A twelve-legged indie-prog rabble from Glasgow, Pronto Mama formed in 2011 and cite Talking Heads, Dutch Uncles and The Beatles as influences. Their recent BBC Introducing live session testified to the jazz-fuelled sextet's sense of musical adventure – and their predilection for false endings! – as they powered through three polyrhythmic pop tracks live for us on the show.
Alex Sharples, Ciaran McEneny, Craig McMahon, Marc Rooney, Martin Johnston and Michael Griffin kicked off their session with swaggering indie-brass anthem 'One Trick Pony', lifted from 2012's Lickety Split (their debut EP), and followed it up with the melodic kamikaze-rock of 'Goose Steps', the lead track from their new EP, Niche Market.
After a chat with the band which touched on their support gigs with Frightened Rabbit and Miaoux Miaoux, their recent collaboration with Hector Bizerk (they covered Gorillaz' 'Feel Good Inc'), their jazz chops and their unlikely slot opening for Jamie Cullum (they won his audience over, of course), Pronto Mama offered up a jazz-fusion wig-out as their pass-it-on track, with 'What About Me?' from Snarky Puppy – a US instrumental-funk collective whose aesthetic is echoed by the Glasgow band.
Live session filmed for BBC Introducing.
Before unleashing Snarky Puppy, Pronto Mama showcased their inventive approach in raucous style with a freewheeling cover of Franz Ferdinand's art-pop classic 'Take Me Out', replete with off-kilter riffage, incendiary trombone fanfares, careening hooks and a howling, hollering finale. Mama mia.
Nicola
Take a look at photos from the session here
