For a Saturday night and little gig action on around town I would have thought the masses would have converged on the Edinburgh Castle to see local lads Wolf & Cub tear it up in such a small venue. Then, after walking in at ten o’clock and seeing venue staff frantically trying to set up things up I probably would have turned around and headed for home knowing this was going to be a late one… and indeed it was.
After getting there at nine assuming the first band would be on shortly after, my frustration started to build and by ten thirty my pissed off-ness was at an all time high. I can’t understand how and why it takes so long for bands to get their shit together when they’ve had all friggen day to fart arse around with their equipment and all the other finer points.
By the time Megafuna hit the stage I was well and truly over it. Megafauna aren’t exactly an easy band to get in to with their unique brand of melodramatic pop but they did seem to complement Wolf & Cub in a weird way. It’s unfortunate that most of their set was walk in music for people entering the main band room. Being an unsigned band and with no official releases at this stage (apart from two tracks on their Myspace site) there is definitely an opportunity for a small indie label to pick up this trio – an overseas market is where Megafauna will be appreciated most.
The saving grace for the night without a shadow of a doubt would be the poor man’s version of the Arctic Monkeys – The Holidays. These lads may well be a little wet behind the ears but heck they sure can play. Comparing The Holidays with Wolf & Cub provides quite a contrast in terms of musical style and perhaps explains why the crowd weren’t really appreciate of what they had to offer as there was little if any response between songs.
The majority of their set featured songs off their self titled EP plus a few newies, which will feature on their forthcoming long player. Holidays, Planes and Apparently Nothing are all great songs and if no one else enjoyed them, I did.
Eventually, Wolf & Cub did make it on stage albeit at 12.30am and after pulling up a chair in front of the cosy fireplace during the break I was ready for a sleep. To the raucous guitars and menacing drum ensemble I stood to catch a glimpse. Even with a change of personnel in the drumming department you’d hardly know as this foursome is tight and gig hardened.
Not been over familiarly with their back catalogue there was a good mix of old and new with the focus being their new EP One To The Other. One To The Other, Relief and Master all featured in their set. At times it all does sound a little too much the same and some variety is needed in their set especially given the lack of crowd engagement and interaction. It’s a funny way of looking at it but their lack of stage presence must be their stage presence.
It was great to hear A Thousand Cuts and, despite my frustrations for the night dragging on, it was a solid nights entertainment. Here’s hoping that Wolf & Cub play a bigger venue to a sell out home crowd sometime soon.
