St. Vincent
Glasgow Stereo (Tuesday 15th November)
Another night out, another blank page…
Betty had been sent a review copy of St Vincent’s recent album Strange Mercy along with the usual random output of ITM towers for the reviewing minions (no Stuart, we love it really). She had heard the name but heard no music – as soon as the first track was heard however this became passionate affair (see review of album previously on ITM where Betty calls it “album of the year”, possibly an overblown statement in the heat of the moment but we will see about this. Betty waxed lyrical, and she doesn’t wax too often, know what I mean, fanboys).
The last time St Vincent, previously of the Polyphonic Spree (I believe she was the one in the white sheet, should narrow it down a bit, sorry this joke totally lost on anyone under the age of 25, look them up or ask your Gran) – and also a touring musician with Surfjan Stevens, a good pedigree then… (Just to elaborate for a minute, the PS were a 20-30 member hippy-dippy semi-cultesque ensemble who terrorised festival audiences around 12 years ago with their godamned cheerfulness and Brian Wilson rip-offs, entertaining but wtf were we thinking?)
So the venue – Stereo does a sterling job of promoting left field acts and has a superb bar but the performance space in the basement is, well, a little bit challenged. The huge concrete pillars give a sold-out audience limited viewing space and arriving late, being 6ft 4 in my stilettoes I have no problem but I think serious consideration should be given to a height based system, you know, shortest at the front and all that. My own partner in life is 5 ft zero and would have been seriously peed off at the lack of vision, Betty spoke to one unfortunate bloke whose “missus” had deserted before the gig even started and she was 5ft 5 or so. And also, without getting seriously sued I hope (legal advice appreciated), were they not well above the fire limit tonight surely? Betty tried her best in the middle but the heat and the height drew her back to the bar, where she was hemmed by some undoubtedly interesting and very chatty punters, but surely a bigger venue might have been a good idea?
Betty understands from talking to several punters (she was in chatty mood tonight but the claws were still out) that the last time St V played in Glasgow it was to an audience of around 30 in Sleazy’s – Betty spoke to at least 3 people who said they’d been there, beginning to sound like the Sex Pistols in Manchester Free Trade Hall gig but anyway, she digresses… The fact the venue tonight was just off St Vincent’s St and Lane may have influenced the booker’s choice and perhaps not too many venue upgrades available but surely that former porn cinema in Jamaica St might have done, no pillars there, although I did see a few throbbing poles once (apologies to the Polish nation and furniture polishers everywhere).
Appearing on stage around 9 in rock chick leather keks (although a young audience, there were a distrurbing number of middle aged blokes, shame on you etc), St V had in tow two keyboard players (one of whom I think played the bass lines but I couldn’t see a flimmening thing), the other did keys and female backing vocals, plus a drummer, making a band of four. She sang and played lead and guitar; initially the sound might have been a bit muddy but it settled down.
Tracks were almost entirely from the Strange Mercy collection, an indication that it has been a step changer for the artist – no one appeared to be pining for the oldies from the first couple of discs although she did play ‘Actor Out Of Work’ from the last one and I think one or two others from albums one and two. Ms St V is quite the guitar hero, chipping away at the axe to good effect on quite a few numbers, although the size of the venue did not allow for the volume that she could have brought to bear on some of the solos. Highlights were ‘Northern Lights’ (not an SFA cover), the sublime ‘Betty…’ (sorry, no) ‘Chloe in the Afternoon’ (in your dreams) – the combination of electronics and heaving guitar is quite unique and yes it did fulfill Betty’s dampish anticipation fully, she went away a satisfied woman.
St V in silhouette looking almost like a ‘Don’t Look Back’ era Dylan with the curly hair thing going one, they launched straight into ‘Surgeon’, then ‘Cheerleader’ (a song that Alison Goldfrapp would surely have given her nipple tassels and bullwhip for, Betty certainly would have), a powerful electro backing to St V’s prickly guitar and pitch perfect vocals. The generous applause (surprised anyone could move their hands to be honest) seemed to give her a bit of confidence and although she comes across as a Serious Artist (nothing wrong with that though), she found the time to say that the band had agreed the audience was unexpectedly attractive (best compliment Betty’ll get all week, love, cheers) and to relate the storyline for the video to ‘Cruel’, perhaps not the best song the album but released as a single recently, Betty will need to get her handyman to check it out for her on u-tube.
A New York-based artist, there appears to be a lineage of influence here from show tunes, Brill Building, Blondie, Patty Smith through to Sonic Youth and even Peaches.
As the main set drew to a close, there were more lights and sounds than Oban on the 5th of November (couldn’t resist that) – she is known for some interesting covers, a Big Black number and also ‘She is Beyond Good and Evil’ by The Pop Group. Betty did not spot any tonight but she must admit that she had a break midway because it was so hot and in the words of the Mel B character in the Avid Merrion show (better not go there) – she stands corrected if there were.
The encore climaxed with the post 9/11 song and oldie ‘Your Lips Are Red’ – quite a night, please come back Ms St V and play a bigger venue – the punters will come, Betty is sure of it.
Betty Mayonnaise
