Monday 22nd May 2000

Ahhhh, the Unbelievable Truth. Bless their hearts. First discovered with their Higher Than Reason single which Sharon bought for no reason and Caroline bought approximately one CD playing later. The girls jogged across fields of mud to catch their set at T in the Park. In one of their videos Andy looks suspiciously like Roddy Frame. So of course when they finally returned to Scotland (we feared it was too cold for them the first time round and they would never return) we were there like a shot.

The Truth were playing at the Venue in Edinburgh, a place where Sharon saw the 'where are they now?' Trash Can Sinatras on one of their last gigs. That place is a kiss of death to bands, we recommend everyone else we like stays well away.

Sharon, Caroline and Lynn make their way to The Venue singing random 80s songs for no apparent reason. The first support band is full of enthusiasm and win several aww blesses. The second, to be honest, is pretty dull. Sharon manages to almost fall asleep even though she is stood next to the speaker stack. During the sound check the girls amuse themselves by singing and dancing along to ska songs. Like you do.

The band get a good reception from the Edinburgh crowd, as they well deserve. Mixing songs from their first album and their soon to come album (Nigel: it's called sorrthankyou, all one word, all small case, very arty). Andy, unassuming to a fault has the voice of an angel, Jason is even quiter than Andy and possibly slightly perturbed by the three girls so close they can see up his nostrils, and Nigel is the life and soul of the band - odd for a drummer to be a frontman but it works very well. An encore of Almost Here with Andy on vocals and Nigel on keyboards is breathtaking.

After the gig the band sell T-shirts from the stage, Nigel sits on the stage chatting to fans and signing things. Sharon, clutching the set list that Lynn has torn several muscles obtaining for her, decided to be very brave and ask him to sign it. As she tries to catch his attention he turns to leave. 'Sorry' says Sharon, as he turns back and takes it off her. 'Thankyou' she follows up. 'Hahaha' says Nigel, 'sorrythankyou. Very good!'. Cringe. A truly Terminally Starstruck moment.

The girls trek what seems like a very long way to Caroline's flat. Lynn and Sharon have to be up very early to catch trains and the next morning not a word is uttered until the two caffeine addicts reach the coffee shop at Waverly station.

The Unbelievable Truth disbanded not long after that gig. Victims of record company nastiness. Andy went off to do studying and travelling, hopefully Nigel will end up in a band somewhere. There was too much talent in that little band to just throw it away. It's a real pity that genuine people with genuine talent suffer in the current climate of disposable pop culture. We can only hope that they have success in their future careers. Sorry it didn't work out boys, and thankyou.

The set list, stolen by Lynn and signed by Nigel.