Anna Calvi - King Tut's, Glasgow.

Couple of years past and I dragged the good lady off to Glasgow to see The Hold Steady. Normally this wouldn't be worth mentioning as Anne is well used to gracefully coming along to see a band with me but this evening this band was playing at The Cathouse. This venue usually being the haunt of goths and folk who watch the Twilight series not fifty year old, curious gig goers.

We weren't sure what to expect. Once, many further years back, we had braved a night out at Klub Foot in Dundee. This was back in the eighties when a musical entertainment could be named after a physical impediment and nobody thought the better of it. After being, there surrounded by folk in a cloth that made black look almost bright and listening to a Guana Batz B-Side and a 12" version at that we decided that we may be out of our depth. Remember, dear reader, this was back when we were actually young!

So trepidation about a visit to the Cathouse.

The Hold Steady were magnificent.

The crowd, much to my surprise, however, had a high number of folk as old as us and in come cases actually older. This surprised me as the band, although just releasing their third lp, were not that well known. I had expected a bunch of young trendy things all eager to catch the next big thing not a group of balding, stomach expanding oldies.

So what was that all about? No point asking me, I clearly don't know.
The relevance to Anna Calvi? Well it was the same type of audience. Yes, there were a large number of those trend setting bohemian Glasgow giggers but there was also that older demographic.
It is heartening to know that these folk are out there and prepared to forgo the Horlicks on a Monday evening to attend a music function at the 300 capacity King Tut's.

For me it is the best response to the oft happen dj situation when someone in their forties or older ventures towards the booth and you just know, just know that this person is going to ask you for something from the '70s. This is going to happen because you are in the middle of playing a tune that was released in the last ten years. And by 'The Seventies' they don't mean the Guana Batz.

Looking for a gig review? Then skip all the above guff and start here. 

Anna Calvi at King Tuts.

Part of the Emerge NME Radar Tour. Sponsored by the new energy drink 'Emerge'. When we left some PR folk tried to give us a can, we refused and took a badge instead. Didn't want it to interfere with the Horlicks and at our tender age we no longer wish to be kept up all  night, thank you very much.

Doomed to fail. What on earth was the focus group on about? Question: How likely are you to purchase an energy drink called 'Emerge'? eh! Can you imagine any sane person going into a bar and asking for a vodka and emerge? This is going to knock Red Bull of it's perch?

Anyway, Anna Calvi.

Kinda like this review, jumping about all over the place with no coherent style or focus. When she was good on the mellower numbers like, 'No more Words' and 'Love won't be Leaving' she was excellent. The room was respectfully silent on these haunting and still songs. When she rocked it up with 'Jezebel' and a version of Presley's 'Surrender' she lost some magic and became an ordinary bar band. 'Blackout', probably the most catchy song, was played early rather than as a crowd pleaser later.

I found the lp sounded slightly unclear with a muddy sound. It reminded me of a 1970's lp production. I felt a different producer could have brought more out of the material. I had a similar thought listening to the band at King Tut's. There was a distinct retro type sound. I didn't think this improved the songs any. I wondered how deliberate this could be. The sound at this small venue is usually excellent. It is far superior to the noisy mush you can get at some of the city's larger and more expensive venues.

The styles on show includes a bit of Piaf, some surf guitar, some burlesque, a nod to Twin Peaks, a little Johnny Cash, a little Billie Holiday, P.J. of course, a twang of Rockabilly, and a wink at Nico.
Her influences are too near the surface, too often at the moment. I am sure with a bit more experience she will make her mark. Also with some more material the set won't need to include a couple of cover versions.

I enjoyed the gig. It was quite intense at times and Anna puts a lot into her performance. It is easy to over look that this is a young band playing a small show with only one lp and few live performances under their belt and so be too critical.

Lets get a sense of perspective, dear child, it wasn't like an evening at Club Foot with the Gauna Batz back catalogue for company.