CONCERT REVIEW: Teenage Fanclub, Manchester University (England)
- Tim Kennedy
The queue for Megadeth was lengthening outside as Beavis and Butthead (and his pervily dressed girlfriend) arrived by the dozen. In comparison the buzz on the steps of Manchester University Union, where Teenage Fanclub would soon be performing, was muted. Strange - considering they are now a fully fledged (album) chart phenomenon after about five years in the pop wilderness. Some whisper of an Oasis-sponsored gigantic renewed interest in beat groups being the benefactor.
The first support - Warm Jets were just right - a sound not far off the early TFC. Rough guitar, few chords but catchy pop tunes. The singer is a rather intense yet oddly camp figure who looks like a healthier, cleaner-cut Cobain, and the others are of similar, somewhat mature years. The bassist, however, is a gorgeous oriental beauty (though she supplied no vocals - no threat to Kurt 2's position.) The guitarist spent the whole time trying to crack up the bassist, which at a rather intense moment towards the end of their set led to the singer losing his rag with them.
Next up was Cornershop. Theirs is a strange and awkward marriage of funky drumbeats with Indian traditional instrumentation and muffled Indian vocals. The singer poses a rather comical podgy figure with a pair of sideburns that would make you frown. However it must be said that their (to these ears) turgid fare went down well with the crowd - by this time nearly all here.
The Fannies strolled onto the stage in the most relaxed fashion, and casually Norman thanked everyone for coming - to tumultous cheers. And so the tone was set for the rest of the show. These are the most amiable bunch of chaps you could possibly hope to meet.
The set was initially stuff from the Songs From Northern Britain collection, and as such utterly wonderful. There cannot be many records ever released so happy-sounding and yet such superbly constructed melodies. But the Fannies are a rock beast too, and Norman is the happy-go-lucky nephew of Neil Young. The musical perfection of the recorded work is matched by a warm and spirited, yet skilful delivery live.
The lead vocals are traded between the three frontmen of Norman, Gerard and Raymond, with each singing the songs he penned. Norman has a positive, upbeat oeuvre, Gerard is a bit more studied, whilst Raymond is the most downbeat of the three, also showing the most nerves onstage. It must be said, however, that Raymond is a great guitarist and and a performer who can really convey deep feeling in his songs. Bassist Gerard is reserved, and doesn't move around much. Norman does his Neil Youngesque prowling during the songs whilst in between numbers amusing the crowd by making gentle cracks at Raymond.
The keyboardist takes guitar at one point, and all the musicians swap guitars regularly, Raymond sometimes doing bass. Only drummer Paul Quinn keeps his seat.
The older material figures quite a lot though, with several tracks from the cult success of 1991 - Bandwagonesque including "Starsign" - a blistering version of a great song. "Neil Jung" from Grand Prix is a highlight, and we get songs from the tragically ignored 13 album of some years ago. But the new material is proudly paraded to general applause. Songs like "I Don't Care" are classics of the 90s. It would be unfair to compare them with label mates Oasis (the Fannies worship at the altar of the Byrds, not the Pistols and the Beatles) but with no posturing and self-aggrandising, the songs simply shine through. To a maturer audience the Fannies' attitude is far easier to take than their cranky label-pals. Whilst there was a minority down the front who pogoed and moshed, many more simply listened apreciatively.
These boys have had some bad times but now they are simply filled with love for their craft, and their enjoyment of their work is really infectious. There are no chips on these shoulders. They have suffered as much as any band from the fickle UK critics who build bands up to knock them down, but they clearly only care for the reactions of the crowds and tonight's show was a triumph.
