Penguins Kill Polar Bears

Captain's Rest, 29.05.11

“Stick around for Penguins cause they’re loud and they’re awesome, which is one and the same thing.” Well said, Kenny, I couldn’t have put it better.

Having a support as strong as Carnivores is always risky; what if they’re better than the main act? I know, I know, the thought is terrifying. It’d be awkward for both the bands and the audience.

You will be reassured to know that Penguins Kill Polar Bears stood up to the plate and suitably established themselves as the headline act, breaking into Sandcastles, and making sure that they were not upstaged by anyone…

Apart from their super fan at the front. They were most definitely upstaged by him. I was debating about whether to mention it or not, but it really couldn’t be ignored.

I guess on one hand it’s extremely flattering for a band to have a fan know the words to each and every song, and have the enthusiasm to sing along at the top of their lungs throughout the entire set. It’s also great to see people have that sort of passion for such an up and coming band.

But at the same time, all I could think, amidst the giggles I was trying to control, was ‘I’ve paid good money to come and see Ben sing!’ So, dear super-fan, wheesht down the front next time please!

So, after asking for more vocals from the nice sound man, to which there was an audible giggle from the audience, the guys rocked on with a beautiful balance of older and newer songs.

The Captains Rest gig was the last in the guys tour for the Sapling single, and to be honest the guys looked shattered, which made it all the more impressive that they provided the audience with such a strong performance. Check out the band’s review of the tour here: http://penguinskillpolarbears.tumblr.com/

Homebound created a strong, super-fan lead sing a long from the audience, which lead perfectly into In Everything, showcasing their old record with strength and ease in equal measure.

“Are you guys alright, do you need anything on your monitors?” jested Fraser, and it was about the limits of the band/audience banter. Another downfall of the final gig of the tour being the limited chat, but at least they were honest about it, “As you can tell we don’t have much chat- it’s for the best!” You can’t begrudge them when they’ve been busy running about the country like mad men.

So wrapping up with 309, Valley and Lungs, the guys rocked it. In true hard core, rock style they powered through and gave a smashing performance. They may have been knackered but their loud and ear tingling noise suitably awoke the audience to their talent.

My ears were ringing until the end of the following day; a sheer sign of a great gig! 

Make sure you check out both Carnivores and Penguins Kill Polar Bears on Facebook and on Twitter for up to date posts on what they're up to.

Carnivores supporting Penguins Kill Polar Bears

Captain's Rest 29.05.11

Sunday night on a bank holiday weekend. Lets face it. We’re all a bit knackered.

However, the Sunday of the Penguins Kill Polar Bears and Carnivores gig was one I had been looking forward to since the posters started appearing around Glasgow.

Having had a minor love affair with Penguin’s first EP, Dawn, when it came out last year, and seeing Carnivores perform on Detour’s videos on some very winedy stairs had me suitably excited for this gig.

After Kenny, the lead singer and guitarist from the Carnivores, very politely asked the audience of The Captain’s Rest to shuffle forward, they broke beautifully into Truth followed by Laughing at You.

I say beautifully, what I really mean is crashing and banging. It was beautiful to my sleepy little ears; any thoughts of being knackered were suitably reverberated out of the audiences system whether they liked it or not.

 “It’s good to be back,” explained Kenny, amidst heckling the audience about their lack of participation between songs, which was entirely justified; I put my hands up, out banter was appaulling.

However, they debuted their new song, which had the longest title in the world and I have to admit I only caught the first two words, “Positive Mental……(something-or-other-thingmy-thing) but it went down a storm with the audience.

It’s that ability to make a listener sit up and listen, to grab them by the ears and shake them until they’re suitably finished with you that make the Carnivores.

This was again demonstrated with their other new song, Scottish Football. It’s about “not taking sides with either of them cause they’re all idiots,” as Kenny so perfectly put it. But it’s poignant lyrics and suitably harsh and crashing accompanying noise addressed the issue perfectly.

I only wish there had been a stronger crowd to accompany this strong participator in the Scottish music scene. Oh well, all the more to look forward to when seeing them at T in the Park next month. They have the potential to rock that tent out of its pegs (and I’m very much looking forward to witnessing it!).

“Stick around for Penguins cause they’re loud and they’re awesome, which is one and the same thing.” Well said, Kenny, I couldn’t have put it better.

Penguins Kill Polar Bears Review to follow...

Bear Arms, Directions EP

So the time has finally come for the Bear Arms boys to officially release their first EP. I have to admit it’s been a long time coming as their loud and luscious record has forcefully and speedily become a staple part of several of my playlists.

Having seen them perform live, several times and in several different locations (including The Banshee Labyrinth last week, where they suitably rocked that little dungeon out of the ground) I know these songs, and I know how they fit into a set list.

But what I really enjoyed was sitting down this evening, coffee in hand and staring out into a dark and gloomy Buchanan Street, just listening to how this EP fits beautifully together, while still giving each song space to suitably shine.

Perfect Symmetry forcefully grabs you and passionately crashes you about.  This song just emphasises how together this band are. The guitar line, the drums, the bass, the vocals; they’re all talented and perfected in their own way, but still manage to stand together strongly as a group.

Echoing and distorting into focus comes To Whom it May Concern. Not quite as forceful as Perfect Symmetry, but it gives  the listener time to focus on the lyrics and vocals that just add to the Bear Arms package; not only can they play their instruments brilliantly and effortlessly, they can also write and perform vocals and harmonies that create a distinctively different  sound to what is popular in the Scottish rock scene at the moment.

Wolves takes the tempo back up, with a rhythm that you can’t help but to nod along to. Loud and luscious I think covers its perfectly.

And then, Directions; the title song off of the EP. Take all of the positives that I’ve said about the last three songs, and bash them together- you’ll then get Directions. They showcase their talents perfectly, while still giving each element its own space to breath, giving the listener that little second to fully appreciate it before it moves onto the next.

The EP is everything that you’d want from a debut release. Strong, together and clearly derived from a whole lot of talent with equal amounts of passion.

With Perfect Symmetry on my running playlist, and Directions on my driving one, I’m excited to see where the songs off their next EP can be a theme tune for.

Their EP launch will be  at Captain’s Rest on Wednesday the 18^th of May.