The Xcerts & Twin Atlantic Face Off In Cambridge
Published
Two of Scotland’s brightest prospects go head to head, at a sold out Cambridge Junction.
Nothing But Thieves arrive by way of appetiser tonight, their brooding fare going down a treat. While the five-piece are yet to step out of Jeff Buckley’s shadow - vocalist Conor imitating the great man’s delivery down to a T – it’s impossible to ignore the slow-burning grandeur of their material, or their knack for plucking at listeners’ heart-strings. With a bit more experience behind them, this lot could become a force to be reckoned with.
After years of struggle, The Xcerts are finally primed to reap their just rewards. The Aberdeen-via-Brighton trio receive a mixed reception this time around, though; frayed, bittersweet songs like ‘Cool Ethan’ and ‘Do You Feel Safe’ not hitting home for everyone.
Still, the crowd starts to come around as things progress, ‘Slackerpop’ even met with a decent yell-along. Performance-wise the band are at the absolute top of their game, ‘Pop Song’ and ‘Shaking In The Water’ (from this year’s brilliant ‘There Is Only You’) belted out with passion to burn.
It’s easy to understand how they’ve become something of a ‘band’s band’, the no-frills charm of their songwriting and sheer heart of performances like this a thrill to behold. If you like your alt-rock with a tinge of grunge and a penchant for the anthemic, these guys could and should be a new favourite band. As electrifying as they are tonight, even brighter things beckon.
This is also a time of celebration for Twin Atlantic. Having thrown off the ‘Biffy Jr.’ tag, Glasgow’s other radio botherers are coming to the end of a UK headline tour; and they’ve put together quite a spectacle. Sam McTrusty and co have clearly learnt a lot from their (many) high profile support shows, hugely professional and with no lack of confidence.
Much of August’s ‘Great Divide’ is aired, and met with frenzy in the front rows: ‘Hold On’, ‘Fall Into The Party’ and ‘I Am An Animal' custom made for evenings like this. There’s precious little trace of the band who broke through with ‘Vivarium’, though to their credit TA do unearth ‘What Is Light? Where Is Laughter’ late in the day, before a climactic run through ‘Heart And Soul’. On this evidence, their risky third album is paying off, and then some.
Words by Rob Sayce