So, mere days after whining about not getting to as many gigs as I used to, I found myself watching live music for the second time in a week.
The occasion? A free gig by Edinburgh’s up and coming Gothenburg Address put on by American beer merchants Miller – who’s rather weak brew sadly dominated the bar.
The Gothenburg Address have been around for a while now and last year’s debut album only just missed out on my end of year best of list.
For those unaware, they play instrumental, effects-heavy rock music, not unlike other notable Scottish bands. However, comparisons to Mogwai, while easy to make, are rather lazy.
If they resemble anyone it would be Explosions in the Sky or Pelican but the band have a distinct sound, adding texture to the usual quiet/loud dynamic with elements of shoegaze and thunderously heavy riffs.
Despite being headliners (I didn’t catch a great deal of support act The Elements I’m afraid) they only have time for a brief set, opening with early single A Lesser Coming Home.
I’ve seen the band before and like what they do but there was a definite sense of games being upped here.
Guitarists Luke and Chris, drummer Jeansy and intense bassist Rob thrashed their way through a couple of new songs which, while not radically changing direction, signalled that there’s a lot to come from the band.
There’s talk of a second album later in the year and if they can write a few more songs that are even half as good as It’s Not a Fjord But a Lake then it could be something really special.
The evening finishes with a deafening version of I Am Made of Hearts + Fire. In a mere six songs they’ve demonstrated precisely why they’re so highly rated – with talk of a few gigs further afield you’ll have no excuse not to catch them in 2010.
