King Creosote live review
This King Creosote live review is of the gig performed at the Duke of Yorks cinema on October 9th 2007.
King Creosote is the stage name of Kenny Anderson, a folk singer from Fife, Scotland. He has released 30 albums in his time, but many of these were self released on CDrs on his own label, Fence records. Fence records started off operating out of a pub The Ship Tavern, in Anstruther and featured local artists such as James Yorkston, KT Tunstall, Unpoc and Lone Pigeon – Kenny’s brother and founder of the Beta Band, Gordon Anderson. Many of the artists have gone on to sign to major labels, Gordon is now running The Aliens, and KC has since had 4 releases on a major label.
Bearing these lo-fi roots in mind, and considering the gig was in the cinema with a small stage I was expecting a stripped down solo performance from King Creosote tonight. This was not the case though, KC played with a 4 piece band, apparently down from a previous 8 piece. I have seen King Creosote twice before now, at festivals, but never managed to get too into it due to both weather, and excessive alcohol consumption. Tonight there were no such issues, and getting involved with the gig was no problem.
KC described his music at the start as over emotional twaddle. Tongue in cheek of course, but his songs are certainly emotional, especially when sung in KC’s lovely scottish voice, which is one of the most distinctive I have ever come across. It has to be heard to be understood so I am going to break with tradition and present a video mid review – here’s a clip from the gig.
[youtube IiApvgVl4VI]
See. Very unique. The voice was pushed to absolute limits during the song There’s none of that, when he lets rip with a mighty roar that goes on for an impossible amount of time backed by the roar of guitars. This wasn’t the stripped down performance I had expected. The theme this evening was rock, with a pro bassist, acoustic and electric guitars almost all tracks went all guns blazing, although they often started more quietly. I really liked this, as one man and his guitar can get a little boring after a while. Not everyone I was with agreed, especially at the moments where it all drifted a little too far into prog, but for me, it sounded great. Folk with guts.
The gig did unfortunately seem to be plagued with little issues. The light was too bright for Kenny to see the band, and had to be moved, leaving the audience unable to see much at all. The sound man seemed to have many issues that needed to be resolved. The mic stand kept dropping forcing KC to lean forward more than is comfortable. Despite this all the songs sounded great especially personal highlights 678 and Not One Bit Ashamed.
KC concluded the set with a cover of his brothers Aliens track the Happy Song, and got everyone up out of their seats leaping around. Everyone except my friend Angela that is, who said it felt a bit too much like being in church, what with all the chairs, the standing, and the arms moving about. Which for anyone who has been to a ‘evangelical church’ will know, wasn’t entirely off the mark.
Much as I enjoyed the rock, I hope one day to catch King Creosote in his hometown, perhaps at The Star Inn playing an acoustic set with some friends mid winter. That would be nice.
Read more about Fence’s early days here
Fence records today
Videos
Documentary – Spinal Turfs
[youtube 0rk2iXeXrNE]
[youtube ZrqDeAOsHV8]
[youtube N1I6Aoj_7SU]
You’ve no clue do you
[youtube J9zvHUem7SY]
Leslie
[youtube EYDEwwE6T48]
Buy albums
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