DundeeliveDUNDEE LIVE - AUTUMNAL DELIGHTS - Concert Highlights Oct-Nov 2007
I might not have been inspired to write up the whole concert, but these were some highlights that just had to be mentioned..........
BOY ORCHESTRA - Dexters 17-10-07
When I saw this band at The Doghosue a couple of weeks before, I'd criticised them as they just seemed to be all over the place in terms of arrangements, songs and structure. But what I realised tonight was that this band is actually bloody good at what it does. For a start, once you actually have an idea of what the band is like, the shock of being greeted by one that knocks down all the barriers going, is replaced by one of mesmerised admiration and riveting listening enjoyment. They've got two electric guitarists plus rhythm section and to watch the two guitarists in action as they spar, duel and come together, isan event in itself. The angular nature of the songs and the way they stop, start, twist, turn, veer off, soar, drop down then take a totally unexpected path, is really rather remarkable and I was standing there thinking "this band must practice for days to get the sheer timing so spot on. To hear the guitars start off togetehr then veer off in different directions only to be rejoined when the rhythm section demands that they all fly off in the same direction, is quite mind-blowing. The songs themselves are more in keeping with indie than anything, but the approach is quite unique. The vocals are OK - he ain't gonna win any awards for now - but the precision, timing and energy that this band exudes, is pretty close to stunning. In some ways, it's the direction you feel Dave? were heading before they became more "normalised", only this has twisted intricacy instead of the cyclical mind-numbing power of early Dave? But to see and hear those two guitarists at work is something I really want to get to do more of. Try it - you might like it!!
THE GOODNIGHTS + THE BROGUES - The Doghouse 18-10-07
It wasn't until the keyboard player and bassist accosted me - not literally, you understand - that I reaised this was a new band out of the ashes of Dundee band The Unknown, and that this was only their 4th gig. So, the main focus of the switch is that the new vocalist is the old guitarist, still playing the guitar, while they have a brand new drummer. As to the set, well, you'd never have guessed this was a new band. For a start, the vocalist has got a great voice, very tuneful but also very powerful, while the band is now much more varied and capable of delivering a sharper set of arrangements with ease and enjoyment. They opened with a track that mixed several styles from rock to funk to ballad and immediately caught your attention with keyboards filing the sound as the guitars riffed and chimed, while bass anchored it all and the drumming sounded wholly crisper and crunchier. An old song, "Jane" was second in and here what was a sort of mix of bluesy indie-rock, now becomes much more indie-AOR, with some great guitar work and keyboard injections, previously, now takes on a wholly new adrenaline rush, the band giving it more of a dynamic feel, lifting off with impassioned vocals and taking it back down to earth before soaring for the finale. The other thing you noticed on the penulitmate track is thet thy've lost none of their ability to delievr slower songs with conviction and, if anything, the new vocalist really adds strength to the songs, sounding much more emotional and heartfelt. They elected to end with what you thought was a slower song, but it revealed its magic when it started to build and eneded in a real flare of vocals and rhythm-propelled guitars. Overall, you have to be impressed - new band, new start and seriously promising.
The Brogues just continue to ignite - their set, although again, still not one I'd describe as an awesome performance, improves with every concert they do. Here, although Ronnie's guitar work just wasn't loud enough throughout most of the set, weakening "Mr Valentine" in particular, the band still played a blinder and this time you got an amazingly fast rendition of "Carry On" that really took off, while the new track with its cascading vocals and sheer strength of playing, possesses an undeniable magic that makes you hope there's plety more where this came from. So, the definitive Brogues gig still awaits - but I'm a patient person!!
KHODA + YASHIN - The Doghouse 19-10-07
Although playing an oddly shortened set and leaving you wondering where on earth the second guitarist was in the mix (sound guy on an off night?), this was still the sound of a wickedly good rock band. Second gig I've seen and there's much more to the band as they continue to stretch out and provide this mix of distorted and fuzzed lead guitar typhoon that is the instrumental pivot around which a smoking brew of steaming stoner-esque rock revolves. I say "stoner-esque" as it really is head and shoulders above the many cliche-ridden groups in that style, particularly a lead vocalist who really sings but has such strength in his voice. Tonight's was a solid set, not quite as eye-opening as last time, but I'd put that down to the sound/PA/ whatever. The numbers seem to stretch out and really go places, more in keeping with epic metal thn anything, yet the band steadfastly avoides the obvious and instead provides a streaming sea of anthemic metal force to make you sit up and take notice.
Listening to Yashin was like witnessing a nuclear explosion right there in your very own concert hall. That they raced and raged around that stage with equal speed, made it all quite visual too. Bizarre part was that, within this blitz of a band, lurked melody and structure, and somehow, even though it might not exactly be something you'd immediately think of as being "your sort of thing", you became absolutely caught up in it all, more rabbit-in-the- healights than anything, but strangely hypnotic and compulsive. A five-piece band to blow your brains out.
PAGE 6 + LUVA ANNA - LUVA ANNA "CD-EP" Launch, The Doghouse 20-10-07
I'd not seen Page 6 for ages and, although not being given a sound check (odd for a band of this stature and a venue of this quality) and only a half hour set, proceeded to show just what a class act they are without even trying. After a couple of indie bands, the catchy songs, grade-A funk, strength of playing and soaring lead vocals, made the Page 6 boys seem awesome by comparison. Moving quickly through the set to get as much in as possible, vocalist Ryan never once stopped moving while the bassist really let loose looking really mean and vicious, drummer drove it all full steam ahead and the guitar work just sailed though the songs to give them the bite, melody and texture that makes it all so wonderful. The, by now seriously sizeable, audience just lapped it up and danced or leapt about with abandon. Although very much a "Luva Anna crowd", they had them eating out of the palms of their hands.
Luva Anna played to a packed,"sardine-job" Doghouse and blew everyone away. Starting with the accapella sea shanty ditty, they proceeded to move through a set featuring all the faves from the insanely catchy "Wooden Shoe" to the extraordinartily emotive "Hold Still", ending with as manic an "Angry Fat Bouncer" as you'll see and hear. The audience loved it, as I think did the band, and it marked the fact that this band really are going to be tearing the roof off concerts and festivals everywhere near year if they get the breaks, as I suspect, will Page 6.
Although at opposite ends of the musical spectrum, two of the best, if not THE best, non-rock/indie styled bands that Dundee has right now and you get the feeling that there's so much more yet to come. For now, Dundee, enjoy them while they're still here!!
BOY ORCHESTRA + MODERN CULTURE + THE FRETS + LIMBER - Dexters 15-11-07
Modern Culture actually delivered a good set, the vocalist commanding the stage singing with that distinctive and totally unique vocal style, while the band lit up alongside, but the band didn't seem happy with it so I'm leaving that for now. Limber also gave a good set, not one of their best as I thought the lead vocals didn't seem quite as flowing as usual, just a tad more "raucous" while you couldn't hear the backing vocals at all, but as it turned out I learnt that the lead singer was doing it with a strong cold, so you can forgive them this. That they had a new drummer, did show in the performance with the musical element sounding more powerful than to date.
After their equipment ravaged appearance at the Doghouse the week before, The Frets more than made up for that with a solid set which really showed that this band has got a set of great songs well sung and well delivered. With an expansive sound from the guitar work and vocals that are sung with conviction and purpose. I can't go into detail as this is a band I need to report on, with notebook in hand, so maybe next time.
All of which left set openers, Boy Orchestra, to deliver what, again, was for me, the performance of the night. It's an absolute treat to listen to, and watch, those two guitarists as they wander from powerful riffing to chiming ringing leads together only you then veer off at different angles as one will provide this sea of restrained melody while the other is letting loose a series of twisted roaring chords that truly ignite. The songs are strong although not exactly memorable in a commercial indie sense, but that's not what this band are about. The rhythm section is everything you'd expect - tight, driving and cohesive, spot-on timing, power and dynamics as the backbone of the guitar duelling and interplay. I really am getting to love this band - more, please!!
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