GIG REVIEW: Brothers. EP launch at Nice N Sleazy 29.06.2013

Another Saturday night with plenty of options in Glasgow, including The Wee Chill's 10th birthday at SWG3, lead to difficult decisions on how to spend the evening. Easily tempted by gigs just on my doorstep and having been graciously invited, I took myself to Sleazy's to take in the Brothers. EP launch. 

First up on the bill was Jake Beveridge, a singer-songwriter based in Glasgow. Jake plays heartfelt acoustic tracks, showcasing his strong vocals and lyrical talent. He is in the same ilk as Michael Cassidy, and fans of Cassidy would definitely enjoy Beveridge's music. Full of raw talent, I strongly believe Beveridge could be nipping at Cassidy's heels soon as he's a hidden gem of the Scottish acoustic scene. I certainly hope he wouldn't be hidden too much longer, he's got the right stuff to take him to big places. I've got my eye on him and you should too.

Taking to the stage next were Ayrshire instrumental three-piece, Two Towns Apart. I have never been one for heavier bands, or instrumental bands (unless you're Explosions in the Sky) but I was surprised by how quickly I took to their combination of both. This band are loud and proud, and they're powerful. They present walls of sound, intricately built together with talent and passion as the cement holding the bricks of powerful sounds together. Looping may have become an overused technique particularly on the Scottish scene recently but Two Towns Apart are one of the few who effectively use it to build their songs. In a break between songs we are given an explanation of the bands' name, which relates to the fact guitarist Lewis Glass lives in Irvine whilst Curtis McConnell on bass and Michael Wylde on drums stay in Ayr, with Troon and Prestwick in-between, it makes the band separated by two towns. The band have their own EP due soon and end on an impressive, and impressively loud, note. 

Finally it was time for our headliners to take to the stage. Brothers., previously known as From Now On, are a two-piece rock outfit from Kilmarnock who combine steely riffs with strong lyrical talent to make a big impact. Whilst Fraser Donaldson (guitar and vocals) and Cairns Elliot (drums and vocals) are clearly not brothers themselves, there's a brotherly-like connection in their performance and it gives them an edge that makes their live show particularly brilliant. They even manage to pull off a song called The World is Flat, which they have on played once before. The crowd made up of family, friends, and punters alike lap up the show making their inaugural Glasgow gig under the new guise a very warm affair, and a good new beginning. The crowd even manage to get the band back on for a well deserved encore, and it ends up being a very special one. On request the boys play 'Garden State' from their new EP 'September', the same song they opened the show with, but this time they do it with the help of Jake Beveridge, Two Towns Apart, Fraser's dad and a friend or two. It ends the night on a memorable note, and shows the appreciation for Brothers. is very strong and can only be due to increase as their exposure slowly grows. This band have amples of talent and a lot to show the world so there's a lot of their story yet to be written.  

It's always a joy to leave your flat and be genuinely surprised by live music, and that is what happened on this Saturday evening in Glasgow.

GIG REVIEW: Cherri Fosphate EP Launch at Broadcast, Glasgow 11.05.2013

The cosy confines of Broadcast was home to yet another EP launch this weekend as Cherri Fosphate celebrated the release of 'Burning Youth'. And what a celebration it was.

The night was opened by This Silent Forest, who were a last minute fill-in for VsVs due to their demise. TSF's power indie could easily have filled Broadcast three times over, if not more. The band's performance is huge, with infectious guitar riffs and lyrical genius. In fact, the room would have been forgiven for believing they watching were a headliner. I certainly thought I was. With the release of their debut album due this Autumn, it is sure to be a big year for these guys and if Saturday's performance is anything to go by then they are going to make their mark in a huge way. 

Already on a uphill battle following that performance, The Monty Hall Problem took the stage next. A much younger band than TSF, it's clear there's still a lot to learn for them. I caught myself a few times when watching their set saying to myself that I'd heard a lot of their riffs before and my immediate reaction was to think of the scene in Treme where Annie T performs her first song to Steve Earle's Harley and he tells her how it is, "You changed the progressions...at least you're stealing big." And that, my friends, is why the world is full of players. The band only have 5 songs to play, and this bodes well because one would hope they can find their own sound early on, rather than building on riffs out of other people's playbooks that they have already. 

With the room now fully packed out, it was time for our headliners, Cherri Fosphate to take the stage. Their live reputation proceeds them and they do not disappoint. Their songs take on a whole new life in the live setting, big riffs become even bigger and more infectious than on record. As they are celebrating the release of their 'Burning Youth' EP, all 4 songs on the EP make an outing and 'Wool' is a definite live highlight. We are also treated to an as-yet unnamed new song that bodes incredibly well for their future beyond this EP, it has the elements of all their previous efforts but shows definite advancement too and the crowd is thoroughly impressed. Their set comes to an end all too soon but the crowd is not done with them yet, chanting and cheering to bring them back for a well-deserved encore. The band tell us they don't think they are big enough encores yet but the reaction on Saturday night proved otherwise, and even though they spent more time in rehearsal talking about whether they'd get an encore rather than rehearsing 'Heart Without Strings' that they'd play for us, it still goes down brilliantly and ends the night on a high. This band are definitely going places.

There are lots of options in Glasgow on a Saturday night but I'm glad that this was mine. A brilliant celebration for an equally brilliant EP.