EVERYONE will agree: it has simply been too long since the last live gig. The haze, the lights... the bum notes, sticky floors, elbows and armpits.

Lockdown has been littered with bands trying to fill vacuum, with varying success. But few have done it better in the Scottish music scene than Shambolics.

They took to the stage at The Caves in Edinburgh with real purpose. The vaccine IS coming and we will return, but we all needed something to tide us over until then.

And there is nothing quite like hearing great tunes pushed to their limits by a band that is breaking into a formidable stride.

Of course, the performance was arranged for another important purpose with the band continuing their support for Kirkcaldy Foodbank. 

We start from a position of some familiarity: a stomping set opener in the form of My Time is Now.

It’s fair to say the track is a Shams classic but comes with a refreshing dance/rock chorus and a crushing guitar solo to boot.

And from the past to the future — the set edges into exciting new territory with the first new song of the gig.

With Lewis McDonald taking the vocals for the opener, co-singer Darren Forbes grabs the reins for Council State of Mind and the evening kicks up a gear.

Punchy, uptempo and with an edge — it is a perfect tune to keep the energy flowing. As Forbes belts out: “It’s only just the start of the show...”

The set weaves back into the Shams’ back catalogue with Sandra Speed. A slight variation on traditional song structure, it underlines the band’s penchant for mixing it up and exploring new ways deliver the big pay off.

It also comes equipped with a filthy baseline from the masterful Jordan McHatton.

After a hat trick of Shams tunes, the first special guest of the night takes to the stage in the form of James Alan from Glasvegas for a stirring rendition of The Velvet Underground’s Pale Blue Eyes.

The set continued along sombre tones with new track Living in Shadows — a achey ballad with dulcet harmonies — before a driving rendition of Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams.

The View’s Kyle Falconer then joined The Shams for a tremendous performance of Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere — a tune which was the cornerstone of the band’s well-received lockdown covers series.

The set then ends in a powerful double-barrel blast with the infectious Chasing a Disaster paving the way for the imperious Love Collides.

While the former is a light and airy sing along, the latter is a complete joy to behold. The track - recently re-released in October - is punctuated by the superb drumming from the incredible Jake Bain and another dose of majesty from McHatton.

But the vocal talents of Forbes and McDonald really come to the fore as they duel through the final explosive chorus of the evening.

It’s clear the Shams are ready to take their next big step in 2021. Something which no doubt would have been reached and breached by now had it not been for the pandemic.

But opportunity beckons and the band’s next tour, currently set for the spring, will be a period of reckoning.

Catch Shambolics live in April with gigs at The Caves (22nd); Cafe Drummond, Aberdeen (23rd); and Church Dundee (24th). Ticket details via Gig in Scotland.

For information on Kirkcaldy Foodbank, click here.

 

Set list


My Time is Now 

Council State of Mind 

Sandra Speed

Pale Blue Eyes (with James)

Living in Shadows 

Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams

Everywhere (with Kyle)

Chasing a Disaster 

Love Collides