After a brief break from gigging in their home city, touring south of the border and recording their hotly anticipated debut album, Water Machine returned to gigging at the Great Western at the weekend, so this gig supporting Snooper was their second Glasgow date in three days.
After a stressful day, a gig is always the perfect antidote. That is unless you come up against transport issues and your stress is multiplied… Unfit, out of shape and bedraggled, I walked into the venue just as the band were assembling to start their set. A joyful sight, especially as I had almost ditched any attempt at making it there on time.
Just seeing this Fab Four of Hando, Flore, Jimmy and Nicky (forget that fairly forgettable cash cow of a single that appeared this week) on stage was enough to restore the equilibrium, the fact that were all on top form and, despite Jimmy’s protestations otherwise having had to wrangle with amp/monitor issues, the band played a blinder was a bonus. A little bit punk, a little bit post punk, plenty of fuzzed up jangly guitars, twanging bass lines and with added violin, synth, plenty of cowbell and a whole heap of personality, a Water Machine gig is a joy to behold.
Hando is a dynamic front person, never standing still, grinning, laughing and dancing their way through the set, Flore injecting her usual dry humour between songs, while Jimmy is a prime example of studied concentration as he serves up sweet riff after sweet riff as Nicky keeps everyone in check from the darkness of the back of the Hug and Pint stage.
Well loved Water Machine standards were joined in the set by newcomers the riotous Dog Park and Clouds, a blissed out soaring anthem. Opening with an energetic Art Fair and including their ode to being late Bussy (if I could just rename that Trainy for tonight…) the song that started my obsession with this band, Hot Real Estate and quite possibly single of the year Water Machine II, this set was an affirmation of my love of all things Water Machine. The album isn’t finished yet, but it’s already one of my contenders for 2024’s album of the year.
I may have missed a great night, but after the earlier exertions I was done in and bailed after Water Machine. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. I can never get enough Water (Machine)