“A Place Like This” takes on an almost Tom Waits air as the jazz vibe comes over, and “The Butcher” is oddly unsettling, but works well in the context here. Indeed, the fun vibe of this comes through with Angell heckling the band as he stands in the front row: “play something that doesn’t suck….!” He yells.įor all that this is a rock show – and a pretty loud one at that – it takes the occasional foray into areas that many wouldn’t find. He takes frequent trips into the audience, injecting “Into The Truth” with a real electricity in the process, and the already energetic crowd forgets the temperature to respond. Benjamin Anderson – who like Angell was a member of The Missionary Position, who’s “How It Feels” is played tonight) – takes his turn on “I’ll Stick Around”, laying the foundation superbly, but actually it Is Angell himself who rather more willingly than you might expect, plays the role of strutting frontman. Throughout the 90 minute set there is a time in the spotlight for everyone.

Indeed, for every out and out rocker like the new one’s stand out “Death On The Lips” there’s a soul filled “Leave Me In The Dark” in which Lothian is at the centre. Meaning even songs from the brand new “WP2” album like that brooding opener played in darkness, “This Is How It Ends” have a fresh sound. They aren’t here – Duff’s on tour with some band, and Martin is unable to join them – and in their place have come an assortment, but crucially one of these is a saxophonist, Gregor Lothian and he has helped changed the dynamic completely. The original band attracted interest because joining the charismatic frontman Jeff Angell were Duff McKagan (a bassist who deserves his big break somewhere….) and Barrett Martin of the Screaming Trees. Much has changed since I last saw them too.

So yes, while this is very much rock n roll show in a sweatbox venue above a rehearsal studio in a scruffy part of town, it is a show that is done on their own terms. It is incongruous, perhaps, that a show that ends with sweat dripping down the walls and a floor you could skate on, begins in darkness, brooding its way through its first song.īut then, it is more understandable if you take into account that the band involved is Walking Papers.

Walking papers band tour dates