KING THING + PEG & THE BOUFFANTS + THE GOODNIGHTS + INIDIANAPOLIS - Westport Bar, Dundee 23-05-08
King Thing opened up the proceedings. Now, King Thing are a trio and they play this unique set of songs that's a kinda mix of contemporary indie, psychedelic pop and electric alt-folk with songs that would do a Police album proud. Actually, they're a quality band and the sound was crystal clear, so that the songs and playing came shining through. The stirring surge and dynamics of the classic "Trophy Wives" with its addictive choruses and cascading verses, was just one highlight of a solid and fluid band performance, with some deliciously ringing guitar work and strong suport from the rhythm section, all sounding so organic and yet, you still can't really compare what they do with anyone else. It's kind of sedate yet powerful at the same time, with a singer who's got a vocal that, while out front, has a seriously languid manner to it, yet it's perfect for the songs. Recommended!!
Now, I have no idea what happened for the rest of the night as far as the sound goes, but when I got back from checking out another band next door at Hustlers, Peg & The Bouffants were on stage and cooking. Now, don't get me wrong - the sound was still fine - well, technically - but everything had been turned up to "11", so it was really blasting out. Apparently the onstage sound was superb and so as I'm no expert, I dunno what was up. But anyway, they played another tight set, for sure. Visually as well as musically the two female singers, Janine and Kirsty, contrast and complement each other to perfection. The statuesque Janine gyrating and dancing wearing a tight red skirt that I swear she'll never wear on stage again (you had to be there!!), with a powerful voice that really belts out the lyrics, but truly sung and never overpowering. Meanwhile, the more diminutive Kirsty, now looking every inch as though the confidence she has with her performance is starting to shine through, wafts serenely around the mic stand or leaves it to "dance" alongside Janine,while Kirty's voice is one of really strong purity, so that while it doesn't have the overriding power of Janine's, it really mesmerizes you with every lead vocal that she does. A new number, "Bedrock", is just perfect for them - a lead vocal that swings back and forth from the two singers, over a strident rhythm section punctuated by blasts of sax and given the strength of a great guitar undercurrent riff, as another insanely catchy song blasts out, prrof that, in compositional terms, they're really aware now of what works for them. The somewhat harsh nature of the PA didn't allow the detail of the band's performance to come out, but by the time we got to the last track "Deceiter" (I think - temporary mental aberration time!), with Kirsty leaping onto the dancefloor to deliver the final lead vocals, something she'd never have done a few months ago, you really didn't care, as the band still showed they'd got what it takes.
The Goodnights played a set that marked the return to the live arena for their guitarist after a brief absence, and here the sound was not quite so kind. I don't know if it was the guy at the desk, but the mix was, initially, a bit unbalanced - the piano and bass dominated the first two tracks while the vocals were struggling to be heard. But by the time we got to the third one, although the band were positively blasting out of the PA, at least you could appreciate the songs for the gems that they are, as the vocals seemed to shine through better. It was actually a good performance, which the audience who'd turned out in numbers to see them, loved. The good thing was that, as the balance improved as the set wore on, you heard the band at their most powerful, showing that the songs they do which tend to be of the more atmospheric variety, lose none of their shine when hammered out, while the more dynamic offerings still work a treat. Either way, still a great band that I'll still turn out to see whenever possible, but I'd advise that you get their new 6-track CD-EP to appreciate just HOW good they are.
Indianapolis almost suffered a similar fate, but I think the fact that Indianapolis managed to adopt a kind of "rock band struggling to get out" approach made sure that they overcame the volume and turned it to their advantage. For, I have to say, I've never heard the band play quite this powerfully before, but then the electricity running through the place was so highly charged, it's no wonder they whiped up a storm. Initially, it just seemed wrong, but as the set wore on, the guitar work stormed out of the PA while Andy's vocals really shot through, as the band delivered what are normally a set of songs of great dynamic contrasts, in this powerful flame-thrower approach with energy and enthusiasm surging out of the speakers, giving the songs and playing a whole new feel to them. As the rhythm section hammered away, even their mid-set epic heartstring-tugging emotive song that they do, turned into an almost rocking power-ballad, but they pulled it off. By the time a seriously rocking rendition of "Don't Stop" substituted cataclysmic for catchy, you'd given them the thumbs up on a set that, although wasn't typical of the normal contrasts and subtleties the band possesses, showed that they can be electrifyingly energetic if the situation requires.