Cabaret Volataire
Edinburgh
23.10.25
Cabaret Volataire, one of the cavernous catacombs of the Old Town, was the name of the venue, and it was the first time I have seen a band there. I did, however, frequent a really brilliant Club Night there called ‘We Are Electric’ a decade or so ago.
There was no cloakroom and the bar didnae accept legal tender, so I ended up drinking tap water, because I was nae gonna buy a can of Iron Bru for a fiver. The place was rammed with old Punks and Rockers. So I danced really hard to the front and made the grumpy fuckers even more grumpy. The tune that we entered the venue to was a really long extended dub version of The Flying Lizards. Money and I love dancing to that song. Some of the middle-aged people look scared of my dance moves. Yes I was the only person dancing.
When Wendy James was at the peak of her powers, I was so in love with her charms. Wendy is still a gorgeous vixen and she still has a massive stage presence. Her supporting musicians which in all intents and purposes, although not Wendy’s Transvision Vamp band, but a supergroup of sorts, were all seasoned professionals, Wendy belted out the classic Transvision Vamp hits, and a lot of her own lesser-known work. I was right up front for the first bit and then dropped back where the sound was much better.
It was a joy to witness have such a seasoned performer who has reached massive rock n roll heights in her time. Her show lastes an hour and a bit, performance including encore, the show had to be cut short because of the venue’s curfew. The UK dates are surely the warm up for her coming Australian tour. Because the tiny venue was not becoming of a Lady of such historical stature. The Usher hall would have been much better suited to her and her brilliant band.
Words: Mark ‘Divine’ Calvert
Photos: Raymond Speedie
Wendy James. Vocals.
Dave Parsons (bass)
Jim Sclavunos (drums, from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds)
Alex Ward (guitar, from Thurston Moore Group)
themumble.uk 