The Viragoes, Hammond's Folly, White Ace, Suplex the Kid live at King Tuts, Glasgow
Spin up your thoughts, fool! Don’t let that lack of alcohol slow down the words. Regard it as a blessing not to have to suffer the indignity of having to drink Guinness out of a plastic tumbler. A plan comes to mind – write a letter to the Pope outlining the plastic tumbler situation in Glasgow. He’s German after all so he’ll appreciate the problem and issue an edict to correct the situation.
Onward Christian soldiers to the music. The first band went by the name of Suplex The Kid. That’s a name that probably means something – must look it up in Google – but that special something that good bands have was missing here replaced instead by near interminable post rock noodling with one song merging into another to truly soporific effect. Life’s too short…
Hammond’s Folly definitely had a point to make. Distinctly American in feel and approach, they nonetheless turned out to be local. Lynnie Carson impressed possessing, as she does, a natural unforced presence and a harmonious approach to her vocals. By the time the band got to “Nothing Is Right”, I had been transported from this no mean city to the Midwest and that’s a journey I was glad to make.
Every now and then you get a surprise when in reviewing mode. Five pretty boys – well four and one who clearly had a tougher paper round – known collectively as White Ace ripped dear old King Tuts up with their remarkably polished take on modern rock music. You could say that they played safe and trundled out every cliché in the book but you could also say that they played a blinder showing a deadly focus and understanding of the genre. Tighter than the proverbial duck’s back passage, this was a band worth hearing.
Rattling out some new songs tonight were The Viragoes. It’s good to see a band that doesn’t rest on its laurels and those new songs hit the mark and, while they suffered from a shaky start, it didn’t take long for this sparky Clydebank powerhouse to get the place bouncing. A righteous bit of fire breathing fiddle put the light under “Madame Nicotine” and those duelling – or should that be dualling - female vocals enticed throughout. Somehow mixing the raucous with commercial song writing skills, The Viragoes did not disappoint tonight.
Look left, look right and you still bump into people you’ve not seen for an age. This time it was Al from Some Boy (purveyors of the legendary lost album “The Ten Bob Recordings”) and the band - with line up changes naturally - is on course for another album next year. You have been told.
Reviewer: Handsome Bluesbunny
Review Date: 2 July 2010
Websites
The Viragoes
Hammond's Folly
White Ace
Suplex the Kid
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