12 February 2008 (gig)
15 February 2008
Sons and Daughters played yet another feet stomping, hand clapping, wave your arms in the air, jump up and down until your legs hurt gig, at the University of London Union (ULU) on Tuesday night.
A mixed crowd turned out at the Russell Square venue in London’s west end to listen to the band that has just released its 2nd album in no less than 4 years. The young, the old and the slightly peculiar all came together to celebrate the return of the Scottish quartet.
The set was a well rounded performance of new tracks clued together with a few old songs including my personal favourite 'Rama Lama’.
'Chains’, 'House in my head’, introduced as 'the rowdy one' by the bands guitarist Scott Paterson, were all performed with stunning accuracy as well as single 'Darling’, much to the crowds delight.
The set was performed well but I couldn’t help but get the impression that they were simply going through the motions, as if they didn’t really want to be there. To their credit they were proffessional and curtios from start to finish but the set lacked energy, energy that I know they are capable of and have witnessed at their previous gigs.
ULU is a great venue for this type of guitar band. It’s small and has two bars, both within a very comfortable walking distance. Once you get past the very loud, very controlling doorman who never stops telling you to 'move to one side please' and ushers you around like a sheep it is a great venue.
Upon shufferling into the concert room and immediatley towards the bar a carpet of students, all spread out across the floor enjoying their drinks, was visable.
In the background the first support band was playing. This would turn out to be 'Fangs’. As the bands guitarist/bass player would later tell me in the bands dressing room backstage this is not to be pronounced 'THE FANGS’ but simple the one word 'Fangs’. The reason for this is not yet apparent.
'Fangs’ are front by a small, rather attractive blonde girl who, despite her size, filled the roll of lead singer with grace and ease. To try to pigeon hole them, for the sake of description, they are an 80’s punk band remensant of Siouxsie and the Banchees, compalye with eye make up and spiky hair.
'Fangs’ gave an energetic performance one that was successful in dragging me from the bar at the back of the room to the stage area.
Charasmatic and tight the Glaswegian trio played a quick set before vanishing under a blanket of distortion and feed back off stage, down some spiral stairs and into their dark, nuclear bunker style dressing room. Before you call health and safety I have been told that the other dressing rooms are much nicer.
The other support band was the rather controversially named 'Black Kids’. The came, they played, they left and all with the minimum of fuss.
Sons and Daughters were worth the £13 entrance fee and 'Fangs’ made the gig worth rememembering, a very worth while night.
Sons and Daughters continue their World tour at the ABC in Glasgow tonight.
