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THE VEILS
The 100 Club, Oxford Street, February 26th
It takes a few seconds to sink in, but the chiselled good looking guy in the ludicrously shoulder-padded blouse (for that is the only way to describe it) is lead singer Finn. It comes as quite a shock to me, so Christ knows how heartbroken all the ladies in the room must be. Gone is the fey, floppy-fringed pale androgyne of yore, replaced by a far more predatory figure, sleek, tanned and above all looking like he could give you damn good seeing-to (of either kind).
It's a brave decision to start with "The Valleys Of New Orleans", a quiet and stunningly gorgeous solo piano piece. Produced by Bernard Butler on new album "The Runaway Found", it brilliantly showcase the subtleties of Finn's voice as well as the kind of emotional honesty that is the Veils' stock-in-trade.
The presence of Butler in the crowd makes it difficult to get away from the similarities between The Veils and his old band and their early 90's contemporarys. Epic, swooning rock tracks such as "Guiding Light" and "Lavinia" - all piano and strings - bring to mind the best of Suede and the emotional openess of the Verve. But, whereas, from day one it was obvious that Anderson and Ashcroft wanted to be stars, there is an air of uncertainty in Finn's gestures and expressions. Whilst the audience have no such doubts, and the rest of the band seem perfectly at home, he still seems shy, as if baring his soul on stage isn't something he's really comfortable with - yet.
And for now, he has that voice to hide behind. On record, it's impressive but live it really swoops and soars - one second deep and breathy, the next, raw and straining at the edges of his range, blurring words together into heartfelt outpourings.
The music itself is almost as impressive. Driving basslines, e-bowed and pealing guitars and pounding drums propel the band towards an amazing set-closer. "More Heat Than Light" ends in power riffing and a squall of feedback, before stopping dead. Drumkit (accidentally) destroyed and guitars discarded, the band leave the stage.
Hopefully the next time I see The Veils, they'll have outgrown venues like the 100 club and be stretching their wings under sunsets in wide-open, elysian fields. Glastonbury beckons.
SET LIST:The Valleys of New Orleans, Houdini’s Hands, Guiding Light, The Wild Son, Lavinia, untitled new song, The Leavers Dance, The Tide That Left and Never Came Back, Lions After Slumber, More Heat Than Light
Richy [ February 27th, 2004 ]