Jesus, the Service bus must have been busy last night. As KING BISCUIT TIME made his triumphant return to the capital, it seemed, as though, half of Fife had turned out to see him.
Noted luminaries of the Scottish music scene were there in abundance to support their kinsman; King Creosote, James Yorkston, The Pictish Trail and Vic Galloway were all in attendance as Steve Mason brought his new musical vehicle to the masses.
Backed by the talented duo of Pete Rankine (Les Bell, of Old Jock Radio fame), and Hot Shots II producer C Swing, otherwise known as Colin Emmanuel, Mason was on top form as he aired some of his recent material, with a couple of surprises thrown in for good measure.
The evening was kicked off, though, by the ultra-talented PIP DYLAN. Brother to, both, ex-Beta Band member The Lone Pigeon, and Fence Records lynchpin King Creosote, it looks like this third brother could be the most talented of all. Although long time friends, it seemed, at first, strange to pair Dylan with King Biscuit Time, mainly due to the fact that the former's country leanings might not sit pretty with the fans of KBT. Shows what I know.
The ubiquitious chatter-merchants were soon entranced as Dylan meandered through a selection of songs mostly taken from his two albums thus far, '...Classical Piece...' and '...Cheese'. Splendid versions of old favourites 'Trip', 'Splinter' and 'Orr My Dawg' displayed Dylan's versatility between the lap steel and acoustic guitars, but it was the newer material, such as the traditional country sound of 'Orange County', that revealed the direction Dylan is now heading.
It's been rumoured that Mr Dylan has written seven album's worth of material in the last 12 months, and if his new songs are of the standard shown last night then, music lovers, are we all in for a treat. Take note of the name, I can guarentee you're going to be hearing an awful lot more of it in the not so distant future.
A little after half past nine, King Biscuit Time bounced on stage to a rapturous welcome from the, by now, swollen crowd. Appearing as relaxed onstage as I've seen him, and looking resplendant in a black leather zip-up hoodie, Steve Mason gave the type of performance that will surely see him return to the forefront of British musical culture.
With Rankine on bass and electric guitar, Emmanuel on hammond and percussion, King Biscuit Time flowed effortlessly through new songs 'Left Eye' and 'Izzium', before the crowd really warmed up as the opening strains to 'I Love You' rung out. One of the stronger tracks from Mason's 2000 release “No Style”, the hypnotic electronica wrapped itself elegantly around Mason's echoed vocal. It was near perfect.
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The Beta fans were catered for half way way through the set, as Rankine and Emmanuel departed to leave Mason to deliver a quite fantastic 'Dr Baker', followed by 'Simple', taken from the band's last album “Heroes to Zeros”. Listening to the lyrics now, with hindsight, it's obvious the band were in trouble, and would eventually split: “I try to see it their way/I try to be alone/I try to do my own thing/But, the trouble with your own thing is you end up on your own”. Can you hear me?
The threesome resumed for a spirited version of new single, 'C I AM 15'. A wonderful mix of loping hip hop, rap and political intrigue, and although lyrically oblique, I'm sure the title gives away the significance of the song. Just put a line between the 'A' and the 'M'.
'I Walk The Earth', complete with hilarious sychronised robotic dancing from Rankine and Mason, was greeted with the familiar recognition it deserves, but it was the groove of new songs 'All Over You', and the sublime 'Kwangchow', that grabbed the attention of this particular hack. There's a certain Stone Roses feel to some of the new songs, but mixed with Mason's intensity, that the Mancunians could never quite reach, they sound and feel totally original.
A short break, then back for the obligatory encore. And what an encore.
A sensational dub-ska version of 'Anarchy In The UK' that, quite literally, has to be heard to be believed (It shouldn't work I tell you, but it bloody well does), followed by another rendering of 'C I AM 15' and they were gone, exiting the stage to huge grins and applause.
There was much wailing, and gnashing of teeth, when the Beta Band decided to call it a day, but we all knew, deep down, that each of them would be back. As I type, Richard Greentree is putting the finishing touches to his solo album, Robin Jones and John McLean will be touring shortly with their new venture The Aliens, and, as you've just read, Steve Mason is, again, captivating audiences up and down the country.
The Beta Band are dead. Long live the King.
www.kingbiscuittime.co.uk
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