The Weekend Pickups

I didn't know who the next band on were - but after the set was over, I couldn't find out who they were fast enough. Turned out that they're called Weekend Pickups, come from Dundee and this was only their 4th gig! 4th gig? I was stunned, because from the performance I heard tonight, you'd think they'd been at it for ages. A quartet of guitarists plus rhythm section, they sounded just fantastic from the moment they started. Theirs was a chunky sound of steaming riffs, striking guitar leads and solos, massive sounding rhythm section expanse and vocals that really hit the spot. Trying to think of a comparison, I thought of bits of Foo Fighters mixed with bits of nu-indie-rock bands such as Brigade and Hondo Mclean, all wrapped up in a solid sounding and tight sea of surging arrangements, not to mention a stunning bunch of songs. Although I can't do a track by track review at this stage, I have to say that I was absolutely addicted to it all from the opening to the last tracks, standing there, taking in all this mix of seriously stirring rhythm section work as the guitars blazed a trail on top and the songs were delivered with the confidence of a band who knows they've got what it takes to make it big. They surprised - and delighted - the crowd, with a closing number that was totally different from the rest of the set, yet which worked an absolute treat, as the drummer launched into this amazingly tight storm of crunchy, crisp and razor sharp dance-styled drumming, while the rhythm guitarist provided the meat of the tune and the bassist pumped out this hurricane of pounding chords, as the lead guitarist switched to vocals and this amazing, and totally addictive, largely instrumental track provided one of the finest mixes of indie guitar-rock and dance that I've heard in ages. Now I know I've given you only a sketch as to what this band sound like, but that's because I was so enjoying it, any thoughts of review just disappeared. A truly stunning new band that I have to see again - and soon, I hope! - Andy Garibaldi