The Futureheads - Live 3rd Dec @ ABC2 Glasgow
With Johnny Foreigner and Dorian December 6, 2008, 02:37 PM Views: 346
Comments: 0
 It's very unusual to be heading out to a gig with little intention or interest in seeing the main band, add to that the lack of desire to check out the support band then your bound to be asking 'why the hell are you going to this gig?' and that would be a fair comment. However, I am here this evening to show support for an up and coming local band because let's face it bands from Sunderland and Birmingham respectively aren't exactly on the Glasgow music scene radar - Dorian though are just starting to make that journey.
So tonight Dorian get possibly their biggest support slot to date (though strangely in a smaller venue) and they intend to make the most of it despite lead vocalist Rory Simpson's deteriorating voice; a symptom of the Scottish weather, struggling this evening. Opening with the chiming guitar scuzz of 'Taken Me Back' featuring the duelling vocals of Simpson and a rather young looking Matt MacKenzie (he's old really) before darting into 'Can't Turn Around' which carries on in a similar vein although throws in some neat little piano refrains to break-up the chaos. The announcement of the following song being made available free as a download brings unbridled joy to one member of tonight's audience and so 'Pizze' has clearly already down it's job.
Slowing the pace with semi-acoustic number 'There's A Place' allows the crowd a little reflective moment before the quite wonderfully titled 'The Man Who Ate His Face' strolls in like some kind of U2 behemoth being savagely attacked by The Talking Heads (yes people that is something you want to hear) though curiously sounding like early Mansun; a huge reference point for the band, tonight's mini-set culminates in personal favourite 'Toy Guitar' I guess it's because I'm a child at heart and I just love that toy guitar sound effect, in a way it's a uniquely crafted pop song with a quality hook. Dorian provide a wonderful warm-up for the unintelligible that will follow; but more of that in a minute, I guess that could be because I'm local but, "what the hell?", we all have to support the local scene you all know it makes sense.
And so to the unintelligible, I have nothing against Johnny Foreigner. In fact I am really quite fond of their debut album 'Waited Up Till It Was Light' with it's obscure mix of Pixies meets Pop. However, when it comes to seeing them live tonight I really struggle to understand what lead vocalist Alexei Berrow is saying at any given time he's like a slightly more controlled version of Craig Nicholls of The Vines fame though that doesn't say much! Luckily he's ably balanced out by the wails of bassist Kelly Southern.
We get a nice little run through of material from the aforementioned debut album such as opener 'Lea Room' with it's pop take on Bloc Party, the bizarrely titled 'Salt Peppa And Spinderella' that is about as mellow as Johnny Foreigner get this evening but still manages to flash with fury. They even throw in a new song that I believe is to go by the name of 'Untitled'. Nice and easy to remember but it's typically more of the same sound. Johnny Foreigner are quite a riotous sounding band but I can only help but think that they sound like so many others out there. It's a shame really but, one saving grace for me is that they do play the frenzied 'Yes! You Talk Too Fast' allowing Southern to get in some fair old yelps, nice.
Finally after the inevitable too long a wait The Futureheads arrive in full on "wit mode" launching straight into staple song 'Decent Days And Nights' bringing the full-on Futureheads assault comprising of all members singing and making various noises. It works oddly well. Tonight sees The Futureheads in a particularly jovial mode and we get endless ribbing of a man in the front row who seems determined to be part of the show as well as jokes based around Durham and corned-beef (do not ask me to explain, I cannot) this makes for quite an entertaining set as they plough through debut album tracks 'Robot' and 'A To B' before the dance-a-thon that is 'The Beginning Of The Twist'. I simply defy anybody not to have some kind of bodily reaction to this song.
Much like Johnny Foreigner we get a new song that also goes by the name 'Untitled' it seems to be a popular choice, followed by 'First Day' and previous single 'Radio Heart'. 'Skip To The End' sees Jaff employing the under used Tambourine solo, Jaff also seems determined to get some kind of percussive sound out of his water bottle for much of the set (never heard it though sorry). Finally the song that the majority of the crowd responds to. Yes! It's 'Hounds Of Love' which becomes a different beast when played in a small room (as opposed to my previous encounter with it in front of 50,000 people).
Of course we get a little encore as is required of pretty much all bands (I would imagine) and The Futureheads roll out 'Le Garage' and 'Meantime' before exiting to the requirement from the audience that is applause. I must rush for the train and a date with supper that will consist of chips and cheese because that is what is required of me.
Websites:
We are Dorian and this is what we do...
Johnny Foreigner
The Futureheads — Official Website
Last edited by altsounds : December 6, 2008 at 11:25 PM.
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| | | | Overall Rating | | 8 | | Vocals / Lyrics | | 6 | | Musicianship | | 7 | | Production | | 7 | | Creativity | | 7 | | Lastability | | 6 | | Reviewers Tilt | | 8 |
70% | |
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