The opportunity to watch a band play their first live show in around two years doesn’t come up too often, the strange scenario of a band staying dormant for this length of time could work against them, the hype surrounding them dissolved into nothing.
But this is Camera Obscura, no one’s forgotten about them, in fact it’s difficult to go a day without hearing them on one advert or another, it could well be that they’re more popular than they ever were.
Tonight they shed the rust infront of a respectful and adoring crowd in the somewhat intimate hometown setting of the CCA, there didn’t need to be any promotion for this show, tickets disappeared before those any fair weather fans even knew the show was happening.
The fact that all proceeds of tonight’s event are going to charity is a noble stance and one that displays confidence as well as goodwill, Camera Obscura aren’t millionaires that can afford to throw away fees but the gratitude shown by band leader Tracyanne Campbell for those who have given their time to do this is a pleasure to behold.
They’re also announcing details of a new record tomorrow (out in June), and we witness a number of new tracks during the set as Campbell and co deliver a charming if out of practice set infront a sparkling backdrop that puts you in mind of seeing the lights in Royal Exchange Square for the first time in the year.
On first impression of the new tracks there’s no real standout, nothing quite as instantly catchy as ‘French Navy’ was in 2009, but there does sound a few promising numbers but it’s always hard to say on first listen.
It’s safe to say though that every track contains that alluring warmth that any other Camera Obscura track has or will have, past or present, Campbell’s vocal delivery paired with their distinctly Glasgow indie pop sound is always capable of plastering a smile on anyone’s fancy.
Of course it’s the classics that raise the biggest response from the crowd, tracks like ‘Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken’ treated like the pop classics they are.
Unfortunately there’s no ‘Super Trooper’ cover tonight, as Campbell quips about Glasgow’s favourite ABBA number “no, we didn’t actually write that one”, but no one is too let down.
Everyone leaves tonight happy, there’s nothing you can’t like about Camera Obscura, they just ooze that sunshine feeling and rusty or not the fact that they’re back and have new material on the way can only be a good thing for everyone, whether they’re here tonight or not.
While the figure raised may not come close to the million pounds Campbell jokes about during the set I’m sure when toted up it’ll be nothing to be sniffed at, tonight is a rousing success seeing a band restore themselves to the live setting and sharing a moment with the city where it all started.
Photos: Gordon Ballantyne
