Back in the nineties and early naughties they were a weel kent country rock outfit in Scotland, but now The Felsons were back together and playing live for the first time in fifteen years. And doing so in their home town, meaning tickets being sold out some weeks in advance, to a packed and noisily enthusiastic audience.
All four members have gone on to further careers in music, but it was clear from the start that being back together after so long was a joy to them all (even if they were under rehearsed!). An acapella version of the Beatles' Nowhere Man provided a stunning opening before they launched into their own material. Interspersed with songs from the old days were some newer numbers. Band leader and singer/songwriter Dean Owens had written some new numbers for the occasion, and they also played a few of the tracks from his own solo albums. Although the old Felsons tunes still hold up well, it was a clear demonstration of who much Owens has progressed as a writer in the years since.
With Owens distinctive vocals, some tasty lead guitar work from Calais Brown and solid rhythm from bassist Kevin McGuire and drummer Dave Stewart they have a distinctive sound, but covering genres, part pop, part country, part rock, with clear Scots influences in there too. Owens is always amusing in his ramblings and provided plenty of laughs between numbers.
The second set increased the energy in the room, produced a bit of audience singalong, a revival of the single from Smile, the band that begat The Felsons, and a fun rendition of Presley's Hound Dog. Band and crowd could have gone all night, but there are limits to the time, and so we went off into the night invigorated and smiling.
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