Scottish Rockers Twin Atlantic took a chance with their lockdown album Transparency moving from thumping anthemic rock to an 80’s inspired laidback mix of poppy hooks and spoken word.
The album was written in vocalist Sam’s Glasgow flat during Covid and the tracks’ lyrics reflect the mental and financial stress many musician must have felt during the pandemic.
For some, this has been Twin Atlantic’s Dylan electric guitar moment and this audience of superfans who were first in the queue for the album and tickets for the gig would seem like a good test. Perhaps the first lines of Get Famous reflect the change in the band’s new approach. ‘A new format, avoiding all contact – A glass cheque through a football net – I’m jumping puddles – It’s good for my likes and follows.’
Sam McTrusty and Ross McNae the band’s guitarist and bass player promised a laid back acoustic night at this gig organised by independent record store Assai – and that’s how things started out with Keep Your Head Up which at times felt like a lyrical poem on a simple melody. But the acoustic bubble was burst by the chunky chords of Get Famous with Sam’s spoken word lyrics over a heavy riff. The hard core fans loved it and we were off.
The band asked the crowd to choose the next song and the band broke out with Free – the audience singing every word over the jangly guitars.
Rather than a launch for Transparency the night was a showcase for the bands hits including Barcelona, Hold On, Brothers and Sisters and Crash Land. The audience sang every song and Sam took time out to tell them how much they’d enjoyed it.
With Mothertongue the pair brought the stadium into this small room with a driving riff bouncing the crowd who belted out the words. Sam, the self-named Scottish Axel Rose with tongue firmly in his cheek can certainly knock out these tunes. Things were brought to a close with the excellent Heart and Soul which peaked at 17 in the UK chart in 2014.
The band and their audience had a great night with songs from Transparency seamlessly joining the other favourites. The full band will be touring the UK in May. Get out and see them!
Words & picture: Graeme White