By Alexandra Edwards
Playing the Loft can be a mixed
bag. The venue is wonderful, to be sure: spacious, with more than decent
sightlines, friendly bartenders, and comfy couches to chill on. But some
nights, the drum mix sucks.
Sadly, this was the case at Tuesday night's
Glasvegas show. From the moment the drums came in on the band's first song of the
set – the riveting and climactic "Geraldine" – the vibrations shook the club's
industrial-style cement floor and walls. But then it didn't stop, no matter
what the band played. The constant low thrumming blurred each song into the
next, overpowering the guitars and bass. The band may have some shoegaze in
their sound, but the songs are definitely distinguishable on their recently
released self-titled album. The diehard fans packed tight against the stage
might have been able to identify the show's setlist, but it had to be difficult
for anyone else.
It's a shame, too, because these Scottish boys are
poised to go places and this was Atlanta's chance to say, "I saw them when…"
Their sound is epic, and in their matching black t-shirts, with the stage lights
flashing as they played, the show felt like warm-up for a long and successful
career packed with stadium tours and radio hits. Lead singer James Allan has a
good sense for the dramatic; he entered wearing sunglasses, every bit the rock
star, then flung himself around emphatically to the beat. It's also possible he
takes himself a little too seriously, considering that neither he nor any of his
bandmates said a word to the crowd for more than half of their set. Or perhaps
they were upset about the sound too.
Imagine seeing the next Coldplay
in a club with less than a hundred other people, before they hit the big time. Now imagine the experience scarred by a terrible sound mix. It was
disappointing, to be sure. At least Allan's vocals, replete with sexy Scottish
accent, could be heard above the drone.
