The long-awaited day began with an earlier train than usual – the 13:08 to be precise – as I headed unchaperoned (well, for the first part of the day) to Glasgow to see Myles Kennedy & Co live at the O2 Academy.

Why so early?

I’d treated myself to the VIP meet& greet package (Well, it is Myles 😊)

Shortly after 3:15pm, the lucky few (there were around 30 of us) were allowed to enter the venue for our VIP “Soundcheck Hang”. This really is an add-on for the diehard fans, let’s be honest. We were treated to an insight into how “the office” gets set up for the show. I find it fascinating watching the workings of the soundcheck and watching Myles plus bassist, Tim Tournier, and drummer Zia Uddin work through their pre-show checks. I’ve been to a few of these over the years and this one may have been the best one so far musically. It felt like we got to hear and experience more of the soundcheck than on previous occasions.

Songbird (sound check) – Myles Kennedy @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 06Dec2021 – YouTube

Covid restrictions meant that this experience had to be socially distanced so there was no individual meet and greet and no individual photo opportunity and that’s fine. The stakes of keeping this tour on the road are high enough without adding additional risks. There was plenty of opportunity to chat to Myles during the Q&A session that followed soundcheck before a group photo was taken. It felt a bit like being back in school getting a class photo taken – tall ones at the back, shorter ones at the front, squeeze in from the sides- then we were ushered back outside to patiently wait until show time.

Shortly before 6:30pm Boy Child appeared and after a brief chat, he went to join the O2 Priority queue. This queuing lark gets quite complicated! Add in covid passport checks, ticket checks, security checks, bag checks- it’s a military operation to get through the doors once they open!

Mission accomplished though. Rail spot secured and I was successfully re-united with Boy Child for the show.

There was only one support act for the evening, the fabulous Cardinal Black. Recently reformed after a ten-year hiatus, this group from Wales are well worth checking out. Their bluesy alt-rock was more mellow than I’d expected but it was oh so sweet. Vocalist Tom Hollister has a fantastic voice and as for guitarist Chris Buck – WOW! Boy, can he play!

Earlier in the Q&A, Myles had been asked who inspired him and among many greats of the music industry past and present, he cited Chris Buck. He even repeated this admiration during his own set later on.

Do yourself a favour and check these guys out.

Cardinal Black @ O2 Academy Glasgow 06Dec2021 – YouTube

If I had to make one comment about their set, its that it was too short. Hurry back to Glasgow with your headline show, guys!

At 9:00pm the lights dimmed, the intro tape for Wake Me When Its Over began and Myles Kennedy & Co hit the stage.

I’ll freely admit to being biased here – Myles could stand up there and sing nursery rhymes and I’d be happy – but right from the off it was clear that these boys were on fire!

Wake Me When Its Over (show opener) – Myles Kennedy @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 06 Dec 2021 – YouTube

The sixteen- song set was a balanced mix of Myles’ solo work, some Alter Bridge, some Slash ft Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators and one Mayfield Four song.

There was a fondness there as Myles reminisced about getting drunk on “the devil’s liquid” for the first time as a teenager with Zia (They’ve been friends since high school and Myles blamed Zia entirely for the drunken episode – I noted that there was no denial!) Myles recalled them talking about dreams of touring the world together in a band and here they were, some thirty-five years later, playing in Glasgow together and touring the music they recorded back in the early 90’s. The Scottish fans were treated to the “lounge room” version of the Mayfield Four’s Mars Hotel. Loved it!

This was the first time I’d seen Myles Kennedy & Co as opposed to a Myles Kennedy solo show and there was a different dynamic to the overall show. Arrangements had been tweaked to allow for bass and drums, making each song feel fresh and new.

Both Tim and Zia are a force to be reckoned with but equally both seem more than happy to let Myles shine with some solo songs too. All in perfect harmony.

It’s nigh on impossible to select the high points from the show as from start to finish each of the sixteen songs was awesome!

Personal favourites from the latest album, The Ides of March, were show opener Wake Me When Its Over, Moonshot (shed a tear or two there) and In Stride which closed out the main set.

Love Can Only Heal, from Myles’ debut solo album Year of the Tiger, was as emotional as it was spellbinding (Yes, there were more tears here.)

Out of all the guitars Myles plays (there were 8 I think on the rack), my favourite without a doubt is his resonator so the acoustic version of World on Fire was another high point.

World On Fire – Myles Kennedy @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 06 Dec 2021 – YouTube

What made the night all the more special was the energy on stage. Those guys, especially Myles, looked to be having as much fun as the fans in the crowd. That energy added to the show. When the band are happy, it shows and creates a special magic for everyone to behold. It was a truly special night.

However, all good things have to come to an end and Myles drew things to a breathtaking close with an awesome extended version of Worried Mind (Yes there were more tears here too.)

Worried Mind (closing section only) – Myles Kennedy @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 06 Dec 21 – YouTube

Two hours in the company of Myles Kennedy & Co certainly eased my Worried Mind. Thank you for making this tour happen. Stay safe, guys, and hurry back.