Edinburgh's original open mic night

Lisa Paton

In her own words ...

Describe your first OOTB

I had 2 first OOTB experiences really: one with Iona Marshall as part of 'Soulalba' and one on my own. With Iona, it was nerve-wracking enough but we had played at the Forest previously and as anybody will know having someone else there can be a great comforter. The time that really registered with me was my first solo OOTB appearance. I knew then that I could hold my own.

Which OOTB performers really rock your boat?

There are too many OOTB performers of considerable note to pick just one - EMR, Stu Clarke, Emily Watson, The Victorians, Frushane, William Douglas, Lindsay West, Lynsey Hutchinson....och you see what I mean!!

Who is the funniest person you ever met?

One of the funniest people I ever met is someone I've unfortunately lost touch with - a guy called Vaughan Phelps who was the bass-player in a band I used to warble with back in the day. He was always able to make me crack up.

What's the worst, nails-down-a-blackboard musical experience you've had?

One of the worst music experiences I've ever been through, again with the band I was in sometime ago, was trying to play along with a drum machine we used and losing our place. Horrible. Really funny for the audience though.

What do you think is your best song and why?

I think I'm yet to write my best song! I think one of the first one's I wrote though - Albasylum - seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people. I'm pretty partial to Happy Hour too.

The consumer question: album, book or film you've enjoyed recently?

I love films and think Little Miss Sunshine was one of the best films released in a long, long time.

How would your best review sum you up?

I'm not very good at remembering reviews cos I'm not the best self-publicist! I sometimes even feel slightly embarassed at the amazing introductions I've had before playing!

Who would be in your fantasy band?

I fantasise alot about being in other bands rather than having my own fantasy band as there's too many musicians I rate. If I had to get a band together I'd ask Kate Bush to be in there somewhere as I love her. But I normally fantasise about being in the Foo Fighters!!!

at OOTB

(Sep 2006)
Lisa Paton arrives on stage to very welcome applause, especially from those who’ve heard her before and know how good this is gonna be. Lisa writes in the style of some of the classic songwriters (Tracy Chapman and Bill Withers spring to mind) and is so adept at putting a tune together she should be a classic in her own right. Lyrical hooks such as “trickling troubles” and “rainbow of your senses” are placed in her delightfully ebbing and flowing melodies as if to mock the hard rain beating down on the roof of The Gait tonight. The final number is an oldie and Lisa knocks out the funky rhythm without missing a beat, juggling her “g”s in the line, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”.

(Sep 2005)
Lisa Paton was next to take to the Waverley stage and having forgotten the name of her first song, promptly informed us that it was entitled 'Heavy Horses.' This was a slightly jazz-tinged piece with a soft, smooth vocal at times reminiscent of Suzanne Vega. Her next song was more upbeat and lyrically, proffered a scathing analysis of present society in which the singer pondered what was left for people in the world to destroy. A damning indictment on the contemporary state of the globe which should ring true in light of recent events. This featured unusual chords and a lilting vocal. Her last song, 'The Island', inspired by Barrow-In-Furness was a quiet number confronting the theme of loneliness, ascending arpeggios upon the fretboard giving the song a balanced quality which silenced an attentive Waverley crowd.