Twin Atlantic - Fat Sams 6 March 2020
Feels a bit like de ja vu, it’s only a few weeks since I saw the band do an intimate set at Beat Generator for the launch of their new album Power. Tonight sees them back in Dundee with a change of venue to the larger Fat Sam’s for their full set.
The band are Sam McTrusty (vocals/guitar), Ross McNae (bass/keys/vocals), Craig Kneale (drums/vocals) and Barry McKenna (guitar/keys/vocals).
The support tonight are Bloxx, they are a 4 piece alternative indie rock band hailing from London. They put on a good show with a grungy guitar sound underpinned with some melodic pop and tight riffs, my favourites being Go Out With You and Curtains. The lead guitarist loves to throw some shapes on stage and probably hits every caricature pose at some point during the set.
We then welcome the boys to the stage and the kick off Novocaine and have the crowd bouncing already and follow this up with Volcano, both blistering tracks from new album Power.
The pace continues with No Sleep from GLA and then they play a fan favourite Hold On and Fat Sam’s is now well and truly bouncing.
It is clear that the band are enjoying themselves, and Sam has the crowd in his hand as they rattle through Make a Beast, I Feel it Too, Yes I was Drunk and Whispers and it is good to see the band playing a mixed set encompassing all albums.
Next up is Brother and Sisters and the crowd take over singing it word for word and is my favourite song of the evening so far.
There is no let up in the intensity and energy as the boys continue to deliver a crowd pleasing set playing Free, What is Light, Ultraviolet, The Chaser and Edit Me. You forget how many banging tunes they actually have, the standout for me in that burst of songs is What is Light.
The band leave the stage and leave Sam on stage to sing an amazing rendition of Oceans, which is just a beautiful tune and you can almost hear the audience come to silence to listen to the emotion delivered by McTrusty.
And then from the softness of Oceans, the band are back on stage with Oh!Euphoria which is a complete contrast as it a real electro-rock number immediately getting the crowd back jumping.
Next up is Barcelona and that is a fantastic song live with a slow start building up to a euphoric singalong chorus. Sam McMustry makes a young girl in the front rows night by getting her up on stage to join him sing, which gets a huge reception from the Fat Sam’s crowd.
The evening is brought to a barn storming finish with Heart and Soul, the crowd singing along in full voice and McTrusty encouraging one last jump, which the crowd duly oblige.
To be honest Twin Atlantic were a band that had fallen off my radar for a bit, I knew they were good but not that good. It was an absolute monster of a set with one banging tune after another, it is safe to say they won’t fall of the radar again !!!
Setlist
Novocaine
Volcano
No Sleep
Hold On
Make a Beast
I Feel it Too
Yes I was Drunk
Whispers
Brothers and Sisters
Free
What is Light ?
Ultraviolet
The Chaser
Edit Me
Oceans
Crash Land
Oh Euphoria
Barcelona
Heart and Soul
The band are currently still on tour and if you are lucky you may be able to catch them at the following venues:
Newcastle - Riverside, Monday 9 March
Manchester - Academy 2, Tuesday 10 March
Sheffield - The Leadmill, Wednesday 11 March
Cardiff - Tramshed, Friday 13 March
Oxford - 02 Academy, Saturday 14 March
Leicester - 02 Academy, Sunday 15 March
Bournemouth - Old Fire Station, Tuesday 17 March
Brighton - Concorde 2, Wednesday 18 March
London - Electric Ballroom, Friday 20 March