i am kloot

Apparently it wasn’t the only advice his well connected physician gave him either: “My doctor advised me to gargle brandy… it’s what Lemmy does,” smiles Bramwell tonight. Initially he appears on stage alone to open the show, which is not so wise under the circumstances, showcasing as it does his frail voice. However, after the rest of the band join him, the problems melt away in the glow of I Am Kloot’s exuberant sound. The night was supposed to be an opportunity for the band to perform new material, but under the circumstances the set list is cast off, and we’re treated to a number of reworked classics to suit their reduced circumstances. The good news is that the new tracks aren’t as twee as titles like ‘Hey Little Bird’ might suggest. And as for the older tunes, ‘Over My Shoulder’ does and will always stand out as an overlooked classic. The endlessly upbeat Bramwell banters with the crowd, earning a huge roar just by pointing out that they’re Northern, and even taunting them at times into lending their voices to augment his own. While accommodating Bramwell’s makeshift delivery leads to a few false starts, somehow it merely adds to the sense of an irresistible triumph over adversity.