Saint Jude’s Infirmary / Zoey Van Goey
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh (Saturday 22nd August)
Another jaunt to the capital for a late afternoon, early evening gig in a more unusual setting. After the joys of the Fence Homegame pre-season back in February I was quite excited about this show and not just because of the venue, the rather stunning National Portrait Gallery but because it was the launch of the second album by the excellent Saint Jude’s Infirmary after much trauma, self-doubt and endless problems. And, to add icing on top of the cake, Zoey Van Goey were providing the support.
A slight misunderstanding over times meant that we contrived to miss the start of Zoey Van Goey’s set but what I saw was rather beautiful. Stripped down to a trio, they played a gentle, lovely set that let the songs and voices shine through, giving a different setting to songs from their gorgeous debut album along with a rather cool cover of the Velvet Underground’s ‘I’m Sticking With You’. All in all, it was a joyous, albeit brief set that won more than a few initiates over proving that Zoey Van Goey’s delicious songs can shine in different forms and environments.
If Zoey Van Goey were stripped down, Saint Jude’s Infirmary seemed to have expanded exponentially since I last saw them playing as a three piece in Glasgow last summer. Ashley, Emma, Grant and Mark were joined by new drummer Catherine, a cellist and keyboard player. Oh, and an American poet who provided the links between songs. The sound was expansive and elegant, as the band opened up with a new song ‘The Duke And The Pines’. Curiously for a band with a brand new album to promote the set featured four songs from their debut album, a new song and three from the latest album, the stunning This Will Be The Death Of Us. However, the songs chosen fitted in well with the semi-acoustic set-up in a packed gallery setting, framed by a giant montage with the original artwork by Jack Vettriaino sitting by the band on an easel. Of the older songs, particularly stunning was the warm hearted version of ‘The Church Of John Coltrane’ with its gospel feel making it an elegiac hymn to the transcendent powers of music to change things. ‘Goodbye Jack Vettriano’ always knocks me out and on a warm, Edinburgh evening it sounded even more powerful Mark raged at this useless thing called ‘a heart’ while Ashley and Emma sang like angels around his bruised and deep voice. The new songs were equally gorgeous, particularly the closing song, ‘Foot Of The Walk’ in which the band attempted, with mixed results’ to initiate a crowd sing along for the chorus.
It was a slick but inspired performance from a band showing off a side to their music that is occasionally missed in favour of the more upbeat moments in their oeuvre such as the wonderfully ramshackle ‘VVVampyres’ or previous set closer ‘All My Rowdy Friends Are Dead’ or the poppier, but equally wonderful previous single ‘Little Sparta’. Saint Jude’s Infirmary continue to be one of my favourite bands currently kicking against the pricks and part of the sheer thrill is never knowing which version you are going to get; the sober, expansive version or the falling downstairs chasing the drum kit hell-raisers or something in-between but they always fill me with a joyful exhilaration. The album may have taken one million days in Fife, Edinburgh and Hamilton but on the basis of this brilliant showing it’s been well worth the wait.
Andy Wood
