There are many, many unanswered questions in this universe. Like what the sound guys in Nice and Sleazy have against electric guitars and female vocals, for example. Or why does no one write happy songs any more?
First on tonight were a 4 piece band called Codeen (now there's a name that will help their career…). Despite a rough start, their youthful exuberance carried them through their set. Hopefully that same youthful exuberance will allow them to stop standing in the shadows of Glasvegas as well.
Oh, the happy song question! That one got answered pretty damn quickly when the stage filled with The French Wives. So within a couple of minutes, I had got this feeling that this band were already darlings of the west end of Glasgow but by the third song that no longer mattered. So carefully constructed and arranged were this band's songs that you soon got drawn into the music. There was certainly no lack of musical ability and passion on show either and The French Wives actually looked like they were enjoying themselves. A first class refreshment for tired ears!
Headlining tonight - it was the launch night for their single "Neverland" - were My Cousin I Bid You Farewell (it was just not a good night for band names…). Momentarily distracted by thoughts of whether Morrissey could actually be persuaded to sing Deacon Blue songs, their set passed pleasantly enough although only their slower songs managed to escape the mire of the Sleazy sound. An old saying came to mind - Never stand in front of a steamroller. Or to put that into context of the evening, don't let The French Wives support you as they aren't fooling around.