While enjoying growing success in America since the release of their debut album two years ago, San Francisco’s Allah-Las are still relatively unknown on this side of the Atlantic, as the rather cramped confines of tonight’s venue suggests.
Edinburgh four-piece The Jackals are first on stage launching into their set with a slow burning intensity that holds the audience’s attention for the rest of their half hour.
Playing what they themselves describe as “cosmic rock ‘n’ roll”, the band draw from numerous sources, blending Americana, blues and alternative rock to create a sound that is both accessible and unique.
While it is clear that the group is a tightly rehearsed musical unit, comfortable on stage and warmly welcomed by the audience, one of their key strengths lies in frontman Scott Watson’s lyrical prowess, and tonight’s sound-mixing sadly allows much of the vocals, especially on the excellent ‘To The Sea’, to be drowned beneath the overpowering level of the bass guitar.
After a brief changeover, Allah-Las appear without any elaborate ceremony or theatrics, moving unhurriedly around the stage to adjust their equipment and smiling out at the audience, now packed wall to wall throughout the small venue, as the crowd’s excitement builds.
In the course of their set, Allah-Las are forced to contend with exceedingly low ceiling beams, the intense heat of the small room, moments of ear-splitting feedback and, worst of all, regular electric shocks, often coming via the metal of their microphones.
However, none of these factors seem to faze the Californians who, clearly delighted by the passion of their audience, proceed to storm their way through a tremendously enjoyable set, drawing heavily on material from their new album Worship the Sun, as well as from their self-titled 2012 debut album.
While ‘Tell Me (What’s On Your Mind)’ looks initially set to be the high point of the evening, the crowd singing along with immense enthusiasm, it is ‘Long Journey’, the last song before the encore, that truly brings the celebratory atmosphere of the night to fever pitch, the opening bass riff being met with a roar of delight from the audience.
A pleasing aspect of the band’s performance tonight is how comfortable they seem to be with switching between instruments and roles within the musical unit, bass guitar and electric lead duties are transferred back and forth throughout the set, while lead singer Miles Michaud seems almost as comfortable behind the kit as drummer Matthew Correia does up front on vocals.
After a short encore, the band leaves the stage for the last time, thanking the audience and promising to return to Glasgow soon.
However, this tour may prove to be one of the last chances to see Allah-Las is such an intimate environment, if the band continues on its current trajectory, they’ll be returning to play a considerably larger venue next time they’re in town.
Words: Malcolm Higgins
Photos: Daphne Michalaki
