Music Review: Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan

Published on Friday 16 January 2009 20:04

AN EVENING WITH GREG DULLI & MARK LANEGAN **** ORAN MOR, GLASGOW

THE invitation to spend An Evening with Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan sounds formal and decorous. Surely these two former rocker reprobates are not turning all respectable in their middle age? Yet if this relaxed acoustic incarnation of their Gutter Twins collaboration is any indication, the former grunge rock frontmen are laying aside the rage and angst of their past musical endeavours in favour of a gentler emotional exorcism.

With just two acoustic guitars for back-up, their voices really shone through, individually and in harmony. Ex-Afghan Whig Dulli reached for the blue collar pathos, while Lanegan continues to demonstrate the potential to be one of the most evocative voices of his generation, with his fabulous whisky-soaked baritone effortlessly conveying the hangdog spirit of their gospel- and roots-infused material. He has also slightly loosened up on his habitually stern, static and taciturn demeanour, with the occasional muttered utterance directed to the audience. It's progress.

Dulli, the master of ceremonies by default, briefly switched to piano for the encore, although a disagreement over flash photography soured that interlude. Additional guitarist Dave Rosser stepped up with a lead vocal on The Tennessee Waltz, and there were other, more unexpected covers in the shape of the Everly Brothers' All I Have To Do Is Dream and a folky take on Cole Porter's I Get A Kick Out Of You which demonstrated a willingness to move out of the gruff, gritty comfort zone of that gutter.