Words: The Captain

It’s a Thursday night in Edinburgh and the weather, quite frankly, is naff, so what better place to be than indoors at a free, yes FREE gig? This is my first gig of 2015, so I’m very excited. It’s also the first gig of 2015 for Thursday’s at Teviot Underground. This week 3 acts are to grace our presence and it’s going to be awesome!

First up is Joe Allan, a Journalism student in Edinburgh and originally from Newcastle. He introduces himself quickly (“I’m Joe and I’m going to play some songs”) and then he begins. I am immediately struck by how he, on his own, makes the stage his and I am mesmerised by his voice. It is soft, with has a certain edge to it. This combined with soft and melodic string plucking of his guitar is simply beautiful, hauntingly beautiful even. When you close your eyes, the music and lyrics swim around you softly, dreamlike. His E.P “The City Ate My Brains” is available on Bandcamp for free.
Favourite track: “Youngster”.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/joeallan
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/joeallanandfriends
Bandcamp: www.joeallanmusic.bandcamp.com/releases

Next come Colour Trap, a local band. They seem to have a good mix of many genres (rock, indie, psychedelic) and they remind me a wee of R.E.M, a band I was brought up listening to and whose music lifts my mood up (note to the CT guys, this means your music is awesome too!). Whilst introducing themselves, they comment on the weather (how very British!), with the words “you’ll be able to see yer nipples by the end of it”. (10/10 for comedy value guys!). They have a great stage presence and are definitely worth seeing!
Favourite Track: “All My Friends”.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/colour_trap
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/colour-trap
Bandcamp: http://colourtrap1.bandcamp.com/

Now… UNIVERSAL THEE, one of my favourite Edinburgh bands. This is the first time I have seen them with their new drummer and the first time I have heard their new material live. I am not disappointed. Every song is executed perfectly. The have that awesome indie/rock mix. They are loud. They are fun. They are awesome. They introduce each song, which is good and indeed makes us remember them more. If you want to see them live soon, they are playing a number of dates over the next couple of months:
07.02.15 – Kitty O’Shea’s, Glasgow
13.02.15 – Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
26.03.15 – Monty’s, Dunfermline
27.03.15 – Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
28.03.15 – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
04.04.15 – The Green Room, Perth
Favourite Track: “Tiger Tiger”.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/universalthee
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/universal-thee
A Badge of Friendship: http://www.abadgeoffriendship.com/artists/universal-thee

Thursday’s at Teviot Underground is EVERY Thursday, it’s ALWAYS free and doors are at 9pm.
Below are the next few dates:
January 22^nd: Aperture w/ The Draynes and Let Love Rule
January 29^th: The Rich w/ The Indos and Peacock Massive!
February 5^th: The Vibe w/ Ayakara and Calum Baird February
12^th: Academy Strangers w/ Distant Sun (more tba)
February 19^th: Logan’s Close w/ Soufon Fang and Rhythm Beats Workin’
February 26^th: GoodCopGreatCop w/ Earths and Monsters on Movie Posters