One Night Only / Nick Harrison / Clocks

Tonight Glasgow had braced itself for a storm, as did the entire UK, however it was not the weather we would be left talking about at the end of this dreary Monday.

Oran Mor is a converted church and housed in the basement is the venue we find ourselves in tonight. I had never experienced a gig here, nor had I witnessed live the band we were assembled to see - One Night Only. So I was rather dubious about whether this would prove worthy of venturing out in what felt like arctic temperatures (even by Glasgow standards!)

Clocks were the first band to take the stage. A 4 piece from Epsom, they walked into a venue missing the vital ingredient, crowds. This did not deter them however and they belted out songs from their debut album due out in Summer 08. The rows of devoted youngsters standing practically onstage made up for the lack of depth where audience was concerned and you couldn't help but find yourself falling for the charm of these young upstarts.

They rattled through their set and as it drew to a close we realised that the once empty venue had suddenly, or not so, filled. The lads had kept our attention and as they left, it was to a much mightier cheer than had greeted them.

Second support act of the night was Nick Harrison, a singer/ songwriter from Folkestone, and his band.

Now, if you walked in halfway through you could be forgiven for thinking you had wandered into some Bob Marley tribute as this band sound Reggae one minute and classic Rock the next and even, at one point, they sounded like Elvis reborn. Nick has a voice reminiscent of Luke Pritchard of Kooks fame and he manages to exude that air of confidence that says he knows he sounds good. Together, when not in one of the Marley meets Status Quo mash ups, the band do sound like an unpolished Kooks, although the lyrics are not quite as mature. They worked the audience well to make sure they were received not only as a warm up to the main event, but as an event in themselves.

With only an hour slot pencilled in for the headliners we waited for the first signs of the band. The first sign of this was literally an illuminated sign stating One Night Only, hanging proudly on stage. This was followed by a dance mix version of 'Just For Tonight' which echoed round the walls of the converted Church wetting the appetite of all in attendance and as the band swaggered onstage the crowd were relishing the prospect of what was to come.



Singer George Craig has hardly finished the first song when he is suddenly face to face with a flying thong! The teenage band looked rather amused by this but continue with batting out the tunes. The easy listening songs with good beats carry you along and before I realised, we were heading into the fourth song, with George jumping off stage and down to stand alongside the fans that had stood guard at the front since the doors had swung open.

Buoyed by their up close experience, the fans at the front, especially the young smitten girls, erupt with the opening chords of 'You & Me' although the effect of this song is not limited in its obviousness to them, but also in the gentleman standing at the side shaking his hips in a way that would make Shakira blush.

George along with,guitarist Mark Hayton, bassist Dan Parkin, drummer Sam Ford and Jack Sails on keyboards, are powering through the set and as they hit the notes of song 'Start Over' they are suddenly watching as a bracelet falls in front of George’s mike, followed by some propositions and giggles all round. We are treated to a touch of the harmonica on 'Go Go Go' but if we thought that was a treat, the next song was one surely to gobsmack and treat all at once.

Sugababes song 'About You Now' was an unusual cover but certainly one enjoyed by everyone in the room. George asks Glasgow to prove they are having fun and as a sure fire sign the people are getting into a gig, a shower of beer rains down on him. Thankfully no plastic glass, but still, after the niceties of earlier I am not sure this was what he meant when he asked for proof.

With that the shirt comes off, to the delight of the swooning masses below, and as they storm through the remainder of the set into last song of the evening 'Just For Tonight' George has his retaliation and throws water on the crowd. As if this could dampen any spirits he again asks them to dance, as if to ensure he has not offended. But they needed no prompting. The venue bounced and swayed as every voice reared up, bodies jumped and for the first time this evening, the whole crowd managed to break sweat!



A treat for many, and for me, a worthy cause to brave the elements as like their lyrics go, they did, even just for tonight, seem like they wanted it. And if they carry on like this, they just might get it.

Set List:
Nintendo
He's There
Time
You & Me
Start Over
What's Your Melody
Stay At Home
Do You Know What I Mean
It's Alright
Go Go Go
It's About Time
Hide
Just For Tonight

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.