Last Sunday night Boy Child, FB Son and I headed up the M8 by car (no trains involved this time) to a venue I’ve not been in for seven and a half years.
It’s also the venue that I first saw this evening’s headliners perform in over nine years ago. (They were supporting Nickelback on that occasion)
We were headed for the SEC Centre, formerly known as the SECC, to see Black Stone Cherry.
My chaperones met up with one of their friends as soon as we arrived and I was swiftly set free (yeah, they ditched me in favour of a trip to the bar) With my new-found freedom, I joined the queue to enter Hall 4 and duly secured myself my ideal rail spot for the night. Happy days.
First up were Canadian rockers Monster Truck. Their intro tape played Long Live Rock And Roll and the following thirty minutes or so in their company proved that rock and roll is very much alive. They opened their set with True Rocker, the title track from their third album. This was the first time I’d seen these guys live and it won’t be the last (tickets for their headline show in April have already been purchased). I just wish the room had filled up a little quicker for them.

Next out on stage were The Cadillac Three. I love these guys. Having seen them headline late last year in the O2 ABC, I was keen to see them again. TC3 opened their fifty minute set with I’m Southern then slickly moved into Peace Love And Dixie and Slide…great opening trio to set the mood. Jaren Johnson was in fine form! With the room now filling up nicely, TC3 delivered a sensational version of Bury Me In My Boots. They slowed things down a little a few minutes later with Hank & Jesus, from their most recent album Legacy, then delivered a beautiful, sultry rendition of White Lightning. Time was limited so several of my personal favourites failed to make the set list. I do wish however that Legacy, title track from the current album, had made the cut. Next time, boys.

I’ve lost count but I think this was my ninth Black Stone Cherry show and I excited to see these guys again. It’s been two years since they last played Glasgow…too long, boys, too long!

They opened the set with Burnin’ from their current album Family Tree. CO2 jets blasted high into the air as Black Stone Cherry launched headlong into the song. Huge video screens at the back of the stage showed a mass of flames. Right from the off, guitarist Ben Wells was fired up. That boy truly is the Duracell Bunny Rocker! He has SO much energy!!!
The ever popular Me And Mary Jane followed and the Glasgow fans almost raised the roof with their voices as they sang along. Rain Wizard, one of my favourites and the actually the first song I ever heard these boys play, followed. Awesome!
(Trivia fact – having checked back, five out of the nine songs from the 2009 set made the cut for this 2018 show.)
Black Stone Cherry never disappoint. Fact! Over the years, and after the Magic Mountain era, they have developed a more blues based vibe mixed in with their swampy Southern rock roots but it only enhances the mix.
My Last Breath, again from Family Tree, was one of the highlight moments of the set. There’s so much raw emotion in Chris Robertson’s vocals. Every song is sung straight from the heart.
Cheaper To Drink Alone and James Brown, also from Family Tree followed but were split by the awesome Soul Creek.
Ben Wells wasn’t letting up as he bounded all over the expansive SEC stage. His energy was rubbing off on bassist Jon Lawhorn. Centre stage, with his hat and shades on, Chris was holding court. It would have been nice to see him lose the shades and to see him venture to either side of the stage a bit more.
Things My Father Said is always a poignant moment in a Black Stone Cherry set and this evening was no different. Not a dry eye in the house.
The fantastic Blind Man was followed by a spectacular drum solo from John Fred Young. I swear he gets better every time I see these guys play! He is an incredible drummer and towards the end of his eargasmic solo proved he plays a mean harmonica too as he eased the band into Hoochie Coochie Man with it’s lengthy (maybe a little too lengthy) blues solo.
The classic Lonely Train followed and was definitely one of the high points of the night for me personally.
The boys from Kentucky rounded off the main body of the set with Blame It On The Boom Boom, White Trash Millionaire and Family Tree, the title track from the current album.
With the Glasgow crowd roaring for “one more song”, Black Stone Cherry returned to the stage to end the evening with their standard set closer, Peace Is Free. Love this one and it was the perfect ending to a near perfect show.
Hurry back, boys.