Text: Roseanne Watt
Photos: Billy Fox

31 December, 2007

THE NORSCOT Angling club seems strangely out of place in its surroundings, nestled snugly amongst the industrial buildings of Gremista. It is not the sort of place you’d choose to hold a gig and expect to get more than a few tickets sold. So it says something about the bands when a line-up of Little Green Machine, Black Bic Biro and City City Beats manages to sell-out within just a few days of tickets being put on sale.

Black Bic Biro were the first to entertain a very excited crowd, kicking off the night with their original composition “Timmy the Flea”. It soon became apparent from the lively melody that Black Bic Biro were going to give the audience a performance to top their one at Maggie Mays in Glasgow.

The crowd were immediately on their feet, and remained so throughout the entirety of their slot, and indeed the night. The guests – Fiddler of the Year Miriam Brett and “mysterious rapper” Loddwan - gave Black Bic Biro an extra edge to their performing style. Miriam provided a haunting riff to accompany “The Old Gasp”, a song that, though slow-paced, held the audience captivated.

Black Bic Biro and Little Green Machine are two of the few Shetland bands that can play a song that, strictly speaking, is not one that can be danced to, and still have the audience mesmerised by the music.

Black Bic Biro did only one cover that night - a unique rendition of “Umbrella” by Rhianna, played in Black Bic Biro’s own style, and aptly dedicated to “Ella”. The band left the stage after polishing off their performance with the acclaimed song, “Peggy Sue”. It was a fantastic start to the night.

Next to take the stage was City City Beats, a band from Edinburgh, who frequently support Little Green Machine. Though their music was in entirely different to Black Bic Biro, it was clear from the opening riff of their first song that they were going to blow the crowd away.

The electronic style of the songs offered the audience a completely new flavour of music. With thrilling guitar riffs from Jon Mackenzie, heavy bass lines played by the bare-footed Calum Wood and relentless drum beats supplied by Rory Penman, the band delivered music that was both exciting and original.

In a set packed with character and enthusiasm, even incorporating snippets of the dance beat “Zombienation” in “It Pleases Me” to give a kick to an already fantastic song, the band concluded their performance with the self-titled “City City Beats”. Despite not being a Shetland band, City City Beats were met with great approval, and deserved such a warm reception.

Headliners Little Green Machine took to the floor to conclude the night in traditional Little Green Machine-style. It was the first time the band had played in Shetland since their phenomenal gig in Burra back in summer. It was at this point when those who had remained firmly seated throughout the night got up to see the band perform.

“Excuse me, Sir” was one song that had the crowd singing along, whilst “Not Like You Need It” had them dancing like lunatics. The band had charisma and flair throughout and kept the audience in high spirits, building the atmosphere to the very end. “Jelly Baby” was another song in the line-up, and then revealed as the title of the band’s next EP.

The ending song of the night was “Cocaine Daisychain” an acoustic song that managed to draw everybody in the vicinity to the dance floor. Opinions from the audience about the end song was divided, some saying that a slow song was anti-climatic to the night, whilst others agreeing that the choice was unusual, but was a brilliant way to end the gig. The song itself can only be described as beautifully chilling, and despite being an unusual choice was appropriate no matter what opinion says, thus concluding a fantastic end to a fantastic night.

To quote a member of the crowd: “Now how about that for a gig?”