Gig review: Penny Century/Amateurs/Katie Sutherland
Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, August 31 2007
It has been an absolutely amazing month of gig-going here at 17 Seconds, with a lot going on. September may be quieter in this respect (it usually this). But this was a great way to bid farewell to the end of a month with so many and seeing two bands I have raved about on here finally and seeing one of the most talented singer-songwriters I have heard in ages on here too. This gig was put on by Edinburgh-based promoters Trampoline, who deserve to be getting more coverage for the hard slog they are doing.
Katie Sutherland blew me away when I saw her supporting Emma Pollock three months ago, and she does so again tonight. Still in her teens, this Kirkintilloch-born and raised singer-songwriter has receiving a lot of interest from South of the border in the last few months. She starts with Mr. Lecturer, whihc was the standout song for me from the last gig (alas, still unrecorded), and also plays three new ones: Mango Tree, Cocktails and a new one that she has apparently just finsihed writing this very day. She tells us that the Roses is about the good things in life ‘like Chips and Cheese and Curry Sauce (girl after my own heart. Apart from the curry sauce). ‘Because I Do’ still lingers too.
Edinburgh’s The Amateurs have some absolutely gorgeous songs on their debut, self-titled album. ‘The Water Of Leith Song’ is perhaps the most gorgeous of the lot live, though ‘Things You Only Know If You Don’t Drive’ is pretty fab too. Singer and Guitarist Seth Chanas has written some amazing songs, but the absolute jewel in the crown is the voice of Sarah Weatherston. Their album is due to be released in the next few weeks, having been completed over a year ago. Friends, Readers, Bloggers, lend it your ears. Though there are one or two troubles due to the fact that they didn’t get a soundtrack (this can play havov for any band, so bear this in mind the next time you are slagging off a support band), this cannot take away from the beauty of the songs.
Penny Century may very well have made one of the best albums of the year in their debut Between A Hundred Lies. I utterly fell for them when I heard their album, and now I fall for them all over again. They look so cool and sound so confident. ‘Too Bitter To Be Charming’ opens the album and it’s ironic, given just how goddamn charming they are, both onstage and off. Live they rock much harder than they do on record (they told me in an interview that they plan their next album to sound more rocky). ‘Between A Hundred Lies’ has a soulful edge that doesn’t come across so much on record. And of course ‘When the City Is waking up’ just melts you. Damn you guys!
An excellent night out from three bands who deserve to be playing bigger venues and taking up residence on your CD player. Penny Century and The Amateurs albums can be ordered from Letterbox Records. There will be interviews with all three acts on here very soon.
mp3s of the bands concerned:
Penny Century -‘Nothing Burns Like Bridges.’ mp3
Penny Century -‘What I never Learned To Say.’ mp3
The Amateurs -‘Cool By Me.’ mp3
The Amateurs -‘Things You Only Know If You Don’t Drive.’ mp3