Anyone as tired of myself of the seemingly constant festival TV over the summer - interminable showings of Oasis and Klaxon-a-like bands - may find themselves welcoming any live music - even if it has the ‘Art School’ tag.
‘Art School Dance’ actually does come from an Art School, Edinburgh’s, from the college’s Wee Red Bar to be precise - 20 local bands filmed over 2 days in February 2007. The Wee Red has in the past seen acts such as Art Brut, Jawbone and the Mystery Jets grace its small stage, and more significantly, had Green Day and the Proclaimers perform (eat your heart out King Tut’s).
However, the documentary-style film is all about local and new talent, and that includes the production and camera teams. And you know what, the quality of the live film is at least equal to most of what we’ve seen on our televisions over the summer months. Plus, fast-forward - often the only way to get through the late-night coverage - may be unavailable, but it’s hardly missed.
Despite the highly distinctive credits and links - the fruit machine style effects you see in the trailer- the approach to the live action is warts’n’all and tongue-in-cheek - presenters fumbling their lines are committed to celluloid, though happily most of the acts’ performances are note-perfect.
With over 20 bands back-to-back, keeping things inventive and fresh seems to be the biggest challenge - so, we are treated to, among other things, former Dawn of the Replicants frontman Paul Vickers in boxing gloves backed up by The Leg in panda suits, Action Group’s human mike stands, Sara and the Snakes performing alongside some ‘go-go’ dancers (I believe that’s the correct term), and Saint Jude’s Infirmary performing for a pile of corpses. Well, it is art school, and that means a very pleasing lack of all-out ‘rock’ bands - The Cigarettes who open proceedings are as close as we get to that but even they are making what I believe is termed ‘alt.rock’. Other highlights are We Were Promised Jetpacks, TV21, Operator, and The Magnificents (note how we’ve just listed some of itm?’s favourites). Something of a new discovery are the Futuristic Retro Champions (kind of Twinsets for the noughties). In all though, each of the bands here is presented in such a way that viewers will be inclined to investigate further. And that, pretty much, is what the Wee Red Bar is all about.
Art School Dance is showing at Edinburgh’s Cameo on Fri 16th and Sat 17th at 11pm, and Fri 23rd and Sat 24th, from 11.30, tickets £5. More at www.artschooldance.com
//Stuart McHugh