Concert Review by Kris Griffiths
Scala, London
One of the biggest musical misnomers in recent history has to be the ‘new acoustic movement’ circa 2001. There was nothing particularly new about bands unplugging their electrics for an album or two and its classification as a movement evokes the image of a river of treacle, not moving very much at all. According to the press this movement was spearheaded by the likes of Elbow and Turin Brakes (who aren’t all that bad actually), and oozing along in the middle of it was a burgeoning band from Manchester called I Am Kloot, who have since vociferously distanced themselves from the whole idea of humdrum strummers with beards and woolly hats.
Funnily enough, it was Elbow frontman Guy Garvey who produced their debut album, whilst their last tour featured them as special guests of, you guessed it, Turin Brakes. Such connections combined with the acclaim garnered by their debut has yielded a substantial fanbase and tonight is the penultimate show of their first headlining tour.
Perhaps in a gesture to remind the Scala’s near capacity crowd that they’re still not humdrum strummers, their two supporting acts allowed onstage turn out to be the strangest and probably the worst acts ever to be given status as entertainers. The first comprises a man reciting heavy wordage from a book in front of another man sitting at a desk supplying the backing music with a laptop but looking like he’s just checking his emails. The second lot turns out to be a bunch of blokes dressed in drag performing a dance routine that is neither skilled nor entertaining. If I ever meet the Klootsters, they’ll have a lot of explaining to do.
Tonight though they explain and redeem themselves by playing us a succession of very pleasant songs, something the hitherto bemused crowd visibly expect and enjoy. Focussing mainly on snapshots from 2001 debut NATURAL HISTORY and their new eponymous album released in September, the tunes like UNTITLED #1 and A STRANGE ARRANGEMENT OF COLOUR float by like picturesque rural scenery from a train window. The band clearly do not intend to rock the crowd although it would have been nice to see the bassist rising from his chair at some point, or maybe even frontman Johnny Bramwell getting off his milk crate and strolling to the other side of the stage. The movement issue though is a minor niggle in an otherwise accomplished performance.
The only other one arises at the last bit of the last song when it appears they’ve saved the best for last. New single LIFE IN A DAY, with its whirlwind drums and a cameo appearance from an electric guitar, is a bit special… a bit too special to be marred by the dickheads in dresses bursting onto the stage again and prancing around like idiots. They were also stupid enough to think we were applauding them too. Sort it out Johnny.
