On a very hot sunny Tuesday evening Boy Child and I boarded the 525 to Glasgow (now that’s something you don’t say too often about going to a gig in Scotland ha ha) One stop further up the track we were joined by FB Son.

The three of us were heading for the O2 ABC to see Volbeat .

Getting off the train fifty minutes later into the heat still felt surreal. It’s usually bitterly cold when you get off the train in Glasgow’s Central Station.

I should’ve taken this as sign for things to come!

For the first time in a long time a lengthy queue greeted us at the venue and we found ourselves lined up half way up Scott St. (Google it – it’s like the north face of the Eiger!)

Down at the corner a pre-gig support act was entertaining the growing queue. Local musician Alex Clarke was playing a fine set of rock classics and even threw in a couple of good Volbeat covers for good measure. (Check him out at @AlexClarkeMusic). Well done that man!

Inside the venue it was hot…..damn hot!

Positioned just off the rail at my preferred side of the stage we waited patiently for things to begin with beads of sweat forming.

Dublin band Fangclub were the sole support act. I’ll admit at first I wasn’t too sure of these boys, largely because they seemed to be trying too hard to sound like Nirvana, Green Day and the Foo Fighters all rolled into one, but, as they worked their way through their forty minute set, they won me round.  There is no denying their front man’s more than passing resemblance to the late Kurt Cobain (with that floppy blonde hair he does look a bit like a singing mop head LOL) but these boys have their own distinct sound emerging. Highlights for me were Dreamcatcher, Knife and Lightning. Alluding to Volbeat’s love of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, Fangclub “treated” us to a rendition of Suspicious Minds. A valiant effort but please don’t do it again, guys! All in all, a great support set.

The temperature in the ABC was still rising as the room filled up to capacity (show was a sell-out) … and it continued to rise….. and rise!

At roughly 9:15, the PA tape stopped and Volbeat’s intro tape began before they took to the stage to open with the awesome The Devil’s Bleeding Crown. Immediately, disregarding the heat, the whole room was jumping! Volbeat began their ninety-minute set guns blazing!

As they began Lola Montez, the third song on the set, Boy Child and FB Son disappeared into the melee. The capacity crowd were boisterous but party boisterous not aggro boisterous. Anyone who reads my music blog reviews regularly will know of my intense dislike of crowd surfing but, when you go to a Volbeat gig, you know that’s what you’re going to get and need to be ready to live with it.

With the moshers being subtly guided by Michael Poulsen’s hand signals from the stage, the crowd surfing began in earnest and kept going all night. I saw a few folk (mature ladies, it has to be said) take a blow from a flailing foot and it made me cringe but you need to keep your wits about you in a crowd. That’s gig life.  Hats off to Show Sec who did a fantastic job of looking after everyone, including Boy Child and FB Son.

I mentioned earlier that Volbeat love Johnny Cash so it came as no surprise a couple of songs later, after one of the road crew brought out an acoustic guitar on a stand, when Michael Poulsen was channelling his inner Man In Black as Volbeat played Sad Man’s Tongue.

Glasgow may have already shown the Danes that they knew how to rock but this song proved once and for all that they know how to sing too and can do both together. Brilliant!

There were many highlight moments of the night but Seal The Deal was most definitely in the top five. I love this song and judging by the crowd’s reaction so does everyone else.

Something that is always a joy to see is the band having fun on stage. Front man Michael Poulsen was obviously loving it (maybe that had a lot to do with the female crowd surfers). Both bass player Kaspar Larsen and guitarist Rob Caggiano were both prowling the stage. While Kaspar wasn’t really showing that much emotion, Rob was grinning and nodding his approval from under his large black cap.

The Scottish fans went wild when the band announced that there would be a new album next year and then went completely crazy as Volbeat played a new song, The Everlasting. Awesome stuff. If the rest of the new album when it comes is half as good then we’re onto a winner!

For Evigt and the mighty Doc Holliday rounded off the main body of the set and almost raised the roof off the ABC. I kind of wish it had as then we might have got a breath of air!

It was hotter than hell down the front!

After a very brief breather, Volbeat returned to the stage, opening their three song encore with the ever popular Black Rose. The evening was brought to a rowdy conclusion with Still Counting. What a way to end a memorable night!

With happy smiling sweaty face the Scottish fans trooped off back out into the still warm summer’s night.

Till next time, guys! Hurry back!