The weather miracle continues…. on a hot sunny evening Boy Child and I boarded the 525 to Glasgow again chasing musical entertainment for the evening.
On this occasion we were destined for G2, the small ground floor room at The Garage in the city’s Sauchiehall Street.
We were heading there in search of “beardos” Crobot from Pottsville PA.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I have a huge soft spot for these guys and have supported them since I was first given their debut EP to review more than five years ago.
I made a promise to Brandon and co then that I would be on the rail every time they came to Glasgow. It’s a promise I’ve kept. (OK I missed them supporting Airbourne in 2016 but only because I was elsewhere).
That first time I saw them in the sadly departed O2 ABC2 on 26 Sept 2014 there were only a handful of people there.
As Boy Child and I waited outside G2 I began to fear the same for the evening ahead. With only a few minutes to “doors open” there was no queue and very few likely suspects hanging about.
My fears proved to be unfounded, despite this show being dropped into the tour less than two weeks ago.
There were four bands on the bill.
First up were a young Glasgow band, Salt River Shakedown. You can’t fault their youthful enthusiasm, particularly when the small crowd looked to be made up largely of friends and family, nor their gratitude at being afforded the honour of opening for Crobot. Perhaps it was nerves…..perhaps it wasn’t……I’ll leave it there.
Next up were another young band from Glasgow, Black King Cobra. Their beanie wearing frontman was oozing personality. Offering a much heavier set than the opening band, Black King Cobra got the growing crowd engaged and on side during their short set. Definitely a band I’d like to hear more from.
The third band of the night were Wolf Jaw, formerly known as The Bad Flowers. Hailing form Cannock in the Midlands, this trio swiftly made themselves at home on the small stage and had the crowd on side. If their support set suffered from anything, it was the presence of the pillar on the stage. Front man, Tom Leighton, restricted himself largely to the one side of the stage, rarely venturing past the pillar. Personally, I’d have like to see him make better use of the whole space. That said, these guys delivered a solid set. Their debut album starting Gun is out now so do yourself a favour and check them out.
Finally, it was time for the mighty Crobot!
The opened their high energy twelve song set with Legend Of The Spaceborne Killer. The line up may have been revised since their last visit but the groove was there from the off with a renewed passion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB3ctH6tW5Y
There’s no frills to these boys – just good old-fashioned, raw talent and passion from their swampy fuzz-laden unique sound and a lot of gyrations from slender frontman Brandon Yeagley.
Skull Of Geronimo, again from their debut album followed then the we were treated to the first track of the night from their forthcoming new album, Motherbrain, Keep Me Down. Nothing was keeping these guys down…literally!
My favourite Crobot song followed -La Mano de Lucifer, again from Something Supernatural. I know I am somewhat biased here but this song to me is Brandon at his finest. Love it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7nLg_Mlh_c
Plague Of Mammoths from their second album, Welcome To Fat City, was a real crowd pleaser. How the rest of the band held it together while Brandon stomped around the stage acting like a mammoth is beyond me. Brilliant
I suspect the low ceiling restricted stage space and aforementioned pillar curtailed the band’s energetic delivery somewhat. However, Chris Bishop still managed his impressive guitar swinging trick without decapitating anyone and the pillar was given some close personal attention by Mr Yeagley. (Yes, Brandon, we saw you hitch your pants back up after “embracing” said pillar!)
During the set we were treated to two more songs from the forthcoming album- Burn and the awesome Alpha Dawg. Having heard these live I now cannot wait for Motherbrain to drop next month.
I still have a preference for the older stuff and loved Wizards, The Necromance and Queen Of The Light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xByMxOh7u0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTbByTKXrDk
Sadly, all good things have to come to an end. All too soon Crobot were closing the show with Nowhere To Hide – not even behind the pillar!
Despite it being over three years since Crobot last rode into town, Glasgow showed that we love these crazy “beardos”.
Hurry back, boys. Sleazy’s is buying in more Buckfast in anticipation!
the525toglasgow 