Live Music Highlights – December 2010
When afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti died in 1997 he left a legacy of musical innovation and political dissent that is quite unique. His son Femi Kuti has since proved himself a firebrand very much in the same mould, carrying the torch for afrobeat whilst spreading the message of activism and empowerment. Soul, funk, jazz and pure rhythm are the basic ingredients but under Kuti's leadership they add up to something completely transcendent. Get down to HMV Picture House on 1 Dec and Glasgow Arches on 2 Dec if you want to hear something spectacular.
Perennial indie mainstays The Wedding Present continue to age rather well: Gedge still knows how to write 'em and his band are never less than solid. Touring their celebrated sophomore album, 1989's Bizarro, they may not have many tricks up their sleeves but for fans of lean, punchy guitar-pop the Weddoes always deliver. See them at The Liquid Room, Edinburgh on 30 Nov, Aberdeen's Tunnels on 1 Dec and Glasgow QMU on 2 Dec.
Victims of perhaps the most egregious and widespread critical misappraisal in recent memory, Detroit underdogs Electric Six have long been written off as a novelty band – but that shit stops here. With seven albums released on the downlow – longplayers filled with enough joyful hooks, mischievous wordplay and unexpected pathos to make you weep with shame for having ignored them – and possessing one of the last great frontmen in the form of the stupendous Dick Valentine, missing their gig at Glasgow ABC on 3 Dec would be tantamount to self-harm. We hope we've made ourselves clear.
Perhaps we're showing our age but it only feels like five minutes ago that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were being touted as the next big thing. That never happened, but to their credit the band have remained steadfast in their commitment to smoking moodily, wearing shades indoors and writing swarthy rock n' roll songs about being an intense loner. Shticky perhaps, but they always play loud, hard and from the heart – and that's all we can ask for. Glasgow O2 Academy 6 Dec.
Conor J O’Brien's folk-rock outfit Villagers have only been around for the blink of an eye but already they've established themselves as live favourites thanks to their intoxicating blend of poise, verve and raw intensity. O'Brien may have quite a flare for the dramatic but there's no doubt that the songwriting is there too – Glasgow Òran Mór on 6 Dec should be ace.
Johnny Flynn is a curious proposition: once quite the mover and shaker in theatrical circles, Flynn has now taken up the mantle of the world-worn folkie – with a smooth pop twist of course. Just another role for Flynn perhaps, but this boy can walk the walk – and to hell with your bogus notions of 'authenticity'. Spacious, restrained songwriting and elegant, keening vocal lines await those who make the trip to Edinburgh's Liquid Room on 7 Dec.
Rabble-rousing indie favourites Arcade Fire take to the stage of the Glasgow SECC on 12 Dec and we're sure they'll have no trouble filling the space, given the beauty and expansive charm of their rousing third album The Suburbs. Move now for tickets 'cause they won't be around long.
Thee Moths (aka lo-fi folktronica veteran Alex Botten) conjures bizarre improvised songs/soundscapes using miscellaneous electronics, voice and whatever else he can drag onto the stage – including audience members. He plays Glasgow's Rio Café on 12 Dec, Dundee's Art Bar on 13 Dec and Edinburgh's Bongo Club on 14 Dec. Should be a weird one.
Hold on to your hats: this month sees Idlewild celebrating the 10th anniversary of 100 Broken Windows (voted #1 Scottish album of the decade by you lot in these very pages) by playing the album in its entirety at four venues across the country. It goes without saying that these one-off gigs will be something very special indeed. The dates are: Edinburgh Liquid Room on 15 Dec, Aberdeen Lemon Tree on 29 Dec, Dundee Fat Sams on 30 Dec and Glasgow Òran Mór on 31 Dec.
With a slew of deluxe-reissues on the shelves now seems as good a time as ever to remember just how good Saint Etienne actually are. Plotting a stylistically precarious course that takes in classic pop, ambient house, electro and folk, their sound has aged astonishingly well. Glasgow 's O2 ABC on 16 Dec should be lush.
So Acoustic Ladyland are calling it a day – kind of. Having stated their intentions to change both their band name and musical direction in 2011, their gigs at Aberdeen Café Drummonds on 18 Dec and Edinburgh Electric Circus on 19 Dec will be the very last chance to witness their beautiful paroxysms in the flesh. We're sure whatever they decide to do next will be great but we wouldn't miss this for the world.
Local favourites My Latest Novel are set to play Glasgow King Tut's on 28 Dec and although the band have been flying just under the mainstream radar for a number of years now, their graceful, atmospheric sounds are always worth the price of admission. The band promise material from their cult debut Wolves, 2009's Deaths and Entrances and a debut airing for a few new tunes on the night.