14 October 2005 (gig)
20 October 2005
Brendan has promised much and delivered little in terms of breakthrough success, this though cannot be said for the amazing collection of songs he has mustered. There is a lot to be said for practicing your trade just outside the main spotlight.
Along with his skilled band of merry men he reclaimed the stage after a revolutionary set from Finnish songsters Ok Go whose climax saw them down tools and perform a hilarious dance routine to their new single. Support bands are not meant to be this good, are they?
Unfazed Brendan leapt into a set mostly taken from his most recent album ‘Alternative To Love' such as the classic ‘Spit It Out', the melancholic ‘Cold hands Warm Heart', ‘Feel Like Myself' and the title track itself. Early Who, Teenage Fanclub and Crowded House could be paragoned as bright guitars and fizzy drums were brought to the boil. Tracks were also taken from the prior masterpiece ‘Lapalco'. Brendan is of the classic singer / songwriter mould entwining quirky anecdotes, melodic guitars and tuneful vocals to deliver in full. Speaking to Music News after the show Brendan added ‘It was great out there gigs always go well in London'.
I couldn't agree more.