Oran Mor, Glasgow Friday 6th November 2009 concert review by Dougie Adam

20 years after setting the world record for the fastest selling concert tickets for two shows in the soulless Hall 4 of Glasgow's SECC, Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh from Deacon Blue are back in their hometown with a new band and a new album in the altogether more intimate surroundings of the Oran Mor. The venue in question used to be the location of the city's Bible college and tonight's concert takes place in the basement with its low ceiling, pillars running down either side making the acoustics and securing a decent view a challenge. Joining Ricky and Lorraine in McIntosh Ross are David Scott (acoustic and electric guitar, pump organ and harmonies) and Jamie Gash (drums, percussion and harmonies) both from The Pearlfishers, Ged Grimes the former bassist with Danny Wilson, and David McGowan from Teenage Fanclub supplying pedal steel on most of the set as well as some occasional electric guitar. It remains to be seen how the Glasgow audience will react since they aren't always noted for their patience. Tonight's gig will demonstrate how strong the fans judge the new material to be since there is a risk if things aren't going well of the band being inundated with requests for Deacon Blue songs. Thankfully, it transpires that as McIntosh Ross stick to their guns and play the new album in its entirety along with a B-side, one unreleased song and delicious cover of Gram Parson's signature song "Hickory Wind" the gamble pays off. Lorraine McIntosh in particular appears to blossom in her move from her peripheral role as backing vocalist in Deacon Blue to the boss in the new band, standing in the centre of the small cramped stage and at various points in the evening playing acoustic guitar, percussion and singing lead vocals on just under half the set. Throughout the night Ricky switches from keyboards to pump organ and acoustic guitar and seems as happy out of the limelight allowing Lorraine to shine as he is in it when he commands the lead vocal spots. Only one Deacon Blue song gets an airing, a new arrangement of "James Joyce Soles", the laid back opener on 'Fellow Hoodlums' which begins with Ricky on the pump organ before the full band kick in mid-way through the first verse. "Pale Rider", the title track from Ricky's last solo album, follows and sounds great in its new incarnation with a full band arrangement and vocals shared between Ricky and Lorraine. Up-tempo songs like "Silver And Gold", "Summer", the anthemic single "All My Trust I Place In You" and Lorraine's brand new and unreleased "Got A Little Joy Here" are all afforded rapturous responses from a clearly enthusiastic crowd.

The night, however, arguably belongs to the quietest songs in the set list. "Walls" is undertaken with just David Scott on acoustic guitar and harmonies as Ricky and Lorraine duet to sublime effect. You can hear a pin drop, and only a minimal amount of background chatter back at the bar area. The Glasgow crowd are clearly won over with the new songs and confident performances. After closing the main part of the set with "This World Is Not My Home" the band began their encore by assembling in a horseshoe off mic and minus any instruments and sing Ricky's "Jesus Nailed My Sins Upon The Tree" and midway through you sense the majority of the crowd willing them on as the sound of footsteps marching in time with the song builds to a crescendo. It's left to one lone smart alec to try and disrupt the mood of the moment as he lampoons with shouts of "Hallelujah", "I believe" and "Send them all to hell". The band ignore the heckler and as the song ends it receives the loudest cheer of the night. Tonight at the Oran Mor it seems that the decision to pursue a new musical direction and largely ignore an impressive back catalogue has paid dividends. McIntosh Ross and their 'Great Lakes' album have gone down a storm and the chat among the audience after the show is of hopes of further shows from the band in 2010.