First, a confession – I might have reviewed second support Beerjacket tonight if I’d actually gone to the right gig in the first place. Instead I had some misguided idea that I was heading for Stereo and arrived there, got my ticket slip ripped, on with a wristband and down the stairs. I asked the “promotion team” (to be fair I did think it a bit odd that some pneumatically chested blonde – sorry, dear – was on the desk for Withered Hand, dream on, pal) – nothing wrong with that, had them for a few years, the punters loved it but a real pain in the back so eventually let them down, like shot-down Zeppelins and they said “yes mhuhandn” (i.e. we don’t know who you are but go in anyway, and straight into the first few chords of something truly godawful – so another Betty bonus review, come up and see me sometiime..)
So a swift totter (heels were killing me) up to N&S, not been here for a while and the aforementioned Beerjacket were missed. I had no idea of the support so first support Second Hand Marching Band were a bit of a bonus really. Betty had heard of them through the various menchies but had not witnessed them in the flesh, and very invigorating they were too!
There were I think 13 people on stage, which I don’t intend to name or describe, but let’s just say that this is a serious job creation scheme for “resting” Scottish musicians, makes Belle and Sebastian’s early gigs look professional – sorry, guys, that is a bit tongue in cheek but you have to expect a bit of that from the “press” etc.
Led by the accordion-playing and very charismatic lead singer, they played 4 or 5 numbers, several at full tilt, and Betty may not have perfect pitch, but I didnae hear a bum note the entire time, so they know their stuff, school orchestras the length of Scotchland, Engerland and even Canadaland, have been the training ground, and Betty does think that it might just take one riff for them to pull off something (missus) quite spectacular and unprecedented commercially, there is always that phone advert, that c::::ting supermarket or whatever, if they want, they have that kind of potential as a live act – I understand that they are playing Southside Festival in Glasgow next weekend (although the MySpace page gives not details and tour details in general are a bit carp, just saying, mind…) Fort William for the bike festival (they tend to lance my hold-ups but Betty is generally in favour of bikes, no further jokes required you naughty people..) then some Engurlish dates… watch this space, this could take off…
And as for the headliner.
I can’t do him justice due to lack of time here , but the idiot savant (his words) of Scottish independent music is about as close as it will get tonight…
He deserves bigger venues than this, no product to promote I don’t think… so just for the banter really…
Biggest associations for Betty were Bright Eyes (yes I would…), and Leonard Cohen (in theory yes but would not want to be responsible for his death so no…)
The repartee and general take also put Betty in mind of HMHB (look them up, flippers!) for the sheer sarcasm he deals out.
At a certain point (few songs in) he warned that he would be “increasingly joined by members of the Marching Band” – and came they did, through the middle of the audience mainly, to add a whole different set of elements not previously heard, but did the songs a favour and just proved how good they were.
Highlights were ‘Religious Songs’ – I’m not going to quote but most of the audience shouted every word back, and this is a twisted song, are we twisted people, hell yeah…
Old song ‘No Cigarettes’ got the encore, and Betty really wishes this guy well, suggests ‘Big in Europe’ for some car advert, feel like we are all prostitutes (@Mark Stewart) but if you want to continue, you will get that car advert, mainly because the songs are very good…