The Big Issue in Scotland | Home

You are not logged in, Login

Amy Macdonald

29/01/2010

Spry and chantable pop @ Barrowland, Glasgow
Amy Macdonald
Barrowland, Glasgow
3/5

As Amy Macdonald stands alone onstage and begins to strum the opening chords of Dancing In The Dark, a voice loudly rings out from the crowd - “gaun yersel, Amy!”. No matter how much touring across Europe Macdonald has done, there can be no doubt the affection her home city still holds for her.

It’s no wonder then, that this is an evening for her to debut the new material that forms the upcoming follow-up to her hugely successful debut album, This Is The Life. Returning to Glasgow guarantees a warm reception and even if she’d appeared and started playing a mutant blend of free form jazz and death metal she’d still be cheered to the rafters, although some sneering cynics would no doubt suggest that would be more enjoyable. 

Yet as old and new tracks are rolled out, it’s hard not to give praise, as the Bishopbriggs songstress is very good at what she does, namely play spry and chantable pop. Her big, booming voice dominates, although synthesisers are now to the fore, notably on the sure-fire future single that is ‘Spark’, while ‘Love Love’ even has a dash of Blondie running through it.

They’re still easy enough to sing along to, and it’ll be a surprise if a few of them don’t take over radio airwaves sooner or later. Clad in a glittering outfit, Macdonald looks somewhat nervous, if still prone to launching into stories about herself, but her backing band offer more rock n’roll spills and thrills, with her guitarist leaping higher and higher as the traditional favourites are wheeled out. And both ‘Run’ and ‘Mr Rock & Roll’ sound bigger and bolder than before.

Even with such a pumped-up crowd singing along, Macdonald’s slower songs finally cause the enthusiasm to wane and there’s a bit of a lull until things get going again, which spotlights the at times formulaic nature of her writing. Yet she throws out ‘Let’s Start A Band’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over’ with such force that she’ll surely be one of Glasgow’s favourite daughters for some time to come.

Richard Parker
Have your say

Loading...

Leave a comment 500 Characters Remaining

You have to be registered and signed in to post a comment

Login | Register

More Reviews...

Theatre

Classical

Rock & Pop

Comedy

Exhibition

Dance

Jazz

Edinburgh Festival 2010