Live Review

Stanley Odd – Stereo, Glasgow

• 21st Sep 2012

Hip hop may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Scottish music – but Edinburgh’s Stanley Odd showed that there is a thriving scene by playing a great set in Glasgow last night. The show launched the band’s newly released second album Reject, and in some style too, providing great entertainment for a large and boisterous crowd.

Two young acts opened the night with their own hip hop stylings. Local duo Gasp were energetic and got the small but steadily growing audience involved well, although their vocals over a backing tape were rather muffled and the two voices almost cancelled each other out. Unfortunately it was pretty much impossible to discern any of the lyrics.

Kayce One, backed by Toni Smoke on synth, was much clearer. His strong vocals told of urban life in a passionate way and the backing music set a good beat. The duo was joined by Becca Starr for one song and her strong female vocal added a lot to the music. It was entertaining and there is an album in progress at the moment.

Stanley Odd took to the stage to a great reception and launched into a fine set that featured everything that makes this band so good. MC Solareye (aka Dave Hook) was on top form delivering his sharp and incisive lyrics, Veronika Electronika added her lovely soulful voice to great effect and the rest of the band provided a fine backing. With keyboards, guitar, bass and drums supporting the front two, Stanley Odd have a big sound that makes them very different from most hip hop performers. And it doesn’t take away from the lyrics, which were clear and punchy throughout.

Much of the set was taken from the new album, opening with its first track This Is Stanley Odd. This one is becoming something of a theme tune and the crowd got involved from the start, dancing and singing along. Will The Last One Out Please Turn Off The Lights featured some great vocals from Electronika, while the political lyrics of Antiheroics and Winter of Discontent invoked a strong crowd reaction. Tory bashing always goes down well in Glasgow.

Join The Club, a track that somehow weaves a story out of the names of over 50 pubs and clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow went down very well, the name of the venue for this show receiving a particularly loud cheer. And Solareye commented that the next track would be appropriate after such a night out: Carry Me Home. This one is slightly slower paced and the vocals were perfectly delivered.

The crowd’s favourites seemed to be Get Out Ma Headspace, which picked up the pace and featured a great call and response audience participation, and the current single Killergram with its powerful keyboard intro and strong rap.

It was a measure of how much the audience was enjoying the show that the announcement of the last song was greeted with a chorus of boos. But after Going Through The Motions the band didn’t leave the stage and played the encore that was demanded following a very short break. Think Of A Number and Ten To One, both from debut album Oddio, then closed the night in fine fashion, Solareye leaping around the stage with as much energy as he did at the start of the set.

Stanley Odd provided a highly entertaining night of music to a large crowd that clearly enjoyed the experience. Musically the band have a great sound and lyrically they show penetrating insight and wit through some fine songs. Together it’s a combination that makes them the kind of live act that everyone should see. Even if, like me, you’re not a keen hip hop fan you will still enjoy the performances of Stanley Odd.