Tonight’s gig sees elder statesmen of the Scottish indie scene, Teenage Fanclub take to the stage in the salubrious surroundings of Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms.
With 10 albums and a career spanning four decades it’s no surprise, album number 10, ‘Endless Arcade’ features heavily in tonight’s set but before we get to that we’re taken back to the mid-nineties with ‘About You’ and rather fittingly, ‘Start Again’.
There’s plenty of chat from Norman throughout the night and it’s clear they’re as delighted to be back on stage as we are watching them. He introduces the first of the new tracks ‘Everything Is Falling Apart’ which has all ‘The Fannies’ trademark components – a bouncy bassline and drums, gently layered grungy guitars, and beautiful harmonised vocals. It’s welcomed like an old friend by the the appreciative audience, so no better time for another new one, ‘Home’, the albums opening track. It’s a mellow ballad with a chiming guitar motif running throughout. ‘Warm Embrace’ is a little more reflective and oozes with the Byrds influences that are so prevalent on their quieter tracks.
You’re never likely to get any huge surprises at a ‘Fannies’ gig. The songs are born of the same DNA but it’s that familiarity that makes them so endearing. They create a warm comforting feeling, like a favourite blanket, their sound envelopes the audience and pulls you in. If you add the fact the band is fronted by the most affable and self-depreciating man this side of Dave Grohl, how could you not fail to be taken in?
‘Alcoholiday’ sees the first big singalong of the night while ‘Verisimilitude’ from 1995’s ‘Grand Prix’ gets the supercharged live treatment making great use of new keyboardist and vocalist, Euros Childs (of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci).
‘God Knows it’s True’ with it’s soaring J Mascis style guitars is followed by title track of the new LP, ‘Endless Arcade’. We also get the honour of witnessing the live debuts of ‘In Our Dreams’ and ‘Back in the Day’.
Other highlights include the bass driven groove of ‘It’s a Bad World‘ compliments the soaring vocal harmonies and wah-wah – frenzy in the middle eight perfectly. The short and sweet ‘I’m in Love’ from 2016’s ‘Here’ is centred around a Sixties soaked vocal progression with a liberal dose of Raymond McGinley’s chiming guitar adding the sparkle.
Last song of the set, ‘The Concept’ saw a mass outbreak of dad dancing which seems to consist of coordinated head nodding and high energy foot tapping (alternating between legs as each one tires) – the middle age mosh.
The encore sees the band return to the stage and after expressing their gratitude for everyone coming to the show, and for buying the LP, they launch into ‘The Fall’ from 2012. This is followed by ‘The Sun Won’t Shine on Me’ from the new record.
Saving the best for last, ‘Everything Flows’ reminds us where this band come from and why they were regularly name checked by the likes of Kurt Cobain who described them as “the best band in the world”. Judging by the response from the audience, tonight they still agree 100%, ’Mon’ the Fannies!
Words and pictures: Calum Mackintosh @ayecandyphotography