Tellison (St Pancras Old Church, 18.09.15)

A third visit to St Pancras Old Church this year to celebrate the release of Tellison's new record "Hope Fading Nightly". Railway Hotel (the solo project of Ross Witt) opened the show. It's a perfectly pleasant set but one lacking in identity and character. It's only during his penultimate track "Politicians" that he shows some genuine emotion.

He could do with taking a leaf out of his friend Katie Malco's book. She has a beautiful voice and her 30 minutes on stage provides a performance of passion and intensity with several great (and quietly devastating) songs. She also has a fine line in deadpan wit, preceding her final song by requesting "Don't buy my stuff. Not even online. I don't want to make it". Terrific stuff.

Tellison then proceed to give us an hour that's not so much cranked up to 11 as dialled back to 6, in deference to their surroundings. It's none the worse for that however, the anthemic "Wrecker" losing none of its power. It's one of a handful of new tracks to get a live outing, including a delightfully scratchy version of "Tact Is Dead", their big rock single regarding the crushing disappointment of one's twenties.

"Get On" is not only my favourite Tellison song but one of my favourite songs full stop and an acoustic reworking with Malco on backing vocals is the highlight of the evening. Coming close behind is "Fire" from their debut album, another number for the "quietly devastating" category. I waxed lyrical about Stephen H Davidson's version of "The Way You Look Tonight" when he supported Kevin Devine at the same venue back in May. Here it gets the full band treatment and once again proves to be a low key delight.

After a fine blend of the old and new, Tellison send us into the night with "Edith". In doing so, they remind us of their great ability to write a tune. You simply don't get many indie pop songs about Edith Wharton in the mainstream.

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