Even the Bluesbunny has bad days. Admittedly, after a bottle of Jim Beam the night before, several beers for breakfast may not have been the smartest way to ring in the new day but in any case it seemed like nothing was going to cure me.
Little Fire, a young songster from Ayrshire, took to the stage. Fashionably late, he wasted no time on "Fire Me Up Now", a song that outlined his potential although still sounding far from polished. Likewise, "Back to You" was simple, personal, and undeniably likeable, but perhaps in need of a little tidying up. There's nothing overly complex about the music of Little Fire, but clearly it means a lot to this young man. Continued gigging is the prescription for Little Fire.There's plenty more to come, and I'm sure the name will become a regular fixture in Glasgow and surrounding areas.
Then came the unassuming figure of Anna Meldrum. Pop music in Glasgow doesn't get much sweeter than this. "Hazy Ocean Lullaby" was simple and soft, embodying the gentle waves by the banks of Loch Lomond. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the set was a stripped-down rendition of Timbaland (!) favourite "The Way I Are". Now, this Bluesbunny has little time for Timbaland but, truly, it is impossible to dislike Meldrum's sweet-as-sugar take on the track. A couple of eyebrows were raised when Meldrum introduced "The Soldier Song" but by the time the song was over, another anthem was born. Complete with a fully functioning sense of humour, there's no telling how far this lovely young lady could go.
So then came Dorian, in what was an unusually acoustic set for them. Their usual alternative rock attack was rested for the evening as they traded their laptops and electric guitars for acoustics. Whilst the idea was good, I don't think the songs come off particularly well when played acoustically. "U Live and Learn" and "There's A Place" both developed nicely, and were received appropriately, but seemed to lack a certain kick. The set came to a close with "The People Line", and this performance, although perhaps not entirely comfortable for them, certainly did their reputation as a live act no harm.
The final act on tonight's Breakout Scotland showcase was The Miss's. Four girls: Michelle Low and Audrey Tait, with vocal aid from Jennifer Muir and Bianca Brown. If they didn't already have your attention, "Don't Walk Away" surely stole it. Audrey's gentle guitar added depth to what could easily have been a solid acappella set. If ever a band could be said to understand the beauty of harmonies, it is this band. Rarely does a white girl sound so drowned in soul and this group are truly flying the flag for soul music. Michelle introduced "Double or Nothing", and dubbed it "harmony-tastic". Beat me to it! This was perhaps not the ideal venue for these lovely lassies, but rest assured their name will spring up all over Glasgow before long.
You know what? After all my complaining, I left the show feeling somewhat less unwell. What's more, a great night of music was heard! Oh, the joy!