Gig review: The Proclaimers

Published on Wednesday 11 November 2009 18:06

THE PROCLAIMERS *** USHER HALL, EDINBURGH

FOR A Scot, criticising a performance by the Proclaimers is akin to being a traitor – a bit like selling out Bonnie Prince Charlie to the English Redcoats, to be melodramatic. There comes a time, however, where you have to be willing to put your head on the chopping block. Charlie and Craig Reid may well be consummate performers who like to indulge themselves as well as their audience, but sadly their shows are all too predictable these days.

Letter To America, I'm On My Way, Let's Get Married and I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) are strategically placed throughout the set; Craig will read out a few dedications; and Hibs fans will punch the air during Sunshine On Leith. Reassuring in one sense, frustratingly predictable on the other.

New tunes, too, from latest album, Notes & Rhymes, are tolerated rather than welcomed, which is a shame because the twins' latest work – the Rhodes-keyboard-sound groove of Three More Days, and a reworking of Damien Dempsey's Sing All Your Cares Away, are standouts – is testament to their ability to pen a good song when they want to.

A bad sound mix and an overheated Usher Hall didn't help. However, like an old pair of boots, there's something comforting about the Proclaimers: you don't want to chuck them away, but there's not much new and interesting about them, either.