Music to hold hands to

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Math and Physics Club @ The Captain's Rest, Glasgow, 25-07-11 (with Very Truly Yours, Bubblegum Lemonade and The Hermit Crabs).
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"Why did the farmer start a punk rock band? He'd had enough of Hall 'n Oates..."
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As jokes go, you know those ones, that are told to fill awkward gaps and spaces when tuning up, the guitarist, Lisle, from Very Truly Yours did hit the spot. It made us all laugh - and laugh with him, not at him, thankfully. Anyway, wow! What an amazing balmy Monday evening spent in indiepop heaven at The Captain's Rest in Glasgow last night. Does it get any better than this? The evening was something of a Matinée Recordings shindig as three-quarters of the bands on the bill are currently signed to that label. Very twee, sweet and incredibly adorable - and that was just the audience. What was really impressive was the show of bodies, faces and enthusiastic clapping for opening act The Hermit Crabs. Led by Mel, they played a blinding set and were breaking in the new 'Highlands and Islands' rhythm section. Playing a selection of material, old and new, they are a band well worth checking out. I mean, people even danced! (this can be quite unusual for this particular venue, in my experience - or perhaps it is just the type of bands I go to see play here?). 'Correspondence Course' was especially good and Mel would return later for a spot with the headline act - but more of that later! Bubblegum Lemonade were next up and play a kind of scuzzy Pastels meets Mary Chain shagging the Velvets b-side type of music (and that is very high praise indeed!), and frontman Laz is just brilliant with his Byrdesque guitar 'licks', as well as with the audience; being both witty, self-deprecating and charming - often in the very same sentence... 'Yeah, in your face Artic Monkeys!', said as he ruminated on their as yet elusive search for global 'hits' and 'rock star' status. The wonderful 'Girlfriend Ghost' was dedicated to those who couldn't attend, and a slight chill was felt in the air, as much as you can feel such a thing downstairs in the Rest... and their cover of 'That Thing You Do', as ever, got a wild reception from a sweaty audience in the 'ken. Very Truly Yours, over from Chicago and en route to Indietracks, had the hard job of following on next and what a rousing set they played. Although missing a keyboard player, Billie!, they were tight, jangly, lovely and loud - a bit like Camera Obscura might be if they took better drugs and 'cut loose' once in a while. Indeed, Kristine's vocals are very Traceyanne although the former, true, is a bit more talkative, and not just to cover the silences enforced by tuning and re-tuning. Thanking us all, many times over, for coming out to see the show, it was all smiles and candy floss from Kristine and the band - and great, great songs. 'Across The Sea' was a bit of an obvious song to put on the setlist, given the circumstances, and it fitted the mood of the evening perfectly of course. And, as mentioned, Lisle's joke gave us the giggles. :) As for headline act, Math and Physics Club, what can you say - it was just such an honour to have them play in Glasgow, almost unbelievable in fact. I always thought I'd need a wee trip back to Seattle to catch a show from them as they never play in Europe. It was a fantastic set, covering material from the two albums as well as the early EPs, and the audience were dancing away and nodding heads to the 'catchy pop beats' they play so well. It was difficult not to grin like a complete idiot as songs like 'Jimmy Had A Polaroid' and 'Love Or Loneliness' were played so faultlessly (depsite the jetlag!) and it was quite funny when 'La La Lisa' was dedicated to a Lisa who had just left the room (weep!). A further highlight was the duet with Mel Hermit Crab, a very emotional version of 'Darling, Please Come Home'. There didn't seem to be many dry eyes in the room for that one, including my own. Sob. As the set went on the covers came out to play and we were given two choices (I seem to have forgotten them both! I think one was by the old Sarah band, Brighter? Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking on my part? Whatevs.). Anyway, no matter, as we demanded both, and then insisted on another original song for good measure...! :) Oh, there was a very funny moment worth telling... when offering the cover versions someone in the audience asked the band if they knew any songs by Belle and Sebastian... 'But we've just played an entire set of Belle of Sebastian songs!' came the knowing reply from Charles, followed up with 'Why not come to see us play in Manchester tomorrow and we'll play The Smiths!' from Ethan. LOL, so we did. Anyway, in terms of the songs, here you have what the band opened with and closed with in Glasgow last night. Do enjoy. What a brilliant time of it. Moar, please.
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Math and Physics Club - 'Weekends Away' (2.37)
Math and Physics Club - 'We're so DIY!' (2.24)
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With very special thanks to Colin ('Half My Heart Beats') for putting this show on. :)
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Go say hello at the Clubhouse! And, remember, Indietracks is this weekend coming! As for the photographs, what can I say, erm... I do like musician's feet (not in a weird way, promise!).
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