For the second time this week Boy Child and I boarded the train to Glasgow only this time it was the 5:45pm train and Mr A had joined us.

Our destination of choice for the evening was The Cathouse and the band of choice was rhe Kris Barras Band.

The rail Gods continued to smile on us, and Boy Child got us a nice wee spot while we visited the merch stall. Happy days!

There was a 10pm curfew so that only left time for one support act. The opening band were Dea Matrona from Belfast. A three-piece band, Dea Matrona effectively have two front women – Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe – who traded the lead on vocals and also switched between guitar and bass, depending on where they were in the set.

After a slightly nervous start, Dea Matrona found their feet with the Glasgow fans by mid-set. Unusually for an opening act, they threw in an acoustic interlude of two songs. I have to confess that I loved their cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s Homeward Bound. I hadn’t heard that song in years!

Dea Matrona delivered a solid set with their own brand of rock n roll energy. They are returning to Glasgow for a headline show later in year. Go check them out.

At 8:30 the houselights dimmed, smoke billowed across the stage as the lights pulsed. The Kris Barras Band were in the room playing their pounding intro without the man himself until he stepped out on stage with a cry of “Glasgow, how the f**k are you?” Glasgow was feeling fine as Kris joined in with the hard and heavy intro before, accompanied harmoniously by JJ Manning and new bass player Kelpie McKenzie, sliding skilfully into Hail Mary. Love this song.

Hail Mary – Kris Barras Band @ The Cathouse Glasgow 18/02/23 – YouTube

Hail Mary was followed by Dead Horses and These Voices. Right from the get go, it was clear that the Kris Barras Band on stage were a harder, heavier Kris Barras Band than played Glasgow 11 months ago and the fans were loving it.

As he introduced Heart On Your Sleeve, Kris himself commented as much and the reworked harder version of a set stalwart worked beautifully.

Heart On Your Sleeve – Kris Barras Band @ The Cathouse Glasgow 18/02/23 – YouTube

New bassist Kelpie, playing a bizarre looking fanned fret six-string bass, had brought a different energy to the on stage dynamic that was meeting with the approval of all as he bounded about the stage.

The ninety-minute set was a well-balanced mix from all four albums including a poignant step back to the very start. Kris paid tribute to his late father as he introduced the first song he ever wrote Watching Over Me. I’m sure his dad is watching over him with great pride. Loved the extended version of this one. Those solos……

 Watching Over Me – Kris Barras Band @ The Cathouse Glasgow 18/02/23 – YouTube

Then it was time for a bit of fun on stage with an awesome energetic cover of Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll.

Who Needs Enemies came next before Kris tested the crowd’s participatory singing skills ahead of a blistering My Parade to round out the main set. Parading through the sell out crowd as he conducted the fans’ singing, Kris looked to be having as much fun as we were. Brilliant way to end the set.

The band stepped off stage but were back pretty quickly having realised that there really wasn’t anywhere to go to wait for the obligatory few minutes before the encore. The joys of intimate venues, boys.

With the customary Glasgow chant of “Here we. Here We. Here we f**king go” ringing out the band ended the night with Ignite (Light It Up). A rousing way to end an awesome show!

Ignite Light It Up – Kris Barras Band @ The Cathouse Glasgow 18/02/23 – YouTube

Til next time, boys. Loved it!