Deborah McArthur reviews the Randolph's Leap gig at Shawland's new venue: Glad Cafe.
When I am asked to go and see someone I know who plays in a band, I always think I won’t write a review, as it’s a little awkward if you don’t write good things and then later you see that person. However, I had to write about Randolph’s’s Leap. They are an 8 piece Glasgow based folk-pop band and they are bloody brilliant.
The venue intrigued me (the new Glad Cafe in Shawlands) it was exactly how I imagined; full of very cool arty people but not in a pretentious way, in a really warm inviting way. The space is fantastic and somewhere I will definitely go back to.
The banter from lead vocalist Adam Ross was great; he seemed at home on the stage and spoke with ease between songs. They are a quirky looking band in the fact that they all looked like they had just met outside the venue and decided to jam together, but their sound tells a different story. They have a unique blend with influences of Mumford and Sons and Arcade Fire. They have a mature presence on stage, each member getting lost in the music and enjoying playing to a sold out gig.
They are a talented bunch; between the 8 of them they played 9 or 10 different instruments throughout their set including Cello and Violin. The trombone and trumpet sections of the tracks elevate their songs and give them a real richness which some bands lack. They didn’t have to thrash around the stage to cover up terrible lyrics or a bad melody, their craft spoke for itself and I found myself tapping my feet and humming along. They have catchy hooks which even for a first timer to their gigs makes you feel instantly connected to their music. I went on a journey with the band and was thoroughly entertained and bowled over by their talents.
I thought the crowd was a little subdued. However Ross’s story-telling is mesmerising that you can’t help stand and take it all in. What their songs speak of is very honest, funny and true, you can relate to what he is saying which is sometimes hard in today’s music when artists are speaking about their pimped up cars, mansions and drinking Crystal Champagne in a club, more fantasy than reality for me. Randolph’s’s Leap aren’t trying to be anything other than themselves which is very refreshing.
I will be purchasing a copy of their many CDs as there are a few songs I now need in my life such as ‘Weatherman’, ‘Crisps’ and ‘Going Home’ to name but a few. They are playing the Glad Cafe again at Christmas and I will definitely be there.
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