Back to Hell
The Filthy Tongues sophomore album Back to Hell, the second in a trilogy started with their masterful debut, Jacob’s ladder, is another triumph. It continues to build on the tremendous reputation of Metcalfe, Fin and Kelly as an accomplished unit and backbone of several of my favourite bands though the years. Joined by Asim and Alex and the wonderful Susannah Clarke on violin Back to Hell got its official live launch tonight in Glasgow.
This is a gig I have been looking forward to for some time and it was like the planets aligned tonight to make it one of those memorable gig nights.
Rushing into the venue at the last minute thanks to Ed blinking Sheeran playing at Hampden and causing gridlock on the roads making a simple drive to St Lukes, well, less than simple. How does someone like him sell out 3 nights in the national stadium?
Jonzip
Anyway, that’s enough about him. There was only one bloke with an acoustic guitar I wanted to see tonight and fortunately redhead Eds fans only made me miss one of his songs. That bloke was Jonzip.
The Zips main-man entertained the early-comers to an accomplished acoustic set of Zips and Jonzip numbers, including, amongst others, Hear Hear, 1919 (Battle of George Square, new song(?) Making Movies, Biff, a humorously entertaining anti-Trump song with a serious point and The Road to Strummerville, his tribute to the great Joe Strummer. Great songs with great messages.
With his flawless set finishing with lead track from his A Hard Rain at Sunshine Corner CD, Left of Your Rights, Jon set things up nicely for the rest of the evening.
Without People, You’re Nothing
What else makes a perfect night out? People. To quote the previously mentioned Joe Strummer – “Without People, You’re Nothing”. Tonight was no exception. Between bands I caught up with some lovely, genuine people. Some well-kent faces, and some who I’d only ever conversed with via social media before. It was great to finally meet you – you all know who you are.
Run Into The Night
Pop quiz time! What have The Twistettes, Honeyblood, The Vulpynes and Run Into The Night got in common? Answer they are all 2-piece guitar and drum combos. But more important than that, they are all bloody marvellous. Run Into The Night were second on the bill tonight and were new to me. Another great thing about tonight’s gig. Discovering a new band that I love!
The 2-piece (Christina and Ellie) on guitar and drums made a glorious racket. Experimental bluesy punky rock ‘n’ roll about sums it up. I have added them to my “investigate further“list (starting with newly acquired Turn to Static 7”) and hope for a lot more to come from this band in the future. I’ll also them to my imaginary line-up of bands I’d like to see play at the Bang Bang Club from Twin Peaks, I think they’d fit in perfectly.
St Lukes
Tonight was another first for me. My first gig in St Lukes. A venue I have to report that my 15 year old daughter attended before I had managed to. Hangs head in shame. It may have been the first but certainly not the last.
It was another part if the jigsaw that clicked into place to make tonight’s gig one of those “if Carlsberg did gigs” ones.
The venue is ideally sized with exceptional acoustics helping create an ambient atmosphere. It must have had nigh-on perfect air conditioning too as it was stifling outside but comfortably chilled inside.
The Filthy Tongues
There was something fitting about the choice of venue and the bands main man. Metcalfe with his big black fedora, cowboy tie and waistcoat is an imposing figure. Think Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter – that’s what he reminds me of (with added beard). Mitchum’s character being a disgraced preacher come serial killer and St Lukes being a converted church now selling booze and playing host to debauched rock ‘n’ roll bands had a certain irony in my head. I could almost hear turning in graves.
The Filthy Tongues had the crowd wrapped around their little fingers hanging on every word. The new music is as intense as it is expansive and optimistic in places as it is dark in others. The murky tales of sometime seedy characters are expertly told in Metcalfe’s distinctive deep Bathgate drawl.
One topic discussed tonight was that The Filthy Tongues are the band that Nick Cave would have created had he been Bathgate born and bred. So while I’m adding Run Into the Night to Twin Peaks soundtracks, how about The Filthy Tongues for Peaky Blinders?
The illuminating narrative in the songs played tonight from both Jacob’s Ladder and Back to Hell were flawlessly accompanied by the powerful atmospheric sound track created by the tight band. The addition of Susannah’s exquisite fiddle playing giving extra layers of emotion to the fervour on display.
It is hard to pick highlights from this set. Every track on both new albums is a classic. But Jacob’s Ladder itself stood out as ever and was matched by Come on Home and the new albums title track.
A sensitive version of the beautiful Holy Brothers was dedicated to early Goodbye Mr MacKenzie member the late Chuck Parker.
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie
The band made a fitting choice of MacKenzie’s tracks to play too picking Goodwill City and Green Turn Red, alongside their well-known Iggy, Jaqcues Brel/Bowie & Shop Assistants covers. I’m Sick of You, (Port of) Amsterdam and Somewhere in China respectively.
Sixteen tracks of pure genius and it was over, the band took their applause and left the stage (alter?). But don’t worry, they will be back in the same venue in July. This time playing support to the legend that is Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls fame.
For now though, I’m happy. A consummate start to the weekend. And not one bar of bloody Galway Girl has hit my eardrums. Only 2 more nights to avoid…