The Refugee Week Scotland Opening Concert, organised by The Scottish Refugee Council and The Red Cross, consisted of Glasgow-based pop folksters Admiral Fallow and fellow Scottish Album of the Year nominees Karine Polwart and former Arab Strap man Malcolm Middleton.
 |
| Malcolm Middleton |
Malcolm Middleton got the show off to a pensive, solo start playing acoustic guitar and was followed by Karine Polwart, who had brought along her brother Steven on guitar and Inge Thompson on accordion.
 |
| Karine Polwart |
 |
| Admiral Fallow |
Then at about 22:00, Louis Abbott (who resembles a mix between Guy Garvey of Elbow & a young David Blunkett!) and the rest of Admiral Fallow came on stage and played a tight twelve song set, including a one song encore.
Formed in 2007, Admiral Fallow have been gaining a steady following since releasing their first album Boots Met My Face in 2010 and following this up in 2012 with Tree Bursts in Snow, nominated for Best Album of the Year. They also received a 2012 Creative Scotland Music Award and had their american profile boosted when one of their tunes was used in an advert on US telly during the Super Bowl. This was my second time seeing them live, having caught them in the Barrowlands at the end of last year, and I really enjoyed their enthusiastic, energetic performance.
 |
| Admiral Fallow |
They are a six piece at heart, consisting of Louis Abbott on lead vocals and guitar; Kevin Brolly on clarinet, keyboards, vocals and percussion; Philip Hague on drums, vocals and percussion; Sarah Hayes on flute, piano, vocals and accordion; Joseph Rattray on bass and vocals & Stuart Goodall on lead guitar. Louis Abbott has previously described the bands sound as "orchestral indie pop" and states Elbow, Springsteen and Tom Waits as influences. I would add Belle & Sebastian to that list as much of their instrumental passages bare a passing resemblance to this fellow Scottish band.
 |
| Sarah Hayes |
With the the faint strangled strains of 'noise' (like a radio being tuned) and the crisp, clear voice of Sarah Hayes singing "we came here to ask, if you'd stop selling them" the band launched into Tree Bursts from their current album. The song builds slowly and occasionally slides back into a lovely duet between Hayes and Abbott, all underscored by a great thumping drum and bass and then peters out on a great tinkling piano solo.
 |
| Louis Abbott |
This is a bunch of talented musicians and they were having a good night. For me, the band's sound is highlighted by Kevin Brolly who alternated between keyboards, clarinet and great tub thumbing, pounding additional drums whilst standing, a la Miles Davies, with his back to the audience! Another feature of this band are the lyrics, which are hinted at in the song titles: The Paper Trench and Beetle in the Box being good examples!
"And we suffer in silent moth balled fury / Trees that have long since shed their rings /As if to rub out the ball point memory of a thousand sins"
There is a great deal going on here and it all makes for a fascinating aural experience. My favourite song varies depending on my mood but I am always drawn back to Isn't This World Enough?? with the lyrics:
 |
| Stuart Goodall |
 |
| Joseph Rattray |
"So love this vessel while you're aboard / There will be no deposit back from a cosmic landlord / You don't need to hang your hat on belief in bumper stickers / There will be no love lost just pull on that ripcord / Isn't this world enough?"
 |
| Sarah Hayes |
 |
| Tom Gibbs |
The fact that it is a great sing-a-long number with an infectious rolling hand clap back beat and trembling organ notes makes this a great song. It has already become a favourite with the band's following and on the night the audience joined in on the chorus with gusto. There was also a guest appearance by Tom Gibbs, a young English-born, Glasgow-resident pianist who helped out on keyboards allowing Sarah Hayes to give the accordion a work out!
 |
| Kevin Brolly |
So, if you like good "orchestral indie pop" and haven't yet heard of Admiral Fallow, then I would highly recommend that you check them out and, as the set list below highlights, they have some cracking songs set to some fascinating tunes. One final, and sadly somewhat negative point, just as in the Barrowlands, I was saddened to note that during the quieter passages (and given the style of music there are a number of them) many in the audience seemed perfectly happy to chat and spoil the atmosphere. Ho hum, nought as queer as folk, as they say!
 |
| Philip Hague |
Gig started at 22:05
Tree Bursts
Beetle In The Box
The Paper Trench
These Barren Years
Guest of the Government
Isn't This World Enough??
Burn
Four Bulbs
Brother
Old Balloons
The Way You Were Raised
Encore
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears
Gig ended at 23:10
No comments:
Post a Comment