Courtesans – Bannermans, Edinburgh 24th Feb 2017
25th February 2017Knowing that at any moment I was going to get blown by Doris (sadly it was just the storm) didn’t deter this avid reporter a night out to watch the Courtesans to play in Edinburgh once again.
Sinead, Vikki, Agnes & Saffire take to the stage, their intro tape comes to an end & Scream from their debut album 1917, opens the show. A transcendental, ethereal track which sets the tone perfectly for the next hour or so the band have you captured.
Kicking it up a notch next with Liberate (also from the debut) gets then crowd into a bit of a frenzy before slamming in with their current single, Mesmerise & Sinead gets to spit her words with fire.
Sinead introduces Lullaby with a question about assisted suicide & would you help an ailing relative. Such a powerful & emotive track live.
The first new track FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition) is a belter of a statement. Not just on the social & political climate at present but in general. It’s a call to the masses to help create the world that YOU want to live in, not a world THEY want you to live in. If we pull together, we can change it.
Genius is a classic track & yet another from the debut. However, it’s the Sidewalks & Skeletons remix that gets the outing this evening & a complete surprise.
The evening continues with material from the new release with John Doe (sadly, STILL not about yours truly)
Feel The Same is a beautiful track. It’s obviously very personal to Sinead as the lyrics have real venom & that comes across more live than studio.
Finishing off the main set with a monstrous new tune, Monkey Logic. This track is humungous. It’s an onslaught on all the primary senses & leaves you lying in a heap with a feeling that you’ve had your body used as a glove puppet by Colossus of the X-Men
The girls are as angry as fuck on this tune & if this is a hint as to what musical direction these girls are headed next. Buckle up as it’s gonna be one hell of a ride.
The encore, Little Bit Of Luck (originally by DJ Luck & Mc Neat) gives the audience a sneak peak of what goes on behind these girls minds. Taking a Garage Dance track, flipping it completely on its head & making it sound like their own is not an easy task. But these girls do it & do it well.
The Courtesans are a well-needed breath of fresh air in a world full of stinking bullshit, disposable diapers & throw away ideas.
This is a band that isn’t afraid to be who they are, do what they want, sound how they sound & point blankly refuse to be pigeonholed into any form of musical genre.
Saffire, Agnes & Vikki are amazing musicians who you can tell 100% enjoy, feel & love to play their music. There’s a feeling of oneness that you get from watching a band this tight. All in the zone & engaged with each other as Sinead becomes entranced to the music that emanates behind that she moves around the stage engulfed by the spirit of a Shamen.
Every track from the new E.P works so well live & that’s a testament to their songwriting. The Courtesans are a band I could watch all night as their performance is ensorceling.
Saffire & Agnes have harmonies that sirens would be jealous of. Vikki has such a control over the drums, creating drum patterns that are a joy to watch as well as hear.
If you haven’t experienced this band either live or on record, then you haven’t lived.
