Having plundered two of the city’s finest new bands, it is fitting that Brighton based label Fatcat should choose Glasgow to host their Xmas shindig. The bands in question, Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad, have gathered a sizeable fanbase throughout 2007 and sadly a large section of which seem content to chatter amongst themselves during opener Vashti Bunyan.
It is a fate which regularly befell even the mighty Arab Strap much to Aidan Moffat’s annoyance but it does not seem to bother Vashti Bunyan as she confidently delivers a mystical and at times haunting set. The now well known ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ grabs the attention of the assembled throng due to its appearance in a recent TV advert but it is really only the people closest to the stage and away from the hubbub who could really appreciate the beguiling performance from the impressive freak folk Godmother.
In the adjoining arch Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite entertains on the decks in the interim but attention is soon focused on the main stage for the first of Fatcat’s prized duo. The Twilight Sad take to the stage to the theme music from Home Alone and manage to make it sound almost sinister! It is soon drowned out though, by the trademark shimmering of guitarist Andy MacFarlane’s Jaguar which is the sound that the bands epic majesty is built around and the opening lines to ‘Cold Days From The Birdhouse’ echo throughout the cavernous setting. It is strange to think that so many people have now heard those words “Another hotel with woollen plans” and the rest with their stunning debut album ‘Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters’ featuring in Top 10’s all throughout Europe and beyond. The set tonight celebrates what has been a remarkable 12 months for a band that a year ago had only played a handful of gigs and had not yet discovered their ‘sound’. A recent UK tour supporting Idlewild saw them strike up a friendship with the indie stalwarts and tonight Rod and Alan from the band join them on stage to create an even bigger wall of noise especially on ‘Talking With Fireworks’ which also sees Grant from Frightened Rabbit hammer away on another drum kit. It does seem like a pretty special night and when Scott from Frightened Rabbit joins them on stage for the sublime ‘And She Would Darken The Memory’ you do get the feeling that it will be remembered by all who were there for a long time to come.
It may seem a tall order to ask a band to follow such a performance but if to kick things off you have a 40 strong choir and a Christmas single that Cliff Richard would slaughter an entire country to get his hands on, then that order may not be so lofty after all. Frightened Rabbit have just re-released their debut album ‘Sing The Greys’ which will be a staple in many a Scottish indie kids diet but as they only had 1000 pressed on Hits the Fan records, it was not available far and wide. Mercifully, Fatcat thought it worthy of a proper release and now the rest of the UK are getting to know the band thanks to notable reviews in the NME amongst others. It is, of course though, a Xmas party tonight and in true carol singing fashion, Grant from the band conducts a choir of 40 through the harmony parts of their new single ‘It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop’ which is a joy to behold and receives a rapturous reception especially as it is the first time they have performed it live. The as yet unreleased ‘Modern Leper’ opens the set proper and looking around at so many people singing the words it is hard not to imagine this band moving up to another level in 2008. Almost every song is greeted like an anthem and The Twilight Sad’s James Graham returns the compliment from earlier on by providing vocals on ‘Be Less Rude’ which he looks genuinely chuffed at being able to do. Alongside such favourites as ‘Music Now’ which gets its own crowd chant to start it off, and ‘Fast Blood’ featuring Kim from the excellent Zoey Van Goey on violin, they also fit in a cover of N-Trance’s ‘Set You Free’ which crackles with emotion and is a far cry from the euro cheese that was the original. It left them with only one song they could possibly finish on “I spose we better do that Christmas one then eh? Let’s get the choir back up, in fact no wait, just everyone come up, IT’S XMAS!” Cue pandemonium as everyone starts launching the barrier to get on stage, one poor sod even broke his wrist for his efforts, meanwhile Scott actually manages to sing the song despite the chaos ensuing around him. It is a spectacular end to a special evening and we can only hope that the Fatcat guys decide to make it an annual event as I, for one, will be there with (jingle) bells on!