The Scottish quintet made a night to remember at the Fighting Cocks
Falkirk band Brògeal played a full set of their debut album Tuesday Paper Club to a packed crowd in Kingston last Thursday.
The band, all sporting dark tinted sunglasses, arrived to a flurry of cheers. The quintet had a youthful, spirited, laddish energy about them.
After a few heavy swigs of stout, Brògeal started the show with the opening track of their self-titled EP, released last year, Roving Falkirk Bairn.
As co-founder Aidan Callaghan sung: “I am a rovin’ Falkirk bairn, you need not know my name, I’ve travelled all around the world, but no home can I claim”, the words, performed acapella, reminded the audience of the band’s folk Gaelic spirit.
The name Brògeal (pronounced Bro-gale) came from ancient Scottish clans by the same title, who roamed the land trading songs for food, shelter and booze.
In this spirit, The Fighting Cocks venue in Kingston felt transformed into a tavern in Falkirk. The band began their set with instrumentation, which built into a crescendo as bandmate Sam MacMillan broke into upbeat folk melodies on the accordion.
Callaghan was not the only singer of the night. Accompanied by a quick, folksy beat, co-founder Daniel Harkins sang: “It’s the Tuesday Paper Club, they scrub up no too bad, the luscious nectar wets their throat as they scorn the local lads!”
The song proved both jovial and impassioned, calling out the older generation for sneering at the band’s youthful attitude.
Harkins and Callaghan met as teenagers on the bus travelling to Celtic games where they bonded over their shared musical interests. Over time they recruited MacMillan, drummer Luke Mortimer and bassist Euan Mundie.
Unapologetically proud of their roots, Brògeal sing about life in their hometown through thick Scottish accents over Gaelic melodies. Their refreshing authenticity was reflected in their stage presence, with body language that said, ‘we are what we are and that’s the way it is’.
There’s obvious influence from The Pogues and the late Shane Macgowan throughout the album, with the raunchy accordion and unrelenting references to drinking culture and alcoholism. However, as the performance of the album continued, Brògeal showed themselves to be more than Pogues’ copycats.
MacMillan put down the accordion for “Friday On My Mind”, a power-poppy tune with Teenage Fanclub-like harmonies.
“Scarlet Red” ushered in a softly sung, Velvet Underground-esque sonnet. Gallaghan and Harkins’ beat-style song-writing gave no time for flowery pretension, with one line going: “I’d even let you blow my nose and never let you down or turn the other cheek.”
“Stuck Inside” was another standout track, with Callaghan and Harkins capturing a distinctly Scottish pessimism as, over jangly guitar riffs, they sang: “We’re always bloody stuck inside.” The sombre lyrics over excitable instrumentation that sounds like a never-ending chorus (in a good way) made for a uniquely enjoyable listening experience similar to The Smiths.
“Lonesome Boatman” closed the set. Callaghan put down his guitar and whistled a Gaelic folk melody on a recorder, while the rest of the band joined in full swing.
Tuesday Paper Club is out now.
