There’s always been an arch sense of desert-dry humour running through the career of erstwhile former Arab Strap miserablist Malcolm Middleton. But even he has outdone himself with his decision to hold his celebratory Christmas show in the confines of the Fairfield Working Men’s Club. An anachronism dating back to the time when Glasgow had a shipbuilding industry worthy of the name, it’s a large, traditional hall which resembles the Phoenix Club so much it is scary. For those of us of a working-class background, it’s a very nostalgic place to be (it reminds me of Anniversary parties, drunken singalongs of Kenny Rogers songs and an inevitable fight.) For those with a slightly more middle-class background, it’s like a parallel universe full of strange customs and cheap drink. It does, frankly, piss all over the o2 Academy.
First up are the Phantom Band, Glasgow’s own space-rock troubadours. With a five song selection of skewered pop, they are very difficult to pigeonhole, but if you can imagine The Beta Band and Pink Floyd having sex while ‘Trout Mask Replica’ provides the soundtrack, then you’ll be somewhere close to what they do. They are on terrific form, stretching out and spinning the complex sounds into something recognisably pop, though very left of centre pop. Definitely a band to check out on their February tour.
Then there is a game of musical chairs. Why wouldn’t there be?
Next up are the folksy Strike The Colours, whose female singer wears red tights which don’t go with her outfit. In Glasgow, this is usually a sign of pretentious art school-ism, but in this case thankfully turns out to be a simple fashion faux pas. They play a delightful little set, perched somewhere between the Fence Collective and the more commercial Noah and the Whale folk pop revivalists out there. They make way for the raffle, which ELM doesn’t win, leaving our party crushed.
Flagging spirits are restored by an energetic set from De Rosa, whose angular art pop gets the crowd on their feet and ready to go for the main man. And, when Malcolm Middleton arrives onstage, it’s clear why he’s sold out this cavern. ‘My Loneliness Shines’ and ‘Break My Heart’ are storming pop songs, but it’s the best-Christmas-number 1-that wasn’t ‘We’re All Going To Die’ which is received like a Wii in your stocking.
He’s a contrary bastard, which is why he’s in here in the first place, but he’s pulled it off. And ELM has got to say, we are strongly in favour of more shows in venues like this. One of our party has missed dinner and gets a pie and chips from the food hatch. I mean, come on! How perfect is that? But novelty value aside, this is a terrific show from an artist growing ever more confident and delivering ever better music. With one hand pressed against the wall and the other holding his tadger and pissing in the gutter – metaphorically, thankfully – Middleton is one of pop music’s finest malcontents. Long may he moan.
Filed under: General Stuff | Tagged: Arab Strap, Burst Noel, De Rosa, Govan 2008, Malcolm Middleton, Strike the Colours, The Phantom Band
