THE DRAYMIN + SERGEANT - Doghouse, Dundee 30-04-08
Due to work related matters, I missed Rush Hour Soul - apologies, guys....
......this concert had been a Doghouse sell-out, over a week before it took place, not only a a rare event, but a testament to the strides into the wider national music areana that Sergeant have made in the last few months and, with appearances in Dundee not being that frequent, it was fitting that their fans should turn out "en masse" to see them celebrate being the new darlings of indie music.
Prime suport act were Rosyth's Draymin. Perfect for the occasion and.....well.... just perfect, anyway. Here is a band that I would cross a ploughed field in a hailstorm wearing slippers with a weight tied to each ankle, just to see play live. They were sensational. From the familiar opening ringing and strident guitar chords, dramtaic dancey driving drums, flowing bass undercurrents and the synth textural backdrop, the song that is "Don't Fade Away" just cfrashes onto the danceflor, the vocals soaring through the Doghouse like a sniper's bullet, the audience lapping it up and leaping around while those not leaping around are witnessing the presence of true greatness as this band captivates a sellout crowd with just one number, that anthemic hok just to die for as the song cruises and drives. A couple of equally driving tracks later, all of which are being positively absorbed by an eager and appreciative audience, they come to the epic that is "I'm There", its powerful ballad-esque opening revealing some gorgeous guitar chording as the rhythms ection play it tastefully and the vocalist delivers the song with absolute passion and power, the vocals filling every bit of the cavernous venue - then it happens!! - with spine-tingling drama, the first part of the song segues into the next via this rolling sea of spiraling guitar chording that have the hairs standing up on the back of your neck, as the song just takes off and the band and singer lift the rof off with this awesome mix of rhythm, melody, heart and passion, the huge sound worthy of a song that is the absolute epitome of the perfect indie anthem, a song that many a more famous band would kill to possess. Playing one stunner of a set, the band surged through to the end point of its rousing final song as the audience went wild, proof positive that if only this band had more of an image - sadly something that seems to matter so much these days - they'd be enormous - for now, be glad if you saw them and please catch up if you didn't!
In a review way back, when I first encountered the charms of Sergeant, with wide eyed amazement, I described them as "the perfect pop band". Now, witnessing this set, that description still applies, but to this, they've added a whole raft of extras to make them a much more solid entity. For a start, while the songs have lost none of their charm, they have lost a bit of their "whimsy", but this has been repelaced with mushc tighter, more solid arrangements, so that the overall feel is now of a strong guitars-driven indie band with an ocean of songs that are almost completely irresistible. The singer delivers them with trademark precision, the right mix of restraint and effort, while the band really keeps things under control as one song after another lights up a delighted crowd. With most of the audience actualy singing along or leaping about or both, this was like a "greatest hits" show, only they've not yet had one - but on this showing, it's only a matter of time, before they do. The combination of ringing guitar leads and rhythms combined with the solid yet somehow bouncy rhythmic backdrops are all toped off with a heartfelt impassioned lead vocal that's clean cut yet possesses strength on lyrical charms that fill your heart with a smile. A bit like a much less annoying Supergrass and way more palatable, they delivered a consistent set of songs to an audience of the faithful, who lapped up every note, every word and every enjoyable minute of a nigh on faultless performance. The sound of success - and it sounds just fine by me!!