Gig review: Homecoming Live - The Final Fling

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 19:33

HOMECOMING LIVE: THE FINAL FLING *** SECC, GLASGOW

CONTRARY to some expectations, Homecoming Live – The Final Fling on Saturday night was not some Saltire-waving party political broadcast but a more subtle expression of national pride in our fertile music scene, represented over three contrasting gigs.

There was an atmosphere of cosy bustle on the main concourse as gig-goers checked out the fine fare on the Food From Argyll stall and made their way into their respective venues. There was no Bay City Rollers-style sea of tartan, just the occasional plaid miniskirt, scarf and pair of Converse boots.

Scotpop titans of the 1980s dominated the bill in the Clyde Auditorium and songs by their absent peers, Simple Minds and Wet Wet Wet, played over the PA between acts. This was a no-nonsense roadshow kicked off by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Hue and Cry played a stripped-down set, during which they made a hopeful bid to sing Michael Marra's Mother Glasgow at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Other acoustic performances followed, from youngster Tommy Reilly and seasoned troubadours James Grant and Kevin McDermott.

Midge Ure led the audience in a singalong to Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? and Lloyd Cole was joined by two former Commotions, Blair Cowan and Neil Clark, during his set.

But it was the bands who got the crowd to their feet who won the day – The Bluebells, who were joined by King Creosote on accordion and fiddler John McCusker for Young At Heart, and punk veterans The Skids with their entire set, a pumped-up highlight of the night. The perennially popular Deacon Blue rounded off the evening in celebratory style.

Scotland's indie rock scene was represented in Hall 2. Old hands Teenage Fanclub and The Vaselines played alongside upcoming bands such as The Law, The Twilight Sad and Pearl and the Puppets, with Idlewild and The View garnering the most raucous reaction of the night.

In the Lomond Suite, there was more of a folky crossover flavour. Dame Evelyn Glennie gave her usual spirited performance, accompanied by Philip Smith on piano; Eddi Reader included some interpretations of Robert Burns's songs and Mike Scott of The Waterboys aired selections from his epic back catalogue.

Not for the first or last time over this climactic Homecoming weekend, Dougie MacLean played the song he described as a "lovable monster". Caledonia, the official theme of the Year of Homecoming, was awarded the Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Award on Friday night and even has a whisky named in its honour. But it was Woody Guthrie's stirring This Land Is Your Land which was chosen for their communal singalong.