Presumably, a lack of ticket sales had shunted tonight's gig to the games room at the back of the Brudenell, as a trio of local bands had taken centre stage in the main room, and had pulled in a tidy crowd.
Bruce Soord (main man from The Pineapple Thief) explained that as fellow KScope label mates, he had been invited by SBP to open for them on this tour, and showcase songs from his upcoming debut solo record. After introducing the Bruce Soord Band (Darren on electric guitar..), a button was pressed on his Apple Mac and the first of 5 songs was launched into. I say launched; glided would have been more appropriate as there was a definite Pink Floyd feel to the songs, Bruce playing acoustic, Darren on electric fender strat and the Mac filing in the background dreamscapes.
It was really rather nice stuff, and a departure from the Pineapple Thief theme, which presumably something Bruce aimmed for as a solo artist. Final song The Willow Tree was the most impressive, even after the false start (“I always mess this up” - and he did), with its finger picked acoustic start, and ending with the electric guitar solo from Darren. This sounds like an album worth a listen when it's released in November.
10 minutes later, and with no histrionics or ceremony, the 6 members of Sweet Billy Pilgrim took to the stage, not exactly having to fight through the crowd to get to the stage. I counted 54 of us in attendance - criminally under attended. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to bother the band one iota, and they were charming, engaging, chatty and clearly enjoying themselves throughout.
Opener of the set was the new album Motorcade Amnesiacs’ opener Candle Book and Bell, before reeling off the next 4 tracks off the same album. Lead singer Tim Elsenberg invited us to watch the recently released video for track Slingshot Grin, and especially his acting chops alongside “some famous people”.
After the lovely Tyrekickers on which Jana Carpenter takes the lead vocals, the first older track is played in the form of Archaeology from Crown & Treaty.
It’s almost impossible to read an article about SBP without seeing the term "Mercury Nominated” against their name (for album Twice Born Men), which is again puzzling as to why they don’t enjoy more success than they do…the curse of the Mercury prize??
They are also a difficult band to pigeonhole. They definitely have prog rock elements to their sound - I guess backed up by KScope signing them up for their latest album. There’s also some folk in their, and some edgy rock, especially on their latest album. It all makes for an intelligent, alluring mix and sound.
Kraklite and Blue Sky Falls close the set, with the beauty and satisfaction that these songs provoke, although I certainly had mixed feelings at the end of the gig. It felt almost like a personal performance for me alone, something they were actually offering in their Pledge Music campaign for the new album, but also tinged with sadness that they aren’t yet playing to a much larger audience.
Keith
