Bands. What exactly makes for a good band? This thought came to me as I watched my pint of Guinness slide inexorably towards the edge a seriously sloped table in Brel. This particular venue is located in the trendiest part of the west end of Glasgow - Ashton Lane if you don't know it - and, like so many venues in the area, is not really suited to live music at all (although apparently it is perfectly suited for loud domestic disputes between badly dressed student types…).
Squeezed on to the tiny stage tonight are Sonny Marvello, or at least 4 of them anyway as their drummer is away doing panto (!). It might be only an acoustic set but the main man - resplendent in his trademark red bowler hat - launches into song like he was appearing at The Apollo in days gone by. Playing a selection of new material, the early promise shown by this band has been delivered upon. Even stripped down, songs like "Love Ain't Sweet" have a majesty missing from the apologetic efforts that predominate the charts these days.
As I watched Sonny Marvello rattle through their short set, it occurred to me that this is what Glasgow needs. A band with a bit of style. A band with songs that make you want to wave your lighter in the air. Listening to some late period albums by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band this morning brought back to me something that I saw in Sonny Marvello. They have that same almost theatrical approach and also that same underlying feeling that no stage will ever be big enough to hold them.
To end this review, I think I will borrow the Sonny Marvello catchphrase - stay classy!