Another evening, another show and another excellent example of the support Celtic Connections is giving to domestic talent. Although how domestic you can consider an act formed around Scandinavian twins and a Polish drummer (Wake the President) or a Canadian, an Irishman and an English woman (Zoey Van Goey) is obviously up for debate. But hey, if Glasgow can claim Snow Patrol as their own then we can have these very different acts too.
Due to transport difficulties I arrived at the venue just as Zoey Van Goey took to the stage. ZVG have been tipped in many quarters as ones to watch this year and I am happy to report that they managed to live up to the hype. A stripped down three piece, the band is made up of dispirit figures each with a very individual onstage persona – featuring Canadian (nerd) Matt Brennan, Ireland’s (brooding muso geek) Michael John McCarthy and (beguiling chanteuse) Kim Moore from England. Utilising guitars (acoustic & electric), drums, keyboards, a violin and assorted sequencers and percussion the sound created was a delight. Each member displayed their virtuosity with regular instrument swaps. Unlike many other acts this did not disrupt the flow of the set or the fragile beauty of the songs being sung. The haunting vocals of Kim Moore dovetailed nicely with Brennan’s slightly gruffer tones.
The overall impact of the set and sound is mightier than the sum of their individual parts. That it works at all is mainly down to the individual characters involved. Whilst the overall appearance of the band is of three random strangers the beauty and intensity of their music clearly shows that they are working towards a common goal. Each member plays up (or down) to their onstage persona wonderfully with Brennan especially adept at self-effacing humour.
Running to only seven songs the band were clearly looking for quality rather than quantity. The standout track was Two White Ghosts, an almost whimsical tale of recent graduates teaching English in Japan. Other highlights were Sweethearts in Disguise, recent single Foxtrot Vandals and a wonderful song introduced as being a “light hearted take on the apocalypse” We All Hid In Basements.
And then it was the turn of Say Dirty label bosses Wake the President. Like ZVG, WtP have also been tipped for good things this year having enjoyed a Radio 2 record of the week in 2007, the excellent Remember Fun?. With a sartorial elegance not seen since the heady days of Postcard Records circa 1981 the band kicked off their short set with Security Place. Next up was I Should Be So Happy before we were treated to a song described as being the B-side of a Double A side single….confused? don’t be it’s just how WtP are. As the band admit themselves the song titles often change on an almost daily basis. It is entirely conceivable that you will witness the same set in the next few months but be fed a handful of “different” tracks. From the titles I did catch You Can’t Change That Boy, Professor and Remember Fun? all stood out.
On occasion the set threatened to descend in to musical farce before being expertly brought back from the brink. Initially this was worrying before it became apparent that, like Orange Juice all those years ago, it was actually part of the WtP onstage dynamic. All the while Erik and Bjorn played down their obvious talents.
In thirty minutes onstage WtP rattled through seven tracks featuring tales of perverts, paedophiles, Dear Deirdre, hedonists, academics and namby pambys. With a lyrical conceit on a par with Morrissey and some of the most beautiful jangly pop I’ve heard since Roddy Frame bunked off school to promote Oblivious on Top Of The Pops.
Take a little of lyrical gymnastics of The Smiths, chuck in the ethos and roster of Postcard Records , sprinkle with a bit of The Fire Engines, add Roddy Frame’s guitars then dress from the finest of vintage clothes shops and you are just about there.
WtP ARE everything a cult band should be. How long they remain a cult is probably down to the lads themselves. In terms of talent, belief, songs and image they’ve clearly got it all. If they add a little motivation they can show the world how leaden and one dimensional Franz Ferdinand actually are.