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In the short time that I last saw them they have grown from a four to a five piece. A new guitarist called Dougie (Dougina McFlick), who looks about 14, is here to sneer at the audience and throw his guitar around when it's breaks - which seems to be often. Before they go on-stage Ian, the tall spiky haired bassist/pianist/vocalist, is making himself busy by collecting all the school type benches stored at the edge of the venue and making them into a sort of cat-walk, extending from the front of the stage. This will be used later too create even more room for the mayhem to come. They launch into 'The Terse Crimp', an all out total shoutfest, with the trademark abuse of the instruments - and the audience looks both shocked and perplexed. This is a far cry from how they sound on record - all moody with pretty piano pieces. Halfway through this song, this is exactly how they sound - nice piano composition and guitars barely heard. The spectators are intrigued. During the set Ian fights and rolls around the floor with Stuart, the other guitarist, and Callum, who is also multi talented on piano/vocals/bass/guitar. A mention must go to Callum for being possibly the scariest man I've ever seen on any stage. He throws heckles back into the crowd like they're coming from a kinder-garden, and introduces each song with a seemingly random quote. Half way through the set, Ian looks to the audience and shouts "CRAWFORD!" at the top of his voice. "CRAWFORD!" he shouts again, blinking and straining to see through the lights like a scared rabbit. Crawford steps forward and he is presented with a little pot-plant, for putting them up in London. They exchange a hug and the chaos continues. As nearly the last note is played Ian then jumps into the drums and accosts Alistair, resplendent in his blonde wig, scattering the kit all over the stage, and then they both roll off-stage. I guess an encore is out of the question then? My favourite is still 'The Strang Makes Everything OK', with its constant high-pitched plucking of the guitar... no forget that - they're all my favourites! Look out for the new mini album 'You Got Me Fraiche' out on Livid Meerkat in February. I've had a sneaky listen and it's genius. skippy [photos] |