Market Bar, Inverness, 24 May 2009

The Galipaygos

UPSTAIRS in the Market Bar could be the smallest pub in Scotland – maybe even the world. At any rate, it’s definitely the smallest pub in Inverness. But somehow, The Galipaygos manage to squeeze themselves into a corner and play to a fairly full pub on Sunday.

The six-piece local band consists of Dicky Bills on drums (who, among other projects, is a member of the excellent covers band The Mystiks), Tabs MacAskill on guitars and vocals, Jamie Macgregor on trumpet and vocals, Andrew Still on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Simon Wort on bass, and Alasdair Chisholm is the newest addition to the band on fiddle.

Six musicians, two guitars, a bass, a trumpet, a fiddle and a full drum kit crammed into the corner of the Market Bar. Yet somehow The Galipaygos make it feel like a full-sized venue. Macgregor, MacAskill and Still are all strong vocalists and their harmonising is smooth. Dicky Bills is an energetic, expressive drummer and the band plays like a well oiled machine.

But I’m left disappointed. They are a clear favourite among locals, but there was nothing particularly memorable or individual about the band. Influences listed on their website include Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, but I just can’t hear it.

Despite all their obvious talent, I feel like The Galipaygos lack any oomph and all their songs sound the same. Given their interesting line up of voices and instruments they have so much potential. According to their website they make steady progress “without ever trying too hard”. Perhaps they need to look to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash and see that being a try-hard can be pretty beneficial.

© Polly Hamilton, 2009

Links

• The Galipaygos
• The Galipaygos on MySpace