I've raved about this band before. There is something about them that speaks to the Scotsman in me. Louis Abbott's vocals are as Scottish as whiskey blending perfectly with the indie pop voice of Sarah Hayes. Everything about the band melds, with multi- percussion, clarinet and flute, heavy drum beats, pounding bass and tuneful guitar licks. Their lyrics are poetic and heartfelt. They have three albums to their name, with a fourth due sometime next year, yet they've never had a hit, which is probably why the gig was not sold out.
It wasn't a perfect night: I forgot my phone so no piccies of the gig;
prior to the show, the server in Saporito messed up our order (no biggie and sorted quickly with apologies); then, after a stressful week, we elected to sit in the balcony, only for a G4S goon to strut in suited all in black, except for his ID lanyard, company striped tie and silver sideburns with receding slicked-backed grey hair, announcing the balcony was closed and we were all to get out, pointing down to the ground floor standing area like some referee sending us off. Grudgingly we complied, only to find others who objected were allowed to remain. There were about thirty of us decanted, with four objectors 'sitting' their ground. What really pissed me off was watching the balcony slowly refill with people obviously unaware the balcony was closed. As the gig wasn't a sellout, I can understand why they wanted to make the floor look more full but if you're going to make a rule, stick to it. It scunnered me.
The support act, Andrew Wasylyk, from Dundee, played solo on guitar and keyboards and was fine. A bit one tone but he has a good voice. A bit like a skinny, bearded seventies singer-songwriter playing from the heart.
The sound in the venue was great right up to the encore when the sound guys forgot to switch half the speakers back on until midway through the final track. It was disconcerting only hearing the music from above, like a gig in another venue bleeding through.
As we left, it looked like the Abbey and its grounds had been graffitied at a jaunty angle with the 'Paisley 2021' logo but it was just a projection. This time.
