Hue and Cry @ Club Academy
HUE and Cry have been slow to hop aboard the '80s revival bandwagon (or should that be Ford Capri?).Some have been touring for the last few years in compilation shows full of bands that have back combed what hair they still have and dusted off their twelve inch remixes.
The brothers Kane (Pat and Greg for those who don't have an old copy of Smash Hits to hand) managed 16 years away from the mainstream but it was the chance to appear on reality show Hit Me Baby One More Time that tempted them back to the limelight and brought about the subsequent renewed interest.
So what better a time to pen a new album, Open Soul, and tour it.
In their hey day the Kane's were a part of the Scottish movement of 'blue eyed soul' including Deacon Blue and, at the more commercial end, Wet Wet Wet.
Hue and Cry's new stuff is in the same vein as the early outings - old school bluesy soul with a touch of funk.
Both ends of their 20-year career are showcased tonight, though events don't get off to a great start.
Looking For Linda
Pat's not happy with the sound and the first three tracks, two new ones and the ever bland Looking for Linda, are delivered like a bored cabaret combo and received by a largely uninspired crowd.
However techy problems sorted and the band kick into gear.
There's no great change of direction to be found here, they're still largely at their best when belting out a rousing number such as their hit Labour of Love, rather than the slower songs though there is an emotive performance of new song Stumble.
Pat's voice was never the most distinctive but it was always strong and remains so, the intervening years of shouting the kids in for their tea haven't diminished it.
They round events off with two encores aptly ending on a competent cover of fellow Scot Paolo Nutini's Last Request - the second cover of the evening after their reprisal of Beyonce's Crazy In Love as they performed it on Hit Me Baby One More Time.
What did you think? Have your say.
Reviewed: Wed, 17 September, 2008
Register Now to rate this
