Belle & Sebastian have a very committed, but very genial fan base. To the extent that the band invited audience members to join them on the copious stage and dance to The Boy with the Arab Strap. Only to have the heavy handed security try to chase the fans off, pursued by members of the band trying to chase off the security.
So after that, I was interested to see them again at Somerset House. Having seen them on my own at the Methodist Hall, I didn't expect to find people willing to see them with me, but as it turned out I led a team of five. A band that has been going for twenty years clearly picks up support along the way, from old codgers like e to 30 year olds, and no doubt younger still.
Support came from C Duncan, like B&S a Scot, but like them a terribly mild-mannered non-rabid jock. Only problem I felt for his rather sweet folk pop was that his voice didn't easily carry over his backing band.
Then onto the main course. Belle & Sebastian have been a great indie band for a couple of decades. They steadily release albums of varying quality, They aren't big stars who fill magazines with stupid quotes, and they never took off as sex-symbols. The music isn't at all pretentious so they don't really hit it off with music critics who love pretentiousness. They don't do whimsy, and really that is the word I would use to describe Belle & Sebastian's music. That and joyful.
They have a genial and if truth be told slightly geeky audience. In other words an audience that just likes the music and the happy vibe without the need to appear credible. Not for posers. Stuart Murdoch just comes over as a nice bloke, and the songs are well, just nice. With intelligent lyrics. A happy experience. My little band of five seemed suitably content with the night.
At this gig, the band had pre-selected a group of fans to dance, amateurishly, on stage. So much better than professional dancers
More dad dancing from the fans....
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