As I may have mentioned earlier I attended the opening of a new bar/venue this week, the absurdly named The Maggie May. It's not everyday that one can find himself drinking in a bar named after a Rod Stewart song. I did once see a hairdressing salon named "The First Cut Is The Deepest" but I digress.
The purpose of my attendance, apart of course from the free booze, was to see one of the hottest new bands from Glasgow, The Poems.
I am delighted to inform you that they did not disappoint. Whilst their album, Young America, was released in North America in September on the Minty Fresh label this was only their third live appearance.
A short set of only five songs was performed with the band obviously concentrating on quality rather than quantity. This may in part be down to the personnel changes which have occurred since the album's release.
Whilst Robert Hodgens, Kerry Polwart & Adrian Barry remain in place, Robert Paterson has sadly passed away whilst Amy Ogletree has moved on to new projects.
To supplement the group's core the live line up was boosted by the keyboards of Andy Maye whilst Maria Leahy provided a second guitar, backing vocals and an enchanting smile. The line up was completed by the hyperactive drumming of Ross MacFarlane. In Mr MacFarlane the band have the most entertaining drummer since Micky Dolenz. The major difference being that MacFarlane can actually play a bit, actually rather a lot.
Anyhoo...the band opened with the haunting Ballad Of A Bitter End which recently featured in an episode of ABC's Gray's Anatomy. I am delighted to report that the vocals of Kerry Polwart are as sumptuous live as they are recorded. The highlight for me was a revised version of So Soon. Whilst the original is a somewhat spartan and atmospheric affair the band chose this song to display their collective talent and elected to rock out in much the same way as Neil Young does with Like A Hurricane. Set closer I Am A Believer (a certain hit single if it is ever released) finished things off on a high.
If you still haven't bought the album (and you really should) it can be obtained at amazon.com and iTunes in North America and as an import from amazon.co.uk in Britain. I've even provided a little amazon link in the side bar, just over there ---> and up a little bit. Now isn't that sweet of me?
The album will be released in the UK early in the new year on the x-phonic label whilst The Poems can next be seen supporting Justin Currie at The ABC Glasgow 20th January 2007 during Celtic Connections.
Four tracks from The Poems including the three highlighted can be heard at their myspace site.
www.myspace.com/thepoemsmusic
The purpose of my attendance, apart of course from the free booze, was to see one of the hottest new bands from Glasgow, The Poems.
I am delighted to inform you that they did not disappoint. Whilst their album, Young America, was released in North America in September on the Minty Fresh label this was only their third live appearance.
A short set of only five songs was performed with the band obviously concentrating on quality rather than quantity. This may in part be down to the personnel changes which have occurred since the album's release.
Whilst Robert Hodgens, Kerry Polwart & Adrian Barry remain in place, Robert Paterson has sadly passed away whilst Amy Ogletree has moved on to new projects.
To supplement the group's core the live line up was boosted by the keyboards of Andy Maye whilst Maria Leahy provided a second guitar, backing vocals and an enchanting smile. The line up was completed by the hyperactive drumming of Ross MacFarlane. In Mr MacFarlane the band have the most entertaining drummer since Micky Dolenz. The major difference being that MacFarlane can actually play a bit, actually rather a lot.
Anyhoo...the band opened with the haunting Ballad Of A Bitter End which recently featured in an episode of ABC's Gray's Anatomy. I am delighted to report that the vocals of Kerry Polwart are as sumptuous live as they are recorded. The highlight for me was a revised version of So Soon. Whilst the original is a somewhat spartan and atmospheric affair the band chose this song to display their collective talent and elected to rock out in much the same way as Neil Young does with Like A Hurricane. Set closer I Am A Believer (a certain hit single if it is ever released) finished things off on a high.
If you still haven't bought the album (and you really should) it can be obtained at amazon.com and iTunes in North America and as an import from amazon.co.uk in Britain. I've even provided a little amazon link in the side bar, just over there ---> and up a little bit. Now isn't that sweet of me?
The album will be released in the UK early in the new year on the x-phonic label whilst The Poems can next be seen supporting Justin Currie at The ABC Glasgow 20th January 2007 during Celtic Connections.
Four tracks from The Poems including the three highlighted can be heard at their myspace site.
www.myspace.com/thepoemsmusic
