“Yaaas, Gig ah ma life” proclaims one young bar hugging content customer as TOY’s set draws to a close.
Quite a claim, however, before such life defining shenanigans there is time to catch the raw energy of Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs at work, which turns out no bad thing.
Prior to this evening I had no knowledge of this outfit but following a spirited performance they will have gained at least one new fan in the form of yours truly.
With a sound not a million miles away from early Jonathan Richman Charlie Boyer and his gang receive a reasonable response from those in attendance with ‘I Watch You’ a particular highlight of the half hour set.
They certainly know how to put on a show with raw thumping frenetic garage rock punctured with slap in your face vocals, ‘You Haven’t Got A Chance’ hints at a more guitar centric Rapture.
Despite the obvious influences there was something a bit fresh and just a bit different going on here that had me wanting to hear more of this lot.
Overall, the Voyeurs provide a pleasant surprise and give an indication there next visit to Glasgow may well be as headliners.
TOY begin with colossal album opener ‘Colours Running Out’ motorik beats interchange and combine lush helpings of synth as singer Tom Dougall laments: “it’s not that easy/your colours running out I’m all you ever talk about”.
Everyone is gripped, ready for more of the same as they plough through live favourite ‘Bright White Shimmering Sun’.
All the while, vocalist Dougall leers over the microphone transfixed by guitar pedals and the like, only pausing to acknowledge the crowd briefly between songs.
That’s not to say the band aren’t enjoying themselves, indeed, I’d struggle to recall a more excitable keys player in Alejandra Diez who delights in fleshing out eight-minute non album track ‘Left Myself Behind’.
Bass heavy ‘Dead & Gone’ sees the shackles taken off as the band let rip and doesn’t Sleazy’s know it as we all manage to dismiss the muddy sound and lap up its monochromatic, skeletal lyrical glory: “disappear in time/see you turn in to, you’ve nothing more to lose”.
There’s a wonderful sense of climax and drama rarely found in a band embarking on its first album tour and the Sleazy’s walls can’t help but bounce as the drums kick in for ‘Motoring’.
The punk psychedelics of ‘Motoring’ and later on ‘Heart Skipped A Beat’ presents a band just as comfortable in the five-minute single shoes as in the double figure sonic capers; veering between the twin posts of noise and melody almost effortlessly.
The quintet are tremendously tight tonight and even pull off the acid rock instrumental drones of ‘Drifting Deeper’ without a single groan from this thankful Glasgow crowd.
Everyone is happy to be enveloped in a wall of sound, toxic feedback noise, a brain-frying psychedelic maelstrom of sonic manipulation.
Space in their music is something TOY are clearly adept at constructing, always aware the chorus doesn’t have to suddenly appear 30 seconds into each piece, something pretty evident during ‘Kopter’.
They go from quiet, harmonious synth-driven to distorted guitar walls of sound and back via some great driving bass.
Possibly the most multidimensional among the set ‘Kopter’ is more than 10 minutes of soaring beauty executed with a nonchalant presence and confidence.
Its new-wave-esque tones cut the air, fizzing with electric energy.
The hypnotic garage thrashing of Velvet Underground cover ‘What Goes On’ leaves the audience dazed in awe, with not many prepared to stop their cheers and applause.
Having provided such a feast to our ears for over an hour, declarations such as “gig of ma life” may not be as foolish and out of place as one may imagine: TOY appear to be the real deal.
Words: Andy Quigley
Photos: Kenny McColl
