The recent album from Personal Trainer – Big Love Blanket – has been stuck on repeat on the car CD player for the past three months and has brightened up the monotonous trudges along the M8. This raised expectations of what this fine band from Amsterdam would deliver live and the final night of a two week UK tour at Sneaky Petes blew even highly elevated expectations out the water .
The group are now a six piece allowing a bit more space from their previous visit as an octet. Still very cosy on stage and band members mindful of William Smit’s energetic performance. The tour has gone very well with consistent glowing reviews broadcast nightly by 6music influencer Marc Riley . Popularity outstripping the size of the venues where the band have played.
Personal Trainer have the great ability of meshing a cosmopolitan list of influences into an original sound. The set features a mix of songs from the album and a mix of styles with the band mates sparking from Williem’s energy. Personal favourites of mine included Texas in the kitchen ( my one man cheering acknowledged from the stage ) and the Pavement influenced Key of Ego . Former Puppy sounds like a hit single in anyone’s book and The Lazer opens a show with the same energy that it brings to the early stages of the album. A fine ending was the band’s sound engineer taking to the stage to sing the set closer Milk. A great sing along number as what the audience had seen starts to sink in.
Euphoria would be the best way to sum up the excitement of Personal Trainer . A very successful two week tour and then straight on the plane bound for Austin to strut their stuff at South By South West . They will go down a storm and on returning will be playing on a much bigger stage .
Support last night was provided by local favourites and Glasgow based Wife Guys of Reddit . They are now getting a well deserved following after some festival shows and a support slot with Part Chimp prior to a great opener here. A blend of anglier pop with some interesting rock vibes. Each time I have seen them I have been increasingly impressed with their intensity. Also if there were prizes for looking like you are enjoying themselves then Wife Guys of Reddit would scoop lots of awards.
