Here’s that stuck record again – I didn’t know either band on the bill tonight until very close to the gig. Our photographer Angela wanted to cover the show so I volunteered to do the review. Then unfortunately Real Life ™ got in the way at the last moment and Angela couldn’t make it! Fortunately fellow Moshville Times-er Louise was in attendance, and this was one of those gigs with a great audience who were as up for chatting as they were to watch the bands. So a quick shout out to the Rainbow Ladies who stood near us, and Miss Sparkles (aka Steph of Dundee alt-pop act Copper Lungs – touring later this year!).
As far as the stage stuff was concerned, the openers tonight were Las Vegas two-plus-two piece The Pretty Wild. Featuring sisters Jyl and Jules Wylde it would be easy to rely on the sibling pairing as a selling point, but they immediately brush this off by playing some great songs. The sisters pair up incredibly well, whether sharing genes or not helps I don’t know, but they make for a perfect double act. Where many bands will have a harsh and a clean vocalist, The Pretty Wild’s singers bounce between all sounds including dueting in both clean and harsh styles. And chucking some rap in as well.
The drums with a little too disctinct in the mix at the start of the set, but this was soon corrected and we got to enjoy songs such as “OMENS”, “INFRARED” and “sLeepwALkeR” as well as could be expected at a live venue. All the band members seemed to be having fun and The Pretty Wild did what they were there to do – warm up the audience. There may have only been one crowdsurfer but there were a lot of people obviously enjoying them and they’re definitely an act to keep an eye out for.
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My between-set chatter was rudely interurrupted by the lights going down and a band coming on stage. How selfish. Still, Sleep Theory made up for it by playing a pretty damn entertaining set. Frontman Cullen Moore is an obvious focal point, especially with that voice, though as the set progresses it becomes more and more apparent that there are three very good vocalists in the band.
Musically they’re wonderfully eclectic offering up a sound which melds (and this is going to sound weird, but…) emo, metalcore, R&B and, erm, 1990s boy bands. And it works. They have songs you can bounce to, bang your head to, crowdsurf to (one happy customer proved this point) and sway to, with your arms around your someone special. Assuming you have a someone special to put your arms around.
Sleep Theory are all about having a good time and they lead by example. They smile their way through the set, bounce, sing and simply look like they don’t want the night to stop. With little between-song banter they rattle through almost 20 songs including a couple of covers. The “song you’ll all know” wasn’t one I knew (NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye”) but I enjoyed it nonetheless, but it paled compared to their version of Paramore’s “My Heart”. Bassist Paolo led the vocals for this one, and guitarist Dan got to show off his harmonies as well. Poor Ben Pruitt on drums is the only one we didn’t get to hear from!
When this tour was first announced, the Glasgow venue was the Òran Mór (500 capacity). This sold out so was upgraded to The Garage (700 capacity). And then it got upgraded to Galvanizers (1250 capacity). Which then sold out. A Bristol date was added out of nowhere and I think the whole tour is playing to rammed venues. On the strength of what I saw tonight, I completely get this.
Sleep Theory’s music is wonderfully accessible, pulling from so many directions. They guys are genuine and charismatic, and they’ve brought a cracking support act. For the umpteenth time I’ve been to see a “new to me” band and walked out of the venue wondering why I hadn’t heard of them before.
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Header image by Jonathan Weiner
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