A doors open check in the wee small hours of Tuesday morning averted disaster for this outing.

5.30pm! EEK! Cue rapid rearrangement of travel plans for all concerned!

Mr A and I boarded the 3:50 train (not the 5:25 as previously planned) to head towards Glasgow. We rendezvoused with Boy Child in the Central Station. FB Son however was still MIA. (He was in possession of his ticket though and did eventually catch up a couple of hours later in the venue.)

The early doors open time would appear to have caught out more than a few folk judging by the short queue that greeted us at the O2 Academy shortly after 5pm.

So, who had us heading out for the night at such an early hour?

The mighty Danes – Volbeat!

At 6.30, opening act Danko Jones took to the stage in front of a growing crowd. The Canadian trio played their hearts out during their half hour slot but poor sound quality plagued their efforts, detracting from their performance. There is something likeable and engagingly energetic about their front man, Danko Jones. He doesn’t so much wear his heart on his sleeve but in his facial expressions. To paraphrase a Scottish saying, he gives his face a “leathering”.

I’ll give these guys the benefit of the doubt and perhaps check them out again another day when the venue is smaller and the sound clearer.

Next up were Baroness. There’s no denying that front man John Baizley is an imposing, if somewhat intimidating, sight on stage but like Danko Jones before them, Baroness were scuppered by sound issues. It was impossible to hear the vocals. Baroness’ sludge metal sound isn’t to my taste on a good day so I’ll leave that thought there…….

Temperatures were rising in the now packed venue as the fans patiently awaited the arrival on stage of headliners Volbeat.

Silently, I prayed that the sound woes for the night were over……

As the lights dimmed and Motorhead’s Born To Raise Hell rang out, I held my breath.

Volbeat opened their set with Cheapside Sloggers, from their current album Rewind, Replay, Rebound, and they sounded sweet. Whew!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFhiMNGFyaQ

One of my personal favourites, Doc Holliday, followed- love that song – and the crowd surfing commenced in earnest.

Glasgow was already showing her love for Volbeat!

For the next ninety some minutes, the band couldn’t put a foot wrong in the eyes of this passionate, lively crowd.

Another firm favourite, Lola Montez, followed a couple of songs further into the twenty-song set and the Glasgow Rock Choir proved it was in fine voice.

(Around this time, I did feel for my Boy Child who currently has a wrecked shoulder. I could see he was itching to get in among the mosh pit but for this evening that was firmly out of bounds to him – sorry, son.)

Up on stage, Volbeat looked relaxed and genuinely happy to be there. Glasgow was only the second stop on the current leg of their tour but they’ve found their groove.

From under his trademark flat cap, Rob Caggiano grinned out at the fans all night. Even the more serious looking Kaspar Boye Larsen was spotted sporting a smile.

Michael Poulsen is a charismatic front man but he seemed a little less “chatty” than on previous occasions. Don’t get me wrong, he still engaged with the fans – perhaps he was saving his voice. He was vocal enough when expressing his love for Johnny Cash before Volbeat played a blinding version of Sad Man’s Tongue. Merely, an observation, but I’d love to hear Michael sing Hurt…. maybe one day…. hint… hint….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtyTVgqsMak

Volbeat’s only guest of the evening joined them for the next song. Danko Jones came out to share the vocal chores on Black Rose much to the delight of the crowd. Awesome stuff!

Black Rose was followed by another song from Volbeat’s latest album. When We Were Kids is as close to a ballad as these guys get. I love ballads but, sorry, guys, this one misses the mark for me. Hundreds of other fans obviously disagree as the audience on the whole loved it.

Volbeat swiftly redeemed themselves in my eyes by moving into Die To Live, also from the latest album, and then the thunderous Slaytan.

And still the crowd surfers came over down the centre, including at one point FB Son! (I’ll have words with him later.)

Volbeat rounded out their main set with four monumental songs- Sorry Sack Of Bones (one of the highlights from Rewind Replay Rebound), fan favourite Seal The Deal, Last Day Under The Sun (another highlight from the current album) and Hallelujah Goat from their 2008 album Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood.

Old blood mixed to perfection with the new……but something was missing!

Surely Volbeat weren’t going to let me down and leave this one particular song off the set list?

I needn’t have worried.

Volbeat opened their four-song encore with it! I absolutely love The Devil’s Bleeding Crown and, judging by the reaction it received, so do hundreds of other Scottish Volbeat fans!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THsS5u8_UBg

Glasgow was treated to a premiere performance of Rewind The Exit next, another great song from the current album that will hopefully find a permanent home in the setlist…. hint!

As ever, Michael Poulsen asked for the younger members from the audience to join Volbeat on stage for their final song of the night – Still Counting.

A handful of enthusiastic junior fans joined the band within a few moments. It was heart-warming to see those kids rocking out with Volbeat, creating memories that they will carry with them for days, weeks and years to come.

Awesome show!

Hurry back, Volbeat. Glasgow loves you.