Ladies and gentlemen, remember the date. Sunday, February 26, 2006 may well have been the super talented Mr Gummi Bako’s twenty-somethingth birthday; it may well have been 12 years to the day that the god-like Bill Hicks shuffled from this mortal coil; but, more importantly, it was also the day THE ALIENS landed.
Tears may have been shed last year at the premature passing of the Beta Band, but the early chutes of recovery for the departed members are looking strong. Steve Mason is already causing ripples with his new vehicle, King Biscuit Time, and last night at a packed Edinburgh Venue, John Mclean and Robin Jones showcased their new musical direction.
Fronted by original Pigeon/Beta member Gordon Anderson (for the initiated an explanation isn’t needed here, for the rest of you google him) the five-piece Aliens produced a debut performance that, although error strewn, shows why EMI have shown their early faith.
The evening was opened by the experimental electronic four-piece, MAMMAL. Sounding very much like Hot Chip on speed, the band ran through their four pieces of music to a mixed response from the Edinburgh public. Not really my bag, but interesting nonetheless.
The listed support of PIP DYLAN (twin brother to Alien frontman Gordon, and younger brother of Fence Records head-honcho King Creosote) then delighted the assembled mass with a virtuoso performance.
Opening on the pedal steel with ‘Gospel ‘ and ‘Pink Clothes‘ from his freshly released album ‘Orange Dirt County’, he then proceeded to thrill the crowd with his acoustic genius. Old favourites ‘Shoes’ (renamed on the new album as ‘Perhaps Someday’), ‘Walk Away’ and ‘Orr My Dog’ sat beautifully alongside new songs ‘Orange Dirt County’, ‘Wind In The Trees’ and ‘Once Belonged’. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a reception for a support act.
THE ALIENS appeared to a warm reception from the packed hall, and with fantastic electro/rock reworkings of the Lone Pigeon classics ‘Only Waiting’ and ‘Robotman’ dominating the early proceedings, complimented by two new tracks, including the culture-clashing electro/country rock opener (with a certain Mr Dylan on pedal steel) ‘Hey, Lianne', they found their groove almost immediately.
|
The new additions to the band, Fifer Jamie Dargie, and J.S., frontman from London outfit Angels Fight The City, blended effortlessly with their new bandmates.
Anderson, looking as fit and fresh as I’ve seen him, proved he can front a rock band as well as being an exceptional solo performer and his performance on the penultimate song, ‘Ionas’, was nothing short of stunning.
'Tomorrow' again hinted at the band's appetite for country influenced rock, and the old Fence favourite ‘The Happy Song’ was transformed into a rollercoaster of a ride that crashed its way to a triumphant conclusion.
An incredible version of ‘Rocks’, another Lone Pigeon classic (are you noticing a pattern here), that morphed in and out of Primal Scream's 'Higher Than The Sun'and the Beach Boy's 'Good Vibrations', delighted the noisy crowd as the encore moved from electro madness to a full on rock freak-out, in the blink of an eye, before trailing off, as the band left the stage, to the familiar tones of the 'Close Encounters' theme. Spellbinding.
Yes, they were raw. Yes, there were mistakes. And yes, they’ll get a lot better. But, for moments last night, we saw glimpses of their brilliant future. The future’s bright people, the future’s The Aliens.
www.thealiens.co.uk
www.pipdylan.com
www.fencerecords.com
|
