The Xcerts

King Tuts Wah Wah Hut 27/02/11

“We’re so glad to be back in Glasgow.”

Well Murray, Jordan, Tom, collectively known as The Xcerts, it’s great to have you back.

At their anticipated return to Scotland after a stint in the States, and predominately south of the border gig venues, the boys opened crashing and banging with Slackerpop, Gum and Scatterbrain; three standout, rocking tracks from their most recent album, Scatterbrain.

They then eased into some of the songs off of their first album, In the Cold Wind we Smile, including Crisis in the Slow Lane and Do You Feel Safe?

In an interview with Murray, the band’s lead singer, in November when they were last in Glasgow, he described their first album as a “photo album; a collection of memories put down in music.” It’s always nice to hear where a band’s come from. Especially with a band like The Xcerts who have developed and grown dramatically from their first, to second, album.

There was a healthy and strong mix of the old and the new, entertaining both the long term fans such as myself and the crowd I was with, including one guy who remembered them playing in Aberdeen pre-first-single, Crisis in the Slow Lane, and the new fans who were drawn in by the band’s darker, moodier and heavier second album.

Finishing their, what I would complain as being a terribly short set, with Young, He sinks, he sleeps, and echoing away with Hurt With Me, The Xcerts suitably displayed their gutsy, raw, rock music with their fragile and haunting lyrics with vocals that swayed perfectly and melodically between the two.

Also- I bought my first band poster in thirteen years.

This clearly means they are a truly spectacular band as the last band poster I purchased was when I was eight, and it was of the Spice Girls.

I’d like to think a limited edition print from a relatively underground Scottish Rock band is just marginally cooler than one of Geri in that Union Jack dress… I’ll keep a hold of them both all the same.