North Sea Gas Turns Up the Heat

NORTH SEA GAS

The Fire and the Passion of Scotland

Scotdisc ITV827

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North Sea Gas holds own on a formal concert stage, a house concert, or a noisy Highland bar (which is where I first heard them). It might be the hardest-working Scottish band you’ve never heard of, even though founder Dave Gilfillan has been hitting the road for 34 years and the latest album is the band’s eighteenth. NSG–Gilfillan, Ronnie MacDonald, and Grant Simpson–invite adjectives such as protean and quotidian in the very best shadings of meaning. On this album, NSG continues its long tradition as both a cover band and interpreters of traditional songs. As advertised, there’s lots of fire and passion. There are just three of them, but six different instruments are trotted out and bold, booming three-part harmonies (reminiscent of The Tannahill Weavers) makes it seem as if there is a small village on stage. The band rips through a delightful mix of material–old chestnuts such as “Maggie Lauder” and “Fear a’ Bhata,” rousing battle cries the likes of “The Standard on the Braes O’ Mar” and “The Battle O’ Harlaw,” the pathos of “Calling Down the Line,” the bygone nostalgia of “Windmills,” and humorous offerings such as “Aye No No” and “I’m Having a Bit Tonight.” The last, by the way, is one of the filthiest-sounding, innocent songs about dessert you’ll ever hear! NSG do everything with panache and, perhaps, a little bit of cheese, but you’ll savor every crumb.   

Rob Weir