DUNDEE LIVE - BANDS TO WATCH!!
FIVEFIFTEN + GRACE EMILYS - Doghouse 24-10-08
The rise of Grace Emilys continues. Myself and Paula Knight (& Nikki) particularly wanted to catch them for assorted reasons, and they did not disappoint. A bit like Peg & The Bouffants (see previous review), the changes that Grace Emilys have undergone in the last year, are really striking. That they play and arrange songs in quite a different manner from any other Dundee band, apart from possibly Colour Coded, is what makes them so hypnotic in concert. But the previous tendencies to make the songs twist, turn and weave all over the show, has now resulted in songs that have much greater strength, sense of direction, purpose and memorability to them, while at the same time losing none of the complexities that make the band so unique. Performing both the previous single and the latest single, they played with a conviction and sheer eneergy that couldn't help but make the audience absolutely carried along in its wake. "On Jamaica Street" went supernova while the latest single, "Lipstick Blues", complete with electric mandolin-y thing leading the way, had its studio commerciality supplemented with a live power that really had you hooked, the urge to make a complete arce of yourself by dancing madly around the dancefloor area, never very far away, as the quirky lyrics, harmonies and sheer catchiness of a song that really shouldn't be the indie-pop sensation that it turns out to be, unfolds in all its short but electrifying glory. Elsewhere, it's partner, "Still Getting Older" pr an excuse for the band to let loose some rip-roaring guitar licks as both lead guitarists leapt around the stage as though they'd been plugged into it, the rolling rhythms provided by the drummer and bassist, the cue for them to send sparks and shards of guitar chords flashing from the PA system, while the band's trademark three part vocal harmonies interwove and combined to give a huge vocal presence to the song. A new song, somewhat bizarrely dedicated to me (thanks guys - how flattering!!), was the nearest thing I've heard this band come to composing what can only be described as a bona-fide indie anthem, as the song builds and strengthens on its verses and hoks, while the guitars gradulally fire up as the song climbs and climbs. But, in typical Emilys fashion, just as you think you've got it figured, it takes a different path before eventually returing to its initial properties, the shared vocals and ringing, scorching dual guitars, a vasy sonic delight. The band ended the set with a track I'd not heard before where they hadd two guest drummers on stage and between the three of them, set up this almighty native drumn rhythm as this final epic songs took hold and just flew through the PA with guitars blazing and the singers pouring it all out, sort of Big Country meets Adam and the Ants in a musical blender, but one stunning song to end the evening. All in all, as great an Emilys set as I've seen to date, and the whole structure of things is coming together - they are different and yet they are commercially viable, too - a refreshing change from the more famous indie bands around right now, with a god onstage presence too. Paula thought they were great - and so did I!!
Before them, the evening began with Aberdeen's Five Fifteen who I'd only heard for the first time, that week thanks to a rather fine track on the latest Fat Hippy records sampler. A quintett with a guy on synth, organ and electric piano, plus guitarists and rhythm section, they had a really attention-grabbing sound thanks to the keyboards, but, for some reason, the lead guitar this night, was all but lost in the mix, a shame, since the glimpses that did break through, revealed an upper register chiming lead of some strength that complemented the keys to perfection. But, the sound was quite vast and the band launched into a set of flowing songs where the vocals cut through with strong rhythm guitar riffs uderpinning the fine use of the keys, predominantly the organ sounds, a bit like a hi-octane, adrenaline rousing answer to The Goodnights. AS the set wore on, the songs tended to sound a bit "samey" but I don't think the loss of that guitar helped much in that respect. Based purely on the strength of the band, the depth of sound and the solid nature of the playing, decidedly worth trying to catch on a better sound night.
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