Live Review

The Concretes – The Arches, Glasgow

• 5th Dec 2010

Swedish indie band The Concretes seemed very much at home in Glasgow last night, playing a high quality set to an appreciative audience. The Arches, a cavernous brick venue built under Glasgow Central Station, provided an atmospheric setting for their excellent music.

This was a somewhat eclectic night, with a varied line up. Local band Randolph’s Leap were first to play. Their unusual combination of acoustic folk and traditional Scottish music owes more to Glasgow than the Highlands, but the humorous content of their songs makes them an interesting novelty act.

Chad Valley from Oxford was next; one man centre stage with his keyboards and other electronic paraphernalia. He combined 80s style synth with dance rhythms under an array of lighting effects to form a laid back club vibe. Not really my taste, although the majority present seemed to appreciate it.

The Concretes took to the stage in the dark, the five backing musicians providing an instrumental backdrop for the eventual entrance of lead singer Lisa Milberg. The opening track, Good Evening, which also opens the new album WYWH, set the tone nicely. Milberg’s breathy and sultry lyrics somehow dominated a rich sound, with two keyboards providing fine backing.

The set was predominantly taken from WYWH, showcasing The Concretes’ Europop approach, which is more electronic than rock these days. There is a house feel to their music with disco beats evident too, combining to form a warm and lush sound.

The single All Day was a warm and catchy centrepiece, with many singing along to the chorus. The title track WYWH, which closes the album, also went down very well. And Sing For Me was perhaps the standout, with Milberg cradling the mic sensuously as she swayed, centre stage under a single spotlight.

Song For The Songs, an older track, closed the set. There was more of a guitar focus here, demonstrating the way the band’s sound has changed. A three song encore followed, featuring a very nice cover of Robert Palmer’s Johnny and Mary, before the band finally left the stage.

The Concretes are perhaps more of a mainstream pop band then they used to be. They have undoubted musical talent and Lisa Milberg’s switch from drummer to lead singer has given them a new focus. It remains to be seen whether the band’s renaissance will give them the success that their music deserves.