Outsiders deliver killer set
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WHEN life has been tough over the past few months, there has been a silent clock inside helping you keep going and count down to the album launch gig for IAIN McLAUGHLIN AND THE OUTSIDERS debut album.
As of Friday’s Ironworks gig, it’s over.
So thank God when it came it delivered and delivered and delivered.
The gig wasn’t perfect, of course, in the way that nothing is.
Songs that heavy and momentous need the odd faster lighter song to break the spell – even for a few moments – just to let your lungs breathe and mind download what’s been so far.
And the set of songs from the debut We Are All Outsiders isn’t exactly disco.
That’s not a bad thing – you’d still settle for the slower stomp of these songs a thousand times over than compromise them for a better-paced mix of fast and slow.
But that’s why restless punters started to chatter at a couple of points in the set.
As singer and songwriter Iain said himself before The Rise And Fall - referring to his experience witnessing the venue's night of rap-pop duo Rizzle Kicks: "This is the most non Rizzle Kicks song you could write!”
The lyrics are almost Biblical in the song’s commandments for happiness.
And it's a prime example of the very clear, simple, hard-hitting lyrics that cut to the chase on almost every song.
To a song – particularly in biggest hitters Remedy and Someone For Everyone – they’ve the potential to soothe or arouse every human being that’s ever been sad, happy, scared, in love or volcanically angry.
Both band and singer Iain were in top form on the night.
If there’s a better male voice on the Highland music scene, I’ve yet to hear it.
And assuming that there had been long rehearsals to get the show as tight as possible, not a moment had been wasted by bassist Dave, drummer Russell and guitarist Paul.
Not sure Don’t Speak – begun solo with Iain looping guitar and voice – before the full band returned to the stage to join in should have been quite so drawn-out. But the power of the full line-up behind it made it worth the wait.
And if it’s power you want, try album We Are All Outsiders’ harnessed tsunami of sound pounding out of your speakers.
If you thought the gig was good ... MC
