Fatherson at the Horn

This was one of those evenings where I was here for the support rather than the headline act. I had seen Fatherson a few years ago at SXSW. I’m very strict at SXSW. Either do something to make me interested in the first song, or I move on. Fatherson actually were given a few songs before I moved on. So they never going to draw me to this gig.

However, Black Foxxes who I was meant to catch before Christmas but had a cold and didn’t want to risk passing on something worse, were added to the bill as support. This seemed like a good enough reason to give Fatherson another chance.

Opening the evening were Count Paris. A local band who have some potential but felt very stiff. The singer has an idea of the kind of performer he wants to be. But his movements were telephoned in and looked forced and stiff. I’m sure with more performances he will loosen up.

Black Foxxes are from Exeter and are a grunge band. The lead singer Mark Holley has a decent voice and unlike many grunge bands, isn’t trying to sound like Kurt. I really enjoyed the performance.

Sadly Fatherson were pretty much the same as last time I saw them. They are tight. But they have that distinctive Scottish indie sound that only occasionally works for me. It’s all a bit verse, chorus, where the chorus is designed for people to sing. It just doesn’t work for me.

Set List

• DIVE
• CHARM SCHOOL
• LOST LITTLE BOYS
• NORMAL PEOPLE
• THE LANDSCAPE
• GHOST
• REFLECTION
• CAT STEVENS
• LOVE FOR AIR
• JPTPOB
• BETTER FRIEND
• I LIKE NOT KNOWING
• ALWAYS
• HONEST TO GOD
• MAKING WAVES