Another Last Night from Glasgow-promoted triple bill, this drew BM away from a big night at TRNSMT and was well worth it.
Getting things started to a near sold-out Glad (the temperature was ridiculously warm, again!) Xan Tyler played perhaps her first Glasgow date in a while with acoustic versions of tracks from her recent album.
She was joined by John on guitar and Adam on bass, the latter threatening to detonate prog basslines several times but being shouted down by his lead singer.
Starting with older track ‘Mantra’ and continuing with several recent ones including waltz/polka-influenced ‘Rebecca’s Desk’ and ‘Freaks’, there was plenty of between-song banter and complicated tuning attempts – Xan and Adam seemed determined to wind each other up and even John cracked up latterly at a reference to some previous incident.
Xan thanked those who had help make the as yet unreleased album (which BM understands will be on LNFG records), including Jamie Savage and Boo Hewardine, while pointing out that many of the tracks were about interesting women – BM admits not being familiar with Lizzie Siddal, for example (“history’s greatest supermodel”).
Last song and recent single ‘Miniature Oceans’ then got an outing – the other half of the duet on the record (Emma Pollok) hadn’t quite arrived yet, or who knows she might have done the honours but the shortish set ended with both band and audience satisfied they had done each other musical justice.
The event continued with the first live appearance in some time by Louise Quinn, currently operating as Gates of Light and also with a new single out on LNFG records. Playing tonight with Gareth, Al and Georgina and sporting a Billy Bragg-referencing hairdo (‘Greetings to the New Brunette’ anyone, no just BM then…) – the brace of tracks included ‘Embrace the Night’ and several other new tracks.
Perhaps a wee bit nervous at first< Louise was soon chatting to the audience and quite in her element - a great singer, a natural performer and a charismatic presence anywhere, BM has followed and reviewed a number of LQ incarnations over the years and it is great to see her on a stage once more pushing the musical and lyrical boundaries in new directions with style and humour.BM would admit that while the first two acts tonight were know quantities but Air in the Lungs was not (ok you can search up these things instantly in you want but sometimes it is more fun just to face it fresh and see what you think) - so it was a very pleasant surprise that this last set was such a treat (okay, anything that LNFG puts its name to will have the mark of quality and to if you add Paul Savage in as your record producer then well, nuff said etc).Lead singer Debbie was joined by MJ, Steve and Pat on various musical devices - the songs were emotional, the music varied (there was a brief techno wigout at one point!) - things ended with the band being joined by Xan and Louise for the evening's closing number - '19' - just wonderful!Honourable mentions also to Gav on sound, Gary and others from LNFG on the door and The Glad's always wonderful bar staff for keeping everybody well oiled.
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