Twin Atlantic – High Octane Emo – Power-Pop Rock Show
The boys from Glasgow are ready to rumble…rumble up on the stage and then deliver a fierce, amplified hue and cry. Yes, Twin Atlantic puts on a high octane emo/power-pop rock show. They even bring a cello into the mix for their (thus far) only EP’s title track, “A Guidance from Colour.” In addition to their January, 2008 EP, the power pop rockers have released two singles (“Audience and Audio” for digital download only in December of 2007 and “What is Light? Where is Laughter” in September of 2008). They also perform another ten original songs in their live set list, while doing a couple of covers: Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” (just imagine that one comin’ at ya through crystalline-distorted guitars, jagged percussion, and snarled, Scots-accented male vocals), and Crowded House’s house classic “Fall At Your Feet.”
Twin Atlantic are Sam McTrusty on lead vocals and guitar; Barry McKenna on guitar, cello, and vocals; Ross McNae on bass, piano, & vocals; and Craig Kneale on drums and vocals. McTrusty has this thing where he loves to hurl himself into the audience a la the Seattle alternative hard rock scene circa 1992, except he takes guitar with him and plays on his back while being hoisted aloft by surprised audience members. (Talk about trusting–bad pun intended.) Some guys do magic tricks in bars to pick up chicks; McTrusty just throws himself and his guitar right at them. But it might make everyone else a bit nervous.
The band is high voltage rock ‘n’ roll from first to last. The use of the cello on “A Guidance from Colour” also shows that they know how to flesh out a song and add color, indeed, that so many who play in this copy cat prone rock genre would never think of. Many of use are looking forward to more studio work from these guys so we can see if more cello and piano get used on more songs. But as emo as they are, Twin Atlantic have a decided sense of melody that cuts through all the noise and further sets them apart from their one-trick-pony peers, as does McTrusty’s blatant Scots brogue that contrasts with the usual fake-bluegrass-in-the-wrong-setting falsetto fare. You don’t need to be into the genre to like these guys, rock out, and want to hear them again. This bodes well for these UK lads–they can get a rock audience that expands far beyond the cloistered emo boundaries.
As in the better, vanished days of old for rock music (which may be coming back now–stay tuned), Twin Atlantic are a band that can build a wider audience through live performances, too. They’re energy and wild professionalism on stage will see to that. Hey! Get these mates back into the studio!
