Archive | Reviews RSS feed for this section

Edinburgh School For The Deaf, Chris Devotion & The Expectations, Blank Canvas

The Limbo review of this event slipped through the net as chief Limbo scribe/reviewer Rob was away.  Nonetheless, it was a great gig.  ESFTD wowed again, Blank Canvas showed that they’re fast becoming an Edinburgh force to be reckoned with and Chris Devotion and his band comfortably provided a very finely-tuned, Ramones-style filling in the […]

Comments Off on Edinburgh School For The Deaf, Chris Devotion & The Expectations, Blank Canvas

Her Royal Highness, Muscles of Joy, The Tide Inside

The Tide Inside The Ballroom is busy tonight. There is a keen sense of anticipation as the crowd enjoy the debut gig of The Tide Inside. They are aptly named – we hear plaintive wails like sirens calling sailors to be dashed on the rocks. Meanwhile, minimal arrangements of guitar, bass and drums ebb and […]

Comments Off on Her Royal Highness, Muscles of Joy, The Tide Inside

Jonnie Common, Mitchell Museum, Gav Prentice

Gav Prentice There are few voices as emotive as Gav Prentice. He invests everything in the delivery. It is raw and powerful. He hammers an acoustic guitar to underpin the vocal assault. He growls “My home town is burning down…” with enough ferocity to fear he’s not lying. He also wears his accent proudly when […]

Comments Off on Jonnie Common, Mitchell Museum, Gav Prentice

The Machine Room, Thank You So Nice, Reverieme

Reverieme Gentle, catchy pop, replete with hooks and harmonies. Sometimes bleak lyrics such as “There’ll be nothing left to hope for” are hidden inside jaunty melodies. It fits into the great Scottish indie mould of Belle and Sebastien, Aberfeldy or Camera Obscura. Paring down from a five to four piece tonight, they shuffle bass player […]

Comments Off on The Machine Room, Thank You So Nice, Reverieme

Chris Helme, Chris Bradley, Mike Nisbet

Mike Nisbet It’s common to use the term ‘troubadour’ to describe a singer-songwriter, but in Mike Nisbet’s case, it is a most apt title. His songs sound like they are plucked from a bygone era of campfires, the old West and heartbreak. They are replete with weariness – “I’m not long for this world”, he […]

Comments Off on Chris Helme, Chris Bradley, Mike Nisbet

Bleech, Ste McCabe, The Gold Lions

The Gold Lions To get obvious comparisons out of the way, there is growing precedent for brutal blues bands, especially ones involving only a drummer and guitarist – from The White Stripes, to The Black Keys, to local boys Bronto Skylift. In any case there’s no hiding behind a wall of sound. As luck would […]

Comments Off on Bleech, Ste McCabe, The Gold Lions

White Heath, Mervin Gersh, Run/Lucky/Free, Maydays

Maydays They open with a thumping Rolling Stones tom drum and Beach Boys harmonies, matched with what sounded like Eagles lyrics – “lines on the mirrors, lines on their faces…” They filter California sunshine through the drizzle of Britain, epitomised by ‘Eternal Optimist’, warning that despite a cheery outlook, “You might find yourself on the […]

Dead Boy Robotics, Homework, The Lotus Project

The Lotus Project A piercing vocal floats above dangerous sounding strums. These haunting, stalking almost-ballads are effortlessly evocative, calling to mind the desolate badlands of the Midwest. American Gothic, if you will. A sharp dress code of sombre shirts completes the effect, and demonstrates the band making a real effort. None more so than in […]

Delta Mainline, Molly Wagger, Will Hanson

Will Hanson Dynamics are such a key element to an enthralling performance, it’s always upsetting when a band forget them. Thankfully, Will Hanson and his trio are not afraid to use light and shade. At heart these are lovingly crafted singer-songwriter songs, with intriguing lyrics to match. “Angels with bite marks are waiting for me…” […]

Comments Off on Delta Mainline, Molly Wagger, Will Hanson

Conquering Animal Sound, Pumajaw, Pet

Pet Murky, haunting and desolate. Pet build atmospheric songs. On some they weave little more than glitches, pop, swishes, clicks and twitches. Meanwhile, the vocals are used mostly as an instrument, being fed through a reverb/echo box until they bear no relation to the human voice. It is at these times that Pet are at […]