Birds Of Avalon

In this age of downloading the opportunities for up-and-coming musicians to make a living from their art decreases with every new torrent network. With this in mind, imagine how difficult, not to mention costly, it must be for an overseas band with a fairly low profile to fund a whole tour off their own backs. In a climate of credit crunches and repossessed goods, it really doesn't bear thinking about.

But Vetiver, a San Francisco four-piece who haven't graced these shores for nearly two years, take the risk. Sadly though, if the cost of this UK excursion is anything to go by, they probably won't be back in a hurry. It is to their credit that they can genuinely claim to be doing this for the love of music. After all, if they were in this for anything else, then surely the most foolproof option would be to just form a tribute band and play covers, right? Right.

Not that Vetiver are averse to the odd cover version or two. Recent album Thing Of The Past (review) celebrated the songs and artists that influenced mainman Andy Cabic and his band to the point that the word ‘obscure’ didn't even do many of his muses justice. This evening, Vetiver's repertoire is as equally reticent in that their set not only draws itself from the band's three studio albums, but also mixes in long-lost b-sides and three as-yet-unrecorded new songs.

It takes a good half-dozen songs for Vetiver to really get into their stride. When they do though, particularly on the previously unheard and wholly upbeat trio of 'Sister', 'Wishing Well' and set highlight 'Through The Front Door', there's a fresh wave of animated vigour descending from the stage that suggests the band are at their most relaxed, and ultimately most contented, when playing this kind of material.

Elsewhere, their slow-burning country take on Lindsey Buckingham's 'Save Me A Place' and heart-warming rendition of previous album To Find Me Gone's standout 'I Know No Pardon' also deserve a mention. On the whole though, tonight's performance is a little bit patchy, and almost feels at times like a rehearsal. Let's hope Vetiver find their feet soon, as when they switch to rock-out mode over formulaic country, their potential live and on record is immense.