The Twilight Sad @ Bannermans, 19 Aug
On their first visit, the Twilight Sad just might have left Bannermans with the greatest night it has ever seen
Bannermans is small enough to be packed to the rafters in anticipation of the first ever Edinburgh gig by the Twilight Sad. Before then we're treated to some thrilling support from Popup, and a hilarious Arab Strap-esque performance from Dumb Instrument, so it's already been well worth the ticket price.
When the main attraction does arrive, their epic power knocks crumbs off the brick walls and threatens to shatter glasses in the bar. They only have a handful of songs, but god knows what their names are: "with a knife in your chest" and then the breathtaking guitar maelstrom that stretches the skin back over our faces; "they're standin' outside and they're lookin' in", and the paranoid, passionate rant that follows; "they're puttin' the boot in, tonight", and the gale-force storm comes again. It's hot as hell in there, and so much sweat and squall in such a small space threatens to overload the senses.
By the end, the crowd is knackered, almost-deaf, and absolutely ecstatic. On their first visit, the Twilight Sad just might have left Bannermans with the greatest night it has ever seen. [John Wylie]