Public Service Broadcasting are an electronic art-rock three-piece whose eclectic tracks are created by combining original instrumentals - guitars, banjos, strings, drums, pianos, keyboards, saxophones and trumpets to name but a few - with vocal samples, largely from (you guessed it) public service broadcasts (!) from old archive footage, propaganda material and public information films and broadcasts.
Having never actually heard the group’s vocal chords in any format before, it was somewhat of a surprise to witness lead man John, as his PSB persona J. Willgoose, Esq, come out on stage in a quirky bow tie and introduce the rest of the band (also in shirt and tie) in a stately English accent. Of course, when we later learned that the frontman of the group was a persona called J. Willgoose, Esq, this became significantly less of a surprise. But anyway!
As far as receptions for posh Englishmen in Scotland go, this was a rather welcome one. Public Service Broadcasting’s music is playful, it’s fun, it’s catchy and it lends itself well to dancing. Particularly live, with accompanying and well fascinating archive footage throughout the setlist, each song is a journey in itself - whether that’s through some of the darker days of political Britain or through the American and Soviet's Space Race, as showcased in their immensely popular and impressive second studio album, The Race for Space.
Having never actually heard the group’s vocal chords in any format before, it was somewhat of a surprise to witness lead man John, as his PSB persona J. Willgoose, Esq, come out on stage in a quirky bow tie and introduce the rest of the band (also in shirt and tie) in a stately English accent. Of course, when we later learned that the frontman of the group was a persona called J. Willgoose, Esq, this became significantly less of a surprise. But anyway!
As far as receptions for posh Englishmen in Scotland go, this was a rather welcome one. Public Service Broadcasting’s music is playful, it’s fun, it’s catchy and it lends itself well to dancing. Particularly live, with accompanying and well fascinating archive footage throughout the setlist, each song is a journey in itself - whether that’s through some of the darker days of political Britain or through the American and Soviet's Space Race, as showcased in their immensely popular and impressive second studio album, The Race for Space.
What’s cool about Public Service Broadcasting is how many levels you can enjoy them on - particularly live. The tracks tell informative stories you can engage with as little windows into the past, or, if you’ve had a few Tennents, you can just enjoy the catchy rhythms and dance along to the beats and live instrumentalists on stage, though the guest instrumentalists did, it must be said, have a definite “private-school-talent-show” vibe to them, particularly when they cracked out the choreographed high-school-musical style dance moves (though ultimately, they were very good musicians).
While there are some stage-to-audience call and responses, you don’t get quite the same grip or tether towards the stage that you can from an enigmatic, vocal frontman or MC. PBS have possibly identified this as they did bring out a vocalist onto the stage for one song, but unfortunately she was criminally underused.
Still, watching PSB is an original live multimedia experience, it’s laid back, it’s fascinating, and ultimately, it’s an incredibly fun and creative showcase by a very talented crew.
While there are some stage-to-audience call and responses, you don’t get quite the same grip or tether towards the stage that you can from an enigmatic, vocal frontman or MC. PBS have possibly identified this as they did bring out a vocalist onto the stage for one song, but unfortunately she was criminally underused.
Still, watching PSB is an original live multimedia experience, it’s laid back, it’s fascinating, and ultimately, it’s an incredibly fun and creative showcase by a very talented crew.
4/5
Stuart Kenny
Stuart Kenny
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