The Xcerts w/ Flood of Red, Duke
When it comes to The Xcerts, hometown shows are always a big deal. Not just for the band themselves, but for the fans, and for Aberdeen’s music scene in general. Every time one of their (commendably regular) Aberdeen shows surface on the radar there’s a palpable buzz, and having come fresh from European dates with Frank Turner and a tour with Brand New looming large on the horizon, they’ve never been a hotter ticket.
First up, though, are Duke, who deservedly win over the early arrivals tonight. While their brand of spiky indie-rock owes a large debt of gratitude to the Biffys and Twin Atlantics that came before them, what they lack in ingenuity they more than make up for in other areas. They boast a live show that’s polished beyond their years, an encouraging level of energy and an undeniably strong work rate. Having clearly brought a few fans of their own tonight, they’re the kind of band any local scene needs, and assuming some strides are made towards some fresh ideas in the coming months, it’s easy to imagine them winning over a few more followers. (7)
Next up are Flood of Red, who come into tonight’s show still fresh in the minds of anyone who witnessed their outstanding Aberdeen show at the end of 2011. Tonight they fare a little less successfully, although it’s through no fault of their own that their brand of layered atmospherics doesn’t quite connect like it should. The performance is typically well drilled, the songs are excellent and they boast a commanding stage presence, but the volume level rides so low that most of their set registers as a running battle between the band and the conversations happening at the bar. It’s a pity that it’s under these circumstances that what could quite easily have been an explosive performance doesn’t quite ignite. (7)
Having spent the fifteen months or so since second album ‘Scatterbrain’ was released almost relentlessly on the road, The Xcerts have cultivated a live reputation that precedes them, and with expectations typically high, it doesn’t take long for them to set about their business with their regular level of vitriol. A sparse, minimal version of ‘Home Versus Home’ provides an unexpected calm before the storm, before ‘Do You Feel Safe’ blasts us back into familiar territory. The home crowd are in good voice, and a mid-set one-two punch of ‘Slackerpop’ and a seldom-aired ‘Young (Belane)’ nudges their momentum into overdrive in time for the whole of Flood of Red reappearing for a rousing rendition of ‘Crisis in the Slow Lane’. The back half of the room might be plagued with people more interested in the loud conversations they’re conducting than the band in front of them, but it’s an unqualified good time for the rest of us.
‘Aberdeen 1987′ predictably inspires the biggest singalong of the night, before the encore brings a new song that hints at a more textured exploration of the emotive grunge sound that they’ve spent the last few years making their own. As the ever-excellent ‘Cool Ethan’ wraps things up, the reception is suitably rapturous, and Aberdeen’s hometown heroes can count this one as yet another victory. What 2012 holds for them remains to be seen, but whatever the next twelve months may bring, The Xcerts continue to be a near-unrivalled good-time live act at this level. (8)
