LIVE music photography

So in the same week of seeing Glasvegas, Glasgow’s hottest band, I also saw Hue and Cry, pin up soul boys of the mid-eighties performing a showcase of their latest album “Open Soul” at Gibson Guitar’s studio in Central London. I first saw Hue & Cry in 1987 and at the time their Glaswegian contemporaries included Texas, Wet Wet Wet, Deacon Blue, The Wake, Jesus & Mary Chain, Del Amitri and Lloyd Cole & the Commotions.  It’s often overlooked however Glasgow was a hotbed of talent in the mid eighties and produced some excellent bands who were capable of going Platinum in the first week of an album release. The Kane brothers of Hue and Cry were always considered as one of the better bands to emerge from the Glasgow music scene and musically their were poles apart from their contemporaries.

In the early years the band enjoyed considerable success with the first two albums, “Seduced & abandoned” and “Remote” which generated over 5 hit singles including “Labour of Love, Looking for Linda and Ordinary Angel” all of which enjoyed considerable chart success.

The albums released towards the end of the 90’s had less commercial success however their latest CD “Open Soul” sees them back on form. Their showcase performace at Gibson’s studios was well attended and despite the lack of hair Pat Kane has still a fine soul voice which would put Michael Buble to shame. I hope that this album enjoys the success that it deserves. If you are interested in find out more visit their site at www.hueandcry.co.uk

Written by John Rahim

The rise of this Glasgow quintet has been nothings short of meteoric. I saw for the first time earlier in the year at Koko and at the time the time the band were amidst a bidding frenzy amongst most of the major labels. Fueled by Alan McGee’s comments that they were they were the best band ever to come out of Scotland many of the major’s talent scouts and the journos were all jostling to claim a piece of the action. Eventually they signed to the Sony imprint Columbia which has had a bit of a renaissance recently with bands such as MGMT, The Ting Tings and Black Kids all of whom have done great things for the label in 2008. Columbia were evidently not wrong with in their decision to sign them as their self titled debut album entered the charts last week at number two beaten  by Metallica who arguably who have one of the strongest fan base of any contemporary rock act.

So back to Glasvegas are they any good or is it just hype? Well the fact that the second week of sales was sufficient to keep them in the top 10 indicates that they are selling more than just to the dire hard fans. Musically I personally find them pretty uninspiring and whilst “Geraldine” and “Daddy’s Gone” are great singles the rest of the album leaves me cold. Live they pretty much stick their musical roots, Jesus and Mary Chain and Velvet Underground are the fairly obvious comparisons. In fact that they stick so closely to the JMC formula that their drummer even stands up and only plays a snare and tom tom drum. I thought this was historical when I saw it 15 years ago however the downside is a monotonous rhythm section which at best is unvaried and at worst highly derivative.  I am sure that there will be many people who disagree with me however I can’t see how this band will be able to develop into a long term act. If you have not bought their album however are tempted by what you hear would suggest checking out any of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who in my opinion are far superior in every way.

Written by John Rahim

Considering the top 10 hits that GCH have had over the past year I was surprised to see them in such as small and intimate venue however, their show was absolutely packed with hoardes of screaming fans who evidently had been there hours to get the best positions at the front of the stage. Front man Travis McCoy put on an excellent show and whipped the crowd up into a frenzy delighting the first four rows of teenage girls.

Live the band are quite similar to NERD combining commercial rap weaved into familiar funk and rock tracks with of course the ubiquitous 80’s MOR samples which gel together what otherwise would be fairly dirivitive songs. GCH who are signed to Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz’s Decaydance Label have become a hotbed of talent unearthing some of the more interesting rock and rap acts to emmerge from the mid-West. Their new album “The Quilt” which is their forth features artists as diverse as Busta Rhymes, Estelle and 80’s pop rocker Daryl Hall. The band are currently on a 30 date tour which takes them across the UK, Europe and the US.

Written by John Rahim

This was he first time that I had seen the Young Knives perform live in quite a while and despite being a free gig the venue was only two thirds full. Their recent album “Superabundance” which was released earlier in the year certainly won critical acclaim however failed to generate the same success of their label mates, Foals. Overall a pretty mediocre performance from the Dartnall brothers who are more Mitchell & Webb than the Mighty Boosh.

Written by John Rahim

This must be the 5th of 6th time that I have seen LC this year. Dev Hynes is a true musical innovator and it would be fair to say that there are few bands around with the charm, wit of songwriting abilities of DH. That said tonight’s performance was far from impressive and it appeared that they were just going through the motions. Admittedly it is one of their last gigs for a while as the band are due to start working on some follow up material however I did leave slightly disappointed. Anyhow I look forward to hearing the new material and seeing a revitalized LC in 2009.

Written by John Rahim