“That’s my high school boyfriend… and he’s covered in blood!”
Not exactly the line you’d expect a bill featuring two of indie pop’s biggest influencers to begin with, but it happened as me and my flatmate entered The Hairdressers’ space.
It turns out the blood has nothing to do with Stephen Pastel’s DJ set, but is indeed more serious as the guy had fainted, hopefully it’s not too serious though, still, it’s serious enough for him to have to be taken into hospital.
After the commotion dies down Frances McKee takes to the spotlight.
“There’s no mic but I’ll do my best,” she comments shyly before letting her strummed niceties flow over the audience and by the end of the first track there’s a bashful smile at its recognition.
She seems to gain more and more confidence as the set progresses, telling of how Eugene, who’s in attendance tonight, doesn’t let her put many songs on The Vaselines’ albums “cause they’re too depressing”.
Still, ‘Such A Fool’ makes an appearance along with a cover of ‘Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart’, which she reveals she nearly abandoned due to finding out Robson & Jerome covered it, before noting she used to fancy “the little one”.
It’s a charming set from one of Glasgow’s indie pop icons before Calvin Johnson takes things to the next level.
Johnson is a born showman, from the second he is put in front of an audience he’s thoroughly entertaining, full of hilarious chat and songs that warm you up; all delivered in that ever recognisable deep, droney vocal.
Popping downstairs to grab a drink between sets, I arrive back and Johnson already has the crowd in the palm of his hand, talking of writing a song about St George’s Cross on a past visit to Glasgow and trying to get The Vaselines to sing on it, dropping another indie royalty name into proceedings in Amelia Fletcher.
His chat is captivating, but when he performs the 53-year-old is in his element, flicking his guitar, while expressively wandering around the floor as his immaculate vocal tone takes centre stage.
Dub Narcotic Sound System track ‘Shake-A-Puddin’’ is a real standout as Johnson delivers the delightfully entertaining track with a real bounce after telling of his raids through Monorail’s bargain bins, which a glance across the room receives a cheery reaction from Mr. Monorail himself, Stephen Pastel.
The last time I saw Johnson was in a church in Hyndland, it was such a ridiculously twee occasion that we got to play with a dog in between sets, tonight audience feels very much the same, but they do seem a touch reserved.
Johnson’s simply hilarious in both his chat and his lyrics and it’s credit to him that he has plenty biting their fingers, holding back a laugh, on multiple occasions.
Why he isn’t playing to bigger rooms than this is beyond me, but each time we get to witness him in these quaint settings is a glorious one, he’s an individual that is idolised by many, and he makes it easy to see why.
Words: Iain Dawson
