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Live Review
by SaschaS
14-8-2002
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More on: McAlmont and Butler
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| McA&B's soulful pop-rock |
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Live: McAlmont and Butler
Scala, London
Tuesday, August 13, 2002
McAlmont & Butler’s pop-rock’n’soul ‘review’
The moment McAlmont and Butler get onstage, the guitaring part of the duo, Bernard B., takes over that overwhelms the sound: it is an axe-plosive display, he is working on riffage that is a cross between (Jimi) Hendrix and a six-string HM-meister. The singing part of the duo, David McA., has to ‘fight’ to be heard in this sonic clash, the album’s opener, ‘Theme From ‘McAlmont & Butler’’. Rockism, funkyism and soulfullness appear to be ill-fitting bedfellows, but only for a trice.
The comeback album, ‘Bring It Back’, shows much more balanced musical approach that quickly regains the live atmo. Bernie’s early guitaring excess remained minor incident in an evening the two performed these songs with a full band, i.e. another 4 players (but without string and brass backing found on the album). Still, the combo really demonstrate what they can do – fronted by one of the finest singer in the land – and do SO WELL!
Bernie is in his (trademarked?) brown cords-suit, McAlmont is more sartorial in a shirt and shades; the first appears not to have aged a day since the two last worked together 7 years ago, while McAlmont has shaved all his hair. The two fell out of their collaboration after one album, worked on their solo careers that were nowhere as exciting as when united and, fortunately for all concerned, they resolved their differing opinions to regroup for this gem of an album.
It is a long time since they were aiming at the charts and there is even less quality nowadays with masses appreciating the prêt-á-écouter musos while heart-warming and deeply aching vocals of organic songs tend to be overlooked bar tonight… Cuts from ‘Bring It Back’ dominate the eve’s repertoire with ‘Can We Make It’, ‘Falling’, ‘Where R U Now?’, ‘Different Strokes’ and the title song bringing particular delight to the crowd, but nowhere near to what ‘Tonight’ and ‘Yes’ do.
Atom of humanity present is a strange lot tonight with static but respectful reception until someone shouts ‘Who’s who?’ and you can’t but wonder which jungle did the sensitive-boy emerge from; McAlmont handles it ultra cool by explaining that you’d expect that the white one to be Scottish and the black one a ‘Butler’, the subtlest of references to racism. The uninformed heckler must have had the fact brain-tattooed by the time the band returned for a three-track encore; the second one, with Bernie on piano, ‘You Do’, being just outta this world!
It’s all in the soul and heart of a man, or two.
SaschaS
14-8-2002
McAlmont & Butler’s album ‘Bring It Back’ is available now on EMI:Chrysalis
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