Over the past two years, The Wave Pictures have played three night residencies in and around London – playing different set lists each night.
For this latest tour the trio has decided to extend this idea further, venturing out to Glasgow, band ringleader David Tatersall informs us he used to live above The Halt during a chatty show.
To a certain extent The Wave Pictures could lay claim as the UK’s top-secret best band.
In saying this, it’s a shame that the secret is so immersed within an impoverished music industry that Mono is far from full tonight.
Championed by DJs and fellow artists alike for some time now, one can only hope the other two nights receive more attention.
The idea of playing three shows with different material every night would seem a challenge to most – although these boys aren’t really known for sticking to setlists anyway.
With releases now into the double figures there’s plenty to choose from over the course of three nights.
Tonight’s support comes in the shape of localish girl duo Honeyblood, who seem to get short shrift from a snoozy Sunday evening crowd.
“How was record store day?” enquires vocalist Stina, revealing the girls had a good one in Edinburgh the night before.
For at least half their set you suspect most of Mono wouldn’t have known a “good one” had it hit them in the face.
Describing yourselves simply as ‘two girls who play some songs about stuff’ is as refreshingly unpretentious self-evaluation as you’re likely to hear.
Fortunately, its not entirely accurate but such modesty is no bad attribute as the duo open proceedings.
While usually loath to make comparison, songs like ‘Bud’ and standout ‘Super Rat’ aren’t a million miles from a less demented Throwing Muses.
‘Super Rat’ is a particular highlight of the set, recalling once again the great classic grunge anthems of yesteryear.
Elegant, understated drumming provides a backdrop to a fuck you anthem if ever there was one as “I will hate you forever” rings out.
With another couple polished foot stomping efforts tossed into the mix these guys (gals) certainly have the potential to be one of the next Scottish acts to gain recognition.
Real recognition is something David Tattersall and his Wave Pictures must still eagerly await over a decade into the game.
Tattersall and his cronies, bassist Franic Rozycki and drummer Johnny Helm appear in high spirits ahead of a new double album release, he chirps: “loads of room to dance, people”.
Dancing will come later but first a stripped down ‘If You Leave It Alone’ should exemplify all the skill and wit of a band one can only hope are verge of a long awaited breakthrough.
Perfect blending of Tattersall’s heart-on-sleeve delivery: “the milk and the beer, the strings and the bridges of a brand new year”, with snappy guitar and plodding bass provide a heartfelt and witty retort against lost loves, broken connections aided by the sincerity of the frontman’s vocals.
Not that he gets to have it all his own way in the vocal department as both ‘Give Me a Second Chance’ and ‘Now You Are Pregnant’ see drummer Johnny Helm take up mic duties.
Such light hearted numbers balance out a set heavy on dreamy solos; whether it be fuzzed lead guitar efforts, jazz bluesy bass or drum lashings.
These not so inconsiderable talents are no better showcased than on ‘Avocado Baby’, which the charming Tattersall reminds us was written in Glasgow and “might not be about an actual avocado baby”.
The trio synchronise perfectly among stop-start rhythms and huge changes in time, melody and speed as gears shift to a rockier sound.
Among set requests and witty banter it’s revealed one song “stars Humphrey Bogart, not me”.
One hundred marmalade sculpture references and handclaps later and the band have played near on 20 tracks.
Truth be told, there is too many highlights to possibly list them all; one infectious quirky fiesta after another, however a honourable mention must go out to the masterful plectrum plucking on tragicomedy ‘Stay Here Take Care of the Chickens’.
Verdict: a) anyone who bought a three-day ticket should have a ball b) roll on that forthcoming double album.
Words: Andy Quigley
Photos: Gordon Ballantyne
