Live Review

The Amazing Snakeheads – Broadcast, Glasgow

• 7th Feb 2013

Three very different local acts performed last night at one of Glasgow’s newest venues. And all three played fine sets, demonstrating yet again that there is great young talent in the city. The crowd at the small underground venue grew as the night progressed, and left very well entertained.

Saint Max and the Fanatics were first on stage. Their indie pop sound is big and fresh, with guitar, bass and drums backed by a brass section with trumpet and trombone. At times there is a ska influence to what is fast paced and energetic music based around clever lyrics. Max himself is an engaging frontman, although some of his introductions seemed a little awkward, if humorous.

A Life Worth Living from the debut EP released last year was perhaps the highlight of a strong set, a good, catchy pop song delivered well with smooth vocals. The slower Stuck In My Head, initially performed solo by Max before the band came in, was also very good. An album is planned for later in the year and it will be interesting to see how Saint Max and the Fanatics develop their entertaining style.

Laura St. Jude walked out, resplendent in a long red dress, picked up her white Telecaster and began to sing. And the hush that immediate descended was testimony to the effect that her fine voice had on the audience. The young singer songwriter has a low and powerful delivery that is extremely expressive, simply dripping with emotion. At times she could be a night club siren, yet there is also a touch of the blues to her songs. Always On The Run from her debut EP was quite beautiful, slow and wistful, while a new song, as yet untitled, portrayed heartbreak with all the panache of a blues veteran.

There is a real quality to Laura St. Jude’s fine voice, yet also an understated power. She has great control, yet hints that there is much more yet to come. With one EP behind her and some new songs coming into her live act, she is clearly a young woman with a big future.

The Amazing Snakeheads headlined the night with a very good set, full of the manic energy and powerful delivery that is becoming the band’s trademark. There is a rock core to their sound allied to a punk attitude and style of delivery that comes close to performance art at times.

Drummer Jordan and William on bass set a heavy and powerful beat to back lead singer and guitarist Dale. He alternates between bursts of fast chords and explosive solos, but at times the guitar is silent as he spits his lyrics out with an incredible intensity, accompanied by contorted facial expressions that portray the pain in the songs. And it works really well, giving a musical experience that is unusual and striking.

The Snakeheads’ songs are dramatic and are played with an passion that few can match. Where Is My Knife is always a live highlight, the sheer menace of the track almost overwhelming and the audience visibly shrinks back from the stage. Another song about a woman perhaps best described as a man eater started from a slower beat before building to a tumultuous climax. And Heartbreak was delivered with a bluesy guitar sound that worked well with the pain filled lyrics.

The Amazing Snakeheads are a band born to perform on stage. Their power and passion combines with musical ability to produce a live show that is both dramatic and memorable. There are very few bands like this one around.

Venue: Broadcast, Glasgow
Support Band: Saint Max and the Fanatics, Laura St. Jude