Tennents Versa Acoustic Launch
>> The Goat
>> James Yorkston, Popup, Yellow Bentines
>> 6th December 2006
The small but perfectly formed Goat pub (posh end of Argyle Street) is the venue for the launch of the Tennents Versa Acoustic tour, which promises to spoil us with exclusive performances from some of Scotland’s top indie types in equally cosy settings across the country in 2007.
Predictably, tonight’s event is also a chance for the aforementioned sponsors to ply us with free samples of their new ‘continental’ style lager, with the biggest surprise of the evening being that it doesn’t taste of poo water.
The Brass Eye referencing Yellow Bentines kick off proceedings with the kind of multi instrumental, at once wistfully romantic and vaguely bitter pop that draws instant comparisons with Belle and Sebastian, or maybe a pared down Delgados.
The keyboard led, trumpet featuring tunes are a jaunty enough start to the evening but lyrically speaking the Bentines lack the irony and deadpan delivery of their better known peers.
The perky Popup jolly things along a bit, serving up Libertines-like riffs with nicely tongue in cheek lyrical observations and some endearingly skewed harmonies. It’s particularly heartening to be reminded that a Scottish band can sing in their native accent and not sound like The Proclaimers.
The biggest welcome of the night is reserved for Fife-born James Yorkston, a well kent face amongst folk-pop aficionados in these parts and beyond.
An unassuming Yorkston takes to the miniscule Goat stage without introduction, launching straight into a haunting acapella number that sees a reverential hush quickly descend on the packed pub.
Accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica, Yorkston continues to woo the rapt Goat crowd, his reflective, lilting melodies and folk balladry offset perfectly by wry and self-deprecating lyrics.
The only slightly hairy moment comes when the wonderfully affable James invites an enthusiastic fan up to sing backing vocals on one song and the entire bar holds its breath lest we be treated to a nightmare of X Factor auditions proportions. To everyone’s relief, said fan can actually hold a tune.
The audience participation theme continues with another chancer inviting himself on stage for a well intentioned but hilariously tuneless harmonica duel, before the main man takes control once more and closes the set to rapturous applause.
The Versa Acoustic tour proper has similarly eclectic lineups planned in intimate venues across the country throughout next year. If all the headliners are of James Yorkston’s calibre, it looks like one not to be missed. And that’s not just the beer talking.
>> Annie McLaughlin
>> James Yorkston, Popup, Yellow Bentines
>> 6th December 2006
The small but perfectly formed Goat pub (posh end of Argyle Street) is the venue for the launch of the Tennents Versa Acoustic tour, which promises to spoil us with exclusive performances from some of Scotland’s top indie types in equally cosy settings across the country in 2007.
Predictably, tonight’s event is also a chance for the aforementioned sponsors to ply us with free samples of their new ‘continental’ style lager, with the biggest surprise of the evening being that it doesn’t taste of poo water.
The Brass Eye referencing Yellow Bentines kick off proceedings with the kind of multi instrumental, at once wistfully romantic and vaguely bitter pop that draws instant comparisons with Belle and Sebastian, or maybe a pared down Delgados.
The keyboard led, trumpet featuring tunes are a jaunty enough start to the evening but lyrically speaking the Bentines lack the irony and deadpan delivery of their better known peers.
The perky Popup jolly things along a bit, serving up Libertines-like riffs with nicely tongue in cheek lyrical observations and some endearingly skewed harmonies. It’s particularly heartening to be reminded that a Scottish band can sing in their native accent and not sound like The Proclaimers.
The biggest welcome of the night is reserved for Fife-born James Yorkston, a well kent face amongst folk-pop aficionados in these parts and beyond.
An unassuming Yorkston takes to the miniscule Goat stage without introduction, launching straight into a haunting acapella number that sees a reverential hush quickly descend on the packed pub.
Accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica, Yorkston continues to woo the rapt Goat crowd, his reflective, lilting melodies and folk balladry offset perfectly by wry and self-deprecating lyrics.
The only slightly hairy moment comes when the wonderfully affable James invites an enthusiastic fan up to sing backing vocals on one song and the entire bar holds its breath lest we be treated to a nightmare of X Factor auditions proportions. To everyone’s relief, said fan can actually hold a tune.
The audience participation theme continues with another chancer inviting himself on stage for a well intentioned but hilariously tuneless harmonica duel, before the main man takes control once more and closes the set to rapturous applause.
The Versa Acoustic tour proper has similarly eclectic lineups planned in intimate venues across the country throughout next year. If all the headliners are of James Yorkston’s calibre, it looks like one not to be missed. And that’s not just the beer talking.
>> Annie McLaughlin
