It’s an unforgiving sight watching three bands play to an almost empty venue, but such is indiedom on a Sunday night, especially when you’re dealing with the waterlogged commuter cosmos that is Glenrothes. Luckily though the music stands up well enough to keep us from setting fire to the bus on the way home.
First on the bill are The Scottish Enlightenment. Although having a name which suggests they may be a bongo-heavy, Guranga! Chanting pop cult, we’re set right with their former single ‘Eyes’, which live sounds not unlike J. Mascus and Pavement chasing The Kingsbury Manx with a bottle of Buckfast; Ace, in other words. The Guitars are set skyward to make an intriguing slacker-space pop hybrid, and with the likes of ‘Blue Green and Yellow’ their live sound is occupied with pulsing, dark twists mainly thanks to their mathematical Strat-stabs. Consider us enlightened.
Gearing up for the festival circuit and currently finishing their presumably pristine Debut, Glasgow’s indie heroes Popup again prove why their colloquial pop belters ought to soundtrack every rain-sodden Scottish disco until the end of time. The Scenester-baiting ‘Year In A Comprehensive’ struts in all rolling snare diddles before sneaking into the witty punk singalong it always threatened to be (in addition leaving any Hipsters reaching for their combs n ironic coats). It’s honest, intelligent p(arty) pop with a wry smile and a chorus to boot. ‘Chinese Burn’ almost manages to make insomnia sound fun, its razor-edged guitar frenzy and tales of urban strife could resonate with anyone whose weekend has ended in a haze of fallen memories. Sadly ‘Lucy What You Trying To Say’ doesn’t get an airing tonight, but they make up for it by being one of the best bands in Scotland, so hey.
Any plaid-plugging fuzz fans may wish to check out headliners Crash My Model Car. Delving into recent single ‘Maybe’ they then rattle through their set so quickly you’d be lucky to applaud were you given the chance, yet its their on-stage intensity that drags you in, hooded vocalist Iain intensively shredding his larynx over sub-pop friendly hooks. Imagine The Sills or The Thermals raised on Irn Bru and you’re getting warm. Their music may have featured on Cod-teen shlock The O.C, but tonight we can only applaud them for making such earlobe-engulfing indie pop.
As we said, stay home at your peril.
