Entering Glasgow’s Room 2 for the second time in as many weeks, I had an overwhelming feeling of deja-vu, the same suave soothing sounds and dulcet tones of the duskily debonair Louise McVey and the Cracks in the Concrete emanating from the stage as the last time I visited, their music creating a hypnotic air of calming re-assurance. The venue wasn’t quite as pitch black as last time though, meaning I was able to see your friendly neighbourhood promoter this time, rather than walk straight into him. His Lordship obviously draw from the same pool of music fans as Kid Congo, as I bumped (not literally this time) into many friendly faces around the venue, as well as noticing several of the same good folks of discerning music tastes from Glasgow and its environs in the crowd, and also having an impromptu school re-union – and believe me when I say that wasn’t yesterday (I’ll get you that pint next time Douglas…)
His Lordship seem to like playing Glasgow, this being the third time I’ve witnessed His Lordship’s live extravaganza in a couple of years (you could say four if you count The Pretenders…) so you would be forgiven for thinking there would be an element of being prepared for what James, Kristoffer and Dave were about to serve up. Of course their songs are now familiar, however, despite the previous experiences, nothing can really prepare you for just how much of a mind fuck watching this band is, their ability to blow you away every time with their stupefying rapid fire live performance is astonishing. James warned of a potentially less energetic performance from him this evening due to the pain of passing a kidney stone. Less energetic? It would appear James doesn’t really know what that means, someone appeared to have injected him with high octane rocket fuel, if that’s what he can do while passing a kidney stone, everyone else may as well just give up now…
There can’t be many bands currently playing on the live circuit that can match the sheer intensity of a gig by His Lordship, hitting the ground running with All Cranked Up like a lid exploding from a pressure cooker, there was no let up as the band hit 5th gear and didn’t remove their foot from the accelerator pedal for the rest of the night. Even on so called slower numbers there was a ferocity and potency, the magnitude of which cannot be overstated. Take the off the scale performance of one of my personal favourites The Repenter, tense and furious in its delivery, and then there is James incandescent take on Sleepwalk, which builds to such a vivacious crescendo, I’m sure I’m not the only one who was standing there incredulous as to the notes and sounds James can manage to wrangle from his guitar. Gobsmackingly good.
The band wear their influences clearly on their sleeves, taking their lead from their musical heroes in such a way that I’m sure even they would stand jaws agape in the audience if they were to witness this band. Throughout the set James, Dave and Kris paid tribute to the likes of Link Wray with Run Chicken Run, maintained The Cramps connection to my last visit to the venue with their cover of Robert Gordon’s The Way I Walk, and an astonishing encore finishing off covering Gene Vincent preceded by their tribute to The Killer and an incendiary Wild One. That was after they’d regaled us with some of their own instant classics, such as Buzzkill (it’s finished Dave…), I Live in the City and I Am in Amsterdam, alongside tracks, like Pixelated Polly, from their debut album, out in January. Special mention of course goes to the insanity of My Brother is an Only Child, with a “flying” Kristoffer taking the lead and probably creating several WTF moments for anyone witnessing the band for the first time.
This current tour pre-empts their first full length album release in January, James indicated they would be back in the city soon. I for one will be there with bells on. If you haven’t experienced a gig by His Lordship yet, you’d better be there. There is nothing quite like it. On a final note, much kudos to Under the Wires Colin for continuing to bring such a swathe of quality bands to these shores, I’m pretty sure that many of the highlights of my gig going calendar this year have been thanks to him.
All photo’s courtesy of Christopher Hogge Photography
