Barefoot / Bovine @ Zelda's World: Punk & Stuff

Barefoot / Bovine Thursday 15th August 2002 West 13th, Glasgow

It's another one of these lovely free gigs at West 13th and the place suddenly starts to fill up just as first band Bovine take to the stage. Their music is fast, melodic punk with pleasant vocals and they sound really good. In fact, during the brief sound check I already knew I was going to like them. The singer informs us that he's got a cold and now that we know, his voice does sound a bit nasally but I don't think I'd have noticed if he hadn't brought it up. Most of the songs keep bouncing along at a good pace but there are some variances in speed, bits that are stripped down and even a wee bit that was kinda ska sounding; very enjoyable in other words. The singer tells us we've to "stick around for Barefoot" as they introduce their last song, which is something about "feeling" and there's a great bit with some groovy bass and excellent backing vocals, very catchy indeed.

Next band is 3-piece "poppy punk nonsense" (that's what it said on the poster!) Barefoot. But wait a minute, where's Gazzo? Chris greets us by saying that it feels like a wine bar with us all sitting at tables with candles and oh yes "we have two new guitarists" at which they launch into 'Stop!'. During the rest of the set it gradually unfolds that Gazzo has not been replaced, but that Stephen is their new other guitarist and Pete is only helping them out as Gazzo is otherwise engaged, some cheeky monkey form the crowd suggesting he's away for a haircut. Although they don't have the fancy trousers or the guitar hero moves of our Gazzo, the new guitarists seem to be doing fine, and the new two guitar sound works well. Next they play their usual first song 'Stand Alone' and 'Back Over'. Chris checks with the new guys on what songs they know and tells us that they're just winging it tonight and they should play something slow, they decide on 'Cold' and a new song which, although slower on the verses, has their trademark kicking chorus. Chris is in quite a chatty mood, yes even more than normal, and is in fine form between songs explaining the guitarist situation, slagging off people he knows from the crowd, thanking "Wee Pete for standing in" and further tales of his ill fated diet, even dedicating 'Deceive Me' to Mr Gregg whose macaroni cheese pies seem not to be the healthy option after all and casually fending off cries of "Is this a spoken word show?". After another little discussion about what the new guys can play, we get the excellent NEW SINGLE 'Ten Past Broken'. Whilst the others play 'Iron Sky' Stephen goes to get more beers, returning in time to play out with 'Different Town'.
Zelda
Barefoot website Bovine website