Macphail Centre, Ullapool, 25 March 2010

Ivan Drever Band

THE Ivan Drever Band’s rollicking blend of Rock and Roll and Celtic ballad has impact enough to fill a football stadium. And these accomplished musicians have had their moments on the world stage (both Drever and guitarist Andy Murray are former members of Wolfstone.)

Yet they faced the challenge of a small turnout in Ullapool’s Macphail Centre with good grace and humour. (It’s not easy when you’re up against a George Clooney film in the Screen Machine.)

From the outset Drever’s voice cut incisively through the lyrics, rendering the poetry distinctive. The title track to a new EP, ‘Every Beat of the Drum’, was stirring and heavy on percussion from drummer Iain Coates. But the words carried through and certain lines made an impression. ‘Hold on tight to your dream and walk on through the stormy weather’ could not fail to speak to those of us whose lives are dominated by a capricious climate.

Finlay Wells from Oban is equally comfortable playing bass, guitar, harmonica or singing. His acoustic solo prelude to a song called ‘Rosalida’ was stupendous. Written by Drever during a four year sojourn in Spain, it is named after a favourite bar.

Wells delivered it as a rolling, rhythmic ballad with smatterings of Flamenco-style strumming. Then Drever came in with a vocal invitation to ‘Lay your heartbeat down and take your memories home’.

The band’s set went through several gear changes, informed, no doubt, by considerable collective life experience. Lyrical sentiments and foot stomping tunes sat easily side by side. If we ever wondered if rock could mature gracefully this band affirms that it can indeed.

© Jenny McBain, 2010

Links

• Ivan Drever Band