Washington Irving Review

Twit ta woo said the crowd! As likely as a badge maker reviewing a gig!

As many lay hungover in their beds after some October fest done Scottish style a dedicated wee bunch, or those who didn’t go were out at the Iron Works Sunday night for a crescendo of music to make you forget it was Monday the next day. Fake Saturday my pal was calling it, as we had behaved all weekend.. Not that I was that naughty anyway, 3/4 drinks and home by midnight. ☺

The evening kicked off with a folk, Latin feeling guitar duet Penniless Moth who created percussion on their guitars and played together beautifully like I have never seen before.  This pair are no guitar Jesters.

Wooden Tooth who I had been lucky to enough to acquire my ticket from as partial trade for some badges kicked it up a level next with the gentle, strong and drawing vocals of lead singer Rory that had me personally delightfully intrigued. Possibly because I knew of him from going to the same high school and had never heard him sing, but I think it was more and I want to hear more!! Thank goodness for sound cloud! Oh and he was wearing the most fabulous Steve Sizzou t-shirt!! Love the Bill!! ☺

Headlining was Washington Irving on the final leg of their highland tour and letting us taste there new material, but not letting us forget why we love them.  Pulling the always respectful crowd up close to them for the second track, the bass guitarist played what I think are rifts with a screwdriver, I couldn’t take my eyes away and was so close I kicked myself my iPhone was dumped in my jacket miles away so was unable to capture the moment. But it’s engrained into my mind!

As normally a 2/3 back kinda gig listener who is feeling the pull of the front more, I found this top row spot a sensory delight, having my eyes and ears pulled all over as the layers of drum, keyboard and 4 guitars, that occasionally swapped to a beautiful mandolin.  In my sober state I was intoxicated by them all and don’t want to forget the drummers beautiful hair, but was spell bound buy the lead singer Joe (blush) who stood poised and balanced on the balls of his feet most of the set whilst singing, playing and dancing!!

There is something about watching music push from someone’s toes up and out through his fingers and mouth, which leaves me an instrumentally challenged dance floor boogier and ball of foot mover tingly all over when watching.

A night of great moments like making the audience giggle nervously at their new track ‘We are all going to die’, and not to forget the contagious owl calls that became standard as the set went on??? Baffled?  We all were the band especially but I’m sure there was a smile on everyone face. After the gig when I approached Joe the lead singer he smiled and said ‘twit ta woo’, could the owl call be the start of something new…

The last 2 tracks were back to back amazing, with stunning strong acoustic vocals from Joe who stepped  away from the mike during She Moved through the Fair, this was followed by the beautiful mandolin staking its claim to Bealach-an-Righ before they all joined together building to the loud finale, but never allowing the mandolin to be lost.

Washington Irving have a headline gig in Glasgow in October before jetting off to New York to record their next album, so won’t be back to see us until next year. Anticipation building already!