Live Review

The Imagineers – King Tut’s, Glasgow

• 2nd Oct 2011

Glasgow indie band The Imagineers showed a capacity King Tut’s crowd just why they are one of the best live bands on the circuit with a storming hour long set last night.

The Merrylees from Edinburgh were the opening act and they got things off to a good start. Their rock sound is fast paced and bass heavy, and the bluesy guitar licks were a highlight. Several of their songs had a clear country rock rhythm to them, the pick being The Coroner, with two electric guitars playing off each other and a driving drum beat. It was a lively start to the night.

The Stagger Rats, also visitors from Edinburgh, played a tight set too. They have a big sound with two guitars and a Hammond organ in the line up and used it well. With vocals alternating between two members of the band there was variety and quality to their music. The single Fuzzy Fuzzy stood out, a solid track featuring some nice lead guitar work.

The Imagineers have had a busy summer, playing several festivals and touring with Kassidy, and so were playing their first home town show for several months. And right from the off the pace was fast and the music dynamic, the Latin rhythms and tight melodies that typify their sound clear to hear.

There were many fan favourites on the set list. Fairground was as dramatic as ever, its ringmaster style introduction welcoming the crowd to the show. Stevie Young on guitar and lead vocals stood centre stage, his voice true and strong as the dancing started early. Spanish Sands, also from an EP released earlier in the year, was superbly delivered, featuring some nice lead work from guitarist Scott Bonnyman.

A new song, Albert Einstein, was introduced to the set and went down very well. An up tempo track with a fine bass line from Ali Grieg, it fitted well into the overall performance. Find Myself also stood out, the track driven by the powerful drumming of Stephen Forbes.

Much too soon the set was nearing its conclusion, ending with signature song Imagineer with the crowd on backing vocals and the excellent Hour of Need, its big chorus providing a fitting end to the performance.

Calls for an encore were soon answered and the band returned to the stage to play two more tracks. The always excellent Mariana was exuberant and compelled the crowd to dance along to its Spanish rhythms. And the extended rocker The Changeover ended things on a real high with its big riffs and simple chorus.

The Imagineers continue to deliver excellent live performances that demonstrate exactly why this band is so highly rated. There is always a tremendous energy to their shows and there are few bands who can whip an audience into a frenzy the way that they do. If you get the chance to see them play, don’t miss it.