Earths and Bear Arms at Mad Hatters, Inverness, 26/2/16. Review and Photographs.
Billed as the gig of the month, Mad Hatters played host to two Glasgow bands of an independent persuasion. Earths have been on my radar for a wee while so it was too good an opportunity to miss, and I wasn’t disappointed. They manage to incorporate a fair few ‘sub-genre’ influences to really good effect, and I guess that’s testament to what a talented bunch they are.
there are echoes of influences in there, whether that be Frightened Rabbit or Sigur Ros
For sure there are echoes of influences in there, whether that be Frightened Rabbit or Sigur Ros (yes it’s that diverse) and yet it all hangs together wonderfully well. Well-crafted songs featuring clever arrangements and a likeable stage personality complete the picture – they are a hard working band and so are likely to be appearing somewhere near you. Check them out, you won’t be disappointed.
Meantime have a listen to free to download Kangerlussuaq – no idea how to say it so just as well you don’t have to ask for it – but I do like it and loved the live performance.
Quite a gig, my ears are still buzzin’
Bigger, louder, meatier, badder, post-hardcore prog rockers Bear Arms followed Earths on to the stage. Richard Wardrop takes on lead vocals with a fairly classic rock voice while to his right Keiran Hird provides the contrast, interjecting to good effect with some death metal screamo vocals – in fact his side of the stage is generally a bit more feisty.
Another hard working band the set comprises mostly of compositions from their well-received 2014 album ‘Strength and Conviction’. No strangers to the north (including an appearance at Belladrum) they are now in their fifth year as a band – and it shows on stage.
Quite a gig, my ears are still buzzin’, it’d be good to see both of these acts back in the area sometime soon.
