Life is dark for Glasvegas
Paradise, Boston, March 31, 2009
Reviewed by Jeffrey B. Remz
Darkness pervades Scottish rock group Glasvegas. Their self-titled debut has a black background as does the CD jacket and the disc itself. Lest you think the quartet is a Johnny one note, the same was true in concert as the band was dimly lit for most of the show.
A bleakness prevails musically to some extent as well. This is generally, dense music, driven by a guitar or two and steady drumming from Caroline McKay.
But the spotlight throughout was on lead singer James Alan. The former pro footballer (British style) put his heart on his sleeve, emotionally throwing himself into the songs. He sang well, giving the songs a lot of passion from the get go with Geraldine. Of course, with lyrics like "I'll be at your side to console
when you're standing on the window ledge/I'll talk you back from the edge," it's had not to have a modicum of passion. The remaining band mates were all fine, but they certainly seemed secondary to Allan.
When Glasvegas hit a good groove as they particularly did on the closing catchy, but very much of a downer Daddy's Gone, about an absent father, they were really really good. The crowd forcefully sang along with no prompting from Allan. How couldn't he have felt real good about that response?
But other times, the show, which clocked in at a very short 53 minutes, smacked of music sounding way too similar in tempo, barely distinguishing one song from another. It's when they mixed it up that Glasvegas worked best.
Allan also was not the most charismatic front man. He went long gaps in between talking with the sold-out crowd. In fact, it seemed odd that he would smack hands with fans near the front of the stage after the concert ended. It just didn't seem like Allan would want to be so engaged.
Glasvegas didn't exactly provide feel good music, but that's okay. Times are tough. The darkness of Glasvegas fit right in.
Chances are those showing up early - and there were a good chunk of folks there - did not know a thing about Ida Maria Børli Sivertsen, better known (in some places anyway) as Ida Maria, who just digitally released her "Fortress 'round My Heart" debut. They did not leave the club that way because the Norwegian singer made a strong impression in less than 30 minutes.
She rocked with vocal echoes of Bjork and Patti Smith as reference points. She didn't waste any time at all making her musical point either, immediately going at a fast pace with active drumming from Olle Lundin and bass from Johannes Lindberg on the lead-off song.
On one of the stand-out songs, Stella, Ida Maria occupied a vocal space at first soft and then letting loose. She came close to going over the top a few times, but seemed sincere enough to keep it going.
To her credit, Ida Maria has a good sense of humor, making clear she's not self-absorbed and also loosening the tougher songs. Before even playing a note, she said, she was nervous. "Don't shoot me. I'm only the lead singer." Later she joked, "Sorry about the hair. I don't know what happened." Her hair was puffed up and big.
Ida Maria left the stage to a very strong applause. Deservedly so.
