“Rescheduled” seems to be the word this year when it comes to gigs as the Covid 19 pandemic rumbles on. The first two shows I had in my gig diary for 2022 have been rescheduled to a future date which meant my first gig of the year was something a little different to the norm.

Plan A had been to board the 525 to Glasgow but a certain Storm Dudley put paid to that bright idea.

Cue Plan B!

Having stopped to collect Fi 1, I drove up a blustery M8 to Shields Road, parked the car, praying that the storm wouldn’t throw anything on top of it, then we both caught the subway out to Bridge Street for the final part of the journey to the O2 Academy.

Once there, we met up with Fi 2, who had the tickets.

Fi 1 and Fi 2 (very confusing going out with two friends who are both named Fi! LOL) don’t share my “must be down on the rail or as close to the front as I can get” habit so for various reasons we found ourselves comfortably settled on a bench on the O2’s mezzanine level.

This was a whole new experience for me! We were right behind the sound and lighting guys, so I got see their “toys”- look!

In all honesty, I’d never been so far from the stage in this venue. LOL

So, who were we braving an amber storm warning to see?

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight.

I made my customary trip to the merch stall for a t-shirt (Yes, I really needed yet another black gig shirt) and while I was there picked up a very civilised “set list” for the evening.

This was all so very different so far!

The opening act for the evening was Harrisen Larner-Main (we’d see and hear more of him later) and Columbian cellist Santiago Luna. They opened their half hour set with Skyfall. Played on keyboard and cello as an instrumental, it worked remarkably well. Their seven-song set was an eclectic mix of rock tracks and got the growing crowd warmed up ready for the Rock Orchestra.

I suspect the weather warnings had seen many ticket holders err on the side of caution and opt for a night by the fire instead, as by the time the Rock Orchestra took to the stage, the venue was far from full. (My favourite rail spot was still there…empty…I resisted temptation to sneak forward.)

The Rock Orchestra opened their ninety-minute set with one of my favourites (in fact, it might actually be my all-time favourite) rock song, Guns N Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine. Resplendent in their Festival of the Dead costumes, the Rock Orchestra set the bar high right from the get-go.

The Rock Orchestra – Sweet Child O Mine 16/02/22 @ O2 Academy Glasgow Show opener – YouTube

Sweet Child was followed by an awesome instrumental version of The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army and an instrumental of Billy Idol’s White Wedding…or was this actually more akin to In This Moment’s Black Wedding? Either way it was fabulous!

Their set was a great balance of rock and metal, classic rock and newer songs. Quite a diverse mix. Perhaps one classic that slightly missed the mark for me was the instrumental of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven. It’s a beautiful song, a true classic, but as an instrumental it seemed to go on forever and I’ll confess, I found my mind wandering.

One song that leant itself beautifully to the full instrumental treatment was Nothing Else Matters, the Metallica classic. Loved it.

One star of the show that I’ve failed to mention so far was the happy skull at the back of the stage. Loved the smile and the animation of this. Nice touch!

There was one song on the setlist I’d picked up at the merch stall that caught my eye. (note- the actual set deviated from the printed one)

When Disturbed played the O2 Academy in May 2019, this song was one that played on the PA tape before they came on and the crowd sang their hearts out to it. The song? In The End by Linkin’ Park.

( in case you weren’t there in 2019 – Disturbed Glasgow Pre Concert Croud sing Linkin park – YouTube (credits to the owner via You Tube) Being part of this was incredible!)

Fair play to Harrisen Larner-Main, he delivered a solid vocal performance that would have made Chester smile, but, Glasgow, where were your singing voices? Perhaps it was the fan mix in the room.

The Rock Orchestra -In The End @ O2 Academy Glasgow 16/02/22 – YouTube

In The End, the Rock Orchestra treated us to an amazing night of music. And, if you leave having enjoyed the music, Nothing Else Matters. (sorry – too cheesy?)

A great start, in great company, to my 2022 gig season.