After a spat in the run-up to performance night, two very different shows in Dundee on Tuesday ended in roughly a score draw.
Australian band Sons of Korah, who offer a modern interpretation of the Psalms, were credited with an audience of around 150 at their concert in St Peter’s Free Church, while across Hawkhill at the Whitehall Theatre comedian Richard Herring was said to have pulled in “around 155” to his Christ On A Bike show.
There was a bit of a manufactured row ahead of the performances, with St Peter’s minister David Robertson saying he would be interested to know which show attracted the bigger audience.
Whitehall manager Colin Veitch was initially cagey about the numbers and would not allow photographs of the performance, but Mr Robertson welcomed all to his gig.
One theatre-goer gave a half-time report, stating “no rammies in the Whitehall tonight.”
Perhaps the most controversial moment of the whole evening came when Mr Robertson admitted he was no fan of religious music. However, he made an exception for the Australian band, who were playing the only Scottish date on their UK tour.
Mr Robertson said it was the first time Sons of Korah had ever played in Scotland but he expects them to sell out if they return next year.
He said, “I am not into Christian music but I heard these guys and they just stunned me with their musical skills. Give me Led Zeppelin any day, but these guys are just in a different league.”
He said the four-piece, who have sold over 100,000 albums in Australia, were virtually unknown in Scotland, but after he asked them to add Dundee to their tour, fans from all over the country showed up.
Mr Robertson said, “The vast majority of people here are not in my congregation. There are people here from Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. One man drove over from Glasgow because he heard them down in London and they were so good he wanted to see them again.”
He added, “This is really good for Dundee. Everyone goes to Edinburgh or Glasgow first but I persuaded the Sons of Korah to come to Dundee.
“By another year I think they will go to every single city in Scotland and they will sell out.”
Over on Twitter, Herring seemed relieved if not overwhelmed by the interest in his show, saying beforehand, “Sounds like a few people have shown up in Dundee tonight. Was worried I’d be lonely!”
And afterwards, he added with a touch of mischief “Really awesome audience tonight and I beat the sons of Korah by 5 tickets. So I get to stay in showbiz and they must retire.”
All in all, it appeared to be a case of you pays your money and you takes your choice.