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It's Lovely to be Here: The Touring Diaries of a Scottish Gent
Published in February of 2011 and presented as a series of tour diaries, It’s Lovely to be Here offers a mix of deadpan humour and wide-eyed wonder whilst mapping out the realities and endless disorientations of life on the road.
By turns poignant, witty and philosophical, James Yorkston’s accountbecomes an ongoing search for meaning in the lyrics, chords, bars and van window-views of a modern day troubadour.
James’ style of songwriting: self-aware, self-deprecating, conversational and highly romantic – paired with his gift for storytelling – has made a natural transition to the printed page. Like the man himself it is by turns amusing, charming and occasionally a little despondent.
A welcome antidote to the celebrity memoir, this compelling account of life on the road is a must for music fans across the board. All human life is here, and quite a lot of whisky.
By turns poignant, witty and philosophical, James Yorkston’s accountbecomes an ongoing search for meaning in the lyrics, chords, bars and van window-views of a modern day troubadour.
James’ style of songwriting: self-aware, self-deprecating, conversational and highly romantic – paired with his gift for storytelling – has made a natural transition to the printed page. Like the man himself it is by turns amusing, charming and occasionally a little despondent.
A welcome antidote to the celebrity memoir, this compelling account of life on the road is a must for music fans across the board. All human life is here, and quite a lot of whisky.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
265 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 27, 2013
In essence, I suppose, I have given this book five stars because I am a Yorkston fan, but then, it's more than just that. There is something really appealing about the way the singer comes across, and the way in which he outlines the minutiae of touring. Having seen him live several times, it was an interesting insight into his attitude and survival on the road. His wry sense of humour is obvious here, as is his somewhat awkward but usually self-effacing disposition. Occasionally he comes across as brusque, irritable, even, but then, this is a diary. It's not your standard rock-and-roll fare. One thing James is not is racy, but I wouldn't expect it to be, and I find myself liking him the better for that. He is himself, whole and complete, and that somehow makes his songwriting all the more honest. As I said, I'm a fan.
James Yorkston, for all the fact he has now released six critically-acclaimed albums, is all-too-often still unknown and under-appreciated as a musician. He's not doing this music thing because it's easy, or in order to make a fast buck, but because music is a part of what makes him who he is. Touring is something he enjoys, most of the time, and something he tries his hardest to put heart and soul into, even after little or no sleep and a godawful-sounding on the hoof vegan "breakfast" from a local service station. He accepts it as part of the job and gets on with it in the best way he can, pulling on his cap, reading Dostoyevsky and refusing to let his guitar out of his sight. He even has fun on the road, meeting people and having interesting conversations, although there are moments when he'd rather be at home in his little village in the East Neuk of Fife with his wife and baby daughter. And so we forgive him for occasionally being grumpy and irritable, because, well, yes, James. Who wouldn't? We're all human.
James Yorkston, for all the fact he has now released six critically-acclaimed albums, is all-too-often still unknown and under-appreciated as a musician. He's not doing this music thing because it's easy, or in order to make a fast buck, but because music is a part of what makes him who he is. Touring is something he enjoys, most of the time, and something he tries his hardest to put heart and soul into, even after little or no sleep and a godawful-sounding on the hoof vegan "breakfast" from a local service station. He accepts it as part of the job and gets on with it in the best way he can, pulling on his cap, reading Dostoyevsky and refusing to let his guitar out of his sight. He even has fun on the road, meeting people and having interesting conversations, although there are moments when he'd rather be at home in his little village in the East Neuk of Fife with his wife and baby daughter. And so we forgive him for occasionally being grumpy and irritable, because, well, yes, James. Who wouldn't? We're all human.
August 23, 2015
After receiving this signed-by-author copy from Fence Records in the post, I put off reading it for a really long time. The cover illustration was just too adorable (well done, Clare Beaton). It shows a felt-constructed JY with his guitar case, his cat (who, - spoiler alert - it was later revealed, had sadly died), a floating accordion and a floating book, all against a backdrop of maps and various modes of transportation. AND, the author's name looks stitched! Stitched! It is the best collage constructed for an elementary school project ever (I mean this in the most complimentary sense). Between this and the fact that I love, love, love his music, I didn't really see how the content could possibly live up to my expectations.
I finally did read it and found his prose exactly like his songwriting - honest, quietly hilarious, unexpectedly poetic, and about nothing in particular except life. I was in the middle of reading it when I went to see King Creosote (a fellow Fence Collective singer-songwriter) in a rare appearance on this side of the pond. It made me smile to myself, knowing that the King's tour was probably just as full of sometimes absurdity, sometimes repetition, and definitely whiskey. I think one of the comments on the back cover from the albeit fictitious-sounding Rob Da Bank summarized the book best with "his laidback prose is like having a conversation with an old chum; sat by the fire nursing a wee dram, on a windy night on some slightly desolate Scottish island."
It did get repetitive and a little rushed at the end, which is fitting given that touring is probably very repetitive at that point to James and he is just eager to get back to his wife and wee girl.
I am very pleased to own this book.
N.B. I found out later that Rob Da Bank is the pseudonym used by a British DJ on BBC Radio 1. So, yes, it is fictitious but it is also a real person!
I finally did read it and found his prose exactly like his songwriting - honest, quietly hilarious, unexpectedly poetic, and about nothing in particular except life. I was in the middle of reading it when I went to see King Creosote (a fellow Fence Collective singer-songwriter) in a rare appearance on this side of the pond. It made me smile to myself, knowing that the King's tour was probably just as full of sometimes absurdity, sometimes repetition, and definitely whiskey. I think one of the comments on the back cover from the albeit fictitious-sounding Rob Da Bank summarized the book best with "his laidback prose is like having a conversation with an old chum; sat by the fire nursing a wee dram, on a windy night on some slightly desolate Scottish island."
It did get repetitive and a little rushed at the end, which is fitting given that touring is probably very repetitive at that point to James and he is just eager to get back to his wife and wee girl.
I am very pleased to own this book.
N.B. I found out later that Rob Da Bank is the pseudonym used by a British DJ on BBC Radio 1. So, yes, it is fictitious but it is also a real person!
May 25, 2022
I have a soft spot for James as his trio was my last gig before the lockdown. As a writer he is witty, totally self aware and self-deprecating. This book is carefully constructed, giving loads of incidental info around the befores and afters of gig without spending too much time on the gigs themselves. To me it highlights the importance of personal relationships and the financial craziness of gigging for a middling artist.
January 19, 2018
A funny, interesting account of a touring Scottish artist (I looked him up on my streaming and listened to his latest album, I liked it) BUT did he have to mention EVERY SINGLE TIME that it was a Vegan restaurant they went to or it was a Wheat Beer that he drank. OK, I get it, you are Vegan. It did not need to be mentioned every single time and this is why it is a 3 review not a 4 (petty, I know, but it really started to bug me and ruined my enjoyment of the book)
February 27, 2012
My dad bought me this book for Christmas after we had looked at it in a music shop. I wasn't desperate to read it, but it looked interesting.
It really is touring diaries, I more expected it to be a biography, but I think the face that it was like diaries of separate tours worked well, each day was like it's own story. James' style of writing really did make it feel like he was just sitting talking to you, and I really liked that. It's like you become part of that little world of repetitive touring, hotels and flights and venues. I am a big music fan and I enjoyed being able to read about all the little aspects of touring.
That said, it did get a bit repetitive with most touring days having roughly the same structure, but James' witty writing style prevented it from being too much of a problem.
I also don't understand why the diaries weren't done in chronological order, it went from 2004 to 2009 or something, then back 2004. This didn't get too confusing though, because the dates were given. I suppose there must be some reason for it...
Overall I really enjoyed the book, I'd recommend it to fans of his music, or of the Fence Collective, or music fans in general, I suppose.
It really is touring diaries, I more expected it to be a biography, but I think the face that it was like diaries of separate tours worked well, each day was like it's own story. James' style of writing really did make it feel like he was just sitting talking to you, and I really liked that. It's like you become part of that little world of repetitive touring, hotels and flights and venues. I am a big music fan and I enjoyed being able to read about all the little aspects of touring.
That said, it did get a bit repetitive with most touring days having roughly the same structure, but James' witty writing style prevented it from being too much of a problem.
I also don't understand why the diaries weren't done in chronological order, it went from 2004 to 2009 or something, then back 2004. This didn't get too confusing though, because the dates were given. I suppose there must be some reason for it...
Overall I really enjoyed the book, I'd recommend it to fans of his music, or of the Fence Collective, or music fans in general, I suppose.
June 12, 2016
A million miles removed from your average rock star's memoir: not a single adoring fan, groupie, sycophantic music biz insider or line of coke stalks any of these wry pages. You too can share the frustrations of the search for a decent vegan meal in Belgium and the joys of a fine single malt discovered in Switzerland...and with a dry chuckle on every other page thrown in for free. Well worth a few downbeat hours of anyone's time I'd say.
October 14, 2011
I was lucky enough to have a wee chat with Mr Yorkston at the Edinburgh Book Festival this year. He was friendly, polite and gracious. Having read the book, I now realise he was probably faking it.
Its well, written, honest and a pleasant enough read, but probably not enough here to grab you unless you have a particular interest in Yorkston and/or Fence collective and/or musician memoir.
Its well, written, honest and a pleasant enough read, but probably not enough here to grab you unless you have a particular interest in Yorkston and/or Fence collective and/or musician memoir.
July 24, 2012
Highly amusing and a great insight into the world of the touring musician.
April 15, 2013
Didn't finish - didn't seem like I'd miss out on much story...unless he starts eating meat halfway through??
February 20, 2014
Wry and honest.
August 9, 2016
An interesting read with regard to the touring but Yorkston comes across as a bit of an arse most of the time - being grumpy or unhelpful to the public, support acts, radio shows etc.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews