Stage presence-that often intangible quality whose absence nonetheless often leads to a lacklustre performance played significant part of tonight’s show.
Indeed, no stage would be large enough for Faker frontman Nathan Hudson to burn off his insatiable energy. His eyes constantly dart about the stage as he looks for somewhere else to run, (feeling that the Metro’s stage is inadequate, the vocalist then begins to climb the adjacent speaker stacks). The band’s glistening, dark pop has shadow that sparkle as much as they are dark betraying the essence of most of Faker’s material; the idea contrast.
Conversely, Devoted Few frontman, Ben Fletcher stalks the stage with staunch steps,eyes fixed firmly on his microphone in hand. Having recently departed from lead guitar to a more occasional guitar-playing role, Fletcher is now concentrating solely on his vocals. And the decision is certainly paying dividens. Tonight, without the distraction and restraint of his guitar, Fletcher sings with a profound intensity and passion his other musical projects didn’t even suggest he was capable of. Faker frontman Nathan made a similar decision, electing to eschew the guitar for the opportunity to produce more intense vocal parts with the result in both bands, an essential yet admirable stage presence.
Tonight Faker were particularly well received by the venue’s early arrivers but unfortunately, said crowd remained fairly sparse for opening act, The Devoted Few. That said, the band were thoroughly entertaining, with their set resembling more of a jam session than a precisely calculated set, yet were careful not to drown pop gem Desolation Angels in guitar fuzz.
Folk rockers, Idlewild have always stayed well clear of trends, confidently forging their own path often in the opposing direction to what is currently in vogue. Immensely popular in their home country, Scotland, the band have never quite been able to match that success in other parts of the world. Indeed there’s nothing flashy or baroque about the band, no secret even to their success, the band instead rely on the idea of simplicity and competence; getting the basics of rock right that so many choose to overlook.
Irrefutably, it is the remarkable song writing abilities of frontman Roddy Woomble that delivers them from the dime-a-dozen; standard guitar sound that always seems to flood radio airwaves.
In keeping with tonight’s trend, Woomble also possesses a clear stage presence, renowned for pacing about the stage while he chats with audience members. With a solid ten years of performing under their belt, they are a quality live act, however the band’s ever-prominent guitar sound sometimes appears to absorb Woomble’s vocals as they rarely deviate from the same plane. That said, its the frontman’s almost deadpan approach that deems the band’s material so poignant- the bitter, almost morose lyrics of new single Love Steals Us From Loneliness could only be as effective when sung in Woomble’s monotone fashion.
“You said something stupid like
Love steals us from loneliness”
Like so much of tonight’s show that audience are left in a strange paradox, singing along to every line of Idlewild’s cynical, often pensive lyrics through big, contented smiles.
