Streamed gig from The Caves Edinburgh
As the members of the band picked up their instruments to the final strains of the theme song to “Countdown”, it was obvious this was going to be an entertaining show. The YouTube broadcast went off without a hitch on Thursday night, pre-recorded in Edinburgh’s The Caves in aid of Kirkcaldy Food Bank. Fife’s “dreamy rock and roll” band, Shambolics, had just taken the stage and would later be joined by James Allen of Glasvegas and Kyle Falconer of The View for two stylistically different performances. It was an evening that would showcase Shambolics onstage versatility.
The set opened with the galloping rocker, “My Time Is Now”. “Council State of Mind” and “Sandra Speed” followed with echoes of 90s references to the Stone Roses and Oasis with Teenage Fanclub-style vocals. Between songs, statuesque guitarist Darren Forbes took swigs of a bottle of Buckfast cheekily placed on an amp behind him.
The mood changed completely for the next song when Shambolics were joined by vocalist James Allan from Glasvegas to cover “Pale Blue Eyes”. Here, the band showcased a completely different style, one more atmospheric and in the style of Glasvegas/Interpol/The Editors.
After Allan left the stage, the show continued on with a couple of songs that would once again reveal the band’s love of The La’s and showcase sweet dulcet harmonies that would not sound out of place on Bandwagonesque.
Once again, the band were joined by a guest onstage: this time, it was The View’s Kyle Falconer. With Falconer, Shambolics would reprise their Isolation cover track, Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere”. With Forbes, guitarist Lewis McDonald and drummer Jake Bain providing tight backing vocals, this was a particular highlight of the set with its feel good 70s AOR radio sound.
Recent single “Chasing A Disaster” came next, with hints of Cast and Shack in the chiming jangle pop of the twin guitars. “Love Collides” was the grand show finisher, an uptempotrack which segued into The Smith’s “There Is A Light”, the swirling, showstopping ending.
It was an evening well spent down The Caves, and for an important cause too with all proceeds being donated to the Kirkcaldy Food Bank. For more information, please visit http://www.kirkcaldyfoodbank.org.uk/
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Words by CHRISSY EVANS
The songbird 