As with all of W&H's scribblings, a modicum of research was employed before embarking out to this evening's entertainment. I arrived early hoping to catch the promised support band, the avant-garde Red Organ Serpent Sound, who are currently making waves with their visceral theatrical live shows. Unfortunately, a late cancellation put paid to that idea. My disappointment was then multiplied, as I had to endure a half hour set from local late substitutes, 33 THINGS.
The crowd in the half empty Venue were treated to an array of standard, run-of-the-mill musings from the four middle-aged rockers. More of a pub band (and I mean that in the nicest way possible), 33 Things looked out of their depth in a venue this size. But, to be fair, they did have a couple of noticeable tracks in their cannon, with 'Lonely Street' and 'Trust Me' proving to be the standouts.
Usually, JJ72 are to be found as a 3-piece, but tonight they've drafted in long term friend, ex-Thirteen:13 player, and multi-instrumentalist, TOBY MCFARLAINE, who opens their show with three self-penned acoustic numbers, presumably taken from his debut long player 'Reunion Square'. And very nice they were too. Not much to write home about, but nice none the less.
It's been five years since JJ72 last played the capital, and the Irish band looked composed and relaxed as they arrived on stage to a packed and, by now, sweaty Venue. It was the fan's first view of new Canadian bassist Sarah Fox, previously of The Fangs, and, although her vocals left much to be desired, her integration into the band sounded seamless.
Purring through a selection of songs taken from their eponymously titled debut album, along with their second release 'I To Sky', they assimilated their new material into their set with great effect. Frontman Mark Greaney roared and screamed through the opening triple salvo of new single 'Coming Home', the grandoise 'Formulae' and a raucous 'October Swimmer', before, it seemed, he had drawn breath.
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The young, and surprisingly static, crowd warmed immediately to ex-choir boy Creaney's polite between song banter, and chuckled heartily as he introduced the band's last single 'She's Gone' with: “...this was at number one for 16 weeks. Honestly. You must have missed it.”
A top heavy 'Algeria' was dusted down, before the highlight of the set, the acoustic beauty of 'Improv', drifted into our heads. Although, the tremendous version of 'Brother Sleep' that followed, ran it pretty damn close.
With McFarlaine fulfilling the second guitar role superbly, the sound was full and dynamic, JJ72 introduced a couple of their more recent tracks to the proceedings, the pick of the bunch being the punchy 'Radio', and the melodic 'Everything', before climaxing with a spellbinding version of fan's favourite, 'Snow'.
After a brief respite, the band reappeared to finish off with an encore that contained 'Serpent Sky' and 'Long Way South', then launched into their last song of the night, the classic 'Oxygen'.
This Edinburgh gig was the last night of a small, 10 date UK tour to promote new single 'Coming Home', together with the soon to be released album, which seems to be stuck in the distribution phase. And, if the band's progression shown here tonight can be transferred to their recorded format, something I feel they've not done in the past, JJ72 are soon going to be filling halls far larger than the one tonight.
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