Non-Applicable took over The Mash House in Edinburgh for their debut headline gig, with support from Cherry Red and The Vaunts, this lineup ensured that it was a night to remember.
Opening the show we had Cherry Red take to the stage to get the crowd warmed up. I was fortunate enough that I had seen this band open for Aldous last month so I knew we were in for a good time.
Admittedly, I did think that it was a shame with how small the audience was for them but that didn’t stop the band from having fun and creating a brilliant atmosphere. With their powerful vocals, fast pace and energetic rhythms the crowd was having a great time. The band’s crowd work and interaction showed just how comfortable and at home they are on the stage. The audience was also having a great time as they were dancing away. With clear confidence in their sound and style, it will be interesting to see how Cherry Red grows.
Up next we had The Vaunts, hailing from Falkirk I was immediately intrigued by the unique tone of the frontman’s vocals which reminded me of the early Oasis sound.
Throughout the set it was clear to see how solid the band’s rhythm foundation was as it helped to drive the energy of the songs. A crowd favourite was their cover of ‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Gaga. The clean, crisp vocals and grunge-indie take on the song immediately had the crowd jumping and joining in. We even got a sneak peak of their new song titled ‘whiplash’, a fun tune full of energy, strong vocals, beautiful harmonies and fun drum fills. It was easy to see why the band was picked as an opener as they did a great job at getting the crowd energetic and excited for Non-Applicable.
Taking to the stage for their first ever headline gig, Non-Applicable where everything you would want a headliner to be. Forming in 2021, the band have played all across Scotland and after releasing their latest single ‘Said It All’ earlier this year, it looks like the band are in for a very promising 2025.
Now, I have been a fan of Non-Applicable since writing my review of their single ‘The Same’. I have found their songs to be incredibly energetic and it is safe to say they carried that energy over tenfold onto the stage. Gaining the crowd’s attention with slow guitar riffs to create an atmosphere of suspense and anticipation, they immediately had the crowd in their grasp.
It was to see that the band are very confident in their identity and sound, and what made this clear for me was their choice of cover songs as they expertly fitted in with their own songs to the extent that the band could have written them. The first one being a cover of ‘Undercover Martyn’ by Two Door Cinema Club which immediately had the crowd jumping. The atmosphere was electric and I genuinely felt like I was in a tent at a music festival. The crowd were clearly feeling the same as they certainly partied like a festival crowd. Even the band seemed to be pleasantly overwhelmed with how well the cover went over with the crowd as the energy in the room was infectious and full of joy and support.
With the evening already an evident success, we got a wee sneak peek of a new song the band have been working which i believe is called ‘Daiquiris’, a bit of a different pace from their other recently released singles, this song is a lot more relaxed with a lot more space to appreciate the lyrics with smooth and controlled vocals.
It’s easy to see why Non-Applicable are ready to be a headline act, they act like they own the stage and bring the energy to prove it. Up next, the band performed ‘The Same’ which is one of the bands most well known and successful songs, I was impressed with how close it sounded to the studio recording. The crowd were having a good time with it as well especially when it came to the breakdown with the bass and guitar being the standout of this section.
With another well picked cover of ‘Can’t Stop’ by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the crowd immediately joined in. You know it’s a win when the crowd starts singing along with the guitar riffs. Ending their set with their latest single ‘Said It All’, it was a great high energy song to finish on. Now, as I previously mentioned, the atmosphere in the room was like what you would expect at a festival, and what do crowds do at the end of a festival set? They ask for one more tune which the band was more than happy to oblige with, the night ended with one of their first released songs ‘Julius Caesar’.
With the night being a huge success, it’s hard to believe that this was only their first headline show, with their infectious energy and feel good tunes, I have absolutely no doubt that Non-Applicable have a bright future ahead of them.