Milk @ The Captains Rest – 27/06/10

It was that time of year once again where Glaswegians get to use the term Mardi Gras with a straight face. Admittedly, the West End Festival is well…, in the west end where that sort of thing is encouraged. But there were no floats or Celtic drummers tonight gig at the Captains Rest. Just three of the most captivating live bands I’ve seen in over a year.

First up were The Organs of Love, a surprise addition to the bill who are an offshoot of Wilson Tan and comprise Jim McKiven (keys) and Alicia Mathews (vocals). This act really set the tone for the night with three avant-garde songs that left the audience ponderous and entertained. Alicia’s ethereal vocals, accompanied by Jim’s organ and drum machine created seductive and surreal performance. Their final track, Le Chien et Moi typified their intellectual and cheeky sides. Having said that, I’m not quite sure about the intentions of this pre Wilson Tan act; whether it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek or originality verging towards pretension, you just have to see it to believe it.

Three or so songs into the show both members of the band stripped off their black outfits and blue tape and were joined by the three other members of Wilson Tan. They kicked into their set and dived banjo first into some psychedelic country rock. Think Gram Parsons meets Primal Scream. Highlights were Harry’s Theme and The Ungentlemanly Gentleman.

Second up was another of El Rancho Records acts, Schnapps. This four piece reminded me of what it is I love about Iggy Pop and The Stooges; primal energy and a fuck you attitude. Crossdresser had high tempo drumming and uncomplicated guitar riffs that left many heads bopping and toes tapping. Schnapps slowed things down relatively with More To Life Than Peach that reeked of the influence of Primal Scream’s Riot City Blues. No bad thing of course, but that thought stuck with me for the rest of the gig. Overall a great live performance and surely one to watch.

Last on the bill were Milk, a band that before the gig I knew relatively little of. A pre-gig Google search revealed nothing. I was genuinely none the wiser. But as soon as their drummer Michael Marshall took to the stage in his multicoloured Lycra body suit, I knew I was in for a treat. My fears that no man could upstage an attention-seeking drummer were unfounded as Pablo Clark’s front man performance was nothing short of visceral grit. Not since Alexis Krauss (Sleigh Bells) performed at the Art School in May have I stood and paid attention to a new band. They take the best of The Doors and Franz Ferdinand and produce a sound that is greater than the two. Keep an eye out of these guys in August.

Words/ Pic: Alan Dunlop