Four signed bands for less than a packet of cigarettes….now there’s an offer you don’t see too often these days.
Things kick off slowly when Vandaveer take the stage to promote their album Grace & Speed. Vandaveer is Mark Charles, a charismatic chap from Virginia who leads us through a short intimate set of world weary vignettes exploring life’s underbelly. A little bit of Tom Waits here, a sprinkling of Dylan there and a hugely enjoyable thirty minutes. From the late night diner to the motel room this ride was sheer unadulterated Americana. A nice line in patter and self deprecating humour ensures that the Glasgow welcome enjoyed by Mr. Charles was a warm one.
Towards the end of the set Mark is joined on stage by Tom Hnatow for a few numbers. Tom is transpires is a member of These United States, as it turns out is Mark… confused you will be. The final song of the set ‘Let’s Go Study’ is a stand out and described as being “like a 50’s TV dinner” by the singer himself.
These United States appear to be a loose amalgamation of musicians from the DC area. Tonight the group perform as a three piece with Charles & Hnatow being joined by Jesse Elliott and the instruments being rotated to fit.
Songs of love and loss seem to be the order of the day but each one also carries with it hope. The highest praise I can give is that if Gram Parsons was alive he’d be a fan. The stripped down version of the band affords the audience a decent flavour of their work to date and suggests that with a little luck they could yet follow the career path of Wilco.
And then, it’s the turn of The Poems to grace the stage. This Glasgow six-piece have been gathering rave reviews across the Atlantic where their debut disc, Young America, was released on the Minty Fresh label a year ago. It quickly becomes apparent that the unorthodox stage layout and acoustics of the venue would hamper the normally beautiful sound of the band. That their “by-numbers” set comprising of only six songs is superior to many you will hear is testament to their undeniable ability but still disappointing when you’ve previously seen them burn the house down. The highlights of the set are first single ‘I Am A Believer’ and the ode to Motown that is the towering ‘Sound Of Young America’. Set closer ‘I Just Want Out Of Here’ seems to sum up their feelings.
Speaking to Robert Hodgens, from the band later, he confirmed that the restricted venue lighting had hampered the set as the band had struggled to view their fretboards. In addition the stage monitors had been suspect making it difficult for the band to hear what they were actually playing. Despite this he remained upbeat about the success of the evening and was justifiably proud to have pulled the whole bill together for this self-promoted show. If the Glasgow scene is to prosper the endeavour of characters like Hodgens and partner in crime Adrian Barry should be applauded and encouraged.
The evening is rounded off by Attic Lights, one of the bands tipped to follow the success of Franz Ferdinand and adopted Weegies Snow Patrol. Whilst not offering anything new the band tear through their set of good time country-tinged anthems. Three guitars, four voices and harmonies to make Brian Wilson weep keep the crowd enthralled throughout the set intended to showcase their forthcoming album release for Island Records. Like The Poems before them the group seem to struggle with the setting but rock on regardless. Whilst Teenage Fanclub maintain a low profile Attic Lights seem happy to keep their seats warm.
All in all an excellent evening, despite the sound issues, and an absolute steal at a fiver. You could do worse than bolster your record collection with a release from one or all of these fine artists. Messers Hodgens & Barry I salute you.
Attic Lights / The Poems
Glasgow Grand Ole Opry (Sunday 21 October 2007)
Twenty four hours on from the show at The Beat Club I find myself in Govan to take in the second part of the weekends double header.
Despite the overwhelming aroma of paraffin which greet my entrance to the venue the mood is upbeat with both acts clearly determined to shake off the disappointments of their respective performances the previous evening. A more recognised venue, the sight of a p.a. that would have made The Who smile, and Jack and cokes at £1.25 are good omens for what might lie ahead.
Once again The Poems are up first. Unlike the previous evening they are clearly in the mood. Sensing they had failed to live up to their billing the previous night it’s apparent they have a sense of purpose and determination about them. Adrian Barry even elects to pay tribute to the venue by taking to the stage in cowboy boots and checked shirt.
Opener ‘Sometime Somewhere Someone Should Say Something’ lays the foundation for a set that was to prove to be the yang to last night’s ying. Where technical gremlins blighted Saturday’s showing tonight the band hit all of the right notes both metaphorically and otherwise.
Next up was the sweeping ‘So Soon’ which is reminiscent of The Go-Betweens at their best and was quickly followed by ‘Stupid Tango’. ‘I Am A Believer’ and ‘The Sound Of Young America’ sound markedly different from the chugging versions of the previous night. Kerry Polwart’s vocals soar whilst Barry’s bass keeps the beat ticking along. The guitars of Hodgens & Leahy are been slowed down with notes and chords being picked out rather than hammered. Throw in the sympathetic drumming of Michael Bryans and the beautiful cello of Stacey Seivewright and this ticks all of the right boxes.
Before we know it the set’s over with the band electing to close with the achingly beautiful ‘No Sign Of Life’ before wrapping it all up with ‘I Just Want Out Of Here’. Unlike the Saturday show it appears that nothing could have been further from the truth.
The warm and generous response from an audience including assorted members of peers such as Camera Obscura, Teenage Fanclub and Isosceles told its own tale.
On this kind of form The Poems can go as far as their ambition will carry them. An excellent set from one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets.
The evening closes with a storming performance from Attic Lights. Tonight they are as tight as any band I’ve seen this year and it’s clear that the time they obviously spend rehearsing is clearly paying off.
Once again the improved sound quality of the venue is in their favour and the boys refuse to give up that advantage. Kev, Jamie and Tim share guitar duties whilst Kev and Colin alternate seamlessly on lead vocals. The line up is completed by signing drummer Noel. With harmonies that would make the Everly Brothers contemplate murder Kev bounces around the stage like a four year old high on Smarties.
Tracks like ‘Bring You Down’ and ‘Summer Girlfriend’ whizz by in a maelstrom of boundless energy. Once again the influences are obvious… if the venue reeks of paraffin then the set reeks of Teenage Fanclub, The Byrds and The Beach Boys, but not in a bad way. This is very much more homage than pastiche.
The stand-out track is ‘God’ which resonates to the refrain “She never waited for me”. Whilst this may be true I feel sure that the Attic Lights may just be what the world is waiting for. Debut single ‘Walkie Talkie’ is played as a precursor to their forthcoming album (which I believe is due to be release on Island Records).
And just like that the shopkeeper appears and we have to leave the changing room and step back out on to Paisley Road and begin the search for transport home.
If you only see one more band this year you should try and make it one of these two. The future of Glasgow music is clearly in safe hands.