Jagwar Ma, traversing the world on their current tour, could not appear to be happier to be on stage in Glasgow tonight.
Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the cocktail of endorphins produced by the tour, but they treat the stage as if it were their own garage, singer Gabriel Winterfield giein’ it laldy with cap on backwards, bassist Jack Freidman bobbing, completely enthralled by the sound being produced and Jono Ma moving like the busiest DJ in the world, pushing buttons frantically, keeping the whole act tied together.
The crowd are mostly young lads, but there are the usual groups of regulars, old-timers who’ve come to absorb what Tut’s has to offer of a Wednesday.
Or maybe that’s not fair, perhaps they are indeed followers of the Australian psychedelic-dance group, age being no indicator of taste!
It’s a male-heavy audience though, and from the very beginning it’s clear everyone’s looking forward to a good head-bang.
It’s for this reason, the anticipation of a dozen or so hammer-wrought anthems being pounded out, that the set loses its edge a bit as it gets going.
Yes, Jagwar Ma look as if they’re having a great time – which is usually a make or break point in engaging an audience – but the performance they offer us tonight, riddled with pre-recorded back vocals, lifeless beats and simplistic basslines, is not, from what I can see, what the audience is looking for.
The music being performed is timid despite the musician’s animation.
Tracks like ‘Come and Save Me’ and ‘What Love’ are not given the fire present in their recorded state.
So what we’re watching is this perfectly likeable trio of guys bouncing around on stage, having a good time, but performing something which is damp, and doesn’t instil the same great feelings they’re obviously experiencing in its audience.
My mind is actually cast back to parties where ‘Uncertainty’ has been played on speakers with a more enthusiastic reception.
So, as the set comes to a close, my sympathies go out to the performers.
They make great music, they’re wonderfully keen and enjoyable to watch, but these elements seem not to have come together tonight.
I console myself with the thought that maybe it was an off-night or something to do with the venue.
I still went home and listened to the whole of Howlin’ without stopping.
Words: Patrick McCafferty
