The Proclaimers
September 10 at Casino Nova Scotia.
Funny thing about The Proclaimers is that anyone who knows their music via the Benny and Joon or Shrek soundtracks have sound reasons to imagine them some one-hit wonder novelty act. As the lights dimmed and the smoke machine kicked in under purple and blue lights there was a moment of Spinal Tap cringe. But when the Scottish Reid twins (Charlie and Craig) launched into “Letter from America” all pessimism fell away. They sounded fantastic. Masters of harmony, their use of “hey”s and “yea”s in their songs rivals any ’60s pop group. But most people in the capacity crowd were there to hear “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” And when it arrived the crowd exploded, jumped to its feet and rushed the stage. When it was over most everyone went back to their seats. A few other musical highlights of the night, if anyone cared, were “Cap in Hand,” “The Joyfull Kilmarock Blues” and the heartbreaking rendition, with lap steel guitar, of “Sunshine on Leith.” The evening came to an end fewer than 90 minutes after the lights went down with the Reid brothers’ version of “King of the Road.”