It says something about the growing reputation of Glasgow act Admiral Fallow when you consider that, while a recent show here from indie legends The Vaselines wasn’t a complete sellout, this one certainly is.
And although they may have a couple of advantages in hand, quite how significant these are is unclear. The first is two-man band Calamateur, who have certainly brought a few supporters. Unsurprising perhaps as mainman Andrew Howie has been making music for over a decade now, and garnering a loyal support since debut single ‘White Light Unknown’ was picked up by John Peel in what is now a rather distant past. Howie still has plenty to offer though – augmented by keyboards and e-Bow’ed guitar from Ian Hutchinson, he dips into his back catalogue, ranging from 2003’s ‘Son of Everyone’ to the current album Each Dirty Letter. Howie’s outstanding voice resonates through the venue’s perfect sound system – elements of the fractured emotion of Paul Buchanan and the angelic purity of Craig B, but in the main his own very distinctive tones. A cover of the Flaming Lips’ ‘Feeling Yourself Disintegrate’ is a real unexpected treat – Wayne Coyne’s songwriting genius in the hands of someone blessed with natural vocal ability. But that’s a sideshow really as Calamateur have plenty of their own tunes, impeccably delivered.
I must confess that we missed a fair chunk of Joy Kills Sorrow, due to waiting for a tannoy ‘next act is on’ announcement that never came. Sadly, though bluegrass – that’s them neatly pigeonholed, then – isn’t my own thing, this American five-piece transcend lazy comparisons and cliches. They also, it seems have attracted a few followers of their own with a noticeable proportion of Americans in the crowd. They’re on the bill at the special request of tonight’s headliners, and while their style is largely unconnected with Scottish indie-folk, you can see the point. Rather striking boy-girl harmonies, a fair few tunes of considerable hummability – ‘Jason’ a real standout – and some virtuoso instrumentation, with banjo, accordion, and a remarkable mandolin solo from Jacob, who, following a long spell on the road looks like the progeny of Elvis and Teen Wolf.
While the crowd are mainly there to see the headliners, you could be fooled for thinking this as the Glasgow act silently take the stage. The first few tunes are a mix of pedestrian and prog, as the band, possibly jetlagged from their tour of the Highlands, slowly warm up. However, new single ‘Paper Trench’ increases the tempo, its pounding beat kicking the show into life. That sets the pattern in a sense as ‘Subbuteo’ and ‘These Barren Years’ see the crowd similarly wake up, to the point where singer Louis Abbott declares the Stirling locals ‘best audience’, trumping the likes of Ullapool and Dunfermline in the singalong stakes.
It’s not all about big and brassy, though. New tune ‘Brothers’ and encore ‘Oh Oscar’ both showcase the vocal abilities of Abbott and Sarah Hayes as well as the chemistry in the band as it seems they warm to the audience and to each other.
‘Squealing Pigs’ is of course the final song played, probably the oldest in their catalogue, dating back to their incarnation as Brother Louis Collective. However, with new album Tree Bursts In Snow due in a couple of weeks, it looks like they can finally lay that ghost to rest. Their reputation, like their audience, can only grow with them.