LOCAL NATIVES @ King Tuts 05/03/10

Friday nights in Glasgow are never dull but tonight is even more exciting than usual with Local Natives from Silver Lake LA playing their second Scottish show to a rammed out King Tuts.

Singer Taylor Rice reminded us that last time they played in Glasgow (coincidentally in Tuts) they spent most of the gig out in the street due to a fire alarm. Tonight though there are no such interruptions to a glorious set that showcased a band clearly on the ascendancy. Don’t take our word for it though, the numbers speak for themselves, this tour has included a sold out show at London’s 1000 capacity Heaven venue. Their next stop in London will be at the even bigger Shepards Bush Empire in June. Stateside, May’s pencilled date at New York’s Bowery Ballroom is already sold out! King Tuts calls it’s self the best small venue in the world, tonight it feels like it!

Support comes from local group Boycotts and London band Peggy Sue who release their debut album later this year and who we will be covering on their next headline date in Glasgow.

By the time Local Natives take the stage the energy is palpable. There are many highlight in tonight’s set, right from the off with stunning opener ‘Worlds News‘. The band create a fresh optimistic sound with luscious harmonies and tonight the audience are treated to the debut album Gorilla Manor almost in full. The Talking Heads cover ‘Warning Signs’ is a triumph and other notable highlights include Shape Shifter, Sun Hands and Airplanes. All are executed beautifully and have the tiny venue transfixed.

Ryan and Taylor met in Southern California and have been making music together since they were 13. There is a chemistry obvious with Local Natives you don’t get with bands who’ve known each other a relatively short time. Local Natives feel like a family affair, Taylor’s sister is even in town selling the t-shirts at the merch stall. But it goes deeper than that, they are all multi instrumentalist, constantly swapping instruments and vocal duties between songs, on ‘Cubism Dream‘, Ryan Hahn plays keys, drums and sings simultaneously, if that doesn’t sum up talent, I am at a loss to say what does!

After closer ‘Sticky Thread‘ Taylor announces they will be back in Glasgow later this year and also hitting the major UK festivals. On the strength of tonight don’t be surprised if they are one of the must see new bands at T in The Park.

Gorilla Manor is out now on Infectious Records, you can STREAM IT HERE. The full King Tuts set is below:

Worlds news
Camera talk
Warning signs
Cards and Quarters
Wide eyes
Shape shifter
Cubism Dream
Stranger things
Airplanes
Who knows who cares
Sun hands

Sticky thread