Bedroom guitar-geeks and aspiring song-stars unite; your supreme superhero has landed!
With a helmet of chestnut hair, lycra-tight jeans and his ultra powerful weapon of pop exultation (guitar) slung snug about his scrawny neck, Eugene McGuinness and band stood fairly modestly on stage amid an hysterical week which has seen pathetically contrived hip lists, revolutionary electoral purges and readily supplied explosives compete (some more efficiently than others) for our notice. Though brighter than any bonfire night bang is the awakening star of this incredibly fine singer songwriter, whose pristine presence at the despicably under attended show was an utter delight. To this add an unmatched knack for a tune and you have the most enjoyable show you (probably) missed this year.
Blasting the set open was the feverishly paced ‘Nightshift’ with a yodelling close effortlessly steered by the scally who gawked straight at the crowd with polite confidence before rushing into the scuzzy ‘Fonz’ and the waltzing-ly romantic ‘Wendy Wonder’ that arrest Merseybeat magic like a youthful Gerry Marsden. Though plucking an odd note at the end of the ditty, the now beaming lad jokingly quipped, “Sorry I fucked up, just as it was getting good. I was in the moment!” to the chuckle of the crowd.
The tenderly sung ‘Old Black and White Movies Were True’ followed by album opener ‘Rings Round Rosa’ ensured that the absolute crème de le crème from his freshly released record were heard and though there were trickles of EP treats including ‘A Girl Whom My Eyes Shine For But My Shoes Run From’ played solo after the band were shooed, it was the sauntering riff of ‘Atlas’ and the swanky vocals of ‘Moscow State Circus’ which drew the most tremendous applause of the evening. Hearts are left palpitating for more of the melange of cunningly nonsensical lyrics and timeless melodies that make this noble and excitingly promising kid (in his own right) worthy of hysteria.
