What better way to make your weekend last that little bit longer than to go and watch a bit of live music on a Sunday evening? Coincidentally, last Sunday marked the quarter-century almost to the very day since the release of Teenage Fanclub’s magnificent breakthrough album Bandwagonesque.
Having
previously interviewed Raymond McGinley for Plus One, I know he was
evidently thrilled to still be in a band that had existed through
four different decades, continuing to create such loyalty amongst its
fan base that they were still selling out shows following a 6-year
hiatus from touring. Not surprisingly, the Stylus is as packed as
I’ve ever seen it although with a largely male audience that does
present some challenges regarding securing a decent view!
Despite
this, everyone seems in ebullient mood as the Fannies’ core trio of
Ray McGinley, Norman Blake and Gerard Love take to the stage with
drummer Francis MacDonald and Dave McGowan on keys, getting things
underway with Blake’s ‘Start Again’ then Love’s ‘Sometimes
I Don’t Believe in Anything’ followed by a McGinley’s
composition from the band’s new album ‘Hold On,’ each taking
lead vocal in turn. The band’s strength and depth in terms of song
writing is probably one of the reasons they’ve endured, ensuring
there’s not over-reliance from one single band member for new
material, combined with the seasoned songwriter expertise of each
individual helping the collaborative effort of putting the finishing
touches to every new track, guaranteeing the quality remains high.
Tonight’s
Stylus atmosphere is not really one of rock and roll excess either,
more like the audience collectively slipping into a comfortable pair
of old but much loved trainers enjoying their familiar feel; and in
light of the turbulent year we’ve all had, that’s probably just
what the doctor ordered.
More
classics fly by including ‘Verisimilitude’, ‘I Don’t Want
Control of You’ and ’Don’t Look Back’ rubbing shoulders with
great new material from ‘Here’ including ‘The Darkest Part of
the Night’ ‘I’m in Love’ not forgetting the sublime ‘I Have
Nothing More To Say’ proving beyond doubt the Bellshill Boys are
ageing like a fine single malt.
Barring
the omission of a couple of personal favourites (‘Mellow Doubt’
and ‘Going Paces’ if anyone’s asking) the cracking set list is
packed full of their finest beautifully crafted no-frills indie-pop
nuggets, culminating for the first time with ‘The Concept’, the
Fannies returning for another brace before ending as they always do
with their debut single ‘Everything Flows’.