Mancunian 3-piece I AM KLOOT are only 3 nights into their current tour promoting their third album, 'Gods And Monsters', but judging by last night's lacklustre performance at Edinburgh's Venue, you'd be forgiven for thinking the guys were on the last leg of a gruelling world tour.
The Venue, a tight, compact hall in Edinburgh's city centre, was packed to capacity to welcome the Kloot, and that the evening failed to ignite was due, in part, to the fickle nature of the crowd.
Lead singer Johnny Bramwell, looking, from this distance anyway, like a young(er) JJ Burnell, strolled on carrying a plastic bag, which he tantalysingly produced every so often, followed by the remark: “Any questions?” Well, not really, mate.
The night got off to a slow start with the opening of 'Coincidence' and 'No Direction Home', two numbers from the new album. Unfortunately, the sigh from the youthful crowd that greeted the news: “...that tonight we're gonna be playing a lot of new songs”, was almost visible.
Which is a shame really, because from what I've heard so far, the new material seems to show a maturity to the I Am Kloot sound. 'Over My Shoulder' excels in its simplicity, 'Ordinary Girl' is a dark, atmospheric departure for the band, and later in the set we're treated to the very special 'Avenue Of Hope': This what Calexico would have sounded like had they came from Moss Side.
But, it was the old favourites the crowd were here for. Three songs in, and Bramwell wryly announces that this next one is about “fuckin' and disaster” before launching into 'Twist', with its unforgettable chorus of “There's blood on your legs, I love you”. And if that line doesn't bring a smile to your face, then nothing will.
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Further I Am Kloot classics to be aired tonight include 'Morning Rain', '86 TV's', and the outstanding 'Storm Warning'. All I must say, to rapturous applause.
Drummer Andy Hargreaves was a constant pleasure, driving most of the set with his inimitable percussive style, while bassist/organist Pete Jobson, for the best part of the evening, remained out of sight to most of the audience, as he adopted a seated position near the front of the stage. Personable frontman Bramwell, whose vocals have a McCulloch/Gallagher familiarity about them, tried in vain to wake the crowd, but, for the most part, the response was half-hearted to say the least.
Tonight, the band rarely reach the heights other writers, including our very own webmaster Tim Peacock, seem to have experienced, and although technically gifted, it seems I Am Kloot need a more responsive audience to bounce off; a crowd intent in giving the new material as much attention as their favourites. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case last night.
And the plastic bag? Well, as Bramwell produced a bunch of bananas from said bag, and proceeded to throw them into the audience, the joke seemed to be lost on one particular punter who, in all seriousness, I think, shouted at the stage; “Hey pal, you calling me a fuckin' monkey?” Mmm.
(www.iamkloot.com)
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