Live Review

Pete Yorn – King Tut’s, Glasgow

• 18th May 2011

New Jersey singer songwriter Pete Yorn continued his European tour last night with a sell out show in Glasgow, his first visit to the city in over seven years. But the crowd soon forgave him and were treated to an excellent show.

Local band Chris Devotion and The Expectations, a 4 piece Glasgow rock group, opened the evening. They wandered onto the stage and waited while a rather cheesy backing track played. But then they launched into a fine set of short and simple tracks that featured power chords and a ferocious beat. There was some nice lead guitar work on offer too, and they packed a dozen songs into a rocking thirty minute performance.

Pete Yorn and his backing band played a cover of the Smiths’ Panic to kick things off. (Yes, ‘Hang the DJ’, that one.) This was followed by a blistering version of Precious Stone, the opening track from his recent self titled album.

Yorn then apologised for the length of his absence, one of the few breaks in the music, before resuming a set that blended new songs with old favourites. His voice was strong and emotive throughout, and his band did a fine job too.

There is a real variety in Yorn’s work. The emotional Sans Fear, which will be a single release, was delivered in a slower tempo, ending with a fine guitar solo from Mark Noseworthy. Older song Murray contained a singalong part, with which the crowd joined in enthusiastically, and Just Another had a pleasant country tinge to it.

Relator from the Break Up album, on which Yorn collaborated with Scarlettt Johansson, was a highlight, although he did explain that the actress herself was unable to make the show and so he had to sing the track himself. Bassist Zak Schaffer performed backing vocal duties, joking with the crowd as he sang and played.

The second cover of the night, I Feel Good Again originally recorded by Mississippi blues man Junior Kimbrough, saw Yorn switch to electric guitar and deliver the song in a vocal style that was reminiscent of a fifties track. And then the twin guitars combined on Velcro Shoes from the new album to create a harder rock sound.

The set was concluded with Always, played as a request and featuring some thunderous drumming from Scott Seiver and the long time fan favourite For Nancy.

There simply had to be an encore and the band returned to play a slow acoustic Crystal Village and a harder Closet before leaving the stage for the final time to a tremendous reception.

Pete Yorn is a fine songwriter and his live performance was excellent, helped by a very good cast of musicians. Glaswegians can only hope that it is a lot less than seven years before we see him again.