PESKI KINGS + THE GOODNIGHTS - Doghouse, Dundee 01-02-08
There was a band on first - apologies to them, but I didn't catch the name and I've completely forgotten what was on the poster!! A touring band from down south, they played a strong and impassioned brew of heady indie-rock, with the set heavily weighted towards the songs rather than any instrumental outpourings, as the band played tracks that weren't really my sort of thing, but which you really had to admire, with the vocalist and guitarist really showing he meant every word, the sheer passion of singing and the lyrical strength, really coming into play. I watchedd most of the set quite riveted to it, as much for the sheer balanced intensity of it all as the manner in which it was all played and sung. I'm not sure I'd go see them again, but they have got something for those that like the style, for sure.
I don't want to go over the same ground I went over in my review of the Peski KIngs at Mondo a short while ago (See here) but it was so good to see and hear the band play over a much louder and quality PA system that the Doghosue has, and they didn't disappoint. Playing a fairly similar set in terms of songs, they held the attention of the large audience throughout, while the anticipated commercial irresistibility of new song "Hey Yeah" had people who'd never even heard the band before, rushing into the dancefloor. But the band played well, the dynamics of the songs were much in evidence, although still dominated by the sheer danceability of most of it, the band showing they are now capable of writing much more mature sounding songs that are as much in the spirit of the band as they are as album and single tracks. Becki's vocal sounded wholly more confident although you still get the feeling there's a bigger voice in there than she's so far revealed. But overall, it was a solid performance of 100% catchy or anthemic (or both) songs that won the band over a host of new fans on the night.
To a sizeable Doghouse crowd - and one of the largest audiences that I've seen present to hear the band, so far - The Goodnights amply illustrated why, in such a wide-ranging hotbed of talent that is the Dundee music Scene, they are totally unique, but in a way that is seriously surprising, in that it not only works so well, but that it's gathering legions of new fans to it by the month. For The Goodnights are proud performers of some of the most mid-paced songs that any Dundee band has to offer. That they make this work throughout the set, and have a large audience absolutely captivated by what they are playing, is a testament to the writing, arranging, playing and singing talents that the whole band possesses. For a quintet who feature a guy (Ross Kirk) on electric piano and organ as a prominent lead, as well as extra musical coloration, they have a depth of sound that is truly exquisite. That they can open the set with a song such as "save Me" and have the audience in the palms of their hands, is the sign of the writing skill. You start with this expansive anthem of a song as ringing guitars from lead guitarist John Mill and rhythm guitarist Paul Wyllie, and flowing organ sound above militaristic rhythms courtesy of Dave McDermott on bass and Jamie Costorphine on drums, the song rolling along as guitarist and lead vocalist Paul Wyllie's voice just soars on a song that has this smouldering passion to its anthemic outpourings, the audience swaying along, only for the song to decelerate then, in a swift uprising of rhythm, erupt into a hail of guitars and electric piano as the vocal rises up to deliver the memorable chorus, before it all drops down to a sea of lilting piano, choppy slow rhythms and back into the mesmerising verses once more. All of this lapped up by an audience wrapped up in the song and its delivery. What really become surprising as the set progresses is that the band don't really rock out - "Jane" coming as close as it gets - but provide a solid, flowing and extraordinarily well played set of songs that's like listening to an album only in a live setting, for this is the stuff of which long-lasting album pleasure is most surely made. A song such as "Holding On" is played as a bona-fide indie anthem but with a maturity that puts it in an altogether different league, again its pace matched by its intense passion and delicious sounding arrangements as the band inject it with beef and intricacy, dynamics and fluidity, to make it sound so good. That the band are fired up by the fact that their songs are now beginning to get the recognition that they deserve, is merely leading to much more commanding performances, of which tonight was surely evidence, as the band played as one, and, for the pace but sheer quality and appeal of the songs and the singing, held a Doghouse spellbound, something no other band of this ilk - if there is one - could do.