On a dreich Friday evening, Boy Child and I boarded the 525 to Glasgow in search of an evening of musical entertainment. It was our first outing in far too long!
After a brisk walk up to Sauchiehall Street, we arrived at our venue of choice for the evening – The Garage.
And who were we there to see?
As the tour posters, for “one last time” we were going to spend the evening with the Kris Barras Band.
Where the weather Gods had let us down, the rail Gods didn’t and while I went to the merch stand, Boy Child secured a rail spot. Happy Days…or should that be Chilly Days as the AC was blasting us with an arctic blast all night!
There was only one support band for the evening – 10 Years, a five piece from Knoxville TN USA. I’d heard of these guys as they supported Alter Bridge on a US run a few years back but had never heard them. As their forty-five-minute set began, I wished that I had given them a closer listen. Their sound balance wasn’t the best and it was a struggle to clearly hear vocalist Jesse Hasek throughout their set. I loved their haunting cover of Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box. Kudos too to their guitarist for playing barefoot. With the arctic air blasting down, his tootsies must have been frozen. LOL.
As we stood waiting for the Kris Barras Band to take to the stage, it was with a heavy heart. Was this really the end? Kris Barras is a man of his word so, yes, these UK dates are the last.
Around 8:30 the lights dimmed then went red for a few minutes. The crowd began the familiar Glasgow chant of “Here We, Here We,….” as they waited on the guys stepping through the curtain to our right and up onto the stage for their final Glasgow gig. A warm cheer greeted them all as the atmospheric intro played then it was straight down to business as they opened the set with the powerful Who Needs Enemies. Again, the sound balance was a bit off. The drums were way too loud and Kris’ mic could have done with being turned up a notch or two. The Scottish fans obligingly gave their loud support on vocals from the off.
Who Needs Enemies – Kris Barras Band @ The Garage Glasgow 09/10/2026
Who Needs Enemies was followed by Unbreakable and the mighty Dead Horses.
Kris and the boys are touring their current/final album Monsters We Made but they are doing it without guitarist Josiah J Manning, who recently became a daddy to baby Theo. (Congratulations!) His place on stage was filled by the uber talented Danny Dela Cruz.
Two songs from the latest album followed, Unspoken and the title track Monsters We Made and Kris made a point of sincerely thanking the fans for getting the record to number one. It was our pleasure, sir.
With an early 10pm curfew fast approaching, it was going to be nigh impossible for Kris to play all the fan favourites. It may have been my imagination but the man himself seemed a bit more subdued than on previous occasions.
One key highlight moment and a song that has a place in every fan’s heart was Watching Over Me, Kris’ tribute to his late father and the first song he wrote. All around me the fans lit up the room with the phones. A beautiful sight that his dad would have been proud of.
Watching Over Me – Kris Barras Band @ The Garage Glasgow 09/10/2026
Another favourite of mine made the set a few minutes later when they played Light It Up, from 2019’s album of the same name. The Scottish fans were still in fine voice.
One really nice touch and kudos to Kris for doing it was to allow Danny Dela Cruz his moment in the spotlight for an incredible guitar solo. That boy can play!
The main body of the set was rounded out with a raucous rendition of the ever popular My Parade.
Everyone in the room knew that there was one more song to come.
Sure enough, after a brief sojourn back behind the curtain, Kris and the boys returned to end the night with Hail Mary. Great song to end a great show… and to end the Kris Barras Band era.
Hail Mary – Kris Barras Band @The Garage Glasgow 09/10/2026
Thank you for the music and the memories, Kris. All the best for the next chapter of this adventure through life. I hope it’s a kind one.
