Having attended my last gig of 2022 in the same venue celebrating the music of the Clash at the annual Strummer night, two weeks later I was back in the same venue for one of King Tuts series of showcase gigs offering the opportunity to catch some of Scotland’s up and coming talent before they hit the big time.
First up on the Tuts stage it was young hard rock quartet, Lost Tickets, whipping up a storm with the partisan early comers especially when it came to their closing song, their single Mr Misdemeanour.
If Sister Madds aren’t headlining one of the shows at next year’s New Years Revolution I’d be both surprised and disappointed. The energetic performance from the five piece was led by the tireless dynamo that is Maddie Cassidy, with MacKenzie Burns, channelling the spirit of punk with repro Vivienne Westwood “Tits” t-shirt & Fraser McCallum displaying an unwavering sauveness on guitar and backing vocals, while be-kilted bass player and Ciaran Whyte on drums bringing the noise. Their set provided an early highlight in the 2024 gig calendar, bookended by two of my favourite singles of 2023, kicking off with the conveniently relevant Room 601 (the date – the 6th of January) and closing their set with the raucous Hot and Bothered, while in between bringing the pace down every so slightly with Summer Blues, and hitting out at the societal double standards for men and women on forthcoming single Here We Go Again, already making an early assault on the Ginger Quiff Festive 50 for 2024…
Like Lost Tickets, Caseveti were a new name for me, and one which I will seek out again if I get the opportunity. I gave up my place stage front for a breather, only to be drawn back in by their addictive post rock sounds which at times channelled the likes of Fontaines DC but with more of a shoegaze vibe. One to watch.
I’m pretty sure my first gig of 2023 was a King Tuts New Years Revolution gig featuring none other than Tina Sandwich, this time with a well-deserved, and sold out, headline spot. Tilly and Co. have tirelessly gigged during the last few years building up both a dedicated following and a fierce live reputation. A reputation which was surpassed with this triumphant and ferociously spirited return, owning the Tuts stage and generally igniting an ardent response from the pumped Tuts throng. The addition of latest single, the poignant slow burn epic that is Joni, Tina’s finest lyric to date, and wow, what an emotive arrangement, to the band’s set list is the icing on the cake in a set including the likes of (another of 2023’s singles of the year) Sick Girl and Fast Cars (and Movie Stars). I was slack jawed in admiration the first time I saw them perform Joni in St. Lukes at last years Tenement Trail. This time around, my slack jawed admiration was replaced by a grin as wide as the Clyde. This is certainly a band on the up and up, getting better every time I have the pleasure of witnessing their performances.
What a way to start the new gig year. Here’s to many more.