An Autumn chill has returned to the air in the darkening streets of Birmingham and that somehow feels just perfect for the live return of gloomy Scottish pop-rock mainstays The Xcerts. As part of the ‘Revive Live’ tour in partnership with Music Venue Trust, the band embarked on their first UK tour for nearly three years with the promise of new material just on the horizon…
Ryan Sparrow
Tonight’s opener Ryan Sparrow along with his band, provide a subdued but thoroughly enjoyable start. With a voice somewhat similar to Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull, Sparrow and his band straddle that line between folk, indie and emo that has produced some unbelievable artists in the last few years. These are songs that take more time to worm their way into you than work as instant hits in a support slot, but by the end of their allotted time they have definitely piqued the interest of many in attendance.
The Xcerts
The last time The Xcerts embarked on an extensive UK tour was for a celebratory trip back to 2009’s emo tinged debut In The Cold Wind We Smile, but tonight’s performance shows just how much the band have evolved in the thirteen years since. Most of their set is taken from the band’s latest studio outing Hold Onto Your Heart, a record with such a massive sound that it is baffling to still be hearing them performed in the back room of a pub.
Regardless of setting though, the Aberdeenshire trio perfectly deliver bittersweet anthems such as ‘Drive Me Wild’, and ‘Daydream’ with every word sung back at them from an admittedly sparse audience. The small crowd doesn’t escape the band’s notice either as frontperson Murray McCleod jokes about how much Brimingham has never really taken to them. In some ways though this helps provide the night with a much more intimate feel, and for all the crowd might lack in numbers it more than makes up for with attention. Even when debuting a new acoustic track from a yet to be announced new record, McCleod still commands the attention of everyone in the room. It’s a mystery as to why The Xcerts don’t seem to be getting the full attention they deserve, but for those in the know the love can be felt throughout the room.
The mood is brought back up with a defiant ‘We Are Gonna Live’. McCleod gives us his best Tom Petty impression complete with swaying hips and blonde locks covering most of his face, perfectly married with the synth heavy 80s sheen of much of their newer material.
On the occasions where we are taken on a trip back to earlier, and comparatively more stripped back, material we’re reminded of the fantastic songwriting ability within the band with the likes of ‘There Is Only You’ and ‘Crisis In the Slow Lane’. Of course the peak here comes with the now customary singalong to the poignant ‘Aberdeen 1987’ taking everyone back to cold teenage nights spent in parks across the UK.
There is a simplicity to what The Xcerts do. They write cracking pop songs that don’t shy away from huge melodies and aren’t afraid to sound like a rock band. It’s a hole that feels like it needs to be filled within the UK scene yet sadly the band just don’t seem to quite get the level of support they deserve. Closing with the ever jubilant ‘Feels Like Falling In Love’ with that guitar solo and chorus is the exclamation mark on the night, and the final reminder of why this band needs to be shouted about from the rooftops. Put these songs in front of people and they cannot be denied.