Review By Gary Roebuck Images by Callum Roebuck
Mystic Heights give us a 40 minute set whereby
the 7 piece from the Lanarkshire area of Scotland are welcomed on stage by a small but
enthusiastic audience due to the early start.
Fresh from their set the previous night – Sean on drums,Nathan on keyboard/piano, Andy on
lead guitar, Robbie on rhythm guitar, bass Stevie, man of many talents playing bongos,
tambourine and harmonica Ryan and last but not least front and centre singer Chris get this
night rocking.
Opener “Hour Glass” sets the scene for this support carried out at short notice but what an
act to slot in, “Morning Star” sees the first headbanging in the audience and the guys have
hit the set running – “Howling Wolf” keeps the set at a frantic pace as we then lead into
“Something Ain’t Right whereby Chris says “I want to see you Dancing” has Edinburgh on its
feet this has set the tone as the energy levels are ramped up after a slower more melodic
“Howling Wolf”, these 4 songs have set the tone for the supporting audience who have
followed these guys tonight and throughout the evening giving vocal support in return.
Anthemic vocals, cord shredding instrumentals backed by crashing drums and a piano
accompaniment etc have been the highlight throughout for this energetic set as “Cooking in
the Kitchen” again opens a little slower but soon ramps the tempo up as per the last few
songs.
Without as much as a couple of seconds between each song this is one set that has gone by
in a flash as the guys finish off the set with a more sizeable audience which I must say would
have been an injustice if they hadn’t got more people interested as throughout the set the
adoration at the end of each song was visibly pleasing.
‘Cool Breeze” followed by penultimate tune “We are on the Hunt” gives us the the heaviest
intro up to now rasping guitar, crashing drums and an anthemic vocal are setting a
crescendo of noise in the back streets of “Auld Reekie” on a Saturday night on the eve of the
famous Edinburgh fringe festival season approaching.
Tonight’s set throughout had the audience foot tapping, whooping and dancing through as
we lead into penultimate tune “We are on the Hunt” with both guitars giving no less energy
than from the start this song deserves to be received in more wider circles – I certainly hope
so for these guys as they do deserve it.
Last song “Dutch Stuff” sees these Musical Youths set off with rhythmic guitars before we get
a UB40,ska feel, which when I spoke with the guys laughingly after the set this was alluded
to with the gig ending with some ska dancing in the audience what a fun ending to my first
sighting of these guys before we slow down and that is us at an end. Mystic Heights remember the name and look out for their new single/material as the future
for “Mystic” is reaching for the “Heights” in the future
Burnt out Wreck headline set kicks off after a couple of unfortunate cancellations in the past
but who really cares about that when this quartet kick of the set with “Dead or Alive” but this
only tells us what we already knew that we are “Alive and Kicking” with Gary on vocals/guitar
sounding more AC/DC than AC/DC themselves, with Alex on bass coolness personified in
waistcoat, cowboy boots and shades backed by Paul on drums and Andy on guitar.
Front and centre Gary has the audience captivated before the end we then head into “Head
Fuck” and the same guitar shredding cords are blasted out into the Bannerman’s night a
on lead Andy plays a mean guitar backing Gary who states he’s a singer/songwriter and not
a guitar player we are treated to some tribal drums through the instrumental with backing
vocals from both Alex and Andy. “Paddy Wack” sets off with a drum lead before we are introduced to the guitars and bass with another lung bursting vocal with the guys again joining in the vocals as Gary
resplendent in sleeveless denim shirt, jeans and customary boots for a lead singer of a
certain era is the epitome of rock before another enthralling instrumental and what a trio of
tunes to start a set
with Andy on guitar resplendent in all black and Paul on drums with the old school long
blonde shredded locks, shorts and tee shirt has the set intermingled with drumstick rolls
aplenty – I just wish I knew how to hold them never mind twirl them.
“Swallow” follows where we have a bit of fun sledging between Gary and Alex we then go
back to the first album where again we have the backing vocals supporting throughout and
the scene is set for what is an hour or so of what I will allude to of “old school” rock and what
better way to spend a Saturday night in Scotland’s capital than with these legends giving us
the opportunity to relive our youth or introduce you to it again.
“Flames” staying with the same album and feeling as fresh as the first time played these
guys have it all as is played out throughout with more backing vocals and a more laid back
drum beat before it erupts like a volcano again to envelope us with more ear shattering, lung
bursting vocals and drum set pounding, I’ve been privileged to see a lot of bands of the rock
genre but tonight in Bannermans is up with the best I’ve seen in a long time.
“Stand and Fight” kicks off and we see a more sizeable audience join us than from the
beginning of the set and from the latest album this has a more modern feel to it although it
still has the customary “old school” feel to it with the backing vocals again, crashing drums
and cord shredding of old Gary has no intention of slowing this set down even although we
are 6 songs and half an hour in.
Mid set “This is Hell” sees the guys again join in with backing vocals with the usual
customary guitar licks and rhythm backing with Gary taking the vocals up a notch before an
appreciative audience who join in with a clapping interlude before an anthemic ending as we
continue mindset with “Guitars Electrified’ with it’s”Highway to Hell” sound keeps us
enthralled with backing vocals throughout to support the lead vocals backed by another
drum frenzy at the back from Paul and we still haven’t relented as “She,s the One” keeps
going in the same vein as before us and this is no old age pensioners night out as the venue
has a sizeable youth audience in attendance but how Gary keeps up with the growling
vocals is beyond me with Paul keeping up an energy sapping beat throughout.
“Rockin Man” has this “Old Town” venue enthralled as Gary states he “needs oxygen and not
drugs” before we get a “Burnt out Wreck” chorus from the audience we then head into this
tune which has a more subdued drumbeat and vocal and for those of you not familiar with
these guys this has been one enjoyable night of foot tapping,head banging,air guitar playing
and singing before the vocals and instrumentals amp up again as penultimate “Rock Ain’t
Dead” and it certainly isn’t tonight is received with it’s heavy bass behind it and followed up
with an energetic rhythm instrumental before ending with another energetic finale of crashing
drums, ear shredding vocals and guitars.
Final song Gary states unfortunately for us is an AC/DC classic number but aren’t they all as
not many people will know in “Highway to Hell” getting the audience going for one last lung
bursting, devilish, fist pumping, arm swaying, foot tapping ear bashing assault and that was
that the end of 70 minutes of rock awesomeness.
Thanks guys for an absolutely astonishing set of tunes and please don’t leave Scotland
waiting for a return.
Until the next time – Adios Gazza.
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