Despite Shirley Manson’s claim that gig number two is always a hot mess, ANGELFISH are on top form tonight as they return to Edinburgh’s Liquid Room for the second of their reunion shows, which has seen them raise over £25,000 for Children in Gaza charities.
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie’s Shirley Manson, Martin Metcalfe, Fin Wilson and Derek Kelly formed Angelfish back in 1993, recording their self-titled album with producers Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads. Soon after, Shirley caught the attention of Garbage’s Steve Marker as he watched the video of Angelfish’s debut single Suffocate Me on MTV…and the rest, as they say, is history. But she’s not forgotten her roots, telling us that she learned everything about being in a band from the guys on stage with her tonight, and she hints at a future Angelfish performance, explaining that although they’ve never played some of album tracks live before these benefit gigs, maybe they’ll play them again some day. Ah, we’ll take that as a promise, Shirl!
She’s also proudly singing the praises of Goodbye Mr MacKenzie tonight, explaining how they were once touted as one of Scotland’s brightest, shining examples of brilliant, esoteric, alternative rock. But to be honest, many in the crowd don’t need that reminder, with plenty friendly rivalry on display as fans show their age, reminiscing about the first time they saw Goodbye Mr Mckenzie play back in the ‘80s.
Martin, Fin and Derek, now members of The Filthy Tongues, open the set with Nae Tongues. The number’s a searing instrumental from an earlier incarnation of the band, Isa and the Filthy Tongues, and warms up the crowd nicely as we await the arrival of Shirley, who’s perhaps battling a rogue stray hair while perfecting her death stare in the mirror. When she finally struts onto the stage and begins striding back and forth, there’s no doubt she means business, but ach, that’s just the way Shurl rock n rolls, and between numbers her face lights up, clearly both delighted and emotional to be here tonight with her old band for such an important cause.
Grabbing the mic, Shirley launches into the angst-laden, raw stomp of Dogs In A Cage, before Suffocate Me chills the crowd, echos of her musical hero Siouxsie Sioux lingering through its claustrophobic gloom and psychedelia, both tracks glorious precursors to the Garbage sound we know and love so well. The band’s cover of Holly & The Italian’s You Can Love Her displays a more upbeat side, and when halfway through the song Shirley loses her place, Martin joins her on vocals to save the day. But these second night gremlins just go to makes the evening ever more special, and most of us would take the added banter over polished perfection any day.
But tonight is really about a cause close to the band’s heart, all proceeds from the gig going towards Gaza’s children’s charities. And with the Friday gig selling out in minutes and tonight’s show added due to demand (and promptly selling out too) it’s no surprise that the specially-commissioned Angelfish charity t-shirts are also gone before tonight’s support, Iona Zajac, hits the stage. Shirley lays it on the line as she discusses the the latest round of deaths in Gaza which went unmentioned in the news today, a story all too familiar, before aptly uplifting the crowd with (when I’m) King Of The World. Aye, we wish, Shirl… She also thanks Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter Iona, whose mournful indie-folk stirred the audience earlier in the evening.
Playing through the rest of the album, Sleep With Me soothes while Heartbreak To Hate oozes an lush vulnerability and an old soul radiates through The Sun Won’t Shine. Tomorrow Forever recalls another of Shirley’s heroes, Chrissie Hynde, while there’s a splash of retro rock on Mummy Can’t Drive. They close the set with Goodbye Mr Mackenzie’s The End but are back on for an encore, dedicating a rendition of The Stone Roses I Wanna Be Adored to the late, great Mani, Shirley sending a kiss skywards as the number draws to a close. They pack one last punch with Trash It, ending a special evening full of top tunes, memories and hope.
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie will be supporting Garbage at Edinburgh Castle on 11 July.
Check our our review of Garbage at Glasgow’s TRNSMT Festival in 2024 >>
Words: Shirley Mack @shirleymack.bsky.social
Pictures: Calum Mackintosh @ayecandyphotography