There’s a slow building crowd at The Arches tonight as a more mature audience than what Rave Child is used to gather to watch one of more endearing artist you are likely to see this year.
Before we are treated to set of expansive wonders from Matthew E. White and co. we have the no small matter of Helado Negro whose enthusiasm sets the tone for a night of joyous vibes.
The Florida born Roberto Lange thrusts around the stage thoroughly enjoying himself as the now New York resident of South American parentage states: “I’m just a tropical child way from home”.
Lange’s clearly proud of his heritage and you need to look no further than his music to see this, as his selection of sampled beats create a new twist on Latino and Lange’s settling vocals and clearly overjoyed chit-chat give him an instant likeability.
While Lange alone onstage with his table of gear may look sparse to the eyes, if you let his sound drift over you it is something truly delightful and will win him a good number of admirers over the course of this tour.
Matthew E. White has been hit with waves of praise following the release of debut album Big Inner last year and this is the first time he’s been allowed to justify it on Glasgow soil.
The Virginia born White is an instantly likeable character as his laid-back persona comes across as a calming influence through a wall of locks, as he interchanges brilliantly big sounding expansive soul pop with charming banter.
White forms part of five-piece band tonight who more than justify the brilliance of his debut record, which White reveals actually features around 30-40 contributors.
White and co. know how to drag out a song and live this is taken to further extremes, but the set never becomes tedious as the mastership of their sound is clear and every point of the set is an uplifting delight.
Whether it’s clarifying that the crowd know what a hot toddy is, to comments of “aye, we invented them” (which is quite possibly true), or covering Randy Newman after tales of trying to hang around with Newman/being lied to by his cleaner, White is always engaging and warm and when you throw in the mix the quality of his output this is a true delight to experience.
Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Ann-Margaret Campbell
