With King Tuts’ Summer Nights in full swing, Glasgow’s biggest indie venue was once again packed for an evening filled with emerging Scottish talent. Running the length of July and August, the Summer Nights have brought some incredible acts to the stage, and the 9th of August was no different. With support from Mankover, Midnight Painters, and Off-Peak Leisure, Clay Rings’ headline debut delivered an unforgettable set that moved effortlessly between folk, funk, and Spanish pop.
First to grace the stage were the Glasgow-based Midnight Painters. Bluesy basslines and exquisite layered harmonies were combined with lyrics brimming with yearning, particularly within tracks such as “Lost in the Woods” and “Changing of The Seasons”. Following from their set at Kelburn Garden Party, and set to release their sophomore EP, Midnight Painters gave King Tuts’ growing crowd a taste of giving the growing crowd an early taste of the sheer variety of talent that was yet to come. For fans of Big Thief, Yo La Tengo, and Nick Drake, Midnight Painters are definitely one to watch.
Following Midnight Painters were Mankover, delivering powerhouse vocals throughout their set. Reminiscent of 90’s American alternative rock, such as Pixies, Pavement, or Weezer, whilst retaining their own signature sound. Witty lyrics delivered with dynamism were a strength for the four-piece, notably in their latest release, “Elephant Spirit”. After the mellow ambiance of Midnight Painters, Mankover brought a new intensity to the King Tuts stage, providing a striking contrast to the evening.
Penultimate act Off-Peak Leisure packed a punch with their set, building on the energy from Mankover. The four-piece brought a classic indie set to the King Tut’s stage, with reverb-filled and groove-driven guitars taking centre stage. Mansun and Supergrass were brought to mind, as frontman Connor-Angus Galbraith delivered lyrics concerning people watching on train journey in the track ‘Croy’. Their final track, ‘Governmentman’ was a spectacular end to the set, filled with funky riffs and a sharp bassline. An extended instrumental to finish their set brought the audience into a final dance for the Glasgow-based band, as Off-Peak Leisure ensured they left the King Tuts stage with the crowd as an act to remember, building anticipation for the night’s headline.
As suspense built, Clay Rings graced the stage for their headline slot. ‘Se Vive’ proved a strong opener, amalgamating Spanish rhythms with indie pop to immediately set the tone for their performance. Clay Rings’ Spanish edge, derived from guitarist and vocalist Oli Ausin’s Spanish heritage and love of classic Spanish tracks brought something fresh to the King Tuts stage, particularly when combined with frontwoman Eve Scrimger’s trumpet breaks.
To say the five-piece had a strong stage presence would be an understatement, as the band looked entirely at home commanding the crowd in dance. Making music since 2022, Clay Rings have truly honed their ability to make a crowd burst into dance. ‘Limelight’, arguably the band’s most recognisable track, secured this presence, as Scrimger and Ausin’s voices complimented each other perfectly against the bass (provided by Freddie Duck).
Their set incorporated a mix of established and unreleased tracks, enticing the audience with what is yet to come from Clay Rings. ‘Dos Gatos’, initially written by drummer Nathan Syed-Tollan provided a resurgence of their signature Spanish flair with a trumpet solo Scrimger and Spanish lyrics from Ausin. ‘Marmarela’ was another standout unreleased track that incorporated audience clapping to enhance the track, whilst ‘Tennessee’ leaned into grungier indie pop.
‘Yes Father’ saw the return of Clay Rings’ Spanish influence, with vocals from Ausin accompanied by bossa-nova drums. An established track for the quintet, Clay Rings continued to command the audience’s attention. Bringing their headline slot to a close, ‘It’s so sad’ brought this energy to a peak, with fast-paced guitar riffs and a classic indie tone. The variety within Clay Rings’ set ensured the audience were constantly entertained, as the balance between energetic and melodic tracks never felt predictable, yet their audience were hungry for more. ‘Present Company’ proved a worthy encore, as a yearning-filled track brought the night to a close. With a European tour under their belt, and new music to be released, Clay Rings delivered exactly what a Summer Nights headliner should, energy, variety, and presence, ensuring their debut headline slot at King Tuts was one to be remembered.
Review by Lauren Sims
Photography by Luke Adamson