Live Review

The Boy Who Trapped The Sun – Oran Mor, Glasgow

• 29th May 2010

A small, but appreciative, crowd was very well entertained by Colin MacLeod, AKA The Boy Who Trapped The Sun. An early start saw MacLeod on stage at 7:30pm, making it likely that some people were unfortunate enough to miss out on an excellent opening act.

MacLeod entered from the rear of the stage accompanied by his drummer and bass player, both recent additions to the band. After a short wait for his cello player to take her place the show began.

For much of the set the low lighting and smoky backdrop gave a tremendously atmospheric setting. Starting on an electric guitar before switching to an acoustic, MacLeod demonstrated exactly why he is earning such a fine reputation. His folk based songs with lyrics of love lost and hopes for the future were backed with some adept guitar picking, and delivered with a melancholy air that was soothing yet wistful.

MacLeod has a voice that ably portrays heartbreak and longing, yet it also has a whisky soaked huskiness at times. Counterpointed by a female backing vocal, he showed a real range and powerful delivery that exactly suits his musical style.

This was a regrettably short set with several highlights. Katy, the first single from the forthcoming debut album is a catchy number about avoiding commitment. And the title track from the album, Fireplace, was beautifully delivered with the cello backing the vocals. There was also some fine guitar work to conclude the song.

Given the short time available there was understandably little chat between songs, although it would appear that MacLeod is content to let his music do the talking in any case.

But he did introduce the acoustic Dreaming Like A Fool as a love song about being stabbed by an ex-girlfriend. The track, again from the new album, adds a nicely humorous touch to the set, despite the subject material.

This was my first time seeing The Boy Who Trapped The Sun Live, but it won’t be the last. And from the audience reaction at the end of the set it would appear that others also enjoyed what was a very good set.