Live Review

The Answering Machine – King Tuts, Glasgow

• 29th Oct 2010

Manchester’s The Answering Machine played an excellent set in Glasgow last night as part of a short UK tour. The crowd was a little on the sparse side, but that didn’t affect the energy and professionalism of their performance.

Scottish band Little Eskimos opened up and put on a very good show. Their guitar based sound also includes a nice keyboard counterpoint to a rocking vibe. They were extremely well received and are now on my list of bands to see again soon.

Rapids from Bournemouth were next on stage and their melodic synth sound had an ambient, almost arty feel to it. The lead vocalist was worth watching on his own for an overly dramatic style that included tying himself up with the mic cable and gyrating across the small stage. He didn’t miss a note, though.

Futuristic Retro Champions played an entertaining set of electro pop numbers, based around keyboards and multi part harmonies. As the name suggests, there is an old school edge to their modern style and the infectious joy of their stage show was very catchy. Unfortunately, the band is apparently about to split up.

It was close to 11pm before The Answering Machine came on, but they were well worth waiting for. They fitted 12 songs into a 45 minute set that showcased their talents perfectly, mixing old favourites and new songs effortlessly. They take a melodic approach to music and have the ability to produce pop songs with just enough edge to make them stand out from the crowd.

The opening pairing of Oh Christina and Obviously Cold, both from the debut album Another City, Another Sorry, were delivered at pace and with an almost manic energy. Singer Martin Colclough left the stage to sing amongst the crowd, causing those at the front to move away rather nervously.

The first new song, 3 Miles, followed and this was where the addition of keyboards to the sound was really evident. The Answering Machine have an excellent stage presence, and go about their work with a real focus, and a first rate sound mix brought it all together very nicely.

Oklahoma, my favourite track from the album, and the single Animals were highlights for me. Animals is an excellently crafted pop song with a great hook and a superb bass line from Gemma Evans.

Standouts among the new songs were Lifeline, the title track of the album to be released early next year featuring some great work by guitarist, Pat Fogarty, and Hospital Lung, with drummer Ben Perry on keyboards.

The band closed, appropriately enough, with It’s Over! They left the stage one by one until Colclough stood alone, picked out by a single spotlight. And when that went out the show was over, with no time left for an encore.

It is a pity that The Answering Machine did not sell out the venue – but the loss is for those who missed a very fine set. With a new album, to be released early in 2011, life is looking good for the band. They will be touring again to support the album – be sure to go and see them!