Gig review: Future of the Left, King Tut’s, Glasgow

CARDIFF’S cult musical pugilist Andy Falkous has been fighting the good fight since 1996, first as frontman of post-hardcore trio McLusky and more recently fulfilling the same vein-bulging but quick-witted function in Future of the Left.

Future of the Left

King Tut’s, Glasgow

*****

In that time, he and his cohorts have bloodied noses with six albums of the sort of withering socio-political satire that few musicians seem bothered with anymore. Were the makers of Punk Britannia to project their documentary to the present day, Falkous and Future of the Left’s current album The Plot Against Common Sense (sample song title: Sorry Dad, I Was Late For The Riots) would be a suitable case for treatment.

On record and in performance, FotL are more humorous than hectoring, though ultimately they are in earnest when taking aim. The anti-cheerleader chant Failed Olympic Bid was one for all the non-believers out there, deftly coupled with a casual “left-wing disregard for the Jubilee”.

Musically, they were a blast, powering their protest with a tech metal groove, comprising deep bass rumble, lean but ferocious drumming and the occasional cheap but effective synthquake from their temperamental keyboard. Falkous’s vocals, meanwhile, sounded like a rough night out on the sandpaper cocktails.

A couple of old Mclusky favourites were dropped into the set, including pugnacious singalong To Hell With Good Intentions and the bloody punk haemorrhage of Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues, before they wiped the floor with an epic, howling blowout. One somewhat troublesome punter was vanquished with a well-aimed scream. Apart from that, the only casualty was the crowd’s hearing – and maybe a little chip out of polite, apathetic society