McCuills, Glasgow
Oct 28th, 2024
On an unusually warm October eve we rocked up to Glasgow’s well-known McChuills bar/music venue. We had not been there for many years, but found a welcome that was outstanding. Going into the venue the bar was packed and in a state of excitement which felt like a good sign for the musical adventures to come. The tavern-shaped room started to fill as first act called ‘The Folk Drama’ came on. It was a two-piece group who shared melodically strident vocals to a very bluesy and busily folkish acoustic guitar, and they are a pair who are writing modern songs to dramatic backdrops.
Next on, after a good half-hour set of about 6 songs, came a band called ‘Barranquismo’ (a Spanish word loosely meaning overcoming). It was a rock formation with two electric guitars, bass and drum with main vocal.
Crashing onto this scene their songs perplexed in a style that sounded good and got the room going rhythmically. They had a splashing symbol on the drum, making of it something like fast rock coupled with scores of guitar solos. Their creativity came from enhanced and meaningful story telling with a song like ‘God’s among us’ painting a picture with the joy of music, holding up an ironic mirror.
Coming on then the flow of participation was revelled up with a feeling awaiting the night’s headliner ‘Everyone Say’s Hi’. As the chaotic bar started to settle on came this newly formed band that impressively have all come from big bands such as Keiser Chiefs, Kooks and more, playing on this genre that took its roots from the magical Britpop of the 90’s.
Rock music was definitely on the agenda but so was celebrating these roots from bands like Arctic Monkeys. And from the enriching place of having worked for example with Titan Dua Lipa the ex Keiser Chief drummer Nick Hodgson has with good invitation turned to the writing and vocal.
Also coming up on the night was Bowie’s influence as they share the ‘Everyone Says Hi’ title which he released as an album in 2002 and there were some swimming references to REM’s masterful nuance’s. The size of the space has some interesting aspect to it, not least the small but dynamite colours from stage lighting. The music suited well this benevolent scene, they loomed from the stage as a fresh act. Having so far only released a handful of Singles not least their most recent ‘Brain Frieze’ that also displays their sense of humour.
The sense of musical communing came from its passionate place in the City’s fine and varied venues. And as with ‘Everyone Says Hi’ a character perplexing a room through music and vocal concentration in honesty, existentialism and the powers of life. There was a sense of something big from musicians who already made it far in the music world, but who have come out with this fresh take. Perhaps freeing themselves from the fetters of commercialism, to again write from a freer hand, putting great song writing to the fore.
Daniel Donnelly
themumble.uk 