MUSIC | Feature
HUNGER GAMES Gorge yourself on the feast of big-name Scottish bands about to play a venue near you, says Fiona Shepherd
I f your letter to Santa this year included a plea to see all your favourite big name Scottish acts live in the space of two weeks, then rejoice – the jolly old beardy guy has delivered early for you, with a host of huge gigs by big homegrown hitters lined up to light your way to Christmas Day. Behold the groaning buffet table of Scottish cuts, some more prime and juicy than others. But which one is the turkey? Come hither and know them better.
Primal Scream (SECC, Glasgow, Sat 14 Dec) are a whole tasting menu in their own right. Over the years, they have served up their fair share of fresh, innovative l avours, interspersing their zestier offerings with generous helpings of stodgy rock. Latest album, More Light, succeeds in breaking some new ground for the veteran campaigners. Its esoteric Kraut-jazz- psych-garage sounds didn’t translate so well in front of a Stone Roses audience this summer but could well satisfy more adventurous tastes. Travis offer a double helping of Yuletide cheer (Barrowland, Glasgow, Fri 20 and Sat 21 Dec) to cap their comeback year. Their whimsical
94 THE LIST 12 Dec 2013–23 Jan 2014
Scotpop has always been easy to digest but their current album, Where You Stand, is such an insipid affair that these shows could be the bland sorbet of the bunch. Deacon Blue (top right; the Hydro, Glasgow, Fri 20 Dec), on the other hand, are solid main course options, boasting a back catalogue perennially popular with a home crowd. The robust ‘Dignity’, ‘Wages Day’ and ‘Real Gone Kid’ are the aural equivalent of comfort food, while current album, The Hipsters, featuring their i rst new music in over a decade, spices up a favourite old recipe.
If Marti Pellow is on his usual gallus form, then Wet Wet Wet (above right; the Hydro, Glasgow, Thu 19 Dec) are surely the cheese course. Their frontman may have a tendency to lay it on thick with the patter and the cabaret vocals but, for those who are not dairy intolerant, the Clydebank group peddle an impressively slick line in soul pop hits. Plus Pellow really can sing when he drops the bad habits. Following a suitable break for digestion, Calvin Harris (above left; the Hydro, Glasgow,
Sun 22 and Mon 23 Dec) is on hand to provide the sugar rush. His turbo-charged rave pop formula ensures that the sweet trolley is constantly being replenished with frothy treats which will have the kids bouncing off the walls well into Boxing Day. For a sense of the mayhem the Dumfries DJ/producer will unleash over these two enormo gigs, imagine Christmas Top of the Pops stamping on your face forever… You could, of course, dull the effect with some alcohol – or even forego all this conspicuous consumption entirely and opt for a liquid lunch. In which case you are directed to sample the boozy indie singalongs of either The View (Academy, Glasgow, Wed 18 Dec) or Glasvegas (Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sun 22 Dec) and maybe make some new besht friends in the more intimate coni nes of their shows. Finally, having indulged thoroughly in this Scottish pop smorgasbord, the only sensible option is to take a post-prandial nap, clutching a batch of Berocca in one hand and a i stful of Rennies in the other.
Wake us up in the New Year . . .