Anna Calvi in concert

A drizzly, cold night in Glasgow. I needed something to warm me up and brighten up the gloom of Scotland in February - Anna Calvi and a few pints of cider might just be the answer. I entered The Arches and unzipped a few layers of clothes. Unfortunately the cloak room was not open tonight so I had to lump around looking like a fatty. I headed straight for the bar through a barrage of noise and ordered a pint of Magners, then double backed to listen to Anna Meredith, the support act for the evening. They were a trio; a girl on cello, a guitarist and Meredith on laptop, percussion, clarinet and vocals. It was an interesting fusion of electronica and alternative rock and I tapped my feet along quite happily. The guitarist and cellist were especially good, and maybe they should have been given a bit more room to demonstrate their considerable skills. After they finished I headed back to the bar, apologising my way past people in that typically British manner, and ordered Gaymers, a lovely English cider which I wish was more on tap in Scotland. I edged my way through a steadily increasing crowd and found a fairly decent vantage point that I also hoped would be a sweet acoustic spot. I didn't want to be too close to the amps. Anna and her quartet arrived onstage to a hearty welcome and without much fuss launched straight into a song. I had read on Wikipedia that Calvi had been lauded for her live performances and within a few songs I could see why. There was power and intensity and energy focused skilfully into each song that was at times breath-taking. I idly wondered how they achieved such a level - probably hundreds of hours of practise is the answer. But they sounded fresh and original, there was nothing stale or rehearsed about them. Calvi and her band performed the stronger songs from her recent album 'One Breath' and also delved into her first self titled album. If there were any weaknesses to her performance then I wasn't aware of them. Her guitar playing was exemplary and boy, does she have a rare set of lungs. I left The Arches feeling fully validated in paying £14 for such an experience, and even forgave the crooks at the box office for adding on a service charge and processing fees. Great gig. Up there with Throwing Muses.