Concert Review

IST IST is the Protagonist in Chief at King Tut’s

Dark, moody and on the way to the top

IST IST takes their latest long player – PROTAGANIST – on the road and tonight they take on King Tut’s in Glasgow. The venue is the biggest they’ve played in Glasgow as a headline act and a substantial crowd turned out to witness a terrific gig.

IST IST photo credit John Brown

The evening is kicked off by a Perth-based band called Post Ironic State who, apparently, were given the support slot at very short notice. They and the crowd needn’t have worried as the set was impeccable. The crowd, in terms of number, was what would be expected for most opening bands and those who bothered to come upstairs were rewarded with a fantastic performance. Post Ironic State is a band to keep an out for; if there is any justice they will be headlining King Tut’s and other such venues. If awkward post punk tinged with New Wave and the reincarnation of Ian Curtis is your thing then you’d do well to check them out.

The time for the headliners grew ever nearer and as the downstairs bar area emptied, the venue was transformed into a mass of bodies. The unassuming IST IST took to the stage without any pomp but to great acclaim.

The smoke machine went into overdrive and the lights dimmed ever so slightly to give an ambience that matched the band’s persona… dark and moody.

“Stamp You Out” was the opening track of what was a truly superb set. There were old songs and there were new songs and everything in between. Adam Houghton, who fronts the band, is Ian Curtis with the batteries removed. He barely moves or speaks during the set as he delivers his gravely bass vocals which mesh well with the music. Their sound is a bit familiar and a number of comparisons are inevitable but they put more than a smidgeon of their own personalities into the mix.

The eighteen-song set is played impeccably and with a confidence that suggests that King Tut’s may not be big enough for their next sojourn to Glasgow.

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John Brown

On my travels with trusty Nikons and iPhone. Live music to Landscapes and everything in between. Lover of electronic music but willing to taste the rest. I Spread the PCN Magazine love with your friends!|
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