I’m always a bit disjointed when I go to a gig on a Sunday. It’s not your typical ‘Sunday reset’ activity, you’ll most likely be working the next morning, and the Glasgow Subway closes before the doors of the venue are even open. It doesn’t give a band any advantage when it comes to hitting ticket sale targets, or knowing that the audience will be ready for a lively night.
Yet, I’m glad to report that my gig experience on this particular Sunday did not live up to this stereotype. The gig in question – Supersun and The Paris Match, with Sisters and The Violets. The venue – McChuills, perhaps the best air conditioned gig venue to ever exist, and a pub which never ceases to disappoint in my humble opinion.
The headliner for the night was the London-based band The Paris Match. Taking to the stage clad in matching nautical, striped t-shirts, this outfit combines classic guitar-pop elements, with springy bass, distinctive saxophone tones, and swinging rhythms. Their performance style is far from that of current bands in the circuit. There was a sustained electricity to the set, a transportation into the sounds from a different time, and a certain element of nonchalance during any interaction with the audience. The Paris Match have both refined their sound and their image, found their niche, and are amassing a following that recognises the potential of this group.
Prior to this, the Glasgow-based 4-piece The Violets, and the Liverpool-based grunge-rock collective The Sisters also graced the stage to contribute to the energy slowly building within the room.
In between these musical forces was a set from the Glasgow-based group Supersun. Composed of three siblings, their cousin, and the recent addition of The Miracle Seeds drummer into their ranks, this psych-pop outfit are certainly one to keep an eye on. With Supersun’s members also hailing from other successful groups such as The Plastic Youth, Fatale, and The Miracle Seeds, I think it’s this previous insight and experience within the industry that will allow Supersun to go the extra mile and maintain the momentum they’ve created. Supersun is also associated with The Cabbage Forever, a celebration of Scottish youth, and a motif which also appears within their songwriting. This is a band that leans into their life experiences to create a lively stage presence, produce bold sounds, and are reinventing the wheel during a contentious and taxing time to be a band in Glasgow. What’s more, the fact that the core members of this outfit are related adds another layer of authenticity, passion, and intrigue to the work of Supersun.
In terms of sound and aesthetic, Supersun have seamlessly morphed the Britpop characteristics of the 1990s – complete with a tambourine – with the musical intonations, vocal melodies, and guitar style that emerged in the 1960s with the likes of The Beatles and The Yardbirds. The instrumental talent cannot be disputed here, with a 12-string guitar adding a true depth and harmonic richness to the overall sound of the group. The only other set I’ve seen a 12-string at this year was during a Smith and Liddle gig, and the difference it can make to the overall quality of a group’s sound shouldn’t be overlooked. I’d go as far as saying it’s a core element of what makes Supersun distinctive in the Glasgow scene.
With their latest single Shine On released only as a limited edition flexi disc and zine, Supersun know how to both create demand for their music and ensure that people actually want to leave the comfort of their homes on a Sunday to see them live. The energy of the room cannot be disputed. The fact that the crowd knew the lyrics to songs they can’t currently stream also speaks volumes.
I’m assuming you’ll want to listen to some of their work now? This October, Supersun are supporting the Scottish dates of the Bluetones 30th anniversary tour. It’s the perfect opportunity to hear the echoes of Britpop and also see how those influences are currently shaping music in Glasgow now.
