Reviews: Gigs

Jun 15 2008

MARK MORRISS *****

BARFLY, GLASGOW, JUNE 11

Showcasing his debut album Memory Muscle, the Bluetones frontman's set was a lacklustre affair thanks to a half-empty venue and predictable songs.

Lemon & Lime, How Maggie Got Her Bounce Back and recent single I'm Sick showed promise but with no real hooks to latch on to, the crowd's attention wandered. Most songs were like background music rather than singalong anthems.

A cover of the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young track Old Man offered some relief but this was thanks to the swirling organ rather than Morriss's less than convincing vocal.

At least pre-encore number My Autumn's Done Come ended things on a positive note, the dark feel adding a cutting edge. Andy Kerr

COLOURSFEST *****

BRAEHEAD ARENA, GLASGOW, JUNE 7

Around 10, 000 fans flocked to Scotland's top dance festival to see 50 DJs across six stages.

An excellent set by Coloursfest resident DJ Giovanni Ferri on the Outdoor stage kicked things off before a sizzling set from Dave Pearce and energetic trance courtesy of Judge Jules.

Unusually, the atmosphere in the Hed Kandi arena was dull and the music mediocre. The normally stylish stage failed to draw a crowd and star attraction Jon Mancini lacked enthusiasm.

Headliner Paul Van Dyk played from midnight till 2am but only included one well-known song, For An Angel. The fans didn't seem to mind though, with the crowd going wild for his unique blend of hard dance and trance. Sarah Finlay

LIZA MINNELLI *****

CLYDE AUDITORIUM, GLASGOW, JUNE 6

The glamorous 62-year-old oozed star quality during her energetic two-hour set. It was a musical act from a bygone era, especially the second half featuring four male dancers as The Williams Brothers.

Minnelli spoke in a little girl's voice and laughed at herself with references to discarded husbands and age. She flitted about the stage like an effervescent imp - but from this tiny frame came a powerhouse voice.

She paid homage to Scots actor Alan Cumming, who was in the audience, before singing Mammy. My Own Best Friend, Maybe This Time and Life Is A Cabaret were all highlights, but it was New York, New York which blew the crowd away, with Minnelli morphing into her late mother Judy Garland.

An unaccompanied and emotional I'll Be Seeing You was a fitting farewell. Avril Cadden

NEIL DIAMOND *****

HAMPDEN PARK, GLASGOW, JUNE 5

The US legend wasn't kidding when he sung "When I needed sunshine I got rain" during hit song I'm A Believer.

The first big summer concert of 2008 was marred by thunder and lightning - but Diamond still managed to shine thanks to a catalogue of gems including Sweet Caroline, Cherry Cherry and a show-stopping I Am...I Said.

Vocally, he has never sounded better, showcasing songs from No.1 album Home Before Dark. The odds were stacked against him but Diamond used all his musical skills to win over a rain-lashed audience. This was a true master at work. Billy Sloan

JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN *****

CLASSIC GRAND, GLASGOW, JUNE 10

Joan Wasser has been a member of Rufus Wainwright and Antony Hegarty's bands and was Jeff Buckley's girlfriend when he died.

Being close to some of the most talented singer-songwriters of the last two decades has definitely rubbed off on her.

Performing solo at her piano or accompanied by a drummer and bassist, Wasser delivered a set of gentle, elegant songs songs such as To Be Lonely, Real Life and the tender To Survive.

But she also managed PJ Harvey-style rock, bringing out her guitar for Hard White Walls and Feed The Light. She confessed it was a bid to fulfil her fantasies of playing like Jimi Hendrix, the "coolest person ever". John Kelly

TOKYO POLICE CLUB *****

KING TUT'S, GLASGOW, JUNE 10

The Toronto four-piece are immaculately trendy but nothing new. When one lagered-up bloke shouts something about The Cribs' Ryan Jarman, it's a fairly spot-on comparison.

Led by singer and bassist Dave Monks, the young, handsome band play a more casual version of Strokes-style rock - shuffling, urgent but middle-of-the-road guitar tracks such as Your English Is Good and Tessellate.

Ultimately, they are only quite good but look great and can probably expect success with their debut album Elephant Shell. Dave Pollock

EL PERRO DEL MAR & LYKKE LI *****

KING TUT'S, GLASGOW, JUNE 8

Singer-songwriter Sarah Assbring, AKA El Perro Del Mar, began the evening with the whispering vocals and gentle guitar work that grace her latest album, From the Valley to the Stars.

She was joined by two of fellow Swede Lykke Li's band for a rendition of Glory To The World.

Assbring's haunting vocals hung delicately over the electric bass and synthesiser.

Li gave a polished performance of the electro pop from new album Youth Novels. Her upbeat vocals on Dance Dance Dance had fans swaying, as did an encore of The Stones classic You Can't Always Get What You Want. Leo Forde

LAURA MARLING *****

ORAN MOR, GLASGOW, JUNE 9

The 18-year-old singer-songwriter started by playing solo on guitar for six melancholy songs from her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim.

Her guitar playing was rough but the maturity and humour of her lyrics made up for it.

A tight four-piece band then joined her, bringing a folky feel with fiddle, accordion and mandolin. Marling seemed shy and slipped up a few times but with so much talent and exposure she could dominate the pop scene. Leo Forde

THE POEMS *****

ORAN MOR, GLASGOW, JUNE 6

The four-piece delivered infectious pop from their albumYoung America, using a laptop to provide synthesised strings and horns. Can You Come For Me stood out thanks to its sweet melody and tight vocal harmonies, while I Am A Believer is straightforward pop-rock.

The set was effortless but samey, although a powerful Something In The Air ended it on a high.Leo Forde