Tonight’s Tigerfest – Carnegie Hall showcase; follows neatly on from last night’s Focus on Fife 2010 line-up (headlined by Fence-inspired sextet, Ambulances), as the East Neuk ensconced, inspirational and pioneering DIY proponents The Fence Collective (who are known to encompass musicians from far beyond the confines of Fife’s borders…) present three of their most industrious troubadours, including Fence head-honcho and most prolific and renowned standard bearer – King Creosote himself.
Taking stage first, the unassuming Rozi Plain; hailing from Bristol, where Fence’s musical tentacles have reached out to a fellow collective of musicians founded by Rozi – Cleaner Records collective. Her minimalist elegance is enriched by her beautifully poignant warm vocal intones and subtle guitar picking and progressions; occasionally backed by an even shyer cohort on violin. Her warmth and mellifluous influence issues a soothed and subdued, but no less appreciative response from the attentive audience, as we’re all lulled by Rozi’s spellbinding ballads.
Having been privileged enough to have recently attended Fence’s jewel in the crown – the incomparable Homegame, I caught amongst a slew of great acts, the outstanding and unique Withered Hand – enrapturing a packed out Town Hall; bolstered by his sonorous and equally distinctive comrade – Neil Pennycook from Meursault. First and foremost, what grabs you about WH is Dan Willson’s fragile and fraught voice, juxtaposed to his lyrics which contain real bite and are loaded with pain, dark-humour and irony in equal measures. With religion playing such a huge part in shaping the nature of his songs, it’s no surprise that ‘Religious Songs’ proves a set highlight, epitomising Dan’s troubled relationship with his former creed – with Neil P. absent from proceedings tonight, WH’s distinctly brilliant percussionist Alun Thomas provides a wonderful job of augmenting his soaring vocals alongside cellist Hannah Shepherd’s sweet whispers and Dan’s rasp, as it all converges in poignant and powerful fashion.
The set stand-out proves a close call between the near revered ‘No Cigarettes’ and ‘Beautiful Lie’ (a song that’s clearly not just for Christmas…) which proves to be the closing piece and perhaps the peak – though they both elicit genuine shivers of delight – surely raising hairs on the back of necks all around the hall, with pure and heartfelt sincerity coming to the fore. Tonight’s performance leaves me completely enthralled; cementing Dan’s place as one of the most talented songwriters amongst Fence’s ranks.
King Creosote’s arrival on Carnegie Hall’s grand and spacious stage, accompanied only by an accordion; may seem an ostensibly audacious move, but armed as he is with an abundance of unquestionably endearing songs and a crystal clear, velvet like voice, imbued with distinctive character, you’re soon transfixed and overcome by the intimacy of the performance – as if he’s playing in your front room, regaling you with anecdotes and disarming humour.
The first quarter of the set sees Kenny’s accordion-centred set-list include the likes of ‘Leslie’, ‘Missionary’ and ‘Home in A Sentence’; then we’re treated to a humorous homage to Greece (Kenny’s relates his favourite films of which Greece and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang rate above all else) – lines such as “I’ve seen Grease maybe 8, maybe 9 times…” and the refrain “You’re not the one that I want, you’re not the one that I want…” are greeted with much hilarity – in sharp contrast to the beautifully melancholic ‘My Favourite Girl’ with its plaintive and heart-wrenching overture, exposing Kenny’s songwriting at its most poignant.
As the accordion makes way for the guitar, the eclectic feel continues as ‘Counselling’ flows into ‘Beautiful Mistakes’ then a new song rears its head – ‘We’re fae’ Fife’ a slightly acerbic nudge and wink to all Fifers who’ve had the sincere misfortune of seeing the misguided and misrepresentative ‘We’re For Fife’ viral advert early this year. Then a surprising Associates cover emerges, taking the 80’s histrionics and vocal gymnastic of ‘Party Fears Two’ and striping it down to a plaintive hymn like ode, albeit with little humorous sung flourishes of that famous melody “doo’da’de’dadoo…” and an adlibbed lyrical miss foot, accentuating the humour.
KC’s old percussive cohort; Captain Geeko joins proceedings on percussion; at this point the set continues with career highlights, ‘Camels Swapped for Wives’ another highly personal and poignant ode, while ‘Not One Bit Ashamed’ perhaps takes the crown as set pinnacle. ‘Admiral’ and ‘Spystick’ bring the night to a close in wonderfully striped down fashion. King Creosote’s multi-faceted performance and eclectic range, manages to encapsulate Fence’s inimitable outlook and ethos perfectly, as has tonight’s Fence showcase.