Showing @ The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Thu 31 Oct only
Awaiting the release of their forthcoming album I Am An Island, the Kilmarnock four piece Fatherson, an increasingly relevant cog in the network of distinctively Scottish pop rock, bring their 2013 Scottish tour near to climax at their jam-packed Edinburgh show.
Now based in Glasgow, the assortment of brashy Scots vibrato, well timed drums and on-point melodic levels bring together a truly loyal fan base: a swarm of knee-bobbing, neck loosening, lip pursing vampires and T-birds celebrating Halloween in a rather less conventional style.
With so much facial hair and an even bigger lung capacity, Fatherson (despite sporting a very questionable bobble hat in front of a quite pretentious snow scene backdrop) thrill the room with their impressive instrumentals. Causing bar staff and boisterous doormen to subconsciously bop along to their anthemic hooks, infectious off-beats and buzzy bass. They exceed all expectations of any band who claim to have only released three songs in the past two years – the facial expressions on stage resemble sheer gratitude in this respect.
A clever fusion of subtle cello and a heavier band set-up adds both an unanticipated sense of minor chord melancholy and a stroke of pop rock innovation, affecting a slightly over-emotional solidarity amongst fans. The atmosphere in the room feels somewhat patriotic throughout, especially during the hair-raising encore, initiating one of the loudest sing-alongs ever to resonate the walls of Liquid Rooms.
It becomes unclear as to whether the atmosphere is created by the music or the crowd. As the place quietens for beautifully stripped down vocals over guitar, two audience members begin to have a conversation when suddenly a lonely, echoing “shut yer geggie!” arises from the back of the room and the crowd channels into a focused silence. A crafty performance, and a gateway for a well-deserved pop rock evolution.