Tuesday 15/02/05 Sons & Daughters @ Astoria, London

February 18, 2005 by Emily Warner

Linda Chasteau

Hailing from Glasgow this trad/indie quartet (two boys, two girls) otherwise known as Sons & Daughters bring their different sound to the London Astoria. They open their set with a stomping number that sees singer Adele Bethel at times screaming over a smooth bass line coupled with some fast paced fret work from guitarist Scott Paterson. By the end of the tune you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was a band who are out to get you, but by the time they’ve started the next song they’ve up and left that sound all together.

S&D have the knack for putting a totally different spin on certain sections of their music, but each time it’s overcome by the trad sound that won’t take no for an answer. Whilst their drummer works it, bassist Ailidh Lennon looks bored as Adele tries to dance and writhe around in front of the crowd. With vocals seeming too low in the mix to suit the music and keyboard playing that’s not much better Sons & Daughters gather a lukewarm response from the audience.

But just as the set seems to have got stuck in a rut the band make a surprise turn about with a haunting number about “a girl who dies in a bath tub” - this unfortunately is abandoned all too soon due to the technical problems. It’s only during the last number that Sons & Daughters manage to move up a gear and get themselves back into full on power mode, which is a shame as had they been in the mood earlier on they would have played a blindingly good gig.

Photo by Linda Chasteau

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