Seen on Tuesday January 20
Friends and record label mates, Eigg's Johnny Lynch (aka The Pictish Trail) and Cardiff's Stephen Black (aka Sweet Baboo) undertook a joint tour in December which, at one point in the set, acknowledged that Christmas was coming. It was a cold night in January before they made it to Glasgow, however, although they were loathe to drop the Yuletide theme, at first pretending we had all time-travelled back a few weeks. I'm not convinced much was gained musically by this malarkey, but it did provide the context for one poor-taste Coronation Street joke.
And that's the thing about these two guys when they get together: the in-between banter can be as funny as the songs are moving. Black tends towards whimsy in his lyrics, capitalising on the mundane nature of his subject matter - walks in the rain, a drive north in a mobile home. Lynch is the better songwriter, his folk music washed with psychedelic colours, his lyrics more emotionally trenchant, his melodies and voice often heartstoppingly beautiful.
Alternating the vocal lead through two sets, swapping between keyboards, guitars and a grand piano, it was a quirky experience built on a genuine bond of affection.
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