Gig reviews

Grizzly Bear

Edinburgh Queen’s Hall

Tuesday 9th March

Despite their sudden rise to stardom following third album Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear aren’t quite at the Barrowland stage yet. more… “Grizzly Bear”

Imelda May and the Deadly Gentlemen

Glasgow O2 ABC (Celtic Connections)

Friday 29th January

Tonight almost ended in, or at least began with, a disaster when I got my O2 venues mixed up. Stepping out of the warmth of Nice ‘n’ Sleazy’s I was about to hail a cab to head to the O2 Academy at Eglinton Toll when I realised the actual venue was only a few hundred yards further up Sauchiehall Street. more… “Imelda May and the Deadly Gentlemen”

Hot Chip

Glasgow O2 Academy

Tues 16th February

Hot Chip leapt into action with the thumping introduction of ‘Thieves In The Night’, from their newest album ‘One Life Stand’. A kaleidoscope of lights accompanied them, never failing to get the attention of the audience, who were dancing non-stop from the very beginning. more… “Hot Chip”

Midlake

Glasgow ABC

Monday February 15th

Midlake tonight return to Glasgow after a two year absence, to grace us with their perfect harmonies and brooding alt-folk-rock. This time they are here in support of their gloomy, but lovely, third long player, ‘The Courage of Others.’ The set is largely composed of songs from this new album, plus a generous helping from 2006’s more familiar ‘the Trials of Van Occupanther.’

Much of the new material is underpinned by an eerie sense of foreboding, perfectly replicated by the band, expanded from five, to a seven piece for the live shows. On ‘Rulers, Ruling All Things,’ for example, the cavernous ABC seems to be consumed by the ghostly, ominous flutes of Tim Smith and Jesse Chandler. Similarly, while ‘Winter Dies’ features perfect three part harmonies, its menacing guitars seem to point to future pain.

Unquestionably, however, the band are on top form tonight. The lush sound is the result of a group of highly talented multi-instrumentalists, most of whom also contribute gorgeous vocals throughout. The band also tease their audience with some slightly reworked and extended introductions to familiar tunes, such as the rapturously received ‘Head Home’ which is saved for near the end of the evening. ‘Young Bride’ is arranged in a rockier fashion than on ‘Van Occupanther’ with its violin parts here becoming sliding electric guitar riffs.

Elsewhere, the immaculate ‘Branches’ brings a lump to the throat as Smith’s resigned voice laments that “we won’t get married, ‘cos she won’t have me.”

What is particularly remarkable about this gig is the conduct of the audience. By the time the halfway point has passed, there has unusually not been a single yelled song request or other major interjection. After the typically loud and passionate applause for each song dies down, there is a prolonged hush as the audience patiently await the band’s next, often after instruments and positions have been swapped around. It’s as though Midlake are genuinely revered by those watching and listening tonight. The band themselves acknowledge their reception by repeatedly describing the evening as “a special night” and drummer McKenzie Smith even videos the raucous appreciation shown to the band as they walk off-stage following their final song.

This was indeed a special night, hopefully to be repeated before another two years pass.

Vampire Weekend

HMV Picturehouse, Edinburgh

Sunday February 14th

Although they’re more Free Town than Cape Town, Vampire Weekend still stand out in indie rock circles for incorporating elements of African pop into their music. more… “Vampire Weekend”

Music From The Penguin Cafe/Spiro

Old Fruitmarket

26 January 2010

Despite the utter chaos of programming that seemed to dog this year’s Celtic Connections (the only mention of gigs being from the artists themselves on the day – c’mon this is what your website is for) one of the dates we had penciled in right from the first announcements was this inspired partnering.

Bristol’s Spiro come with about the best endorsements you can get in roots music from that end of the country. Signed to Peter Gabriel’s Real World and lauded by members of Portishead. Current album Lightbox is a rather interesting folky cyclical thing. Y’know when the players take a theme and riff on it round and round changing all the time? Kinda like anti-jazz no real solos, just waves? Live, freed from the restrictions of Real Studios they are a gloriously warm, rich creature doing that same thing. Only in 3D. Hypnotic lovely stuff. When they coming back?

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra were a strange beast.  As punk was being born, Simon Jeffes decided he wanted to make louche continental music.  He succeeded and has basically left (after an early death) a body of work that filled documentaries and Sunday supplements while Elbow was just a cute word from that Jack Lemmon film.  There was something unpinnable about PCO. But, ultimately, they were all about melody. When they seemed arch, no – they were just being tuneful.

Now, Jeffes’ son Arthur is keeping the name going with Music From The Penguin Cafe who openly do “reworked material and their own compositions”. And, that love of the melody is what’s central here. Jeffes Jr’s troupe (including some former pop stars – just like his dad did) take the original and give us stunning versions. They also play with the original and give us stunning versions. We get new material that sits beautifully in there.

It’s amazing.  Melody may be a devalued commodity these days, but it still has its power. At it’s best you could call it ‘frivolous’. Still it touches something deep and emotional. Frivolity as emotional experience, that’s what Jeffes Sr had mastered. Dad would be proud.