Gig review: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Electric Circus, Edinburgh

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis | Rating: *** | Electric Circus, Edinburgh

At Edinburgh’s Electric Circus they moved around between instruments and shared vocal duties, with Daisy – a fierce drummer and champion swearer in an electric blue catsuit – displaying a husky, Joplinesque edge, at once sensual and attitude- laden. Lewis is similarly rough-edged but accomplished, his voice occupying the previously undiscovered middle ground between Mick Jagger and Jamie Cullum.

Yet it was Kitty, the youngest and least vocally utilised sister, who caught the attention. Her voice is softer, more tender, but rich in jazz-inspired focus and clarity. She sounded a lot like – but didn’t imitate – Amy Winehouse on Whenever You See Me, a piano and trumpet-led barroom shuffle which excited the crowd. It wasn’t the only song to do so – the sibling trio were joined by two other players in their band, plus an occasional trumpeter, making a noise which filled the space.

They’re jacks of all genres while mastering none. Whiskey bore a country-tinged Creedence Clearwater Revival edge, while Kitty and Daisy’s duet on Canned Heat’s Going Up the Country wonderfully feminised the manliest of US heritage rock. Their first encore, Say You’ll Be Mine, felt like they were finally off the leash, with Lewis channelling the Stones’ It’s All Over Now on vocals, Daisy blasting a harmonica and Kitty thrashing the drums throughout an extended finale. It was undeniably entertaining, although certainly all a bit familiar too.