The Cave Singers & Espers @ The Electric Circus, Edinburgh Nov 14th 2009
By Milo | November 16, 2009
This was billed as the Shred yer Face III tour but luckily no facial injuries were incurred. I was casually aware of both of the main bands previously and had liked what I’d heard (we missed Woods who played first), but only ended up at the gig because my pals Stu and Chris won free tickets at the venue’s music quiz.
When we arrived it seemed no-one had thought to mention this to the doorstaff so we didn’t quite get the VIP treatment we expected but we did get in eventually. Although we had an additional wait due to a barman with apparent short-term memory loss as he seemed incapable of remembering who he was serving and who had been waiting the longest.
So Espers had already started playing to the packed venue by the time we had our drinks and we had to squeeze in at the back. Our view was interrupted by a constant stream of hen parties heading to the karaoke booths, who must have been bemused by the 60′s throwbacks on stage and the congregation of mainly bearded men who were there to watch them.
Watching Espers play their lengthy psych-folk oddysseys really was like being transported back to San Fran in the days of free love (though they are a Philadelphia band), or being an observer on the tour bus featured in the film Almost Famous. Despite, as one member of the crowd suggested, their close resemblance to Scooby Doo’s mystery gang, their music was excellent, especially nearer the end of the set when their extended jams really took off with some mournful cello and dirty Neil Young style electric guitar. Unfortunately just as they seemed to find their mojo the set was abruptly called to a halt to make way for the night’s headliners.
And Seattle’s The Cave Singers truly deserved their billing. I was won over from the first track. The lead singer, who resembled Arab Strap’s Aidan Moffat but with an even more outlandish beard, has a rich, distinctive voice, somewhat reminiscent of the bloke from Kings of Leon (The Cave Singers struck me as a more authentic version of that band).
The guitarist, previously a member of Pretty Girls Make Graves, was something else – finger-picking an electric steel guitar at lightning speed and combined with an excellent drummer who later added some skiffle to the mix, the threesome sounded as good as a band with twice the personnel.
What was great about them was they were utterly danceable, in a hoe down sort of a way, and they had the entire crowd whooping and yee-hahing with delight. The songs they played were taken from both of their studio albums which I will now be investigating thoroughly. I don’t think I would have bothered listening to them at all had I not made it to this gig, so it fairly revived my faith in live music which has been waning of late.
5 Comments
Fabian Kruse on 16/11/2009 at 3:00 am.
Hmm, this sounds great. Would really like to see these bands, but I suppose there won’t be a South America tour before the world ends in 2012…
Finbarr on 16/11/2009 at 9:39 am.
Would’ve loved to have seen this. I really like the Espers album they had out in 2006 (can’t remember the name) and am a big fan of Cave Singers as well. Their first album is amazing. What’s that venue like Milo? Sounds a bit strange.
Milo on 16/11/2009 at 10:30 am.
Have to admit I’m not up to speed with the South American music scene Fabian (I’m pretty sure you’re our only reader from the region!) maybe there’s a niche in tour promotion there somewhere!
Finbarr, I agree the Cave Singers first album seems to be the best from what I’ve heard so far. The venue’s actually pretty good in terms of getting a decent view of the stage but it’s a bit schizo with the karaoke booths and gigs drawing different crowds. Not that I’m averse to a bit of karaoke myself..
Finbarr on 16/11/2009 at 10:18 pm.
Aye, I’ve seen the photos!
Milo on 16/11/2009 at 10:21 pm.
shhhh!