The Grim Northern Social @ Liquid Room
They might not be re-inventing the wheel anytime soon, but the GNS has passion and sincerity in swathes
| 11 Apr 2007
The Glasgow GNS crew have pitched their tent in Auld Reekie for the night to promote their new single, Connected, and have brought some local talent along with them…
First up are Edinburgh boys, Ardent John, (4/5) who warm up the early arrivals with their intoxicating and, at times, beguiling brand of folk-rock. Coming on like a funkier Doves, debut single Legoland Town is swathed in the kind of wah-wah guitars that haven't been deployed to such successful effect for quite some time. The last two tracks of their truncated set typify the gloriously schizophrenic nature of the band: the tender, melodic balladry of Orange Nights precedes a brooding set-closer that morphs into a massive rat-a-tat rock juggernaut by the end. Watch this space.
It's hard not to feel a little sorry for singer-songwriter David Rollo, (3/5) sandwiched as he is between two widescreen rock acts, but his witty and at times bitingly satirical tunes are a fitting riposte to the slight hostility shown towards him by some sections of the crowd - he certainly doesn't deserve the "Paul Simon!" cries from one quarter. Nevertheless, some of the songs will need more of a rock 'n' roll backing for Rollo to give full vent to his fury.
And so to bill-toppers Grim Northern Social (3/5). Well, Ewan MacFarlane is undoubtedly trying to look the part, even if his bending over causes an unwanted sighting of, as the saying goes, 'more crack than Harlem'. Fair play though, he's got balls. We know this because they're quite visible through his skin-tight white trousers.
Sartorial reservations aside, however, MacFarlane has a powerful howl, and he leads the GNS line well - guiding us through their workmanlike rock anthems with a Jagger-esque pout and strut, and lifting new single Connected out of the ordinary. They might not be re-inventing the wheel anytime soon, but the GNS has passion and sincerity in swathes; elements sadly lacking in a lot of their more stylised peers at the moment. The final encore of New-Age Hope Song is a genuine, lighter's aloft, 'come together' moment that makes sure everyone leaves the venue on an undeniable high. [Barry Jackson]
First up are Edinburgh boys, Ardent John, (4/5) who warm up the early arrivals with their intoxicating and, at times, beguiling brand of folk-rock. Coming on like a funkier Doves, debut single Legoland Town is swathed in the kind of wah-wah guitars that haven't been deployed to such successful effect for quite some time. The last two tracks of their truncated set typify the gloriously schizophrenic nature of the band: the tender, melodic balladry of Orange Nights precedes a brooding set-closer that morphs into a massive rat-a-tat rock juggernaut by the end. Watch this space.
It's hard not to feel a little sorry for singer-songwriter David Rollo, (3/5) sandwiched as he is between two widescreen rock acts, but his witty and at times bitingly satirical tunes are a fitting riposte to the slight hostility shown towards him by some sections of the crowd - he certainly doesn't deserve the "Paul Simon!" cries from one quarter. Nevertheless, some of the songs will need more of a rock 'n' roll backing for Rollo to give full vent to his fury.
And so to bill-toppers Grim Northern Social (3/5). Well, Ewan MacFarlane is undoubtedly trying to look the part, even if his bending over causes an unwanted sighting of, as the saying goes, 'more crack than Harlem'. Fair play though, he's got balls. We know this because they're quite visible through his skin-tight white trousers.
Sartorial reservations aside, however, MacFarlane has a powerful howl, and he leads the GNS line well - guiding us through their workmanlike rock anthems with a Jagger-esque pout and strut, and lifting new single Connected out of the ordinary. They might not be re-inventing the wheel anytime soon, but the GNS has passion and sincerity in swathes; elements sadly lacking in a lot of their more stylised peers at the moment. The final encore of New-Age Hope Song is a genuine, lighter's aloft, 'come together' moment that makes sure everyone leaves the venue on an undeniable high. [Barry Jackson]
www.myspace.com/thegrimnorthernsocial
www.myspace.com/ardentjohnmusic
www.myspace.com/daivierollo
www.myspace.com/ardentjohnmusic
www.myspace.com/daivierollo