If you wanted to find the absolute whos who of the Glasgow music scene last night, Kelvingrove Bandstand was the only place to be. It was great catching up with Jamie and Bronco from Oran Mor—shoutout to them for 21 years of making that place one hell of a music venue- they are moving onto pastures new—and brilliant to see Ally McCrae, reminding us of the days we shared a Radio 1 slot on the BBC One Introducing show. Looking around, you quickly realised this was very much a generational crowd. Its the perfect gig for us: the ones born in the 80s who actually remember what it meant to go out and buy a physical album.
When they kicked things off with "You Held the World in Your Arms," it instantly meant business. Running through the back catalogue is always a trip, and hearing "When I Argue I See Shapes" sent me straight back to my formative years across the street at the QMU, listening to music and tramping round record shops trying to find gems like this for £3.
There was a lovely celebratory air in the park tonight, too—turns out its Roddy Woombles 50th birthday today! We even gave him a slight rendition of "Happy Birthday" early on to mark the milestone.
The energy kept building as "(I Am) What I Am Not" showed their pop-punk credentials in full flow; we officially had a proper gig on our hands. Then came "American English"—undeniably my favourite song—which turned into a massive singalong with guys in front hugging each other. The nostalgia levels were simply through the roof.
Shortly after, they brought out "Actually Its Darkness" from 100 Broken Windows. That album came out 26 years ago—life really is going pretty fast. I remember buying that and the second album out of Fopp while I was still at uni. By the time "A Modern Way of Letting Go" hit, we were properly rocking, and the show ramped up into high gear.
Before the encore, the celebrations became official with a proper happy birthday from the stage as a cake was brought out for Roddy. That led into a rare treat: "Here is one we dont play and were asked to," introducing a glorious run-through of "Let Me Sleep (Next to the Mirror)."
They closed the night with "In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction." It sounds as massive and vital as it has always done. It feels like a long way from the days of seeing them at T in the Park with a massive backdrop, though tonights amphitheatre made us look like we were right in the middle of a forest. It gave it an intimate, magical edge. And as Scottish Fiction rang out into the night air, there was only one word for it.
To coin a classic Glasgow term: Superb.
Full Setlist:
You Held the World in Your Arms
Like I Had Before
Little Discourage
When I Argue I See Shapes
Its Not The First Time
(I Am) What I Am Not
Interview Music
Live in a Hiding Place
American English
Stay Out of Place
Actually Its Darkness
A Ghost in the Arcade
End With Sunrise
El Capitan
Everyone Says Youre So Fragile
A Film for the Future
A Modern Way of Letting Go
Encore: 18. Roseability 19. Let Me Sleep (Next to the Mirror) 20. Love Steals Us From Loneliness 21. In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction
Review by Craig McGee
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