Imperial Vipers - The Doghouse, Dundee 13-04-06

Honestly, no word of a lie - this is how it went off.
I knew that Dundee's leading electronic music group Altres were playing a second gig under what turned out to be a full moon, on the balcony at Mills Observatory, providing the rain kept off - which, luckily, it did. But that didn't stop it freezin' yer ass off, despite it being nearly mid-April, with a chill westerly blowing off the estuary (my career as a weather man, starts here!). All 4 of them were there - Michael and Brian on guitars, Kevin and Joe on synths and sequencers. As I watch them set up, along comes Electra and Jim from Edinburgh, ostensibly to see Altres, but also, hopefully, for Electra to add her vocals to a track later on. Then my text goes - it's Michele from Mr Spider running late - so I offer to pick her up at The Doghouse. In the Doghouse - which tonight was hosting a band called The Imperial Vipers - Sarah said "not sure how it'll go tonight" - to which I said "well, you'll have more in than last nite" (as the city was a tad dead!). When me and Michele got back to The Observatory, Altres had begun. Night was approaching but in the twilight, their set - this time a mixture of mostly continuously linked more uptempo and dynamic tracks (as opposed to the frist half of cosmic bliss they played last time) - rang out to the audience that had turned up down below. Again, with Michael and Brian becoming ever more the Fripp-Belew of electronic-based music, their guitar work ranged from rolling rhythms, textural melodic soundscaping to searing leads. Kev and Joe laid down some meaty rhyhms, predominantly, to provide a certain addictive quality, as the melodies soared down the woods, several people likening them to Tangerine Dream and Jean-Michel Jarre.On the last but two numbers, Electra sidled over to the mic and provided largely wordless vocals on top of the main instrumentation, to absolutely spellbinding effect, even appearing to improvise the words and singing to a tune she'd not heard before, at one point. With strong melodic propulsion and a crystal clear sound, this was Altres at their both attacking and atmospheric best, and with Eletra guesting, just amazing! The audience loved it, staying despite the cold, as the twisting and turning tunes and ambience, at times strengthening to space-rock proportions, made their presence felt. An hour and a quarter or more later, the set was over and, with Michael and Don from Hennisi and guitarist Lefty in attendance, the latter of whose new band they are supporting in a week's time, the success was paramount. The electronic side of Dundee wakens......
So, me, Michele and another guy (who bought me a J2O for the lift back to town - cheers!!) drove back to the Ascot Bar, whereupon, as drinkies were being ordered, I found a copy of The Courier, someone had kindly left hanging around. Not having had a chance to see it earlier, I flicked through it to Alan Wilson's "Rocktalk" section to see who was playing over the weekend. Three quarters down, and there it was - The Rising Signs are playing The Globe - tonight - now, even - and The Globe is, like, 50 yards up the road! "Watch me drink", I say to Michele, as I scurry through the door, "I'll be back in a mo".
So, I race to The Globe, and through the door, in front of the band who've already started and sit down next to George. "Have they been on long?" The reply was that they're doing a support slot to a Belfast band, at short notice and it's just a 6-song set, and I'd arrived 2 in. So, sat down to enjoy the rest as the band sounded in good form. Now I hadn't planned to review this - a short set, and you'd think nothing that I hadn't said before. But, as happens with a band who've got such outstanding songs as they have, each set, you tend to see something improving in every track as the playing, confidence and sheer enthusiasm for their songs, shines through. Tonight was the night of "False Hope" - a track that started life ages back as the acoustic number that I thought - and let them know - didn't work that well. Now, with Frankie on vocals and acosutic guitar adding to the dual electric attack and rhythm section, it's turned into a veriatble anthem. The song starts sedately enough as the verses are sung in an almost atmospheric way and the backing smoothly flows, but gradually it builds, opening out in this anthemic chorus as the guitars begin to soar and the whole song rises up to set the hairs standing on the back of your neck. But tonight, they gaveit something extra - as the main body of verse and chorus have hit the uplifting peak, the band then starts a chugging rhythm, and gradualy the dual guitars starts to build a stunning twin lead over the rhythm as the huge wave of guitar-led heaven climbs to an adrenaline-rushing climax, the over all feel having a decided "Pink Floyd-meets-Coldplay" quality to it, and just THE best version I've heard to date of this track. A next track was introduced by Frankie with the words "this one's for Andy Garibaldi who's just slipped in - I see we're in the presence of celebrities tonight" - thanks Frankie!! Hehe!! Anyway they did a couple more including one of the best and most rousing versions of "Devil" that I've heard, too, and that was it - gone. Hot stuff though this band just get better.
So, hot foot it down the Ascot, to find they'd put some very witty signs on top of my J2O and the comment "we thought you were outside having the longest fag break known to man" (I don't smoke - but I don't mind those who do!!!). Anyway, I sink that, then, thinking I'll just catch 5 minutes of the next band before diving over the road to The Doghouse to see what the Imperial Vipers had in store. So, I race back to the Globe to catch a band in action called, I think, Ego Rock, and they were rather good - young band with plenbty of punk inside them but with some neat songs too, tending to do the old smoulder then erupt type of verse-chorus thing, and while the songs weren't that memorable of first hearing, their playing was energetic and I did stay to the end of the set, so well worth catching if they're around your way.
Said my goodbyes to the Rising crew then dashed round the Doghouse - to find the Imperial Vipers playing to the size of audience you'd find on a couple of park benches. The place was empty. "Jeez", I thought, "if they're not good, I'm not hanging around". Not good? NOT GOOD? They wree feckin' phenomenal - a 5-piece from Dunstable (making this probably the largest and most expensive rehearsal room they've probably ever played in!!!) who were up on stage and giving this performance the works - professional to the last. For those who don't know, let me tell you that this band play heavy rock - real, down-to-earth, honest, loud, fun, solid, passionate and headbanging heavy rock. With a vocalist who could really deliver the goods, and a twin guitar attack that were laying down riffs, leads and solos like they were going out of fashion, not to mention the rhythm section driving a solid, dependable foundation through it all, they played a series of metal tracks that had you swaying around irresistibly. With influences that range from classic Chuck Berry laced riffing, through seventies Faces to bands such as Thunder (only way more urgent), they delivered a smoking metal brew with a raw attitude and some stunning guitar work. Three highlights of the set included a supercharged metallic cover of the MC5's "Ramblin' Rose" that saw some red hot lead guitar sparring and suitably urgent vocals belying a slight punk-y vein that also ran through the band, then the last but one song, a heavy AOR styled ballad called "The Dirt" which sounded suitably anthemic and hints of Thunder and Bad English to it, while the set closer and latest single, was "Jewels" which, with its red hot riffing guitar intro and thunderous rhythm section, vocals sung with energy and enthusiasm, sounding so strong and steaming, brought the set to a wild and brilliant conclusion. Well, Dundee rock fans - you missed a treat, you really did. To anyone else, if they're on near you, catch them if you want an evening of quality rock and metal. Well worth the effort. Nice one, guys!!
That was it - back to the Ascot and Michele was still there (no jokes about drinking, please) - 4 bands in 3 venues in 4 hours - and each one a gem - must be something about Dundee!! You can't argue with that!