King Tut’s, Glasgow
February 15th, 2024
The aptly titled King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut is a greatly popular music venue half way into town. It’s a venue steeped in rich musical history. The room was packed for a midweek gig, it’s very interesting layout speaks of this history and its musical ascension.
On first were the dulcet tones of Benjamin Steer who played and sang mostly on his own with a couple of backup tracks. His songs were poetic and his lyrics held a lot of emotion, he was well suited to this in his voice and appearance. He is a star in a newer type and style of song writing that mixes protest, with a strong and husky vocal, with love songs that put the lively evening in a soft mood as they whooped.
He played about 40 min set of clearly original music, which is a more than descent segment that mixed Irish with blues with pop versions, so as he left to welcome main act the already lively atmosphere, had seen a great gig.
‘Kingfishr’ are a new group who abandoned menial life to join and form a band. They were young, fun and he howled a little on vocals. A 5 piece scuffle band unafraid to share, and enjoy the room that they were making legendary, the careful blend of instruments and personalities that included a reverberating banjo, 2 guitars, bass and drum.
They rocked through the gig with heavily loud speakers yet played with a great sensitivity, that easily won the crowd over, many or most of whom were fans. Their current recording’s are only in the singles form, but their passions were felt bringing the idea they had of leaving their worlds behind. They are making their way through a large tour, and have every intention to record in the not too far off future, they should because in its revelry this was a highly organised band and they played it very tightly.
But the biggest vibe they created became communal, they parted the small crowd (Tut’ intimate size) took their place in its centre and sang and played without amplification. The room well understood this and as he sang lines to resemble an extreme human predicament, the room changed and all the phones that were on him lit up this strange and heartrending moment.
For a band so young it was like they were already living the experience and all it takes to be in a band and consciously drive it towards the roads of rock n’ roll success. And so their music stated its many faceted styles not without its appeal that drew the room closer together to really share something. A music that belts forth and puts forth its hardest and softest appeals. We must say well done to these guys as they learn to mount and ride this bull, I can imagine very great progress for this group.
Daniel Donnelly
Mumble Music 