Musical quencher from the Twisted Melons

Sep 29 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

STADIUM rock arrived in Perth’s Greyfriars Bar in the form of The Twisted Melons.

The Fair City’s smallest live music venue laid out the welcome mat for the Glasgow-based trio, who originally hail from Kintyre, as they put on a spectacular Sunday night show.

After starting their musical careers playing horns in the school brass band, the three Johnson brothers now line up together, led by Paul on guitar and Stephen on bass, while youngest sibling, Mark, takes on drum duties.

And what a sound they produce! Calling on a bewildering array of effects and some impressive guitar techniques, their music is heavily influenced by Seventies progressive rock and rock giants Yes, Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

Having heard Let Me Know, one of the band’s own songs, it came as no surprise to be told that drummer Mark’s inspiration is none other than Bill Buford of King Crimson.

In a set that drew mainly on tracks from The Twisted Melons’ new album 3.3, other stand-out numbers included the dramatic Language Is God, with its almost operatic vocal harmonies, and Can’t Keep A Thing, which featured a stunning guitar intro that came across like a peal of bells.

Just to mix things up a bit, the band threw in a few covers.

U2’s 1984 tribute to Martin Luther King, Pride (In The Name of Love), went down particularly well with a small but very enthusiastic audience.

Another crowd-pleaser was the band’s distinctive arrangement of Wipe Out, the classic Sixties instrumental by The Surfaris.

Back to their own material and Kicks, a salutary tale of alcoholic excess, exemplified the combination of intellectual rock, hard-core riffs and brilliant musicianship that gives The Twisted Melons a style which is simultaneously nostalgic and unique, as well being as highly pleasing to the ear.

The Twisted Melons are currently gigging all over Scotland as they prepare for a tour of the UK and Europe.

Check out the dates for yourself at their website, www.thetwistedmelons.com

* MUSIC Scene readers are being given a chance to win The Twisted Melons’ new CD. Simply e-mail the title of the album to pa@thetwistedmelons.com to be in with a shout of landing one of three copies on offer.