There is a lot of love for Oli Bayston and his Boxed In outfit – he is an all-round nice bloke, as we found out in the New Music Q&A we did with him recently, and his music is pretty amazing. Having previously been involved with releases for Franz Ferdinand, Willy Mason and Lianne La Havas, it was no surprise that Boxed In’s eponymous debut album got rave reviews all round (released January 2015). Each song manages to feel all-encompassing and totally complete – definitely worth checking out if you haven’t come across it already. Oli makes electronic music with a live band, which is an interesting idea on a record but an even more exciting one when replicated live.
 
Starting the show was Babe, an electronic pop quartet from Glasgow. Unfortunately the early start time at The Haunt dampened what should have been a fantastic support slot, as only a handful of people where there to appreciate them. They produced a dramatic wall of sound that built up in an emphatic way, with charismatic front man Gerard Black (from François & the Atlas Mountains) providing a strong clear vocal over the full sound of anthemic guitar and brooding bass. The lucky lot that made it down early needed no encouragement, as their rousing response made sure the band knew that their talent was well and truly appreciated.
 
With the room now nearing its capacity, the music of CAN and Little Dragon (definitely Boxed In influences) set the mood. Starting with a fantastic opener which was full of “indie funk” energy, Boxed In set the pace, making people move from the very beginning which never floundered. Each song is so inviting in its sound, welcoming the listener into its irresistible upbeat riffs that demand you to move. If you weren’t already sucked into the propulsive pace of their dancier kraut tracks, Oli’s terrific and articulate vocals, which kept reminding me of Richard Ashcroft, constantly captivated the awe stricken crowd. Whereas the record is tight and precise, live the music is given freedom to mould to the rooms natural vibe with the band constantly modulating their sound and adding lots of little interesting snippets.
 
The mid-point brought the euphoric filled ‘Full Circle’, a track he did with electronic musician George Fitzgerald and one that took his sound to a wider audience. The mellow nostalgic trip took a more downtempo simplistic form, giving you a window into Oli’s production prowess and also led nicely into the wistful and languid tones of ‘Bug’. The audience were then treated to a bold but brilliant cover of the Talking Heads ‘This Must Be The Place’ which was first performed at their first ever festival headline slot. As one of my (many) favourite songs ever, I nearly lost my shit and I’m sure the legendary musical aficionado himself David Byrne would have enjoyed it too. With the show in top gear, ‘Mystery’ managed to take the show to another level with the audience full of joy, singing and dancing, and had the band enjoying it just as much as the audience.
 
My already high expectations were well and truly exceeded after what was a resounding performance. Oli and the band were mobbed on their way to the merchandise stand by adulated fans showing their elated gratification for Boxed In. I just wish this was a Friday night, so I could stop thinking about the morning shift and able to properly let loose.
Iain Lauder