Show: Twin Atlantic
Date: November 3, 2011
Venue: Music Box
City: Hollywood, CA
Twin Atlantic
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Katie J. Norris
Opening with an upbeat number, the band hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, claimed the stage with their catchy tunes. Their music is mainstream, but in a good way. Twin Atlantic played hits spanning from their inception in 2007 to their newer releases, “Cherry Slut” and “Make a Beast of Myself.” This was only day two of the tour for them and they already seem like they were right at home.
The band wears casual attire, but unlike most relaxed-fit bands, they chose clothes with bright colors and there were even signs that the guys intentionally tried to match each other to create a complimentary visual on stage. Lighting was quite impressive there at the Music Box, and the design enhanced the music and the band with a rock-show feel at just the right times. Sam McTrusty sings lead and really impressed me with how he captured the audience with his powerhouse vocals. Barry McKenna played some admiringly slick solos on lead guitar, rotated on to own the keyboard and then back again. It’s one thing when a musician gets to show off, it’s another thing when you actually wish they would do it more! Ross McNae, who is pure talent on bass, and Craig Kneale, who balanced it all on drums, all helped to create the smooth combination. Harmonies were dead-on and Twin Atlantic played a continuously tight set throughout.
At one point in their set, Sam took a moment between songs to announce that this was the beginning of their tour and admitted to the audience, “I feel unfit.” Well, if this is a rusty, out of shape band, their overcompensation left us fooled.
After the harder rock and roll, they stepped back a bit and began a soulful singer/songwriter- style set for their acoustic songs, “Yes, I Was Drunk”, “Crash Land” and “Wonder Sleeps Here.” The fact that they can go from hard rock to meaningful, slow alternative really adds a variety to their sound that spins an enjoyable duality. The dynamic of the music also gave the audience a chance to get a deeper taste of their personalities. These are guys you’d want to get to know, want to party with, and then want to get to play at your party. The band, as a whole, was all quite comfortable on stage and each did their part to amp up the crowd without being too pushy. A band where each member pulls their own weight in every capacity? These guys really seem to appreciate every aspect of their career.
Among one of my favorite songs was their performance of “Edit Me.” The live arrangement reinvented their hit song, lightening up the heavy record version and performing it more bouncy, adding a pop-song feel. It made a sweet transition back into their harder songs to close the show.
Very notable also, is the richness of the lyrics in all the songs. Strong choices are made to fill up the formulaic template of rock music with meaning, message and emotion. With great stage presence, a highlight of their fun personalities, and great lyrics, they really display to their audience that their music is more than just a collection of clever pop-rock tunes.