It’s pushing four years since Merrill Garbus last brought tUnE-yARdS to Glasgow; that time I covered the show for, the now sadly offline, Rokbun and she wowed a packed basement in the last days of the truly missed Captain’s Rest.
This time she returns with a bigger following to once again pack out another Glasgow venue; this time it’s the considerably larger Art School.
In fact, it’s the fact that she’s packed out the venue and the considerable queues to get up stairs into the gig space that cause us the miss the majority of Jonnie Common’s set – that said I would have definitely joined those queues, rather than wait it out downstairs, had I been aware he was playing, and from the closing moments it appears we miss an enthralling set.
Still it’s tUnE-yARdS’ night and Garbus has brought in toe a bigger sounding set, one that may not have quite squeezed onto the stage at the Captain’s.
Opener ‘Bizness’, from 2011’s hugely critically acclaimed album W H O K I L L, sets us on path to a glorious set as Garbus’ frantic vocals are delivered addictively with a sneer and a knowing grin, as her backing vocalists create the engrossing vocal effects heard in record.
tUnE-yARdS are a tough one to pin hole as their experimental pop borrows influences from all over the world, but with Garbus’ eclectic presence and impressive vocal range things are always going to interesting.
Last year’s Nikki Nack received similar acclaim to its predecessor and is where the majority of tonight’s set comes, ‘Sink-O’ providing the first taste of the album accompanied by an intriguing choreographed routine between Garbus and backing vocalists; again squeezing in a little more than you could get in those tiny basements they previously frequented.
Popular tracks from W H O K I L L are fitted into the set early as yelps from the crowd greet the blunted alarm like horns of ‘Gangsta’, before Garbus and co. crack up at the crowds hasty chants of “rebel rebel” as they kick into ‘Powa’.
Garbus is no stranger to crowd chit chat and seems fully aware of what’s happening in the city she’s in, commenting on the “crazy wind” and The Art School protests on studio time being cut, to which she talks about delaying going home a day to stick around and protest.
Still, the temptation of heading home after a long tour, tonight is the final date, must be huge, but as she concedes she won’t being hanging about she clearly feels the cause is a valid one, quipping “I’ll tweet the fuck out of that shit!” to satisfy any potentially aggrieved students and dulling the few older folks’, who don’t seem to be handling their drink, tasteless heckles.
The bigger hitting numbers from the new album are chosen to end proceedings, as ‘Wait For A Minute’ and latest single ‘Water Fountain’ receive an excited reception from the crowd, who you get the feeling don’t want this to end.
It’s potentially the oldest number of the night that draws things to a close, and the initially stripped back, building delivery of ‘Fiya’, from debut release BiRd-BrAiNs, is potentially the most moving track of the night, settling the rare Monday night rowdiness and sending everyone home more than satisfied.
It is true that you may never see a band match up to the experience they gave you in packed out 80 person basement, but popularity can’t be sniffed and you can’t argue that tonight tUnE-yArDs didn’t close their tour with something special.
Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Daphne Michalaki
