What a year it has been for Three Blind Wolves, their slot in the BBC Introducing Stage at T in the Park which in turn earned them enough attention and an ever growing fan base in which to tour further a field to Holland and eventually landing a US tour.
This expeditious rise to prominence may have left many people wondering where this quartet came from, but in Glasgow this is surely seen as a well-earned break.
After all, Ross Clark and his band of merry musicians have been delighting Glasgow for many a year now, churning performance after performance, cultivating a sound that is full and recognisable.
Tonight’s performance may not be quite as alluringly foreign as some of the places recently visited by the band, but you can be sure that this is just as important to them, for coming home is always as significant as going to pastures new.
As the guys turn up on stage you can really feel that sentiment becoming true, as they are comfortable in familiar surroundings, with the crowd immediately reacting in a frenzy to their presence.
They immediately rattle into some old familiar tracks, Clark’s vocals, seemingly not strained by the abundance of shows and travelling, soar and fill the room with ease.
It’s the passion from his voice that has really set this band apart from others on the circuit.
There is a real earnest quality to Clark as he laments, croons and at times yells his way through their catchy, up-roaring rock/alt country tunes.
Their performance really hits full flow during ‘Echo on the Nightrain’, one of the stronger tracks from mini album Sound of the Storm, which kicks off a guitar-line that feels like it could have been lifted straight from Paul Simon’s Graceland.
It’s a joyous and uplifting melody that is chimed in with Clark bellowing “all my days are wasted” in his unmistakable Clydebank drawl.
The crowd at this point is simmering, but this isn’t enough for Clark as he encourages them to let go at every possible opportunity, wanting us to feel as much as he does.
As the night comes to an end we are all awaiting the treat that lies ahead, in usual fashion, Clark and the rest of the band come down from the stage and make their way through the fully satisfied crowd, creating a circle amongst us, he proclaims that they will play their final song.
Silent mouths and transfixed eyes look ahead to the band as they break into a waltzing melody with the crowd singing in full voice and Clark’s voice meandering through the drunken choir, it’s at this point where you can really see the richness and strength of his voice.
Three Blind Wolves know their roots and are never going to distance themselves from those that made their success possible.
Whether a newcomer or a devoted fan to the sound of The Three Blind Wolves, there is no doubt they would have left being all the more enchanted and impressed by the effecting sounds that these four guys can create.
It would be an insult for me to say that big things can be expected of them, as I’m sure this is decidedly apparent to anyone who has had the pleasure of witnessing them live.
Words: Alan Laidlaw
(Photo taken at Flat 0/1 by Kenny McColl)
