Hogmanay Concert 2008!

Finally got my lazy arse round to posting about the New Year's concert I went to in my city recently. (First week back to work and all...so finally getting round to posting this lol).

It's the first event for New Year's that the city I live in has done for years apparently - I hadn't been aware we'd done anything before!

Despite The Magic Numbers and one local band only being familiar to me from the line up I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can't wait to do it again next year, when no doubt it will be bigger and better!

There were 4 bands on the line up plus one young girl singing Breaking Free from High School Musical:

Shutter

Low Tide Revelry

Single Malt Sound System

The Magic Numbers

Shutter are a local band who, despite never attending one of their own gigs, I have seen three times last year. They're made up of 3 guitarists - perhaps one a bassist? - and a drummer and play rock tunes only with no singing. Not really my thing, unless it was more melodic. Now if they were to cover Theme of Laura from Silent Hill 2 that might change my mind. Surely the perfect tune for a band of their type of cover? Although they seem to be the biggest local band we have right now I guess (apart from The Jyrojets) I don't think they're style of music was best suited to a family event. Don't know if the parents and kids knew what to make of them.

I'm not sure what I thought of Low Tide Revelry. There was a male and female singer. I enjoyed the girl's part but the guy was quite "growly" sounding and a total contrast to her vocals. I'm unsure what he was singing about but he was sounding a little sinister lol. And then some spiritualist - I think - was brought out on stage at the end. (I think he meant something to the band). He then started giving some speech I couldn't understand, which I guess we were supposed to cheer at. I was starting to feel like I was at a rally. To be fair the group were quite enjoyable/interesting at the start. More folky sounding and a contrast to Shutter, but I wasn't too sure what to think at the end lol.

Surprisingly enough, Single Malt Sound System were one of my favourites of the night. From the name I assumed they were a Ceilidh/tradtional/fiddle-ly sort of group, which is not really my sort of music, especially since as there's no singing. But it was New Year's Eve/Hogmanay so this is the time for that sort of thing! But they were really going for it and clearly enjoying themselves - especially the bag piper. They just set a good mood for everyone and I found myself enjoying their set more towards the end as I got into it.

Despite not knowing as many Magic Numbers songs as I thought - only recognised two - I still enjoyed it anyway. Though I was getting a little impatient for Love Me Like You, which I had a lot of fun bouncing along too. Also one of their mega fans got over the barrier to take pics of them and dance around. (Well I assume he was a big fan as he had chin length hair and a beard, not that I'm saying all Magic Number fans have to be hairy lol). I was glad security let him stay there. It was fun watching him get into it.

After Low Tide Revelry finished my friends and I got to the barrier. Although it wasn't massively busy or hard to find a good spot, I think the crowd must have cleared a bit after LTR finished their set. At the barrier I had my picture for the local paper and saw myself on the big screen - eek! I think about 30 seconds of the concert went out on Scottish TV.

It was a brilliant night - I always enjoy New Year's Eve anyway, though I don't tend to do anything before 12 usually - so rock on Hogmanay 2009!!

This video is only loosely connected to my post but as I mentioned it above...

Theme of Laura (Shutter should cover this):