Withered Hand, The Lexington, London

As far as band names go, Withered Hand is pretty high in the pathetic stakes. Nothing about it suggests any kind of character or strength. It oozes a bleak misery. Listen to Scotsman Dan Willson’s records and you’re not going to depart far from this image. The music is so whiny it conjures up dreams of euthanasia. His music is full of surrendering self-deprecation with little sign of cheer, bon viveur or any reason to bother getting out of bed in the morning. So it comes as quite a surprise when his live show is a vigorously enjoyable affair.

First up are excellent support and Fortuna POP! bandmates, The Spook School. Looking like they had to be snuck in the back of the venue in a laundry basket for fear of an ID check, they don’t half pack a punch.

Then, with the small crowd upstairs in the Lexington now in buoyant mood, Withered Hand take to the stage. Of course the material is the same as the records – religious quibbling, crippling self doubt, emotional failings – but, live, it’s delivered with a kick. Perhaps one of the most noticeable changes is in Willson’s voice. It has a fight and intensity that it lacks on record. It becomes engaging rather than off-putting, and though Willson looks strained at times, he’s captivating. The band sound more effective live, too.

Everything from the bass to the small guitar-like instrument this reviewer can’t quite name sounds crisp and raw. The crowd responds accordingly and the ratio of head-nodding to weeping is telling. Even material from the new, unreleased album, ‘New Gods’, is met enthusiastically. Willson, despite his apparent gloomy make up, is clearly enjoying himself. He ends the set by declaring encores take too long so he’ll just stay on and play, choosing crowd favourite ‘Religious Songs’. But then the band go off and return for an encore anyway, first Willson on his own for ‘No Cigarettes’ then the rest join him for a new track. By curfew the mood of all in the joint could not be further from the misery one might expect from a Withered Hand gig.