Jamie Webster - Live O2 Academy Glasgow

 Sometimes, just sometimes, the stars align and for a minute or two and you feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.  Well, that was me, that was how I felt walking out of The Glasgow O2 Academy at about half ten on Friday the 10th November.  A blistering night of music and stories from Liverpool songwriter Jamie Webster lit the fire to help  take the chill out of a cold night in Glasgow's south side.

Now, my only knowledge of the latest scouse troubadour to take Glasgow by storm, was that he led the chants of the Anfield faithful as Liverpool conquered Europe in Madrid 2019, and sealed their first English premiership title in 2020.   Cover versions, football chants and a healthy loathing of the current Tory government and their policies, in fact probably Tories in general.  

My 15 year old son has become a huge fan of Webster’s music since I first introduced him to his sounds when then European champions Liverpool played Napoli at Murrayfield in 2019.   Since then he has been an avid fan and listener.  So when I picked up 2 tickets for the O2 in the day of the gig - you can imagine, he was buzzing.

From the lights being dimmed to the strains of Fatboy  Slims “Praise You", the raucous Glasgow crowd needed no invitation to launch into a chorus of “Here we, Here We, Here We Fuckin’ Go".  As Jamie and the band strolled on stage, he was given the welcome akin to a champion returning to his home town.  The stage was set and  the O2 was crackling just waiting for that switch to be flicked.

The opening chords to Voice of the Voiceless sent another charge across the Glasgow crowd.

I cant speak 

I cant dream

I cant change it so you see the world like me

But there’s a pulse

So still I try.............

The O2 just erupted.

From in front of the stage, to the balconies and behind the bar – the euphoria exploded.  There were no voiceless there, it was a united chorus, movement and cause.   Make no mistake, there was Something in the Air, a synergy that flowed the entire night.

Jamie gave a breath-taking performance along with his band.   A brilliant set list ranging from his early song writing days and cover versions, to his collaboration with Billy Bragg and his most recent album kept everyone lucky enough to be there in the palm of his hands.

The gig passed way too quickly, 18 songs including the encores were perfect.

I walked into the venue not knowing any of the songs or what to expect, the playlist my son made for the drive over was my only gauge.   I walked back to my car after the gig with a spring in my step and a wish to relive the entire night again.

It looks like I’ve got some catching up to do with Jamie Webster songs and I honestly cant wait.  If like me you’re new to his music I promise you wont be disappointed.

Liam Gallagher Live - Hampden Park

 Liam Gallagher - Hampden Park, Glasgow.  26th June 2022.

The summer music roadshows are now in full swing, football stadiums have been revamped and altered to suit strobe lights instead of floodlights.  Empty fields have security fences surrounding them as they get ready to welcome thousands of fans to sing, dance and drink the day away in front of the main stage.  The last Sunday in June saw the return of Liam Gallagher to Glasgow, the former Oasis frontman has already headlined massive open air shows in Manchester and Knebworth on the back of his recent album release C'mon you know, and Hampden Park was the next stop on his summer tour.

Now, football fans across the country have a love/hate relationship with Hampden Park.  The historical context in which the stadium is held is rightly celebrated, but the lack of modernisation leave the stadium somewhat behind many other large scale premium venues in the UK. The sheer volume of stairs to get down to pitch side and then back up again is a workout in itself, add in chaotic stewarding around the bars, food stalls and toilets and you might normally have a recipe for a poor day out.   Thankfully the music outshone anything happening off stage.

Before Liam Gallagher took the stage, the expectant crowd nestled in the National stadium were treated to a glorious set from Leicester rockers Kasabian. From the moment the band strolled on stage they had the Hampden crowd in the palm of their hands. New frontman Serge led everyone in the stadium in a lung bursting and electrifying tour of the bands 6 studio albums to date.  Sadly the bands time on stage passed too quickly.  Every syllable spelled out by the camouflage clad Serge, only increased the intensity of the fans watching on, helping  create a near perfect synergy amongst a soaked but euphoric crowd.  By the time of their final song everyone in the stadium was already at fever pitch.  Fire delivered, it absolutely delivered.  It was met with a crescendo that you would expect from a last minute winner in a cup final.  Exhilarated by Kasabian, It was time for a breather, a beer and a walk up those stairs.

The level of anticipation before any main act at a gig is always special, but I enjoyed it a wee bit more waiting for Liam Gallagher to take the stage.  Maybe because I had my son with me & it was his first open air gig, the realisation that my son is on only 2 years younger than I was when I first saw Oasis, or maybe just the fact Liam Gallagher has the ability to wow fans with his trademark swagger and a gentle shake of his maracas or tambourine.   No matter what it was, when the Stone Rose’s started to play over the PA you could feel the charge of expectation in front of the stage.

With a chorus of Championees still echoing around the stadium, Liam strolled on to stage to the epic Fucking in the Bushes, following up with Hello and Rock and Roll Star.  The Manchester music Legend then weaved his magic over a near two hour set where he played the very best of the Oasis classics and dipped into his more recent solo albums.  Stand by Me, Morning Glory and Slide Away still sound as good now as they did when I first heard them, these are instant classics that helped shape the music scene as the young in your face boys from Manchester took the world by storm.

The mature Liam Gallagher is still in your face, he still has the swagger and he still has that unmistakable voice.  His solo albums are laced with influences ranging from the Beatles and Stones, to Ian Brown, The Stone Rose’s and the Chemical Brothers.   I'm a big fan of the most recent release, as it packs a punch and gives a good experimental vibe while clinging on to the tried and tested arrangements of his first two solo albums.  These songs definitely don't pull on the heart strings the same way as the Oasis tracks do, but they were a perfect fit in an almost flawless setlist (I always want more).

With the sun starting to retreat and darkness beginning to fall Liam lit up the national stadium with massive Oasis hits from Definitely Maybe and What’s the Story Morning Glory, conducting a bumper sing along for Cigarettes and Alcohol, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova all being squeezed in before the curfew fell and everyone made their way home.

Yeah I might have my gripes about the venue, but the show put on by Kasabian and Liam Gallagher in front of a ravenous Glasgow crowd will live long in the memory.

Declan Welsh & The Decadent West - Live

Declan Welsh & The Decadent West - Live

SWG3 

Monday, 22nd November 2021

After what seemed an eternity, I managed to get along to my first gig since March 2020.  In a near perfect moment of symmetry from our last “Pre-Covid” gig my daughter & I retraced the walk from Partick train station to the SWG3 campus hidden behind the railway arches that run along the north side of the Clydeside expressway.  It had been a long 620 day wait since our last concert together, so even on a cold Monday night in late November a live set from Declan Welsh & The Decadent West was definitely one that we were looking forward to.

With the lights dimmed & the level of anticipation rising, Declan, Ben, Murray and Duncan strode on stage in front of a fully charged and expectant crowd.  The Glaswegian indie rockers produced a flawless night of entertainment and passion as they seamlessly powered through tracks from their 2019 debut album Cheaply Bought, Expensively Sold as well as their EPs All My Dreams are Dull (2018) and It's Been a Year (2021).

Opening their set with No Fun the capacity crowd were rushing to the front to get involved in the party centre stage.   From the energetic pogoing in front of the band to the synchronised dancing amongst friends near the back if the hall, everyone was caught up in the animated performance.   From start to finish there was no let up in the synergy between the crowd and band.

Almost every song focuses your thoughts on everyday conversations and interactions that we tend to overlook, but Declan and the band shrewdly make the ordinary seem exceptional with an expressive dialogue that pierces both verse and chorus.  Recent single Another One demonstrates impeccably how the group capture the mood and moment of the isolation we've all endured lately and the challenge of embracing each other again.

By the end of the night we had been treated to a hip-swaying and boisterous 16 song set which included Absurd, Times, Parisian Friends and Do What you Want.  When the lights came up after the last song there was a healthy mix of young and old making their way to the exits, exhausted but positively buzzing.

The strength and depth within the Scottish music scene at the momient is nothing new, historically our wee country has produced some of the most iconic bands and songs across the decades.  The new generation of artists galvanised by potent riffs and social commentary are lighting the path towards a return to live music for a voracious fan base.  This was perfectly on show when Declan Welsh & the Decadent West wowed the sell-out crowd at SWG3.

The Tea Street Band Live Glasgow 2018

The Tea Street band are wrapping up their early winter road trip promoting the recent LP release Frequency.   The tour may have been in the closing stages by the time the band rolled into Glasgow, but the 4 lads from Merseyside certainly weren't winding down as they lit up the stage at King Tuts on a crisp December night.

Perched at the top of Glasgow's financial services district sits “The best UK live venue" according to the sign outside anyway.      Over the years King Tuts has played host to some of the best loved bands in world music.  This is where the universe started to change for Oasis back in the mid 1990s, but it’s not all about breakthrough artists though, some well established acts still come back & play at the Wah Wah Hut  just to be part of the legendary venue.

The quiet Sunday night streets are in contrast to the live music on offer behind the double doors of the Hut, being serenaded to the bar with 6 string melodies & the voices of the King Tuts Sunday night open mic sessions was a welcome treat before the doors to the main gig were opened for business.

With 2 support acts on we moved up stairs early to hear what was on offer.    First up were 4 piece band Nineteen Canteen playing a good selection of melodic rock tracks, they were followed by the energetic 5 piece skate rockers Forrest Can't Run.    Two variations in style before the main act took the stage.

A wee refresh of the stage & the unveiling of the magical box of tricks at guitarist Lee Smith’s disposal is the cue for the designer clad Pretty Green, Adidas wearing followers to make their way to the front of the stage.    With 2 albums in the bank, the band have enough to keep the tunes going into the night, but unfortunately I’ve already spotted the curfew is just over an hour away.

Opening the set with Summer Dreaming from their first album before propelling into 3 tracks from the new album Givin'it back, Sacre Coeur & single Marseille Blues is enough to get the revellers in full swing & acclaim from Nick that Glasgow might be the best dancers of the tour.

An unscheduled break to rewire Lee's box of tricks holds up the gig momentarily, but it’s not long before Timo gets the set moving again with the haunting melody laden Taken it All before blasting out  the Disco lights.   The synth mixing & classic dance beats from Dom are leading the night into a full club session.    Two more singles from the album Only Love & Feel It raise the temperature before Fiesta has revellers moving to the front of the stage to dance in the strobe infused musical euphoria.

The set finishes up with more arms in air to the Donna Summer Classic I feel Love, but with an extra bit of gold dust thrown in from the MCs on stage.

A quick chat with Timo & a set list to take home as a trophy from a mesmerising nights entertainment from a group you've just got to see live.

The Story of the Blues with Pete Wylie - Live 2019

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Wah! & launching his brand new album Pete Sounds, Pete Wylie put on a show for his fans at Glasgow's  King Tuts.     Armed with more than 4 decades of stories, songs & struggles, Pete pulled together a cabaret of over 2 hours entertainment for his fans nestled in the famous wee venue.

Choosing to tour without the backing of a full band, Pete was joined on stage by Anders Johnson who helped Pete mix his new album & provided the extra backing tracks on the night.    The stage was set up with a video of the Clash & Bowie in their prime playing on a loop &  cut-outs of famous faces of Liverpool, Shankleys famous outstretched arms in celebration, Elvis & Liberace!

Decked in a Tupac / Makaveli shirt the set kicks off with his very first single Better Scream, Pete set the tone for a nostalgic look back not only at his hits of the 80s, but those people & friends he has lost over the years.   Every story had a song, as he talked us through each of the tracks in his set.    For each older song played, there was a peek at the new ones appearing on the Pete Sounds album too.

As a campaigner for justice politics was never far from his agenda.   Brexit, Trump,  May & the Justice for the 96 campaign so he knew the people of Glasgow would be more than happy to hear & join him in his anthem “The day that Margaret Thatcher dies".     The  first half of his set finished with Sinful, where everybody was in the mood for a singalong.   An expected Q&A between sets had to be cancelled due to technical issues with a talking Elvis doll (yeah you read that right)

Pete kept the songs coming as he strolled back on stage for the 2nd part of the night in a sparkling gold suit, retelling the story of how he met Eric Cantona & trying to plan a night out in Liverpool with him.   The sight of a mechanical Elvis head on stage wasn’t out of place amongst the legendary tales from Pete's encounters with the good, bad & crazy aspects of his life.

New single People was sandwiched by the classics Come Back & Seven minutes to Midnight before Heart as Big as Liverpool, Pete's tribute to the people of his hometown & their fight for justice for the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough.

There was still time for The Story of the Blues to send everyone home happy, & although I was too young to enjoy the songs from Wah! all those years ago, it was great to hear them live, even if the night was a little surreal at times!

Mull Historical Society - Celtic Connections 2019

Now in its 25th year, Celtic Connections has been warming up the opening weeks of January  with its wide ranging events & shows throughout Glasgow.   From traditional folk & ceilidh nights to music acts from around the world, the festival brings a lively start to the year for music lovers.     Thursday night it was the turn of Mull Historical Society to take the stage at the Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street.

Fronted by proud islander Colin MacIntyre, Mull Historical Society dipped into their back catalogue of albums as well as the new release “Wakelines" to deliver a fantastic nights entertainment for the cosily assembled fans in the CCA.    Colin was joined on stage by a strings section, Piano, drums & bass player.   Bernard Butler who produced the most recent album completed the line-up as guitarist of the 7 piece band.

I first heard the songs of MHS 15 years ago when Colin joined Eddie Reader, Justin Currie & Blazing Fiddles on stage at the Royal Concert Hall for an unforgettable performance.    Colin matched anything the more established Glasgow bards recited & shone brightest in my memory of that gig, but back to 2019 & 8 studio albums later Colin is back on stage with his very own MHS.

As an author, play write & songwriter Colin weaved his storytelling magic  throughout the night.   From 12 & 6 string acoustic to electric guitars he orchestrated his arrangements with the rest of the band on stage creating a perfect celebration of his works.    The new tracks blend in perfectly with those early hits & the sometimes fragile sounding voice still lifts your spirit.   Wakelines & Clementine provide the traditional MHS energy, while Little Bird & Somewhere in Scotland show the more sensitive vulnerability from the new album   Colin’s ability to integrate sounds to maximum effect are highlighted perfectly in Wetlands Urban Fox as the track is introduced by his late grandfather reading poetry, which continues throughout the track.

With the rest of the band taking a breather Colin reads from his book to introduce another track form the new album “14 Year Old Boy”, telling the story of the song & his early Christmas present of a Fender guitar from his father, which he then plays on stage.

All too quickly the night is heading into the final few songs of the set,  fans breathe in the poignant “Put your Arms around me” before the band finish the set with This is not who we are & Peculiar.     Then the lights come up, the doors open & its time to leave.    You can't help but notice the wide demographics of the audience young & old, all of whom positively buzzing after a fabulous night with our host.

The Wakes Live at King Tuts Feb 2019

In a fitting commemoration to the 100th anniversary of Bloody Friday The Wakes took the stage at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut & stoked the fires in the bellies of a new generation of liked minded social activists.      A night of true celebration of how far marginalised communities have come in our modern world & the realisation that so much more still needs to be done to overcome an oppressive political & media narrative.

With 4 albums in the books The Wakes have a musical manifesto to support any live show.    Telling the stories of political struggles from Glasgow to Dublin & Jarama & to the middle east & back again but these are not just words to the band, these are causes to believe in & a purpose to fight for change.  

Kicking the night off with No Irish Need Apply & The Battle of George Square, followed by a tribute to those two ground breaking  Scottish socialist  stalwarts James Connolly & John MacLean defined the score for the session.

Still beaming from their recent exploits in London with fellow peoples poet Billy Bragg, the Glasgow folk rockers blew the roof off the Hut as they led the sell out crowd through a medley of melodies, song & stories to lift even the most weary soul.   Playing for just over 90 minutes & squeezing in 20 plus toe tapping, fist pumping sole searching anthems, The Wakes shone as a finely tuned musical movement in unison with their fans.

The musical arrangements from nine piece band delivered a pulsating folk / rock, ska infused message.   The traditional mandolin & whistle sounds of the world of folk were complimented to incredible effect with the addition of the brass section of trumpet & trombone, never forgetting the impact of the flawless harmonica.    The line-up only changing briefly for the haunting rendition of Gutter to the Whitehouse with Paul on guitar & Chris backing on sax.

The instrumental introduction to Peat Bog Soldiers raised the decibels another couple of notches as the night flowed into a crescendo of football & Anti-Fascist call & response between band & audience.    From Bella Ciao to The Pirates of the League, the rousing unity between band & comrades in the crowd was stirring.

Its not all politics & football though, there is still plenty of room for party tunes as the band Set you Free and take you to a Discoland & back to 8:30am at Glasgow Cross as part of a frenzied set finale & encore.

Walking back downstairs to the bar with the concert finished the singing continues amongst the crowd.    Smiles & clenched fists salutes greet you to the sound of Viva la Quinta Brigada.

Often listening to the stories of struggles & fight for equality can be difficult, but The Wakes triumphed in bringing these stories to life whilst keeping the burning desire for a better society at the forefront of an enthralling night of music.

Christy Moore Barrowlands Nov 3rd 2018

On a rainy Saturday night in Glasgow I made my way through the streets of the East end towards the Barras.    The streets that had welcomed 60000 football fans only 2 hours earlier were now quiet with only the sound of a few passing cars & the early evening rain hitting the ground to break the darkened silence.


I reached a bend in the road where I caught a glimpse of the shining neon lights of the Barrowlands & at once the darkness was lifted & the silence broken with the noise of concert goers & football fans mixing in & around the bars of the Gallowgate.


With a small queue already formed along the old shopfront of Bairds bar & the call from the stewards to have tickets ready we made our way to the entrance.     Signs on the door confirmed  "No cash machine, no contactless & no switch card payments inside.   The bar in main hall would be closed & any drink would need to be consumed in the downstairs bar.    Welcome to Christy Moore at the Glasgow Barrowlands.


A walk up the stairs into the bar to grab a few drinks before the show you see the impact Christy Moore has on people of all ages & backgrounds.    Whether it's football fans still decked in colours who made their way straight to the gig post match consuming pints or long time listeners who have been on the road with Christy (& Paddy) since 1969 everyone here loves to hear the musical narrative of a career spanning almost 50 years.


Making our way to the main hall, the venue was already brimming with expectation & after short wait Christy Moore, Declan Sinnott & their musical collaborators walked on stage to a huge welcome.


Opening with City of Chicago, Black is the Colour & North & South set the tone for a sublime evening of entertainment.   With a seemingly unlimited number of songs from his career I cant imagine any 2 of his concerts ever being the same.


As with most artists there is an appreciation of the host city & venue, at times you think this is over manufactured, but Christy Moore goes way beyond his acclimation, he cements his love of the hosts & dreamers by delivering his lasting appreciation through his song Barrowland.


The touching & sometimes haunting lyrics of the set list together with the musical arrangement are enough to make you feel every emotion.   From the joy of Joxter in Stutgart, the hope & camaraderie of the International Brigades for Viva la Quinta Brigada, the despair of the story of the Magdelene Laundry & the love of The Voyage, Moore paints a picture as colourful as any artist.


The social & political edge on which Moore built his many followers in Glasgow was in full view of the 2000 strong crowd.   Fidel Castro's name rang out as no Ordinary Man amongst the cry of the morning.    Towards the end of the 20+ song set list, you begin to ask yourself what song would I like to hear next, what has been omitted, but in truth you are happy to be part of the Cabaret.


The nights entertainment finished with a rendition of Fairytale of New York & commentary from Christy Moore on his love of fellow lyricist Shane MacGowan.    Leaving the venue you cant help but smile knowing you have heard a master performer at his very best.

Chasing Rainbows in the Company of Strangers

As far as music festival experiences go Trnsmt is one of the more agreeable.    Held on  Glasgow Green, in the heart of our Dear Green Place there is no need to dust down your ground sheets, tent poles or sleeping bags.    A 5 or 10 minute walk through the bustling streets of Glasgow lined with bars, restaurants and cafes & you find yourself on the edge of music heaven.

With 4 main stages to keep music lovers occupied, the choice is all yours for a relaxing unplugged set, groove your day away at the dance area or take up the opportunity to see an up & coming band at the King Tutts stage.   Finally the main stage gives revellers the chance to see a mix of artists & genres on the biggest platform.

I am not saying you are restricted to these areas, the site is laid out with just about everything the young & not so young crowd could really need.   The charging stations & cocktail bars provide dance tracks to keep the party going when you are away from  the stages.   You also have plenty of  space to just kick back & relax on the slopes of the park & take part in everybody's favourite pastime of people watching.

In the digital age the Trnsmt app also gives you a chance to plan your day with the festival app with stage times & reminders, just in case you are having too much fun elsewhere on the site.

A late call off meant some changes to overall line-up on  the Saturday with a starting slot for The La Fontainnes on the main stage.    The La Fontainnes closed the King Tutts stage the previous year & the energy & delivery of Kerr Okan kicked off a relentless day of music in Glasgow.

Next on the main stage were one of the great early Indie bands of the 90's.   Shed Seven swaggered on stage & opened with lead track Room in my House from their new album.    They then rolled back the years with a set list of hits that left the crowd wanting more.    Rick Witter leads Shed Seven from one hit song to the next & my only wish was that they could have played for longer, a real treat in the early afternoon.

As we made our way to the King Tutts stage the crowd continued to sing the chorus of Chasing Rainbows.     With a huge crowd already in place for the Lothian band The Snuts, they the led the crowd through a seamless set including what's going on & the aptly  named Glasgow.   A strong set from a brillant band who should be playing bigger stages very soon.

As the afternoon sun grew stronger it was time to take a break in the shade as Kyle Falconner was welcomed on to the stage at  king Tutts.   The frontman from the view brought his full band with him & that unmistakable voice serenaded the fans tucked into the east corner of the green.

Time for a quick walk to the bar to pickup some much needed refreshments before making my way to the main stage for Gerry Cinnamon to treat his "pals", fellow Glaswegians & new army of fans to a walkthrough of his songbook.

With space at a premium, easily 40,000 people wedged themselves in at the main stage to see Gerry play at his hometown festival, a masterstroke from the organisers who guaranteed the boy from Castlemilk his place in the sun.

As he stood alone dreaming, he certainly wasnt in the company of strangers.   Gerry sang his life story, the crowd joined him in a full blown party atmosphere where the energy between fans & singer made for a special moment.    With fans & singers leading their way through the unsigned artists songbook of Belter, Lullaby, Sometimes & Fortune Favours the Bold, finishing with an acoustic version of Discoland leaving revelers on a maximum high.

After his set I took a stroll down by the Clydeside in the shade, with plenty of food stalls to feed your appetite & bars to keep you refreshed, a seat in the amongst the trees & a chance to talk to fellow music fans.  A great crowd sharing stories of their travels from Canada,  Birmingham & Baillieston, all with different idols but all there for a great day out.

The dance area & cocktail bar a perfect to keep to the party going between bands or just to sit and rechanrge your batteries & phone.   Thankfully the Trnsmt app reminded me the Courteeners were due in stage & I squeezed my way into the front in time to hear Liam Fray lead the Glasgow crowd through their anthems.     The crowd armed with smoke bombs & flares helped light up an electric set from the English indie rockers.

Time for a quick toilet break & back in place for the moment I had been waiting for Liam Gallagher since I had bought my tickets & no intention of missing out.

As show time approached the fans sang along with The Stone Roses being played in the background, then in a flash Laim Gallagher made his way to the stage  all eyes in Glasgow Green followed him on the big screens as he made his trademark swagger from his dressing room to his stage.    With the crowd at fever pitch he strolled on stage & entered into the Oasis anthem Rock n Roll star.    24 years on from the 1st time I had heard him sing it at the Glasgow Barrowlands, it was great to hear him hold us all in his hands once again.

Anthem after anthem of Oasis tracks & hits from his As you were album brought the crowd to a fever pitch.    As far as front men go, there can't be many better than Liam Gallagher,  swagger, arrogance, style & he leads the crowd in everything he does.

"Whatever" made a appearance & faded out thanks to the backing of the Old Skool Oasis fans with a rendition of " I'd like to be, under the sea, in an octopuses garden in the shade"

Just as the set was in full flow, the music came to an abrupt stop.    A fan in the crowd had decided he needed a better vantage point & scaled one of the speaker masts & for safety reasons the gig was called to a short halt.     With bottles, drinks & abuse being thrown at the climber, Liam also gave him a piece of his mind.     After a break Liam had enough of waiting & kicked off the gig again.    More flares & smoke bombs went off to Cigarettes & Alcohol, Liam kept the abuse up directing D'yer wanna be a spaceman to out high flying intruder.

An excellent set & night  was finished off with Live Forever & Wonderwall.    Fans made they way back to the city to keep the party going, or maybe to get themselves ready for another day at Trnsmt.    Either way, Glasgow was brightly shining & waiting to do it all again on the Sunday.

2 Gigs In December

On the 7^th December 1994, I made my first visit to the famous Glasgow Barrowlands.   Having grown up with older siblings who had shared stories of U2, Simple Minds & The Pogues at the famous venue, I was finally getting the chance to savour the experience for myself.

Earlier in the year, I had missed out on the once in a lifetime opportunity to see Nirvana rock my hometown due to Kurt Cobain’s suicide.   I kept the ticket & its safely tucked away in book somewhere in the attic.

I made a trip to the 1^st T In the Park at Strathclyde Park to see Rage Against the Machine take the stage with Cypress Hill in what was a great way to sign off my last year at high school.  Now, I was on my way to Barrowland Ballroom.

Walking along the Gallowgate on a cold December night, there is nothing quiet like the sight of the neon lights guiding you to your destination.   Throngs of fans, walking the route each with their own expectations of what might be in store.

At first glance on entering the doors, the venue was nothing exciting, some dated décor, couches & posters of upcoming gigs.  Climbing the stairs & turning into the main hall I couldn’t help think how small the place was.

I walked in & took my place in the very centre of the hall & stood with my friend waiting on the gig to start.

 

 

The Oasis fans streamed through the doors & before you knew it, the hall was packed & ready for a show. The lights dimmed, the crowd roared & the band hit straight into Rock & Roll Star.   No sooner had the band started, I realised I was no longer in the middle, but somewhere near the front, with my body being pulled in the surge towards the stage.  If this was the start, I couldn’t wait for whatever was coming next.

Oasis kept the crowd going into the 2^nd & 3^rd songs when all of a sudden Liam crackled & promptly walked off stage followed by the rest of the band.

The huge crowd were getting anxious & restless, giving Liam abuse for his disappearing act.   After a few minutes, Noel walked back on stage himself armed only with his guitar, he dusted himself down & launched into several tracks giving us an insight into what many thought was the driving force in the band.

An evening with Noel Gallagher then made way for a short session with the rest of Oasis (minus Liam Gallagher) to close the gig.   As a final gesture – the band confirmed they would make it up to the fans by playing a gig for free at the same venue later that month.

Leaving the gig, I couldn't help think that as great as Oasis were, Noel showed that he could lead the way & deliver a top performance, but disappointed not to see the full band perform. 

Around 3 weeks later, in between Christmas & New Year, Oasis true to their word arrived back at the Barrowland to play their set.

This time, I didn’t make the mistake of going too near the front & stayed near the back, my friend & I got the gig early & watched the crowds come in.

 

During the short 3 week break between gigs, Oasis had managed to become the biggest band on the scene & with the release of the Whatever single they had welcomed more fans onboard.

On the 27^th December the atmosphere at the Barrowland was electric before our heroes took the stage.

Standing at the back of the hall I watched & listened to a band who had conquered all in front of them since the spring of 1994.   Liam led the line with his trademark swagger & the rest of the band followed him.  “Look at you now, you’re all in my hands” never seemed so appropriate.   The rock ‘n’ roll stars had arrived & were in no mood to look back. 

Now I could see what had made the Barrowlands one of the leading venues in the land.  The mutual energy between the band & the fans, the closeness of the stage & the accoustics lifted everyone to new levels.

Moving seamlessly from one crashing anthem to the next on the Definitely Maybe album, even giving lovers the chance to get close during “Slide Away”.  The show came & went in flash & left nobody in the 2000+ crowd disappointed.

1994 was a musical roller-coaster for me, but in the last few weeks of 1994, not only did I get to experience the legendary Barrowland Ballroom, but I watched the transition of the new band on the block become the UK’s new Rock ‘n’ Roll stars & free to do Whatever they want.