REVIEW OF THE MONOCHROME SET/WAKE THE PRESIDENT - VOODOO ROOMS, EDINBURGH - 7 APRIL
Saturday saw me venture east for my first gig outside Glasgow this year, to a venue JC had visited and raved about a mere two weeks earlier.
Having arranged to meet JC in one of Edinburgh's venerated watering holes, he bounded into the boozer full of enthusiasm after a successful afternoon watching his fitba team, and looking forward to this evening's show. We soon headed round the corner to the Voodoo Rooms and took up position in the ballroom for the support act Wake The President.
A Glasgow band led by two brothers, who JC recalled he had seen live before at an album launch. Similar to a few bands we've seen this year, and no doubt a few we'll come across over the rest of 2012, Wake The President were very enjoyable and pleasant on the ear. However, I think we both felt that they didn't quite have enough about them to merit any further exploration of their records, or to seek them out live again. Though JC did add that they had improved as a live outfit and came across better than on his previous experience of them.
Between bands we retired to the bar to sample some of the high quality vodka on offer in the venue, and give each other our thoughts on the first act, before making our way back to the starlit ballroom for this evening's headliners.
I have to admit that I knew virtually nothing about The Monochrome Set prior to the gig, other than some titbits of info JC had passed on, including the fact that he was sure they were right up my musical street.
Well I'm glad to say he was spot on, as we were treated to a hugely impressive performance over the next hour and a half. For a band which were releasing records before I was born, the songs sounded fresh and with plenty of energy. JC noting the angular sound which had inspired more recent indie heroes such as Franz Ferdinand.
Often when you go to see a band who've one or two reasonably well known 'hits', there can be a bit of a lull outside those tunes. And I think what most impressed me tonight is that as someone who knew none of their work prior, they maintained a consistently high quality throughout the set, to the extent where even the new songs stood up well.
Leaving to appreciative applause from the audience at the end of their set, they returned for two encores, just to please those present even further. After which JC retired once again to the well stocked bar to soak in what we'd just seen and heard, and of course enjoy another couple of fine vodkas............cheers to the Monochrome Set my favourite new (old) band...........
Aldo, Wednesday 11 April 2012
PS from JC
mp3 : The Monochrome Set - The Monochrome Set
mp3 : The Monochrome Set - Goodbye Joe/Strange Boutique (Peel Session)
mp3 : The Monochrome Set - The Ruling Class
mp3 : The Monochrome Set - The Mating Game
All of which got aired among so many other classics at their first Edinburgh gig in 25 years. And the Peel Session was just how they performed Goodbye Joe and Strange Boutique. I've waited years to see this band....it was a regret that I never did when they were at their peak......and just like Magazine a couple of years back the wait was more than worth it.
If you're going to Indietracks this year, make sure you catch their performance.
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