Gig Review... Paper Crowns, Blood Relatives, and Eliza and the Bear @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, 7th September 2013

King Tut's is probably Scotland's best known venue, and Glasgow's finest. It was where Oasis forcefully, never the less successfully caught their big break. It is home to the stage where Snow Patrol made their mark, and where Biffy Clyro epically launched themselves all the way up to a UK treasure. Needless to say if you want to make it in the UK, let alone Scotland, you have to play King Tut's... It just propels you.

Last night was one of those very moments. As I stood in the crowd, gawping, I witnessed the emotional, passionate, and raw right of passage of an up and coming Glasgow folk four piece, Paper Crowns.

Armed with an arsenal of talented musicians; guitar, drums, violin, and cello. A gifted poet of a front man, four piece harmonies that could possibly have been plucked from the Appalachian mountains, and a confident stage presence, it was clear that these ladies and gentlemen had come to do only one thing... Play a life changing gig.

You could tell the band was excited as their singer, Jack McLuckie (Yes that is his real name) poured their hearts and souls into their performance; it was their first time playing the venue. They powered through a set that consisted of both driving, pounding upbeat folk, to more wistful, mourning acoustic ballads that left you teary eyed and missing your loved one. They were friendly, charming, and invited the audience to come closer and closer, as they wanted to see the people who had made this gig possible for them.

What makes this band so incredible is the fact that they have only been going for nine months... Yeah... They're that good. Not only that, they have only been a four piece for less than a month and they sounded together, calm, interlocked, and confident in their ability as a band. 

Paper Crowns are one of those bands that, within this lifeless industry, still has a real golden soul. They are true to their sound, their ability, and as people you'll never meet anyone more friendly than this group of ladies and gentlemen.

Last night proved one thing to a very receptive and appreciative crowd, Paper Crowns had conquered the famous King Tut's stage within thirty seconds of being up there.

Not only was it Paper Crowns who showed that they had what it takes to master Tut's stage. Last night featured two other artists of equal form.

Eliza and the Bear, a six piece from London, were a folk band that had been electrified and drenched in reverb and delay. Their sound was euphoric, dreamy, but at the same time was powerful, danceable, and hopeful... Mind you a large part of this was contributed by the fantastic trumpet that blared out incredible notation throughout the set. 

It wasn't just their musicality that captivated the audience and left them mesmerised, it was, very much like Paper Crowns, their energy. With movement, passionate singing, Eliza and the Bear made the audience sway, tap their feet, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside... Though that could have been the fuzz pedaltasitc hooks provided by the lead guitarist.

To have two bands as captivating as Paper Crowns and Eliza and the Bear on one night was a pure treat, and now I am afraid I have been spoiled. Though different, their style complimented one another, as they both had firm roots in traditional folk music which just mixed together perfectly to create a great night... However the night wasn't even over yet.

Blood Relatives, the third act of the night played, though talented, seemed to me as though they were the exit music. Again this group were rooted in folk, but with a stand in guitarist; I have no idea where the real guitarist was. Poor sound control from the house, and songs that just didn't seem to hook you as well as the other bands, they didn't have the best of night.

There is no denying that they tried their hardest, and to give credit where credit is due, they did a damn good job... "A damn good, bloody good, damn good job." Firstly they got up on the King Tut's stage, a feet that must be scary, and secondly they belted through an emotional set, with their musical skills and pleasing lyrics acting as their compass to guid them through a very weary hour.

Unfortunately for Blood Relatives they only managed to catch the audiences attention during certain songs, unfortunately causing them to lose more and more of the audience as the gig went on. 

Blood Relatives were good, don't get me wrong. They had good lyrics and the music wasn't bad, they seemed to have everything there, but it just wasn't. They lacked continuity, the songs didn't have the same impact as the other bands, and therefore couldn't hold the short attention span of the already buzzing audience for long enough. 

Though Blood Relatives didn't have the best night of their lives, the gig on a whole was brilliant. I am still teaming with excitement today and I couldn't stop talking about how good most of the sets had been. They were enthralling, exciting, but most importantly of all they played some good ol' folk. It is safe to say that the Glasgow music scene is still very much alive and kicking... And Paper Crowns are definitely the leaders of the next generation of Glasgow bands.

Written by - Luke Dinsdale