Live Review

Bwani Junction – King Tut’s, Glasgow

• 17th Jul 2011

Over the quiet fortnight that marks the Glasgow holidays and the post T In The Park hangover, King Tut’s Summer Nights offers an chance for many up and coming bands to play at the famous venue. And a near capacity crowd saw four Scottish bands make the most of that opportunity.

Glasgow’s Inner Sight started things off in fine fashion with a set full of energy and quality. They call their music Cosmic Dance Rock and it’s an apt description for a band that mixes a solid rock sound with swirling keyboards and a lively dance groove. They are fine live performers too, and the epic sounding Voyage To The Stars typified their dynamic performance.

Selective Service, also from Glasgow, continued the sonic assault with their mix of rock, blues and funk with the occasional nod to dub. Starting with older fan favourites like Greyhound Blues, they hit their stride immediately and again there was a tremendous energy to the set. Newer track The Merchant started slowly with some delicate guitar work before the pace rose again, and brand new song Crosshairs featured a strong bass line and an anthemic chorus. Excellent stuff from a band with a bright future.

The System have a solid two guitar indie rock sound, and again provided an entertaining set full of quality. The band has gone through some recent line up changes but they were as tight as if they had been playing together for much longer. The acoustic I Belong showcased their lead singer’s powerful and emotional delivery well and the closing Love Queen was a highlight, a good classic rock song with some meaty riffs and great guitar work. I definitely want to hear more of The System.

Headliners Bwani Junction come from Edinburgh and had brought a lively group of fans along the M8 with them. They had what looked like a difficult job in following three excellent support acts, but they too put on a fine show.

Their indie sound has a solid feel to it and there is a pop edge that makes their songs both accessible and memorable. The band is currently recording its debut album and with an appearance at Wickerman to come, times are good for Bwani Junction.

Their set was full of songs with infectious rhythms, the African influence that is hinted at in the name clear for all to hear. Musically the band are excellent, the two guitar sound full of solid chords and intricate fills, and the lead singers sometimes thin voice fits the music well.

She Ain’t Saying No, a track from the album, was an early highlight and the crowd were straining at the barrier to get closer to the band as they sang along. The atmosphere was excellent; the band clearly inspires loyalty among its fans.

The set list mixed crowd favourites with some newer numbers, one so new in fact that it doesn’t have a name yet. With its strong lead vocal and solid harmonies from both the bass player and the drummer it deserves to be titled soon – and suggestions were sought from the crowd.

A couple of slower numbers showed some versatility, and even when the tempo dropped there was still a joyous feel to the music from a band that plays with smiles on their faces throughout. The lead singer used all of the small stage as he danced and swayed, before returning to the mic just in time for the next line.

The tempo was raised again with Middle Meadow, a fine track featuring some lovely finger picking guitar, before the closing fan favourite Two Bridges provided a tremendous finale that expended every last drop of energy. Despite calls for an encore there was no time for more.

This was an excellent night of music as four fine Scottish bands demonstrated exactly what they can do in a live setting. I’m looking forward to several more shows in this series over the next ten days – but they will have to be very special indeed to top this bill.