Los Campesinos / Copy Haho @ King Tuts 31/10/09

Halloween is a pretty magical time in Scotland. Hailing from England, the first Halloween I spent in Glasgow frankly shocked me, I genuinely couldn’t believe how well celebrated the holiday was in Scotland. The effort that some go to in this city really should be applauded – this Halloween I saw a group of over 5 flavoured condoms, the grim reaper (complete with scythe) and Arthur Dent (in the mirror).

Stonehaven’s Copy Haho have certainly made the effort too, each of the four members don heavy face paint, singer Joe Hearty is a carbon copy of those Misfits t-shirts you see about the town. The rest of the band wear similar zombie chic faces, though bassist Richard makes up for his more subtle use by unflinchingly staring into the crowd with all the psychotic intensity of Ian Curtis. His stare is only broken by intermittent forays into the terrified crowd while playing his bass and fixing his stare onto the singer of his band.

I saw Copy Haho last year, in this very venue, supporting Make Model (RIP), they had a largely similar set of cleverly worded inventive pop songs, from the school of Death Cab, they seemed shy and apologetic. Not so today, the band seem much more confident and at ease on stage, and why not – Copy Haho have had a cracking year, two well received singles and a highly lauded ep has led to large scale radio play from 6 music to Radio 1, Huw Stephens included their debut single You Are My Coalmine on his compilation the music sounds better with Huw. But in truth the mere fact that Los Campesinos! Have brought them out on a tour is probably both the most ringing endorsement and the greatest indication of how far this band have come.

Running in the wrong direction was released on 19th October through Too Pure Records and includes the slightly wonderful b-side Demons and Gods.

And so to Los Campesinos! having missed this band on the previous two occasions they’d played tuts I was more than excited about them taking to the stage, as were the rest of the crowd, flavoured condoms and all. As the seven strong, 28 limbed indie pop monster emerged and the familiar crowd swell subsided, a thumping bass line kicked proceedings off. It was new bassist Ellen’s, the replacement for recently departed Aleks and dressed as a female Arthur Dent, duty to begin one of the finest sets I’ve ever witnessed. From set opener you’ll need those fingers for crossing throughout Los Campesinos! are on top top form, and despite promoting imminent album Romance Is Boring, they refrain from whetting appetites for February’s release in favour of a crowd pleasing summary set.

Los Campesinos! sum up in an hour and a half just why they’re the best band gigging in the UK at the moment. Songs plucked from first two albums sound like instant classics when amplified in the live arena, the biggest reactions from the sold out crowd come for You! Me! Dancing! and My Year in Lists. New songs the sea is a good place to think of the future, new single there are listed buildings and new albums title song romance is boring all sound as massive as their predecessors, particularly the sea is… which is without doubt the best song I’ve heard this year.

Los Campesinos! support The Cribs in Birmingham, London, Doncaster and Edinburgh , and will tour the UK in February to support the release of Romance in Boring.

Words: Christopher Panks
Pics: Tomas Hermoso