Eskimo Joe/ Railroad Underground

I must confess to not knowing a great deal about the band I head off to see tonight. But as I head into Glasgow's King Tut's I realise that maybe I am one of only a few. The place is packed and it isn't even 9pm! So as I head upstairs to watch Eskimo Joe I wonder just what it is that I have missed.

Prior to the revelation that is Eskimo Joe I head off to see support act Underground Railroad. This trio hail from Paris and have the somewhat unusual set up of having a drummer as a lead singer. They have me intrigued by minute one. The fact that the venue is packing up and the bar downstairs emptying suggests that it is not only I that feels the intrigue.

Drummer, singer, occasional keyboard player, Raphael Mura is the focal point, despite sitting at the back with his drums. Anyone who can coordinate drumming, singing and then throw in keyboard playing at the same time deserves a bit of back patting in my eyes. But he does not go through this alone. Guitarist Marion Andrau and bassist JB Ganivet share in the vocals and together they make some impressive music. Almost a throw back to Sonic Youth back in the day they deliver music that keeps the crowd entertained. New album ‘Sticks & Stones’ is already out and doing these support shows can only prove good advertising for them.

Just before Eskimo Joe take the stage I scan the crowd and am surprised to see a room full of eager fans. The Australian lads have not only brought in the expats living in Glasgow but have also brought their Glasgow faithful out too, despite being up against Kings Of Leon who also play tonight elsewhere. The place is jammed!

They kick things off with ‘Sarah’, a track from latest album ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’. This song has barely started before the die hard fans at the front start screaming, and one throws an Australia scarf onto the stage. It is at this point we see lead singer Kav Temperley show his comedy skills.



Engaging an audience isn't always easy. One way to do it is with laughter. When he advised the owner of the scarf that he wouldn't wear it as it was boiling in the room, they simply shouted they wanted him to sign it. To which he replied ‘Eh, I don't have a pen, I'm kinda in the middle of something here’. Classic! It went down a storm and it slowly began to dawn on me that not only had I missed some pretty awesome songs, but some belting comedy lines.

The trio, singer Kav, guitarist Joel Quartermain and bassist Stu MacLeod are joined for the evenings events by Shaun Sibbes on drums and Lee Jones on keyboard. They have a tight knit appearance and the crowd lap up both songs and banter.

They practically fly through songs from their third album and ‘Setting Sun’ is a great crowd pleaser which sees Joel pull off some serious Guitar Hero-like moves! I actually feel myself sweating just watching the energy put into the performance. It is like a workout for the eyes, and also the ears.

‘So Tired’ , from second album ‘A Song Is A City’ was so well received at an Australian festival the band decided to include it in their set lists from that point on. And aren't we lucky they did. The ever energetic Joel leaves behind guitar duties and at the end of the song picks up some sticks and stands drumming with Shaun! The frenetic end to this song makes me think my head is going to burst. I am watching them all thrash and bring this live edition home. My heart rate increases as it reaches its climax and I think that by the end they will all have shed a few stone during the excitement.

The boys also treat the fans to ‘Liar’ from first album ‘Girl’ and you can see the ones who have been there from the beginning. They sing the lyrics right back at the boys. The faithful followers, who have long since memorised the words after wearing the CD down through much use.



Title track ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’ had the place jumping at the end of the set. It is impossible to describe the heat in the venue at this point; however I think I may know how it is in their home country after this! But the heat does not extinguish any of the passion and I find these boys intoxicating and as they leave the stage after the final chords of this song I wonder where the night has gone.

We were not ready to leave just yet. Everyone is waiting, everyone ready, everyone wanting, and we are treated to a cover of the Crowded House song ‘Weather With You’. They might have been wishing that song true as it was a particularly icy and cold night in Glasgow. But the warmth in that room melted even my sceptical little heart.

They end the night with ‘From The Sea’ and as they wave their goodbyes I know I could have stayed there much much longer. From knowing only a couple of songs, to coming home and snapping up tickets for their gig at the ABC in Glasgow in April next year, Eskimo Joe have made me appreciate them. They have made me buy the CD, listen to the songs, and ultimately become one of the many fans that can’t wait to see them come back again.

FUTURE GIGS

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