Unpublished

THE ZUTONS are good at one thing. That one thing is repetition. This repetition is what makes their tunes pop-sensations and was what everyone in the audience had come to hear at Edinburgh's newest and grandest live music venue, The Picture House.

An energetic American indie band called The Redwalls supported the Zutons. Their style and songs were reminiscent of the swinging sixties with their Rolling Stone haircuts and Hendrix guitar riffs. Their talent was exuberant, although the overly energetic lead guitarist was distracting my appreciation with his stage antics.

The crowd was in rapture when the 'Z' backdrop illuminated and the Liverpudlian based band, The Zutons, laconically entered the stage. Who knew that The Zutons were so big as to be greeted by such approbation?

The band plummeted straight into their latest single "Always Right Behind You", but achieved no sing-along from the previously enthused crowd.
The lack of energy from the audience was probably a reflection of the lack of charisma found on stage. The sextet were positioned on separate podiums and appeared to be playing their instruments singularly, like routine. Saxophonist Abi Harding, however, created some vitality on stage. Dressed in a short 'Klein' blue dress with peep-toe heels she danced emphatically in her section of the stage. Giving The Zutons the sex appeal that is a part of every teenage boy's fantasy.

The set began to grow tedious after "Valeria" and "Don't Ever Think Too Much" were played in perfect imitation of their release. After a further half an hour the set finally closed on "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" which displayed elements of soul, providing an insight into why The Zutons have been boxed into the genre of alternative/soul by critics.

The encore demonstrated how talented The Zutons actually are when they drag themselves away from the safe pop that they have been playing for seven years. They played a samba-influenced drum instrumental, joined by two member of the support including the kid-on-speed, for a vivacious and risky closer.