music
live reviews
ROCK Fun Lovin' Criminals/NT
Glasgow: Barrowland, Fri 9 Oct fir hr
The music industry may be in the midst of recession, but as the sold- out signs all over their tour adverts attest, Fun Lovin' Criminals couldn’t be in ruder health. A second Barrowland gig would have been organised were it not for the prohibitively tight schedule. It seems no one can get enough of Huey, Fast and Steve.
A good humoured crowd lend support band NT their willing attention. Straight outta Paisley. they are one of the select few Scottish hip hop acts with the opportunity to reach a national audience via their deal with Sony Records and the top exposure which this tour offers.
How disappointing then to discover that they are neither dope, fly nor much cop at all during this performance. The backing is fairly funky (faint praise indeed) and they are going for a potentially intriguing genre clash by liberally employing some hoary blues
"1"
Fun Lovin' Criminals: still having fun on the run
vocalising. However, this is hoary blues vocalising of the kind you would find fronting yer typical pub rock band, the kind that makes John Martyn sound like an elocution tutor.
The songs also lack distinction, as though the group are running through some generic riffs and refrains to test out their equipment. The absence of one member of the posse may have had some bearing on the lack of edge but confronting a packed audience who don't know any better with such an unarresting set is a wasted opportunity.
It is immediately apparent when the Criminals take the stage that they won't have to try too hard to hold the audience hostage to their mellow vibes. With the slightest provocation the entire hall turns into a
regulated moshpit of Zebedees.
They look and sound like your ideal wedding band. All three are immaculately turned out, with Huey donning a kilt for immediate rapport with his party-hungry audience. They can proficiently turn their hand to a variety of sassy music styles — to this day, still coming on like a hip-hop band, even though they don't use decks or much in the way of rapping. They can do the swooning golden oldies (’We Have All The Time In The World') for the more mature guests and they've got their own floorfillers in ’Scooby Snacks' and current single ‘Big Night Out', songs which can shine through even in less dynamic performances like this. The only worry would be that the bride would run off with that dashing MC Huey. (Whitney Plains)
ROCK Terrorwsron Edinburgh: liquid Rooms, Sat 17 Oct
at a a a
Terrorvision: bit of a hit with the ladies. apparently
54 THE LIST 22 Oct—5 Nov 1998
You’ve got to laugh. From a cheesy stage entrance backed by the corny strains of ’HOrny', to an audience obediently wavrng the band bye-bye, Terrorvrsion are bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun Tiggers taking Mickey Mouse metal to the masses, A quick recc'e round the relatively ic‘kle venue, a smart move which allows the band's amicable mateyness the required degree of intimaCy, reveals rock's regulars, R.A.T.M-led indie kids, the odd goth and a bloke who looks like Val Doonican. TerrorVision welcome all comers.
Kicking off, as always, with 'Alice, What’s The Matter’, it’s obvrous that they've had a square go at the rider, but considering the nights when the rider’s been tanked and the advance for the next album spent at the bar before they’ve even taken to the stage, be grateful.
Our Tone's enjoying himself, singing away in a white bOiler suit emblazoned wrth the legend 'Droog Crew'. Word of advrce, though. in public, don't enjoy y0urself too much when you're not wearing any pants. Null said Uncle Shutty plays his Signature part of drumming while grinning a specialised talent — and bassist Lee's
still holding out for a place in the Supergrass line-up. Then there's guitarist Mr Mark Yates. This is a family magazine, so we can't talk about him Let's JUSI say it's funny how many women need to rush home an a Saturday night to pu. scriiething in the spin dryer
ln songt‘.i'itiiig teiins, Teiir'rr'asittn seem to be mellowing \'.l‘iltli may account for the polish of tonight's i_)erformance Pushing new album Shaving Peaches is clearly high on the agenda, and current transsexual single 'Josephine’ is battered out in style, With 'Can't Get You Out Of My Mind’ and the Edwyn-tinged 'Teguila' obvious future Singles
Beyond that, Terrorvrsion aim to please with old faves From Formaldehyde we get 'l‘.ly House', pretty much all of How To ‘-.‘u./iri Friends
including a stoiiiiing Discotheque
Wiec'rc', a hefty chunk of Regular Urban Survrvors, most notably ’li 2 Was You', thr- t)est slice of three ininiite pop/punk since The Only Ones 'Another Girl, Another Planet' And, given the dourness of much of the Current music scene, their enthtiSiasiii comes as welcome relief.
(Susan Mackenzie)
OPERA
Tristan Und Isolde
Glasgow: Theatre Royal, Sat 17 Oct *‘i' 1k it
If you are up to a near six-hour haul, this much-acclaimed production of Wagner's Tristan Und Isolde will provide ample rewards. The original production by Yannis Kokkos was first mounted in assocration with Welsh National Opera back in 1993, and subsequently became the first offiCial presentation at the refurbished Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.
Peter Watson's direction remained largely faithful to Kokkos’s original conception, but the action is minimal, and whatever the quality of the staging, the Opera stands or falls on the performances of its principal singers. A late change of soprano brought back the original lsolde, Anne Evans, as an eleventh hour stand in for the German singer Eva-Maria Bundschuli, who wrthdrew in still unexplained circumstances after the dress rehearsal,
Evans has mastered this role in the most convmcing fashion, and rekindled the chemistry which made her partnership with Jeffrey Lawton such a success last time around. The near- overwhelming power and passion of Lawton's Tristan remains a wonder, especially in the mighty, tormented tour de force of Act Three, as he awaits both Isolde and death. Even more crucially, in what is a typically credulity-straining opera scenario, he was able to convey the overwhelming force of Tristan’s love for Isolde with the kind of total conviction which made his sacrifi:e credible
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera under Richard Armstrong were in peak form throughout the many shadings of Wagner's tumultuous score, gentle and delicate in the romantic interludes, and drrvrng on the action with relentless power in the big dramatic scenes. The supporting singers were led by the excellent Kathryn Harries as lsolde's maid, Brangaene, wrth Matthew Best as Tristan's faithful ally, Kurwenal, and Gudion Oskarsson as King Mark tKenny Mathiesoni Tristan Und Isolde/s performed at Glasgow Theatre Royal, Thu 22, Tue 27, Sat 37 Oct, Sat 7 Nov, Edinburgh Testing," Tl‘r‘tlfl'c‘, Tue .‘7, Sat 2] [Jo-v
Anne Evans and Jeffrey Lawton as Isolde and Tristan
STAR RATINGS
a a r: *K 1: Unmissable a a w v. Very 900d 3 a- a v: Worth a shot l a «x Below average 9. You‘ve been warned l