 18th September for 5 days, which will include 4 intimate gigs across the city.

John Rush.

John, who has been singing in front of people since he was just a toddler, is a very natural, soulful and energetic live performer.  I first came across John and his band at the time; John Rush and The Love Hats, when they performed alongside Brit Pop legends Ocean Colour Scene at The Doghouse in Dundee (June 2010).  Their performance that evening was fantastic and I was really impressed with John's beautiful vocals and poetic lyrics.  I have followed John's career since and he even played at one of my special music event/photography exhibitions at Soul Nightclub in Dundee, back in March 2011.  John, although still records with the band, usually performs as a solo act, with the occasional collaboration.  

His debut single "I Will Lay You Down" was released independently in April 2012 and his music influences range from John Lennon, The Rolling Stones to Small Faces, early Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan and The Stone Roses.  As well as Ocean Colour Scene, John has also played with and supported the likes of Chris Helme, Jon Allen and Proud Mary.   

 John recently appeared on the British TV music talent show The Voice on BBC One, where he performed for big name talent judges Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Ricky Wilson and Will.i.Am.  He never advanced further onto the finals of the show, but he has proved to be a popular hit on the internet (at last count; over 127,000 views on you tube) with his rendition of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".

On John's last visit to New York, he spent his time busking in the likes of Strawberry Fields/Central Park and hanging out with different and like minded people that he had just met.  In a city where many go to try and make their dreams become a reality and where people feel that they belong instantly, John felt inspired and believes that his music connects with people more, across The Atlantic.

- "I just feel better there.  I suppose everyone does.  But I also think my music maybe makes more sense to people over there, too..."

John Rush in New York - September 2011

- "I tried to just "live the dream"!  I made a lot of money singing Beatles songs in Strawberry Fields, surprisingly!"

"IMAGINE" at Strawberry Fields

  Strawberry Fields, for those of you who don't know, is a section of the city's Central Park, which has been there since 1985 and is dedicated to the life and memory of Beatles member John Lennon (who was shot dead by Mark David Chapman in December 1980 as he headed back to his New York apartment at The Dakota).  Located just yards away from The Dakota, Strawberry Fields is named after The Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever" and it also includes a circular pathway mosaic of inlaid stones, with the single word "IMAGINE" in the middle, after Lennon's famous 1971 song.

  ** John will perform 4 gigs whilst over in New York;

• Friday 19th September he plays The Path Cafe at 131 Christopher Street in West Village.  
• Sunday 21st September at The Scratcher Sessions at 209 East 5th Street in East Village.
• Monday 22nd September at citizenM Cloudbar in Times Square (for in house guests only).
• Tuesday 23rd September at Rockwood Music Hall at 196 Allen Street, Lower East Side. 

Intimate.  Rockwood Music Hall

Time schedules for these performances can be found either by contacting the venues or John, directly.

**Below is John Rush performing LIVE at The Admiral, Glasgow - "I Will Lay You Down"

Connect with John on facebook and twitter.  You can also check out some of his music on sound cloud.

You can purchase and download his most recent single "Money" on iTunes

Mr Howatson - a good man, a teacher and a positive role model

I was thinking just the other day about someone who was very inspirational to me for a short period when I was a kid at school in Berlin, Germany.  I lived in Berlin for over two years, from early 1987 to early summer 1989 (just before the wall came down).  My father was a solider serving in the 1st Battalion The Black Watch Regiment and we had just moved to Berlin after living in Edinburgh for a wee while.  

  Despite being just 6 years of age, this was to be my 3rd different school already in my young life - as exciting as being a kid in the army was, it was very unsettling also, but it is all I knew and this is what life was for me at this time.  I also got to see and live in lots of different places at such a young age, that many people might not even get to visit in their entire lifetime!  In my time in Berlin I attended Gatow First School, which was located inside R.A.F. Gatow (at the time, a British Royal Air Force Military Base).  

The front gates of RAF Gatow, Berlin - 1980's.

  Although aware of who he was, I never had Mr (David) Howatson as my teacher until after the summer of 1988 - but I knew of him and he knew of me also.  I came to Gatow First School with a disgustingly unfair reputation.  

  I had previously attended Colinton Primary School in Edinburgh - just saying the name makes me shiver and think quite negatively actually.  I don't want to go into it too much just now, but my school report from there, which was passed onto the head teacher at Gatow, read something along the lines of this;  "Greig is a very tall and strong boy for his age and very intelligent.  And he often uses this to his advantage and is sometimes violent towards his fellow pupils..."  I was SIX.  

  By the way, I was never VIOLENT.  I remember my own mother crying when reading this about me and I never realised until a few years after this, what the report actually said.  Because I was bigger than the rest, I used to always get groups of kids ganging up on me, calling me names and all sorts, because I was a little different (bigger and maybe quieter), I was a target and quite often I tried to ignore it.  But then I started to stand up for myself and more often than not, any kid that challenged me to a fight often ended up worse off.  This happened on several occasions - and I soon had a reputation for being a bad kid and was recommended to a child psychologist.  Because I was apparently just going around beating everyone up for no reason, of course! 

  I remember things used to happen around the school and I would get the blame!  I remember one incident in particular where someone threw a stone at a girl pupil and I was accused!  No idea why, but it seemed that people had it in for me, the head teacher in particular, can't remember her name, but my face most definitely didn't fit at that god awful school.  I remember being sat in school assembly in the hall one time and someone was poking, tickling me from behind and I was asking them to stop it.  Then the head teacher singled me out; 

- "Greig Stott!" - "What??", I said.  "he was tickling me, Miss.."  

And she came out with this;  

- "Oh, I can't wait until you leave this school!".  

  Totally humiliated I was in front of all the other children and it totally dented my confidence also.  I don't remember crying there and then, but I wanted to and I just wanted to be anywhere else, but there at Colinton Primary School.  Luckily it was only a matter of weeks before we left for Berlin.

As I said, my reputation had preceded me and I had got into my first fight in the school playground quite early on in my time at Gatow and I was called into the head teacher's office.  Mr (John) Hancock was his name.  He called me in and grabbed me by the arms and pulled me in quite forcefully and he shut the office door.  I immediately erupted into tears and was bubbling like the little boy that I actually was, scared and shaking.  What kind of school had I come to?  He then interrogated me about my last school and gave me a speech of how bad boys were not welcome at his school and that this kind of behaviour was not acceptable.  He then let me go.  Not a nice experience.  

  What a way to start my brand new school, I actually felt like a criminal, like I was imprisoned.  I was always threatened with "you are going to the bad boys' home" as a kid whenever I did something wrong or "misbehaved" and I thought, at that moment in time, maybe this is it.  Is this the bad boys; school?  All I ever did was stand up for myself.  Which is quite ironic - because of these experiences early on at school and standing up for myself, I then kind of went the opposite way as I got a bit older and started to bite my tongue a little more.  Which some people mistook as a weakness, an excuse to take advantage and walk all over you.  Perhaps I did let people walk all over me, at times and didn't speak out.  But whenever I did, I was the bad guy - not a nice person, as they were not used to me speaking up or sticking up for myself as much.  People still try to do this, take advantage - but I no longer accept this and take any crap no more.  You see, I HATE conflict and try my very best to avoid it.  I am not scared of much people physically, but I am frightened of conflict and getting into situations where a conflict may arise.  But sometimes there is just no getting away from the people who are just constantly digging, looking for a fight or argument.  I tend to be frightened of making mistakes, doing something wrong and I am more scared and worried about what certain people will think of me.  I have been like this for as long as I can remember really.  Certainly from like 5-7 years old and I still am to this day.  But I have my own young family to think of these days and I am trying my very best not to care too much about what others think, hard as it is.  Too much negative time and energy is wasted on these types of people.

Mr Howatson - had quite a presence about him, towered above most teachers and staff at the school with a big personality and a distinctive loud voice.  Well, it certainly seemed that way at the time and I remember feeling quite intimidated by the sight of him and actually made me shiver whenever I saw him coming near me or if he ever raised his voice.  I was this way for quite a while when around adult males especially, was very nervous and didn't trust many after experiences I had in my life up until then.

Ariel view of Gatow First School Berlin.

  I remember sitting in one of the corridors of the school, waiting to be attended to after I had got into a playground scrap.  Here comes Mr Howatson walking down the corridor (he wasn't my teacher at this time) and I was now feeling very nervous and rather scared, wondering what he was going to say or even do to me.  He approached and hovered above, looking down at me and said something along the lines of; 

- "Everything okay?" 

I didn't answer, I was scared.  

-"Come on, you can speak to me, is everything okay?  Have you been fighting?".  

  Nervously nodding my head; "Yes."  I said.  

- "Wasn't my fault, he started it...".  "I'm scared".   

He assures me; "now, now, there's no need to be scared, I'm sure it is not so bad, just keep your chin up and don't cry.  Okay?"  

I nodded my head and he walked on down the corridor.  That was my first experience of Mr Howatson and I thought to myself; he's not so bad after all - quite a nice man, actually.  So, that immediately made me feel a little better.

  So, my first year at the school passed and I didn't have too much to do with Mr Howatson, but I saw him in passing a lot and he always acknowledged and asked me how I was doing every so often.  And I always heard him sneezing in the class room down the block, he sneezed very loudly!  

- "Aaaatchoooo!"

Class photo from 1989 - sadly, I am not in this as I wanted to be with my sister who was in hospital.  Mr Howatson is at the back row on the left.  This was a good class with lots of very nice class mates.

  For term 1988/89 - I had Mr Howatson as my teacher and didn't quite know what to expect with him being my teacher and spending time with him in the class room every day.  Well, I could not have wished for a better teacher.  This man never judged me.  He treated me with respect, as an individual and encouraged me always in things that I did well in or showed a keen interest for.  It is amazing the confidence you can get from someone who believes in you, tells you that you are good at something and encourages you to keep at it.  I remember having a small grasp for short story writing as a kid and I also enjoyed sketching.  He said to me; 

- "you are really good at writing stories Greig."  

I remember having this huge grin on my face and I felt like I could do or write anything.  Also, as a class project, we were studying the German mining history and in particular we were concentrating on the period where children were used as cheap and effective labour.  It was terrible what went on, but very interesting all the same.  I took another piece of work to Mr Howatson's desk.  He took a close look at it - a sketch, taken from an image that I saw in one of the books that we had in class.  It was an image of kids working down in the mines, I found this image very powerful and just wanted to do my own drawing.  He liked it and smiled; 

- "You really like this work about the mines, don't you Greig?".  

I smiled and nodded my head.  

- "well done, that's really good, Greig."  

  Again, that made me feel so good, for someone to believe in you, encourage you, make you feel that what are you doing is actually of value and worth something.  God, I wish I still had that sketch.  I would truly treasure it now, I really would.  But, like so many of my things, moving around with the army and moving house, changing schools every year or so, it got lost or thrown out, sadly.  Doesn't matter how bad or good it was. The fact that the sketch and that moment is an inspiring and vivid memory for me, is all that matters.  Maybe I will try and do another one sometime.

Children were useful and cheap labour on the mines, working long hours.

  He was also a huge football fan and he was a massive fan of Nottingham Forest - he was the first Nottingham Forest supporter that I ever met and we often talked about football, which was fun also.  Other memories include Mr Howatson's love of reading the series of Jeremy James tales by David Henry Wilson to us in class.  I wonder if he continued to read them in this latter teaching years?  

Beside The Sea with Jeremy James by David Henry Wilson

  
  Also, our school trip in 1989 to the town of Cuxhaven in North west Germany - where we went for a few days.  The trip was such great fun and Mr Howatson documented a lot of the trip by video.  Back at school, after the trip, we all sat down to watch video clips taken on the trip and it was upon watching these videos, that I realised what a funny man Mr Howatson was also, with a great sense of humour.  I would absolutely treasure a copy of these videos now, would be truly amazing to see again.  I never even thought to ask or mention for a copy back then...

  It was actually inspiration from this that I took when I first properly used a camcorder as a young teenager in Hong Kong.  I was inspired by his manner behind the camera, with his cheeky documentary/interview techniques.  

I remember, I played a part in the school play, The 12 days of Christmas - and Mr Howatson was being interviewed for the BFBS Radio Station (the radio station for British Forces abroad) and he was complimenting me on my attitude;  

"There are some great kids here at this school and some real talent.  That big lad, Greig Stott - he is just great, really wonderful..."  

You know, to hear things like this from someone who believes in you, encourages you, just gives you so much confidence and belief in yourself - particularly when I never had that many positive role models in my life at that time, nor until this day.  People like Mr Howatson do not come along very often and I will never forget him.

  I feel very sad to think that I never saw or heard from Mr Howatson again.  A man who was such a positive role model in my life, albeit briefly.  I guess that is the downside of being brought up in the military, making friends, meeting good people, then having to jump ship, move on and (in most cases) never see that person again. Sad really...

Mr David Howatson.

  So, as I said, I was thinking of him the other day and just decided to put his name on a search on the internet and I came across an article about him on the Nottingham Post website.  It was here that I read that he had just recently retired (2012) and I was absolutely delighted for him that he continued his teaching career and went on to a successful career becoming a head teacher in his own right.  Was so happy to read about him again and if you are reading this Mr Howatson - I would love to hear from you again, I am sure many, many pupils and fellow colleagues have their own positive experiences and stories of you and you have proven an inspiration to many more.  You may not even remember me that well at all, but I am hopeful that you will at least remember my name.  All the best to you Sir and I hope that this blog finds you in good health and happiness.  Greig Stott.

About Last Night - 1986

I'm not sure what it is about the 1986 film "About Last Night" - but I have always loved and been drawn to it.  Based on the original 1974 play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" by David Mamet - About Last Night is most probably my favourite romantic film of all time.  This film does not need any CGI, special effects, high speed car chases or even explosions.  It is a real film - a story with real people in real situations.  My favourite kind.

The original play by David Mamet.  1974

As the years pass, I keep returning to this film (directed by Edward Zwick) and my love for it never ceases.  It's about sex (there is lots), falling in love, friendship, relationships, breaking up, making up and more sex.  It's about last night.

There are some brilliant acting performances all round here, with this film (one of the original "Brat Pack" movies) being far superior to 1985's popular "St. Elmo's Fire".  The chemistry between the two leads is touching and steamy with plenty fireworks too.  Demi Moore has never looked more beautiful than she does here as Debbie (despite some of the dodgy 80's fashion).  Rob Lowe plays the role of Danny.  Well, I am not gay but he was a handsome bastard, wasn't he?  Backed up brilliantly by James Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins who co-star as the two lovers' best friends who both seem to be hell bent on breaking the two of them up.

"double headphone deal..."

The music also plays a massive part in my love for this film too with a typically upbeat 80's soundtrack; including music from the likes of Sheena Easton, John Waite, Bob Seger, John Oates and Jermaine Jackson.  I actually own the original soundtrack on LP and have it framed in my office at home.  Along with its soundtrack, this film never fails to make me smile and just feel good about life.  And to me, that is everything I want in a film or story.

Director Edward Zwick ("Glory", "Legends of The Fall", "Blood Diamond") has only returned to the "romantic comedy" genre once in recent years; 2010's "Love and Other Drugs", which he both wrote and directed, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.  I really enjoyed that movie also and these two films share that same kind of spirit and on-screen chemistry, with full rounded characters and I was not the least bit surprised that Zwick was behind "Love and Other Drugs" as well.

The original motion picture soundtrack on LP.

  So, if you want to smile a little, get a little hot under the collar and escape to the 80's for a wee while, give About Last Night a viewing.  If you have seen it before - watch it and fall in love all over again, once more.  Falling in love is easy, staying in love is the hardest part.

The film was remade in 2014 - starring Kevin Hart and directed by Steve Pink.  Please read my blog post for my thoughts about that one.

Trainspotting - 1996

Spring 1996 - I was living in the south of England and I had heard a lot about this much talked about, hyped and controversial new film featuring a bunch of Scottish heroin addicts slumming it up in a grim Edinburgh of the mid 1980's.  It was of particular interest to me, being Scottish and with me also having lived in Scotland's capital city for a few years in the mid 1980's also.  Although the film is set in Edinburgh, Trainspotting, for the most part, was largely filmed in Glasgow with other small sequences filmed in both Edinburgh and London, England.

I watched this film, as a naive 15 year old not quite knowing what to expect, largely out of curiosity and to hopefully be entertained.  Well, I was NOT expecting this!  It was shocking, scary, hilarious, violent, exciting, energetic, twisted, tragic and very quotable!

It also features an amazing ensemble cast with career making performances from Scottish actors Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle - ably backed up by the likes of Johnny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Kevin McKidd, Peter Mullan and featuring a small (debut feature film) role for Kelly Macdonald ("No Country For Old Men", "Boardwalk Empire) who features in a rather uncomfortable role as a school girl - well, I say it's an "uncomfortable role" but what I really mean is that it always makes me feel a little uncomfortable and uneasy, but it was still a memorable role all the same and adds to the film's library of colourful and eccentric characters.

Talking of Robert Carlyle - who plays the role of sociopath Francis Begbie, it appeared to me that this rather violent character seemed to inspire would be violent drunks all over Scotland.  It is one thing quoting some of this character's memorable dialogue, without believing that you actually were a Begbie-like character.  I have actually known some people and been in their company drinking in the past who took great pleasure in quoting Francis Begbie and taking great delight in reliving his on screen antics.  And with alcohol fuelling the fire to these aggressive people's way of thinking, that could only lead to trouble.  But to be honest, these certain people only wish they could actually be Begbie - kinda like expressing their manliness in the only way they know how, by trying to intimidate people and show how hard they can be.  Quite the role model, don't you think???

The music was another big character in this film and its brilliant soundtrack works perfect here too - featuring the likes of Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Pulp, Primal Scream, Sleeper, New Order and Blur - as well as that most iconic of tunes from Underworld; "Born Slippy" that just screams out to me "Trainspotting" every time I hear it.

Based on the original novel (of the same name) by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh (who also has a tiny cameo as drug dealer Mikey Forrester), directed by Danny Boyle ("Shallow Grave", "28 Days Later", "Slumdog Millionaire", "The Beach") with Producer Andrew MacDonald and written for the screen by John Hodge (who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay) - Trainspotting (with age) just gets better and better.  A movie of real guts, style and bravado.   My love for this film appears to be getting stronger with each viewing, a sign of a true modern classic that pulls you in and hits you in the face like a ferocious steam train and leaves you gasping for more - pretty much in the same way I feel about the 1979 British cult classic Quadrophenia and Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973).

Irvine Welsh

"Glorifying drug abuse"?  Yeah, right.  For me, this is most definitely an anti-drug film - that scary downward spiral of drug addiction does not look fun whatsoever to me and leads to absolutely nowhere.  It does, however, make for an amazing movie going experience and (despite the subject matter) is as much a coming of age and uplifting film about friendship as well as the obvious extreme black comedy and controversial themes throughout.

One of the best British films of all time (ranked 10th in a list of 100 by the British Film Institute (BFI) and was also voted as the best Scottish film of all time (2004) in a general public poll.  Although I believe that "Gregory's Girl" is actually the best Scottish film of all time, but I suppose I am a little biased and we'll talk about that film in another blog soon!

There has been ongoing talk of a Trainspotting sequel in the works in the not too distant future and it has been confirmed that Ewan McGregor has agreed to star again as Renton in the follow up to the 1996 classic - so we wait with much anticipation!  Read here for more information.

"choose life..."

John McPhail - a promising Scottish film director

The film making industry is a very tough and competitive business, where funding is really hard to come by.  Particularly in Scotland - where it is very difficult to get funded and we have nowhere near the money nor resources for our talented and creative.

The past 12 months have been an amazing whirlwind for Glasgow based film director/writer John McPhail (28) and Worrying Drake Productions .  He has won several awards for his short films including a couple of awards at the Virgin Media Shorts and at film festivals in Edinburgh and New York.  Together with producers Andrew Lanni and Lauren Lamarr - they have been making huge inroads into the UK film industry winning several awards with their quirky romantic comedy style, portraying real and fun characters on screen, with a massive sense of realism and familiarity with their audience.  And this is all in Mcphail's very first year of making these short films with Worrying Drake, which makes it all the more remarkable.

John McPhail.

I first came across Mr McPhail and his work after seeing his funny and sweet comedy film short "Just Say Hi" which was entered into the UK's biggest short film competition; Virgin Media Shorts (2013).  Just Say Hi actually managed to scoop two of the competition's most prestigious awards - The Nikon People's Choice and The Tivo Award (chosen by Virgin Media customers). 

A beautiful little gem about the comical and cute ongoing chemistry of two potential friends, lovers when they catch one another's eye at a bus stop.  I had a strong feeling about this film and, for me, Just Say Hi was very unlucky not to have made it a hat-trick of awards on the night, losing out to the film "Touch" (by Nimer Rashed) which pipped them to the best short film award.

Just Say Hi clicked with me right away and this charming little short film was the people's choice as well as the favourite with Virgin Media customers.  Many would argue that these are actually the best awards and compliments you can receive as these people are your audience!  

Still from "Just Say Hi"

As a story teller, lover of comedy and romance with ambitions to work on my very own short film projects soon, this film really struck a chord with me and touched me from the moment I first viewed it.  And I am sure many thousands of other people will also love it too, a simple stumbling tale of the excitement and awkwardness of a potential new romance.

"Just Say Hi" will actually make its European Debut in Paris on the 2nd of May - then it will screen in over 100 Cities world-wide as the Worrying Drake team have been accepted to the 16th edition of the Très Court International Film Festival. 

"I think i speak for the rest of the team when i say I'M FREAKING DELIGHTED" - John McPhail.

Worrying Drake are working extremely hard to help fund their debut feature; "Where Do We Go From Here" a romantic comedy adventure which is "a story about love, friendship and self discovery...".

"We can't make this film without funding so the impact that our backers have by donating any amount is absolutely massive and so greatly appreciated!"  Worrying Drake Productions.

Members of the public can do their bit to help them achieve their goal through indiegogo's crowd funding campaign, via their website.  By donating to this project, you will be helping to create a potentially great Scottish film that may well be loved for many generations.  Perhaps, the new "Gregory's Girl"?  

There are also quite a few perks and exclusive gifts you can receive for your donation, including exclusive access to the film making process, a walk on part in the film, DVD copies of Worrying Drake's trilogy of short films; including "V For Visa", "Doug & Steve's Big Holy Adventure" and the award winning "Notes".

They have already achieved over 50% of their £10,000 target (as of Tuesday 18th March 2014) and all money raised from donations will be used to gain access to the most compatible equipment, for the costume design, make up, art design and locations, to help them do the most professional job possible.  And of course, to help feed and water the entire team whilst filming!

 I can not stress how much I am passionate about this project - because I truly believe in John McPhail and the rest of his team at Worrying Drake - I can only see them going onto bigger and better things.  Sometimes, you just know.  I have no doubt it will be made possible though and you can help to create something special and be a part of it too.  The best films, in my opinion, are about real people, real situations where one can relate, raise a smile and you finish the film feeling good and happy.  I really would love to work with these guys - maybe someday, who knows.

It has also been announced that the short films "Notes" and "V For Visa" have been offered a distribution deal with Short Film TV and Shorts HD - a 3 year deal where the shorts will play on a 24/7 channel in Europe, East Africa and the USA.

For further information and details, please check out their indiegogo funding campaign and please feel free to share this blog post if you believe in this project.