JAMIE LENMAN // STEREO CAFE BAR, GLASGOW

JAMIE LENMAN RETURNS TO GLASGOW TO PLAY INTIMATE SHOW AT STEREO CAFE BAR

JAMIE LENMAN PERFORMING AT GLASGOW'S STEREO CAFE BAR - 02.02.2018
PICTURE BY: CWY PHOTOGRAPHY

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

After releasing latest album "Devolver" late last year, Jamie Lenman returns to Glasgow

Main support for the night comes from Brighton three piece Gender Roles who happen to be on the same label as Jamie Lenman. They were lively and provided a great warm up set which featured tracks from their "Planet X-Ray" EP released back in early 2017. Frontman Tom Bennett was excellent in the vocal department, reminding me at times of a pink haired Kurt Cobain. The band pulled together harmoniously and presented a tight package with opening track to the EP named "Skin" being a particular highlight of the set. I hadn't heard of Gender Roles before this evening, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more.

Taking to the stage dressed smartly in white and kicking into opening track "Hardbeat" from latest album "Devolver", Jamie Lenman is back and this time he's only brought along drummer Dan Kavanagh for the ride having seemingly retired the Heavy/Mellow Band that toured with him during his last album cycle. Lenman this time has chosen to bare most of the instrumental burden himself this time and has a set up not unlike Royal Blood where the guitar provides most of the sound needed. New tracks like "Hell in a Fast Car" and "Waterloo Teeth" sound excellent and older ones from last album "Muscle Memory" have been reworked to fit the new set up, with a particular highlight being the fast and heavy "One of my Eyes is a Clock".

What is a Jamie Lenman set however without squeezing in a few golden oldies from his old band Reuben, this time choosing "A Kick in the Mouth" with it's distorted bass riff and jaunty guitar line and "Eating Only Apples" where both band members switch positions with Dan taking over guitar duties and Jamie singing while cranking out the drums.

Closing off the main set with another Reuben classic "Every Time a Teenager Listens to Drum & Bass a Rockstar Dies" and lead single from Devolver "Mississippi" with the crowd chanting back the lyrics in full voice.

After taking a breather for a few minutes, Jamie returns to the stage himself with an acoustic guitar and treats us to a few more intimate tracks as an encore. Latest single "Body Popping" gets the acoustic treatment with the whole crowd taking part in singing back every word. A couple more of the mellow tracks from Muscle Memory are also included which also still sound excellent and closing the night was an acoustic version of Reuben single "Let's Stop Hanging Out" which was an unexpected, but brilliant rendition.

Not shy to show his joy and gratefulness throughout the night and always cracking a smile, Jamie Lenman provided an excellent and varied night of music and a few wise cracks in between songs keeping things light hearted too. With sets like tonight I definitely will be making sure to keep coming to his shows.

JAMIE LENMAN'S TOUR CONTINUES:

REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: CWY PHOTOGRAPHY

Calum Buchan