The Rock Bottoms - Perth - The Green Room - Thursday 5 March 2015
Following the highly entertaining Rock Bottoms gig in Stirling last month, my mate John and I decided to take the A9 north to Perth to catch The Rock Bottoms at The Green Room. Having never visited Perth for a gig before this was something different for me and with upcoming Scottish bands such a Tijuana Bibles having recently played the venue I was curious to see The Green Room for myself. In the days before the gig, The Green Room broke a ten year cycle by winning the title of Perth’s best live venue and this added to my anticipation. On finding and entering the correct Green Room (any visitors please note, Sat Navs will show another place slightly beyond Perth also called the Green Room) I was more than impressed with the venue and in particular the live stage set-up at the back of the main bar (including a live screen above the stage). Needless to say, I was envious if not jealous that Central Scotland does not appear to have anything in terms of a venue that would rival such a place.
As expected there were a few Ocean Colour Scene fans in attendance and I got speaking to a couple from Dundee who had made the trip. With local band The Niblicks also playing a set after the first set from Dan and Adam, there was also an abundance of locals keen to hear both The Rock Botttoms and their own local lads.
The Rock Bottoms set was similar to that played in Stirling and this pleased me immensely as Dan and Adam treated the crowd to both OCS and Merrymouth tracks along with a selection of well known covers as well as their live staple ‘Margate’. For me the highlights were once again aplenty with numerous OCS tracks getting a run out and getting the crowd singing along from the off. ‘The Circle’ and ‘Travellers Tune’ got everyone in the mood while covers by The Beatles, The Who, The Travelling Wilburys and The Rolling Stones were up there! The cover of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ was definitely one of my favourite parts of the night with the song integrated with the OCS live classic ‘Profit In Peace’.
Following the first set by The Rock Bottoms, The Niblicks did their thing. Evidently inspired by the likes of The Faces and The Stones, the guys were loud but enjoyable and there were more than couple of flashes of real promise in their set. The Rock Bottoms second set featured the Merrymouth track ‘Blink Of An Eye’ and with Merrymouth recently announcing a few gigs in Scotland I look forward to hearing more Merrymouth tracks live again in the near future. ‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel was again outstanding with Dan even dropping me a wee mention into the song (quality)! Pleasingly, I was not the only one singing along at the top of my lungs to this one and maybe I am just getting on a bit but Billy Joel does (in my opinion) have some decent tracks in his locker. Bob Marley classis ‘Redemption Song’ took things to another level as a Spanish Honeymooner from Malaga, Spain took to the stage with the guys and as he took over lead-vocals the distance between the stage and crowd disappeared. The night continued in rousing fashion and finally OCS track ‘The Day We Caught The Train’ brought the house down as The Niblicks and others joined the guys on stage. Top performance, top venue, top night!
Words: Bazza Mills
Twitter: @bazzamills
(Only those in the know will get the last photo).
Following the highly entertaining Rock Bottoms gig in Stirling last month, my mate John and I decided to take the A9 north to Perth to catch The Rock Bottoms at The Green Room. Having never visited Perth for a gig before this was something different for me and with upcoming Scottish bands such a Tijuana Bibles having recently played the venue I was curious to see The Green Room for myself. In the days before the gig, The Green Room broke a ten year cycle by winning the title of Perth’s best live venue and this added to my anticipation. On finding and entering the correct Green Room (any visitors please note, Sat Navs will show another place slightly beyond Perth also called the Green Room) I was more than impressed with the venue and in particular the live stage set-up at the back of the main bar (including a live screen above the stage). Needless to say, I was envious if not jealous that Central Scotland does not appear to have anything in terms of a venue that would rival such a place.
As expected there were a few Ocean Colour Scene fans in attendance and I got speaking to a couple from Dundee who had made the trip. With local band The Niblicks also playing a set after the first set from Dan and Adam, there was also an abundance of locals keen to hear both The Rock Botttoms and their own local lads.
The Rock Bottoms set was similar to that played in Stirling and this pleased me immensely as Dan and Adam treated the crowd to both OCS and Merrymouth tracks along with a selection of well known covers as well as their live staple ‘Margate’. For me the highlights were once again aplenty with numerous OCS tracks getting a run out and getting the crowd singing along from the off. ‘The Circle’ and ‘Travellers Tune’ got everyone in the mood while covers by The Beatles, The Who, The Travelling Wilburys and The Rolling Stones were up there! The cover of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ was definitely one of my favourite parts of the night with the song integrated with the OCS live classic ‘Profit In Peace’.
Following the first set by The Rock Bottoms, The Niblicks did their thing. Evidently inspired by the likes of The Faces and The Stones, the guys were loud but enjoyable and there were more than couple of flashes of real promise in their set. The Rock Bottoms second set featured the Merrymouth track ‘Blink Of An Eye’ and with Merrymouth recently announcing a few gigs in Scotland I look forward to hearing more Merrymouth tracks live again in the near future. ‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel was again outstanding with Dan even dropping me a wee mention into the song (quality)! Pleasingly, I was not the only one singing along at the top of my lungs to this one and maybe I am just getting on a bit but Billy Joel does (in my opinion) have some decent tracks in his locker. Bob Marley classis ‘Redemption Song’ took things to another level as a Spanish Honeymooner from Malaga, Spain took to the stage with the guys and as he took over lead-vocals the distance between the stage and crowd disappeared. The night continued in rousing fashion and finally OCS track ‘The Day We Caught The Train’ brought the house down as The Niblicks and others joined the guys on stage. Top performance, top venue, top night!
Words: Bazza Mills
Twitter: @bazzamills
(Only those in the know will get the last photo).