Live Review

Operahouse – Glasgow King Tuts

• 6th Feb 2008

Getting the chance to play the legendary King Tuts would be a buzz for any up and coming band, and even if you asked the Operahouse members after the gig, I’m sure they would sing you a similar tune. However on the face of tonight’s show, frowns an appalling anti climax in the form of an uncharacteristically poor King Tuts turnout.
Despite the obvious adversity, Operahouse did their best, ticking all the right post-Libertine high tempo guitar boxes which usually has indie audiences scrambling for the skinny jean sporters which play before them.
The band shuffle onto the stage initially keeping schtum before kick starting the show with their own speedy variety of Artic Monkey/Maccabee style of pop tunes – At the moment they sound unremarkable yet catchy, however one cannot help but feel the lack of atmosphere is playing its own part in proceedings.
Showcasing tracks like ‘Wrecking Ball’, ‘Machine Palace’ and ‘Diane’, the set starts smoothly before they hit out with a particular standout. ‘Kidnap For Suburbia’ contains more melody than any other song played tonight – even if they have all but sampled the Pixies backing vocal from their classic track ‘Where Is My Mind’.
Elsewhere Operahouse lack the overall invention which would make them stand out in a frankly overcrowded market – However what they lack in uniqueness they make up in their spirit, enthusiasm and tightness of their songs.
‘Born A Boy’, ‘Man Next Door’ and ‘Telescopes’ are as well rehearsed as they’ll ever be and are perhaps signs of more imaginative things to come from this hotly tipped Camden foursome.
Hopefully the next time they play Glasgow that imagination will have developed, not to mention their Glaswegian fan base.