The Arches is one of Glasgow’s most unusual venues.  First off, it’s set below the city’s Central Station and uses old railway arches as performance spaces.  As one of the city’s arts venues it’s also as far from the Barrowlands as you can get, playing host to a mix of events from club nights to theatre.   

As you might expect artists who play The Arches are generally off the beaten track and so it’s no real surprise to see Norwegian duo Kings Of Convenience appearing here as one of only three UK dates to support their new album Riot On An Empty Street. 

When the band first appear they get a surprisingly muted reception.  Arch four is practically in darkness tonight, candles on tables at the front of the stage providing the little light there is.  While you would have thought that this was the perfect setting for a band whose only weapons are acoustic guitars and piano, the crowd seem unnerved by the intimacy.  The band are also apparently having trouble, talking to each other for what seems like ages during the first few songs and Erlend frantically signalling techs to turn up Eirik’s guitar in an attempt to drown out the occasional rumble of the trains from the station above. 

Fortunately, they hit their stride by ‘Cayman Islands’, their third song.  One of the better tracks from the mildly disappointing new album, its fragile melody sounds like one of the most perfect things you could possibly hear.  In fact it’s about the only thing you can hear, as the crowd sit in unusual silence, transfixed.  A spine tingling moment, you somehow know that from then on it’s all going to be fine.  It is too – the band follow this up with older songs ‘Toxic Girl’ and the brilliant ‘I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From’, both of which get explosive responses.

A selection of tracks from both their new album and 2001’s debut Quiet Is The New Loud follow. There are almost too many great songs to mention, but particular highlights are ‘Misread’ and ‘Gold in the Air of Summer’ from the new album and the sublime ‘Summer On the Westhill’ from their debut.  In between the songs both Eirik and Erlend banter with the crowd as well, displaying more than a slice of wry humour, much of it self deprecating and aimed at each other.   By the end, they have the crowd eating out of their hands, particularly when Erlend swoons around the stage serenading his suit jacket (which is on a mic stand) during ‘I’d Rather Dance With You’. 

Gigs are won on the quality of the songs and personalities of the band.  You might not think it, but the Kings have both in spades.  Tonight they are magical and underline that despite all of the loops, drum machines and computers used nowadays, all you really need is an acoustic guitar and the tunes to back them up
(4½/5)

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