Rising Signs @ PO Bar Broughty Ferry 01/12/05

Rising Signs - Post Office Bar, Broughty Ferry 1-12-05

Almost the first of the Dundee bands that impressed me a long time back when I first realised there was a "Dundee Scene", this was their comeback concert and the first full concert with their new singer. Seeing as how it had been the old singer that, for me, was the weak point in the band, and how, with the new singer on board, the previous concert had been over a year ago and had lasted all of three tracks before an incident at the venue caused it to stop, then this would be, at last, a chance to check them out.
A quintet of two lead guitarists, bassist, drummer/harmony vocals and lead singer -they're all young guys - the time came to begin. The first track opened with the sound of dual guitars, chiming away in an almost Americana fasion as the rhythm section wandered in and the vocals soon after. The whole sound and pace of what you were hearing immediately makes you think of bands such as Television and Stone Roses - right from the start, you realise that this is no ordinary rock or indie band, but here is a band that can really deliver a sort of music the likes of which you rarely hear on a UK stage these days. When the vocalist begins, he possesses the kind of voice that seems to soar above the instruments, almost organically fitting in with the mood of the song, not too upfront so that it becomes the central focus at the expense of the band, but still flying above them. He almost appears to be harmonising with himself - it's that good a vocal - but the actual harmonies come from the drummer, and this enahnces the songs no end, giving an extra depth to them. But, from this opening track, you are hooked into the world of the band as the guitars sing out and the pace moves slowly but surely along. A further couple of tracks serve to show that your initial reaction is confirmed as two more songs of a similar pace, ring out into the venue, those guitars slowly gliding and combining, occasionally soloing albeit briefly, to provide a perfect icing on the solid strength rhythmic cake. The songs are good, the vocals exceptionally good for the songs, and the whole thing, although decidedly original, leaving you with echoes of classic quality guitar-based indie bands of days gone by.
After the opening three tracks, the vocalist settled down to deliver a solo acoustic number, one that worked very well, showing his vocal to be every bit as good as the band mix suggests, but unfortunately interrupting the flow of the set that the band had created. The next track also began with just acoustic guitar and vocals before the band slowly joined in and the track soared into life, again the guitars ringing out to perfection. You got the impression that the set would have been better with the two acoustic numbers beginning proceedings as the band comes into life and then carries on from where the set actually started this time, but I guess that's to be seen.
By the time the next track came along, again at a similar pace and structure to what you've already heard, you get a kind of itch that says you could do with something a little more uptempo and adrenaline rousing at this point just to soup things up a little, but, that said, what you are witnessing is quality musicianship and singing from all concerned. They do, however, save that all-important, more rousing track for last, as the band launches into it with vigour and gets the audience leaping about the place, a great end to a great comeback.
They clearly have some great songs and band and vocalist can be proud that it does all work, and that this is only the beginning. I, personally, would like to see a track where the coda features just the band - a chance really to hear those guitars duel - as they clearly have two guitarists who can really deliver the goods and it would be so great to hear a song that had that "Marquee Moon/Free Bird" kind of outro to make the spine tingle. Mut mention the rhythm section - the drummer on harmony vocals was tight and, as befits this kind of music, was all-important yet unobtrusive, while the bassist seemd to be the glue that bound it all together, occasionally upfront and noticeable, but, again, tight and solid.
But, overall, a great first step, a band unique on the "Dundee Scene" with a definite future and a huge potential in front of them.