Sons and Daughters perfect their rocking out abilities in Brooklyn

March 21, 2008, at Music Hall of Williamsburg

By Lisa Murphy
Published: March 23rd, 2008 | 10:20pm

Scotland’s own Sons and Daughters were a long way from Glasgow last night while on tour in support of their third album, This Gift, (Domino) released in January of this year. The foursome, comprised of Adele Bethel (vocals), David Gow (drums), Ailidh Lennon (bass), and Scott Paterson (vocals, guitar) played their raw, folk-rock music for just about an hour to a delighted but not quite sold-out crowd.

Paterson and Bethel charmed even the coldest New York souls with their thick Scottish accents, Paterson recalling this was their first Brooklyn show in a long time. The recently opened Music Hall of Williamsburg is Brooklyn’s answer to the beloved Lower East Side Bowery Ballroom, which the band played the next night. His vocals seemed to channel the late Ian Curtis while his looks were reminiscent of Hives guitarist Nicholaus Arson. Both Lennon and Gow chose to interact only through their deep ability to rock out, which they really have perfected.

Their playing was tight and Bethel’s sweet-but-solid vocals balance out the harsh guitar riffs and strong drums. One exception is the more-folk-than-rock “Chains,” which was a nice break in the middle of the fast and intense set. Bethel sported a shimmery silver top with gold sequined armbands, almost as if channeling the subject of their single “Gilt Complex,” despite the fact that she shared with the crowd her dislike of both celebrity culture and even tattoos. Her Karen O–like ability to hold a delicate but throaty wail is a rare talent that benefits the world — or at least these music fans.

The energy was palpable as most of the crowd, from NASCAR fans to skateboarders, danced and sang through each of the numbers, mostly songs from The Gift, such as “Darling” and the album’s title track. The two-song encore paid homage to Johnny Cash with a searing, punked-out version of the eponym track off 2003’s Love the Cup (Ba Da Bing) and one of This Gift’s strongest tracks, “House in my Head.” And not more than five minutes after the last song, the band was out front at its merch table, selling T-shirts and CDs and chatting with people. Their mums and dads would certainly be proud.