Miyagi & Friends @ The Mercat Bar
A successful folk/pop 'love in'
| 10 Feb 2007
Tonight, this three-band gig has an impromptu 'at home' feel about it. With bodies tightly packed, dancing on tables, accordions, saxophones and plenty of acoustic guitars – the folksy ambience is set. Preceding the main event are performances from Tittles (of the Maydays - 2/5) a two-piece group, opening the proceedings and strumming out nicely worked songs, but unfortunately insisting on singing strained falsetto vocals.
Following them comes three-piece Chocyamo (4/5), who move the sound further in the folk direction and display some real talent. Beautifully crafted songs and light yet mesmerising vocal performances provide the perfect middle.
Miyagi (3/5) – a five-piece Edinburgh outfit – look suitably ragtag and suave at the same time. Their eclectic mix of instruments – djembe, mini drum kit, baritone sax, harmonica etc - and multiple vocal harmonies, pitches the sound somewhere between Devendra Banhart and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
The acoustic set-up is a departure from their usual electrified arrangement, but they seem to have it nailed. By the third song, which sees one band member whip out his clarinet and create some funky 'klezma' vibe, the audience are well hooked, with one giddy fan shouting, "Five of you make beautiful music." The remainder of the set sees much of the same, signalling perhaps the only negative. Despite the numerous instrumental and vocal performances - all five members sing, showing that they are indeed a talented bunch of lads - the set unfortunately fails to move much beyond what was established in the first few songs. Nevertheless, tonight at the Mercat proves a successful folk/pop 'love in'. [Joe Lewis]
Following them comes three-piece Chocyamo (4/5), who move the sound further in the folk direction and display some real talent. Beautifully crafted songs and light yet mesmerising vocal performances provide the perfect middle.
Miyagi (3/5) – a five-piece Edinburgh outfit – look suitably ragtag and suave at the same time. Their eclectic mix of instruments – djembe, mini drum kit, baritone sax, harmonica etc - and multiple vocal harmonies, pitches the sound somewhere between Devendra Banhart and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
The acoustic set-up is a departure from their usual electrified arrangement, but they seem to have it nailed. By the third song, which sees one band member whip out his clarinet and create some funky 'klezma' vibe, the audience are well hooked, with one giddy fan shouting, "Five of you make beautiful music." The remainder of the set sees much of the same, signalling perhaps the only negative. Despite the numerous instrumental and vocal performances - all five members sing, showing that they are indeed a talented bunch of lads - the set unfortunately fails to move much beyond what was established in the first few songs. Nevertheless, tonight at the Mercat proves a successful folk/pop 'love in'. [Joe Lewis]