Lapsus Linguae

Lapsus Linguae know how to put on a show. Imagine if you will - a gang of muscular Glasgwegians in tight black leather, studded belts and matching black vests emblazoned with the strangely familiar white on black Lapsus logo. Call it an ironic take on heavy metal cliches if you will, or just a bunch of lads having fun doing what they do - either way they're a whole lot more entertaining to watch on stage than your average shoegazing indie band. Constantly staging fights with eachother and the audience, spitting at fellow band members and growling into the mike between songs, they seem to be having fun and simultaneously scaring back a good proportion of the audience. What seperates them, of course, from the likes of Slipknot is that their music has real credibility, they're ultimately more punk than 'goth', and they don't take themselves at all seriously ("I'd watch it mate, he's got a black suspender belt in Origami!").

The music then - behind it all is a stream of fast, intricate, dark and complex keyboard playing. Classical technique used to chase home unusual harmonies and dark progressions, a serious backing to the loud-mouthed punk guitar action, heavy distortion and driving bass that frequently breaks out adding the killer crunch to proceedings. It doesn't always make sense but when it does it can be surprisingly beautiful.

Actually headlining tonight are Six Ray Sun, staples of the local music scene with their noisy drum-machine driven indie dance workouts. The singer seemed to've recovered his voice since previous instrumental-only gigs, but was by his own admission pretty fucked on beer, wine and 'that kinda illegal stuff'. Despite which, they did rock out in a (being honest here) not-entirely-remarkable but still entertaining manner.

More interesting on the night were the first support, Tempertwig. Boys from London with a rather grumpy demeanour but excellent songs - a three piece with some impressive drumming, cutting basslines and post-hardcore guitar work. Vocals were more mumbled than sung, to some powerful guitar sounds in a manner recalling Arab strap with perhaps a touch of Fugazi thrown in to liven things up. Altogether a great night...