DundeeDUNDEE LIVE - SUMMER SHORTS - Concert Highlights Summer 2005
Paul Dianno and the Iron Maiden Tribute-Doghouse:
Saz were supporting - they went on earlier than I'd planned so I got there as they were finishing the set!! Timing was never a strong point. Anyway, they must have impressed Dianno #coz he namechecked and thanked them a couple of times during his set, so that can't be bad. The main event of the evening opened witha tribute to the Bruce Dickinson years which was done very well, altho' I've never been a great Maiden fan, while Dianno came on - still the great frontman - and delivered a hot set for sure. Place was pretty full, so good all round.
FMW - Post Office Bar, Broughty Ferry:
I wasn't feeling that hot having spent the previous evening dancing to most of the Santana Tribute sets with the ever so danceable Sheila - I thought it was me bones, but turned out I was actually coming down with a cold - least the dancing years aren't over yet - anyway, I digress - I was there to catch a band I sed I'd drop in on, named Spiral TV, about whom I knew absolutely nothing. Bizarre venue too - altho they've redone the place and it was pretty well spot on. Anyway, I got there and who should come on but the thrash metal Kings of Dundee, FMW, whose set had blown me away a few weeks before. In the confines of the Post Office Bar, you could actually hear them clearer and it was a loud and shit-hot set, the band on fire and really delivering, including a couple of face-melting covers of songs by Sepultura and, I think, Pantera. The guitars riffed and solod with awesome effect and I actually enjoyed it more second time round. Then they stopped and I thought that was it - so I sodded off. Turns out Spiral TV were on next and I missed them - sorry guys; next time for sure. (altho apparently the two bands, musically, don't share common ground, so I won't expect a nuclear assault!)
Rachel Anderson and friends - Droothy Neebors:
Rachel had brought along a fellow female singer-songwriter-guitarist, who was a bit more introspective in terms of songs, and while they were good, her set lacked the spark of Rachel's, although when they played together, it was a good stuff. The friend had also brought along a band from Edinburgh, two blokes - two females. I forget the name, but that's probably for the best - didn't like them at all. Could put more holes than a sieve in that performance but ya can't win 'em all.
Trans Avant Collective Evening- Droothys:
Dundee's most enthusiastic avant-garde electronic musician Neil McIntee, had organised this on the night of the Scottish Live 8 thing, by accident, so there wasn't exactly a big crowd. The evening was dominated by a duo from Germany called Incite who played three short sets. The first wa using a computer to twist, turn and generally contort the sounds made by tapping on a bottle cooler, through a computer to produce this organic music that was quite hypnotic altho' never something I'd say I liked. The female's set was computer music set to visuals and that worked well, even if carrying on the bizarre. Finally, they played as a duo - interesting!!! Original? yeh; enjoyable? hmmmm - in bits;the Trans Avant rolls on.
Saz+Phantom Riffage+The Revivals - The Moorings, Aberdeen:
Allowing for the fact that Saz had a rare "off night" due to being a member down, the balance was achieved by a spectacularly sizzling set from the Riffage trio. First time I'd seen them - and won't be the last! The delivered a storm force set of metal and rock that had you immediately hooked. Like all good rock trios, this lot deserve to be huge. The Revivals came across more like a slightly punky version of Jason & The Scorchers, mixing hard rock with country-rock-esque bluesy swagger. Worth catching when u get a chance.
Isis - a few places but particularly The Burns, Arbroath:
OK OK - so I like them. What I also like is the way this band can win over an audience. They played three sets and practicaly had the place eating out of their hands by the start of set two. It's such a crying shame that more people can't get to hear such good original songs. Anyway, the locals were swaying and dancing by two thirds through, so can't be bad. The band played a tight and varied set, with Martin's first band composition going down well, unveiling a couple of new songs and delivering two versions of their stand-out killer live track "Blue Horizon" that is just THE most addictive song, not only in their set, but anywhere around right now, and as a live crowd-pleaser, surely can't fail to have people up and boogieing.
The View + The Law- Doghouse, Dundee 11-07-05:
Second time I've seen The Law and still can't make my mind up. It's a bit like watching an early Oasis without the catchiness - they've got a great sound and a great frontman with a strong voice but I dunno - something I'm not getting. Need to see them again, I think.
The View were something else altogether more concert-friendly. A bunch of young guys (well, compared to me, who isn;t!!!)playing original material that was exceedingly catchy, with one guy on presumably rhythm guitar who did the "stand in the shadows, looking sullen, Noel Gallagher" bit to perfection, But the dual guitar quintet delivered a rousing set that had the audience eating out of the palm of their hands from the get-go. Not quite sure how to classify it - sort of indie rock-pop with an almost heavy good-time Americana tinge, but all through, it was fun - the sort of set in which you really had to let go and just dance - band played spot on and for a first time, remarkably addictive. I'd catch this lot again, given half a chance.
Jerry Lablonski - The Doghouse 6-08-05
One man, his voice, an acoustic guitar, a set of effects pedals and enough energy to light up half of Dundee. This guy plugged in and let rip - it was like seeing an acoustic George Thorogood mixed with the quality of John Martyn - hell, he even did an impassioned cover of Martyn's "One World". He stomped and rocked, played the blues, played the guitar at lightspeed, sang a selection of originals that ranged from semi-balladic to on-fire stormers, exuded a good time and was rewarded with a thunderous applause from the teatime crowd who'd turned up - apparently he has a band too - now THAT's gotta be worth seeing. Get him back, Doghouse - superb!!
Re-Experienced - A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix - The Doghouse 6-08-05
Does what it says on the tin - a fine trio in the capable hands of local guitar wizard and Dubhead member, Lefty, who, just on the evidence of this alone, has guitar skills that have to be admired. However, playing a few hours after Lablonski's steaming acoustic set, you couldn't help feeling that, even in comparison to that guy and his acoustic, the first of the Hendrix sets sounded a bit plodding, played well enough, but the passion wasn't there. However, they came on for the second set and it was like a different band. They started with a rip-roaring version of "Fire" and never looked back, even setting fire to the guitar at the end!! All three guys played a blinder and a trio definitely worth catching again.
Long Story Short - Westport Bar, Dundee 20--8-05
Played second on the bill with three other more thrashy bands and were just head and shoulders above the rest. Witha guy on some kind of synth-meets-audio generator thingy, two lead guitarists, bass and drums, plus a stage presence that was full of life and energy, they played a red hot set that once again showed its promise simply by virtue of the quality of the songs, and with two of the guys sharing lead vocals, gave a quality performance that certainly drew me down the front to check them out. Guitars duelling and blazing away, they had a full and powerful sound. Worth seeing again, methinks. For now check out my review of their new EP for more info on what this band is all about.
Avast! - Westport Bar, Dundee 24-08-05
I'd been meetin the guy from Wildhouse so missed a lot of the other bands - but when this lot played, well, to say I was perplexed would be an understatement. They sauntered on stage, the lead guy, cloth cap on head, looking for all the world like a cross between Fred Dibnah and Wayne Hemmingway. Guitar in hand, he proceeded to lead the trio through an instrumental - then another instrumental - then a long tune-up - then another instrumental - or did that one have the odd snatch of vocal? Anyway, throughout a mostly instrumental set, they played what amounted to this weird hybrid of complex and languid shoegazing flow and all-out thrash attack rifle-fire bursts - just bizarre! On CD, I bet this would sound superb - but here, live in concert, it seemed to lead to a lot of head scratching as the audience stood there, riveted, but wondering what on earth it was all about. Different, if nothing else.
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