Kevin Bronson on October 13th, 2010

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There’s no propriety in writing a serious review of a show that turned into my birthday celebration. Besides, after two decades and still at the top of their game, Scottish rockers Teenage Fanclub would almost have to try mount a show I considered lousy. On Monday at the El Rey, the Scotsmen played loud and long, and with enormous instrumental, vocal and emotional clarity. Messaged a female colleague: “If Normal Blake smiles one more time, I’m just going to jump onstage and give him a big hug.” And from a male colleague: “They could have played forever.” There were a lot of frayed Teenage Fanclub T-shirts in the house – whose wearers were rewarded with a hit-laden set – as well as a smiling, head-bobbing Fran Healy, the fellow Scotsman who had a gig in Hollywood later that evening. L.A.’s Radar Bros. opened the night with a gorgeous set of their nuanced indie-rock. That’s the recap; it was memorable.

Photos by Laurie Scavo