Live Review

The Chapman Family – King Tut’s, Glasgow

• 8th Feb 2011

A lively Sunday night crowd at King Tut’s were very well entertained by a three band bill, headed by The Joy Formidable. But to my mind they were overshadowed by The Chapman Family; a band who should be headlining rather than supporting.

First up were Manchester four piece Airship, who played a decent rock set, Their two guitar sound is lively, and the addition of keyboard parts gives a more pop orientated sound on occasions, but the vocals were unfortunately muddy and indistinct throughout.

The Chapman Family, all four members dressed in black, took to a stage that was bathed in an ominous red light. A brooding and darkly atmospheric introduction to All That’s Left To Break followed, building the tension with an intensity that threatened to overwhelm, before the vocals kicked in.

The Stockton-on-Tees boys play with a post-punk energy and a passion that enthuses their audience. It is easy to relate to the emotional and angst ridden vocals, backed with a wall of sound that is at times haunting and at others menacing and ominous.

Kingsley on lead vocals and guitar took us straight into All Fall, which was previously released as a single. It’s not my favourite track, but this feedback heavy live performance felt faster and much more dynamic than the recorded version.

The current single, Anxiety, was the centrepiece of the set. Less punk and more pop, with its repeated refrain of “your best isn’t good enough”, this should be a hit. Perhaps it is as close to radio friendly as the Family will get; the dark imagery and sneering lyrics contrasting with the inspiring melody.

Something I Can’t Get Out was next, with Kingsley and Paul providing powerful feedback heavy riffs to back the strong vocal. This one starts slowly before the raw power kicks in. Phil behind the drums is a blur, pounding away at an incredible pace.

Another previous single, Kids, has been speeded up and given new life with a manically energetic performance that features vocals spat towards the crowd with an aggression and spirit that typifies the commitment shown throughout the set.

The closing Million Dollars, introduced as a song about murdering children, isn’t so much a song as a dark and foreboding performance piece. With frenzied guitars, pounding bass and driving drums backing the intense vocals, this is something special, a masterpiece of barely controlled aggression.

Pop was having trouble with his bass during the closer, an elderly looking instrument that was held together with copious amounts of duct tape. His response was to smash the offending guitar into pieces, strap on a replacement and continue playing as if nothing had happened.

Towards the end of the track, Kingsley discarded his guitar and gripped the microphone tightly as he performed the final anguished vocal section. Wrapping the cord around his neck, he staged a mock hanging that took the passion of the show to a final frightening level before the band left the stage to a loud ovation.

The Chapman Family put on a quite superb show. The power and the energy they displayed from start to finish demonstrated both great confidence in their music and a combined talent to perform it expertly.

With their debut album Burn Your Town due to be released next month, the success that The Chapman Family deserves may not be too far away.