Live Performance Review: Bosnian Rainbows, Sunday 30.09.2012 19:00 Stereo, Glasgow

This was the first time in this venue, and I was impressed, it is a decent size and does not feel sanitised in any way. The Ticket and advertising was for the 'Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group', he was involved in the performance, and explained towards the end that this is a separate project going by the name 'Bosnian Rainbows'. If it had been advertised as Bosnian Rainbows I suspect the audience would have been somewhat smaller. For the uninitiated Omar is one of the most highly regarded, skilled and progressive guitarists working in contemporary music. He is the lead guitarist/musician in 'The Mars Volta' and was in 'At The Drive-In' prior to that. He is also a prolific solo artist, whose range can be astonishing and perplexing. Bosnian Rainbows intend to release an album in 2013, I will be looking out for this.

The group consisted of three musicians; I'm not quite sure of the range of instruments being used. The musicians melded well together into a pleasing sound/noise. Omar was astonishing. I've seen him before with The Mars Volta though this was better. The other musicians were also extremely good, though it is clear that Omar is still the one who adds the wow.

On top of this there is a quite remarkable and disarmingly beautiful Mexican singer, called Teri Gender Bender, formally of  the Mexican Punk Band 'La Butcherettes'. She is a very able singer, whose voice fits well with the music, and whose stage presence is transfixing. Now for a funny anecdote; In the introduction to a song about half way through the set, she was saying something about missing 'Old Mr. Turtle Head', and then walked across the stage to stand in front of me, knelt down, clasped a hand on my left shoulder, staring into my eyes and speaking into the microphone asked me with her sexy Mexican accent 'How have you been Old Mr. Turtle Head', to the amusement of the audience. Later she came and sang among the audience and stood singing next to myself before getting back on stage. I do like it when performers appear to behave in their own engaging way. (I am considering changing the name of this page to 'Old Mr. Turtle Head's Reviews').

On a lesser note the support Mono/Poly, an urban sampler guy who was completely unremarkable - don't  bother.

Bosnian Rainbow did a hugely enjoyable performance, and entertaining throughout.
The whole set was greatly received and I would happily go to see them again.  

Rating: 09/10.