My gig game has been weak recently. I’ve missed several fixtures that should have been easy home wins. For some reason I’ve gone down the route of weak football analogies here, I should point out that as an armchair Aberdeen fan, I may be giddy through their early season success, as I started to write this my team was sitting in the recent uncharted territory of the top of the league.
Personally, I’ve not been match fit recently so my first gig back for a while was an opportunity to test my fitness levels. Not my actual fitness levels, testing them would most definitely not have a positive outcome, but what I mean is my ability to seamlessly slip back into the pattern of play as if nothing had happened.
Any pre-match jitters were kicked into touch (wrong sport I know) when I arrived just in time for kick off and the appearance of comfort girl for their first Tuts gig, on the day that a ticket scrum (I know wrong shaped ball) occurred for a band who were once in a similar place on a Tuts bill. Those brothers may have reconciled their differences but in announcing these gigs have created sibling discord in my household, one daughter securing a brief, the other not… anyway I digress
Comfort girl
Comfort girl… the first band in a four band bill, (like next week’s entertainment, with bis, Lungleg, Art Brut and the yummy fur on the same bill), sorry… the ref is blowing for time wasting… if they build on the strong performance displayed in this promising Tuts appearance, they’ll be climbing the table in no time and laying waste to the opposition. The opening salvo of songs demonstrated some furious Pixies sub-surf guitar riffing and thunderous David Lovering pounding drums. Their bass player was no slouch either kicking off proceedings in style. The band moved through their set showing off some sinewy full throttle punk energy and heavy rock drum rolls, while also showing a mellower shoegaze-esque side with both the intensity of Swervedriver and the subtle beauty of Slowdive. Their set closed with brilliant recent single Cool! Sexy! Drunk! single and the chaotic grunge of Sludge.
Lemon Drink
Transfer deadline rumours were true of Lemon Drink, the band both debuting a new signing in the form of guitarist Paul, and announcing that this gig would be drummer Harry’s last appearance. Opening with Lights Out and moving seamlessly into the exquisite fuzzy bass heavy Sip Sip, the quintet turned in a top quality performance fitting of a finale to Harry’s involvement in the band. The band showcased a few new songs including the stunning forthcoming single Patsy Kensit, ensuring they squeezed every last drop from their departing drummer. The band gelled as a solid unit, Sophie was clearly having a ball, and ended up feeding guitarist Kirstie and bassist Lauren with cake mid-song and sharing the livid with the front rows during set closer the magnificent A Song For You to celebrate her birthday.
The Froobz
The party was most definitely in full swing by now, but the trio that make up The Froobz were determined to raise the energy levels even further, their half hour creating an immense buzz around the packed Tuts, the crowd feeding off the vibrancy emanating from the stage. To me the spirited effervescence and zest for life demonstrated by the band are reminiscent of the vivacity of The Donnas. The set seemed to fly by, the band never taking their eye off the ball and treating us to a plethora of highlights including the Devo/Wire like Man Child and excellent recent single Big Boy.
And that was all before the headliners.
Sister Madds
Earlier this year I predicted, nay demanded that Sister Madds had a headline slot at Tuts New Years Resolution after a stellar performance at a gig headlined by the mighty Tina Sandwich in January.
2024 has seen the band climb through the leagues at pace, casting aside the opposition with ease to achieve top spot way ahead of the winter break, and I wondered, despite a late bass player substitution, could this gig consolidate that top spot? Do bears shit in the woods? Did Ticketbastard fleece Oasis fans with ridiculously priced tickets?
The first goal was scored straight from the kick off, the band bounding onto the stage in a flurry of flashing lights to an eruption of noise from the crowd, their name being repeated distortedly through the sound system atop Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun before kicking into a huge and powerfully ebullient version of Edinburgh Song.
From then on the exuberant joie de vivre being emitted from the stage was palpable and impossible not to get drawn in by. This was a band in the form of their lives and keen to prove it. There was nary a let off from wave after wave of glorious aural attacks, even during the lower key dig at an ex in the form of C.A.R.E. Maddie was in vociferous mode as she did a fair impression of a Northern Kate Nash.
This was a highlight packed show, a significantly audacious win, with all their strikes hitting the target, and some really hitting the sweet spot, including the riotous Split Ends during which we were treated to an animated guest appearance from a hyper Martha of the excellent Martha May and the Mondays after which I felt shattered, so it’s no wonder they both collapsed on the stage at the end.
It was a shame such a powerfully inspiring show had to end, but if it did have to end what better way that with a searing version of Hot and Bothered, so scorching I’m sure the paint was blistering off the walls in Tuts. A Champions League winning performance after which the full time whistle blew to a rapturous reception from the Tuts crowd.
It wasn’t quite full time though, extra time was being played at an after show party in Sleazes, but I left the young crew to that and slipped off to get the last train home, happy in the knowledge that the future of the Glasgow music scene is in safe hands with the likes of bands like Sister Madds flying the flag.
