Monday 25/02/08 The Wombats, Glasvegas @ Shepherds Bush Empire, London

With a promising line up of award nominated bands, tonight’s gig looks extremely hopeful. Yet for the two talented acts so different in their styles there’s bound to be someone going home disappointed tonight. The result of this charade of publicity is the most tragic mispairing since John Bobbit and a kitchen knife. 
  
 It’s Glasvegas that lose out, and it’s a sad to see their grandiose wall of sound guitar spree flop in a venue that better resembles a crèche for the age of its audience. As such, the atmospherics of the band coming on stage, created by demonic harmonica music, red light and dry ice, is completely wasted. A sterling effort is made none the less. Epic drum sounds are met by unceasing echoing guitars. The result fills the venue with an ethereal noise that seems to reverberate off of every surface and come from every direction.
 
 But in spite of pushing through a solid set containing the likes of ‘Flowers and Football Tops’ and single ‘It’s My Own Cheating Heart’ this is not Glasvegas’ crowd and by halfway through the crowd are stock still, not so much mesmerized but perplexed. While an older generation actually able to purchase drinks at the bar nod along in pleased acceptance, it’s singer James who accepts the situation while brashly retorting to the crowd in thick Scottish accent: “Bet you’d wished you’d waited and got your homework done”, crudely finishing “You stupid wee ****s”.
 
 The final song choice of The Ronnettes ‘Be My Baby’ confirms that Glasvegas exciting experimental music is in fact Motown pop performed brilliantly in the style of 80’s Cocteau Twins style. Yet as most of the audience weren’t alive in the 80’s, for poor Glasvegas it seems a waste of good effort, and they depart only after one final attempt to make ears bleed.