November Lights @ King Tut's, Glasgow, 13 Jul

First up on the first of King Tut's Summer Nights, we're treated to a set from hometown four-piece Freelance Liars; a tight four-piece who have the rock sound of bands from the bygone, golden era of Britpop with a bit of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed chucked in for good measure. Paul McGranaghan’s husky tones over a power-duo of drummer Kay McLaren and bassist Stuart Mcintosh make for a band that ooze cool.

November Lights enter onto a smoky, dark stage with a floaty synth tone setting a sombre and almost eerie ambience in the 300-capacity venue; the beginnings have the crowd hushed in anticipation. As the band appear and begin performing their repertoire of polished indie-pop rock songs, their new track Lonely is a standout for the undersized crowd, which is mostly made up of teenage girls with camera phones held aloft.

Lead singer James Hopkins has a likeable persona and tries his hand at audience participation, at one point turning the mic crowd-wards in a failed attempt at a sing-along. This is quickly resolved, with energy levels (and the arms of the crowd) raised by Don't Look Up, which features an almost samba-style beat with lead guitarist Scott Mitchell joining in on drums.

While November Lights work hard and are technically proficient, unfortunately the band’s gentrified pop/rock sound perhaps explains the substantially thinned crowd by the end of their set.