Panic Room: The Venue @ Oran Mor Glasgow 24th June 2017

Panic Room @ The Venue Oran Mor, 24th June 2017

Its the first time seeing Panic Room since May 2015 when this reviewer was working in York, and caught them at (the new) Fibbers, since that gig 'The Roomies', as Panic Room fans on the bands Facebook page, myself included; have seen some changes. None more so than the crowd funded debut live DVD, Screens Live In London; filmed @ the Islington Assembly Hall London in October 2016. Due for release in June 2017, the reason the band were out on tour to promote it; more of that later (per the conversation I had with Anne Marie Helder lead Vocalist & Multi Instrumentalist with the band).

It was my first visit to The Venue @ Oran Mor, part of a converted church at the top end of the trendy student quarter of Glasgow's West End, at the corner of Great Western Road and Byers Road, actually hidden in a not to well sign posted basement entrance, as a catacomb venue, the Oran Mor is more akin in size and stature; to the more well know Glasgow O2 ABC 2...

On reaching the Merch Desk just inside the hall it was more obvious that with the surprising lack of the bands Live DVD, they were supposed to be promoting, it was the Instrumental Album Series also available from the PANIC ROOM BANDCAMP STORE, of the brand new instrumental mixes of the bands 2nd, 3rd & 4th albums, Satellite (2010), Skin (2012 ) & Incarnate (2014); that took centre stage. Now available as Digital Download albums with bonus tracks, intended as companion releases to the original albums, these new mixes as the band indicated on their website, "were to allow the nuances and layers in the music to shine through and the backing vocal and string arrangements to be heard in all their glory". The Merch Desk also has several copies of 'Dreamless' the new solo album from Panic Room's (new) Lead Guitarist Dave Foster also of Steve Rothery Band, and Mr. So & So available to buy. I say new, in 2015 Dave Foster, appeared onstage with PANIC ROOM as a session player on their Wildfire Tour and also played on their Kickstarter funded acoustic album 'Essence', before subsequently joining the band as a full member.

In essence you might glean from the nights set (below), we got two sets of nine tracks each, plus a two song encore, with a brief 15 to 20 minute break in-between the first and second sets. I managed to get a copy of the set list by videoing it on my phone at the end of the show, courteously of my old secondary school friend Gordon Fleming (he had also seen Panic Room at the Marillion Weekender just a few weeks previously). in its own way, that set list describes what each track sounds like (with anecdotal key words to describe pace - tone - mood and instrument prevalent on each number), from Apocalypstick, beginning the first set, to Nocturnal finishing the 2nd, with the quirky upbeat. I am a Cat making a welcome return as first encore; to 2nd encore Satellite with Anne Marie Helder on 12 string acoustic driving it to an epic conclusion.

Reading between the lines and the synopsis or each song on that set list in more depth with the band ready to roll, we get Anne Marie Helder (Vocals- Electric - Acoustic & 12 String Guitar - plus Violin & Djembe), Jonathan Edwards (Keyboards), Dave Foster (Lead Guitar), Yatim Halimi (Bass) & Gavin Griffiths (Drums, percussion), run through a set of classic old; recent and new material. By the time we get to Chameleon five numbers in, we get Anne Marie's announcement of the trailer for forthcoming DVD now finished, test discs now complete and as such acknowledged a promised and huge thanks form the band for those who pledged to make it happen. They have a few dotting I's and crossing T's to do but it will be released soon.

Bluesy chilled out number All That We Are shows the deeper soulful more passionate side of Anne Marie Helder's vocal style, as it emerges and merges with sympathetic strings courtesy of excellent keys by Jonathan Edwards and soul weaving harmonies of Lead Guitarist Dave Foster. The chilling melancholy of a storytellers heart and soul layed bare. We get also a 40rh birthday present anecdote from Anne Marie Helder who got a Djembe(L) a hand played small bongo style drum as a gift (last year), played by Anne Marie Helder throughout Tightrope Walking, backed by fine guitar solo by Dave Foster (Lead Guitar) and brilliant drumming of Gavin Griffiths (Drums, percussion) supported by Yatim Halimi fantastic Bass (line); in an Arabic motif trade mark indicative of Panic Rooms sound. Wheels Within Wheels see's Anne Marie Helder acoustic guitar shine, her vocals slightly mournful a distant siren blown on the wind, with a touch of melancholy during a stunningly striking acoustic and lead electric, mid song section bridge, more akin to a feature film's 75 mm Academy famed Oscar winning sound track; but done in only 2 minutes. A scintillating ending to the first set.

Mid set I managed to say hello to Ann Marie Helder as she jinked her way to the bar, finally introducing myself as 'the Stewart'. who had actually got her and the band their first ever radio interview in Scotland back on Tom Russell's then Morning Breakfast show on Rock Radio, as part of their opening night build up on their September's 2011 UK tour. We chatted away about getting a list together for 'The Roomies' attending gigs looking to getting a signed copy of the DVD, as well as Anne Marie explaining a bit more about how Dave Foster the bands new Lead Guitar player local knowledge of The Venue, since he had played earlier in the year with Marillion's guitarist Steve Rothery at the Oran Mor; had helped immeasurable to find the place and be able to load in successfully. I had mentioned to Anne Marie I would do a small review of the show and obviously she was disappointed at the low turn out (so hopefully it might encourage more people to turn out next time). I made Anne Marie aware The Stone Roses were playing Hampden the same Saturday night they were on. It scares me as to why they can fill a 50,000 capacity stadium having only made two studio albums. Yet Panic room can barely half fill (if that), a 150 to 200 capacity venue?

Set Two slides In to temptation a long slow burner building to a stirring ending, by four numbers in and Free Falling, Anne Marie is inviting us to "leaving your stress behind" as them mirror ball effect of the lighting takes effect and dedicates the number to those here form all over Glasgow, Yorkshire, Runcorn, Essex and Hawaii, yes; Hawaii. All of suddenly all present reminiscing shared experienced of the effects in their own disco haunted days comes rushing back (no one admits to any involving the afore mentioned Stone Roses). I unfortunately could not convey at the end of the gig yo Anne Marie Helder that Glasgow has the largest Mirror Ball In Europe; housed in the O2 ABC1. Lets hope we get to see the band at that level some time soon, even if it means supporting a bigger act(?).

The 2nd set builds through mid set highlight Skin, title track of the 2nd Album, though new number Easy Jet. itself indicative of some of the bands more classic material; a gentle start builds to a heavy climax! Anne-Marie Helder introduce the rest of band for last song Nocturnal, Yatim Halimi (Bass) introduces Anne Marie Helder. Then Anne Marie lets us know about fellow 'Roomie' George, who has flown in from Cambridge, as Anne Marie acknowledges "George had come a long way" (but not as far as Hawaii - our friend from that tropical paradise giving his eloquent travelogue to the band and the rest of the front of the audience during a previous lull in tonight's performance; traveling some 7,000 miles to do so. A fascinating insight in to just about the only real long distance music fan in Glasgow who was not flying in to see The Stone Roses!

As Anne Marie thanks the sound and lighting crew at the end of the set, she then makes a restrained but obviously emotional announcement that the band just 2 dates in to the June leg of the UK tour dates (the 4th June to be exact) lost a dear friend, not only to the band but an awful lot of fellow 'Roomies'; Mr Tim Hall. (Tim was a also writer and photographer with his own popular blog: 'Kalyr.com') . His music reviews and his writing was often published by Trebuchet magazine and The Guardian. Tim was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in early 2017; he was only 56 when he passed away.

On the night Anne Marie Helder had this to say of her friend "The most wonderful, wise, witty, devoted and caring of souls, we will miss you every day, and at every one of our shows". Dedicating the first encore and not often played but loved by Tim. the band slink into, I Am a Cat quirky and spellbinding, as well as at the same time ethereal, its animilstic execution of highlighting our own human mirroring of cat like nature and behaviour, gifted in its thinking; brilliant in its execution. Especially Anne Marie Helder living the role, playing with the mirrorball lighting like a kitten plays with a swinging ball of wool. Second and last encore is Satellite a 12 siring atmospheric track building to yet again one of the bands epic endings and a great conclusion to a brilliant gig musically; although an evening tinged with a bit of sadness and melancholy regarding Tim Halls passing.

This review was left till after the bands last gig was over from the tour and the day after Anne Marie Helder published via her Facebook page, making a very special announcement, of the memorial service for Tim Hall. For those who like me who never meet Tim personally but could relate and understand his passion for music but could not attend his Memorial Service, for anyone who wishes to make a donation in Tim's memory, there is a special JustGiving page which is devoted to Tim, with all proceeds going directly to the Thames Hospice; where Tim was cared for in the last few weeks of his life:.https://www.justgiving.com/fundrai…/timhall-at-thameshospice This page for Tim is simply a way of gathering all of his friends together, to show their support in one place. You can also leave a message for Tim &/ his family there, if you do choose to make a donation. The Thames Hospice were already registered as a charity on the JustGiving website, they receive 100% of any donation made there.

Words and Video Stewart Eadie with great appreciation for input to Anne Marie Helder and Panic Room, Mr Gordon Fleming and above all to the Memory of Mr Tim Hall (27.1.1961 ~ 4.6.2017) R.I.P