Slipknot @ OVO Hydro, Glasgow 15th December 2024

Posted on December 16, 2024 by coralmccallum

On Sunday evening there was a bit of role reversal as Boy Child drove us up the M8 towards Glasgow. For once I was chaperoning him rather than it being the other way round. We were heading for the Hydro. Around this time last year, I had bought him two tickets for this gig for Christmas and had joked that I didn’t want to have to go to it.

And here we were!

The science centre car park was already filling up as we turned in. By the time we’d walked across to the venue we could see lengthy queues had already formed.

So, who were we off to see for my last gig of 2024?

Slipknot!

And this is where I’m going to deviate from the norm and not actually say too much about the show as it wouldn’t be fair.

Slipknot are currently touring to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album. This is not an album I am familiar with. I like a handful of their songs but none of the ones on this offering.

There was one support act, Bleed From Within, who were on stage around 7.30pm. As they described themselves “five guys from Hamilton…well four from Hamilton and one from East Kilbride”, it was great to hear them living their dream. I say hear them rather than see them as we’d opted to stay at the back and I couldn’t see a damn thing.

We moved slightly further forward for Slipknot, but I still couldn’t see much.

As I said, these guys are not my band of choice but from the rapturous welcome they received there were about ten thousand others who were loving it. Two video screens at the side of the stage meant that I could see what was going on. These guys are clearly awesome at what they do and it was a lively performance but it’s just not my taste in music.

The set itself was surprisingly short at just fourteen songs and that included a three-song encore.

I suspect if I was a die hard fan, I might feel a bit short-changed on this one….

It was a great way to wrap up my 2024 gig season as its not too often that you get to see a band of that stature but to be fair, it was wasted on me. Give me Stone Sour or Corey Taylor’s solo show over that any day. Sorry.

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Myles Kennedy & Co – SWG3 Glasgow 25th November 2024, Manchester Academy, Manchester 27th November 2024, Rock City, Nottingham 29th November 2024 and O2 Academy, Birmingham 30th November 2024

Posted on December 9, 2024 by coralmccallum

Ok this will be a lengthy gig review in four parts…more like a tour review!

Unaccompanied I set off up the M8 on the Monday at lunchtime…yes, lunchtime….in search of the first of my four musical adventures for the week. The traffic was kind to me, so it was a smooth drive to the science centre car park. I crossed the footbridge and turned left away from the Hydro. No, I wasn’t heading there to see Sleep Token although plenty were. I was heading to SWG3.

And the reason for my early start? I had upgraded my outing to include the VIP Meet & Greet experience.

So, who was I off to see? (Regular readers of this blog won’t be surprised by the answer)

I was on my way to see Myles Kennedy & Co.

As ever, what happens at a Meet & Greet, stays at the Meet & Greet but I will say it was awesome to these restored to their pre-Covid format. The experience includes about twenty or thirty minutes of the sound check and Myles was sounding awesome. (OK I may be slightly biased here.)

Moving on to “doors open” around 7pm. (VIPs are meant to get in fifteen minutes early but this didn’t quite happen- no big deal) and surrounded by “AB family” I had my place on the rail for the night. Happy days indeed!

There is only one support act on this tour – Devin Townsend. He took to the stage for his 35-minute set at 7:45pm. Now, Devin Townsend isn’t an artist I know a lot about, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. His support slot is an acoustic set and is really stripped back- just him, his two acoustic guitars and a cuddly bunny with “big pants”. Sound bizarre? It was… as was the set itself! I’ll reserve judgement as this was the opening night of the tour. Devin Townsend seemed a bit erratic but there’s no denying that there’s enormous talent there. In the midst of his chaotic random set, he did surprise me with a stunning rendition of Bring Him Home from Les Mis.

Bring Him Home – Devin Townsend @ SWG3 Glasgow 25/11/24

I’m not sure if he was trying to be funny or if he really was as ill-prepared as he claimed. One thing he was clear about – he won’t be doing this in a year or so. Hmm…let’s see how his set evolves as the week goes on.

At 8:45pm the dulcet tones of Freddie King’s Going Down filled the room as the houselights went down. First out on stage to a huge cheer was drummer, Zia Uddin, followed by bassist and legend Tim Tournier and then the man himself, Myles Kennedy to open their 90-minute set with the title track from Myles’ current album The Art of Letting Go. Myles set the bar high here right off the bat.

The Art of Letting Go (show opener) – Myles Kennedy @ SWG3 Glasgow 25/11/24

This was followed with a second song from the current album, Nothing More to Gain with Devil on the Wall from Year of the Tiger after that. What an opening trio!

One of my personal favourites from The Ides of March, Myles’ second solo album, came next- the beautiful A Thousand Words. Such a heartfelt song.

Then it was back to the current album and Mr Downside, another one that comes straight from the heart.

Mr Downside – Myles Kennedy @SWG3 Glasgow 25/11/24

Around me the fans were drinking in everything, soaking up Myles’ every word. Such a great atmosphere that he was clearly feeding from.

A couple of songs further on, it was time for the acoustic interlude. As Myles settled his acoustic guitar on, someone in the crowd yelled out “Mars Hotel”, the much-loved Mayfield Four song. Myles delivered a short swift country parody of the song, then amid his giggles, he declared “Now I want to try it.”. he said he’d do “a little bit” but not to be beaten, he “busked” his way through the entire song. Was it word perfect? Of course not but it was just perfect. So good to see him just sing and plat off the cuff like that. There’s many an artist who wouldn’t have entertained a fan request mid-set. Kudos to you, Mr Kennedy.

Mars Hotel – impromptu performance- Myles Kennedy @ SWG3 Glasgow 25/11/24

The Alter Bridge song Lover had been the acoustic song he’d intended to play. It too was incredibly but for me, Mars Hotel over-shadowed it.

When I first listened to The Art of Letting Go, the one standout track that had me saying “I can’t wait to hear this one live” was Behind the Veil. Live it did not disappoint! This is a soaring epic song. I’ve said many times on here that I’m a fan not a musician but the solo from Behind the Veil is mind-blowing! Seeing a musician entirely absorbed in his sonic landscape like that is truly a wonderous sight.

Behind The Veil- Myles Kennedy @ SWG3 Glasgow 25/11/24

Another of my favourites from Year of the Tiger, Love Can Only Heal, followed. This on struck an emotional chord with me and yes, there were a few tears. Such a beautiful song.

Emotions continued to flow through Miss You When You’re Gone. Another incredible song from the current album.

Energy levels were restored to 11 with the rousing closing trio of Year of the Tiger, Get Along and finally, with that gorgeous resonator, the mighty In Stride.

In Stride – Myles Kennedy @SWG3 Glasgow 25/11/24

WOW!…that’s all…WOW!

Myles and the guys returned with just time for one more song before the 10:30pm curfew. Say What You Will brought the night to a close.

What a show!

Already looking forward to my second show of the week in Manchester on Wednesday night,

Pt 2

After a long day of travel by train on Tuesday, I found myself in Manchester for Wednesday night’s “Birthday Extravaganza” with Myles Kennedy & Co at Manchester Academy.

In the morning sunshine I headed out from my hotel to check out the venue. Found it with the help of an AB Family member who I bumped into who was out doing the same thing. Great minds and all that…

Again I was doing the  VIP Meet & Greet so I was back at the venue surrounded by AB Family before 3pm. Armed with a small gift for the birthday boy, I was glad to be in out of the cold a few minutes later. What happens at a Meet & Greet stays at the Meet & Greet but I will say it involved the VIPs (big group today) singing Happy Birthday to Myles and I did get to give him his gift personally and wish him “Happy Birthday”. Happy girl.

Then it was back outside to queue for the show. I have to say that the VIP queue is usually very orderly and courteous towards each other but by the time security opened the door there was a fair bit of pushing and shoving and queue jumping. Frustrating but no harm done and thanks to AB Family I secured a wee space on the rail just about centre front. Being on the rail surrounded by friends is special.

As we’d come into the venue we’d been encouraged to grab “party supplies” – paper hats and party hooters. The cacophony of noise from the party hooters was my idea of the kids’ birthday party from Hell! LOL

At 8pm Devin Townsend stepped out on stage to open his 35-minute set. He declared he was “solely unused to playing live shows” and described it as being “a total abstraction to be in front of a whole bunch of human beings”. He then actively encouraged the fans to blow their party hooters if the music got really quiet. I still can’t decide if he is brilliant or insane or both but what followed was an entertaining , rambling, shambolic 35-minutes of music.

Devin opened with Let It Roll…..words fail me!

Let It Roll – set opener- Devin Townsend @Manchester Academy 27/12/24

As in Glasgow, the high point of his set was Bring Him Home, complete with passionate party hooter support from the crowd.

He was running short on time so his last three songs were almost a medley – Hyperdrive, Lightworker and Life.

Hyperdrive describes it beautifully! Such a talented musician but so unpredictable. He’s growing on me!

Shortly after 9pm, much to the delight of the sell-out crowd the birthday boy himself, Myles Kennedy, took to the stage accompanied once more by bassist and “jack of all trades” Tim Tournier and enigmatic drummer Zia Uddin to open the 16-song set with The Art of Letting Go, title track from the current album. At the start of his third number, Devil On The Wall, he faltered and finally asked, “What’s that noise?” Yes- you’ve guessed it! It was the party hooters! There was also a rowdy rendition of Happy Birthday. He started the song a second time but there was a minor glitch with his mic so cue an impromptu dance and some jamming with his boys before at the third time of asking Myles delivered a blistering rendition of Devil on the Wall.

Devil On The Wall & some birthday mayhem – Myles Kennedy @ Manchester Academy 27/11/24

A few moments later the birthday mayhem continued as photographer Chuck Brueckmann, resplendent in his gold tracksuit, stepped out on stage with a birthday cake. Drummer Zia Uddin led the birthday wishes as again the crowd passionately sang Happy Birthday to Myles. There was even time for a brief kiss from his gorgeous wife Selena then it was on with the show.

Happy Birthday Myles Kennedy- Manchester Academy 27/11/24

The mid-set highlight again was Behind the Veil. What a song! What a solo! Watching Myles disappear into his own sonic landscape is an honour.

Next up was the acoustic interlude. As in Glasgow , the crowd shouted out their requests but the clear favourite being called out was The Mayfield Four’s White Flag. Myles admitted he hadn’t played it in a long time but play it he did. Beautiful song. It was followed by the only Alter Bridge song of the night All Ends Well.

White Flag & All Ends Well – Myles Kennedy @ Manchester Academy 27/11/24

The remainder of the set was the same as in Glasgow with the main body of the set concluding with In Stride.

The party atmosphere in the room was fantastic. So much energy but all good parties need to come to an end. This one came to a climax with Say What You Will.

Say What You Will – Myles Kennedy @ Manchester Academy 27/11/24

Say What You Will, Myles does not look or act his age (55) and it was one hell of a birthday extravaganza. It was a privilege to be there.

Nottingham, bring it on! ( I hope the party hooters stay in Manchester though LOL)

Pt 3

Friday…that must mean its Nottingham. I’d travelled there on Thursday with two other AB family members then we all met up for lunch along with several other members of the extended AB family before heading to Rock City for the VIP Meet & Greet.

Yes, Myles was getting the opportunity to meet us again!

Today’s VIP group was much smaller than the previous two.

There’s a 10pm curfew at Rock City so the doors open time was 6:30pm. That suited me – less time queuing in the cold on the front steps of the venue.

For this show I opted to head to a rail spot between Myles and Zia, rather than keeping to the left.

Rock City felt like an intimate venue. It also has quite a low stage which brings them closer to you. Zia’s red drumkit had been “caged” behind a Perspecta screen for this one but I’m jumping ahead here…

At around 7pm Devin Townsend stepped out on stage for a slightly longer set. He played pretty much the same set as the previous two shows, thankfully minus Manchester’s party hooters! Again, there were some Devin fans in the room and one anonymous fan got the chance to take the mic and sing along with his idol. A nice gesture but I’m sorry to say it sounded like bad karaoke. Mid-set Devin realised he was missing a teddy. Myles’ long -suffering guitar tech, Dave, got sent back to the dressing room to fetch the bunny with the “big pants”….

Ih Ah – Devin Townsend @Rock City Nottingham 29/11/24

Devin Townsend was growing on me musically. It’s so hard to even attempt to describe his acoustic set. You need to experience it to believe it. Again, the highlight moment for me was Bring Him Home but Love is also growing on me.

It’s almost a relief when his set is over though.

At 8:25pm the dulcet tones of Freddie King’s Going Down signalled the imminent arrival of Myles Kennedy and Co on stage. They opened the show with The Art of Letting Go. Time was tight on this set so this show moved along at a slightly faster pace which was a bit of a shame.  

The early curfew allowed little time for Myles to chat to the crowd and it also felt as if it curtailed the length of some of his “noodling” solos that he had been playing before the intro to most of the songs.

A Thousand Words – Myles Kennedy @ Rock City Nottingham 29/11/24

With hindsight it may have perhaps helped to steal a few minutes from Devin Townsend to allow for more time with Myles.

Time only allowed for one acoustic song but Myles mixed things up a bit and played the gorgeous Haunted By Design. (To be fair, the VIPs knew  it was coming as we’d heard it at the soundcheck.)

Haunted By Design – Myles Kennedy @ Rock City Nottingham 29/11/24

Despite the ticking clock, these guys were having fun. It’s an absolute delight to watch these buddies playing together.

Even caged behind his perspect screens, Zia Uddin is a force to be reckoned with and this was showcased by the drumming on the spinetingling Love Can Only Heal and then again on the title track from Myles’ debut solo album Year of the Tiger. Magnificent!

Love Can Only Heal – Myles Kennedy @ Rock City Nottingham 29/11/24

Year of the Tiger – Myles Kennedy @ Rock City Nottingham 29/12/24

With the curfew fast approaching, there was no time for an encore as such. Myles joked about it but still played his “encore” song, Say What You Will to round out another awesome night.

Next stop Birmingham.

Pt4

Saturday started bright and early with a train ride on an exceedingly packed train from Nottingham to Birmingham. Travelling on a show day like that always stresses me out. I had met two AB family members at the station so we travelled together. Once at New St, we went  our separate ways, agreeing to meet up for lunch before the VIP Meet & Greet…then I got lost trying to find my hotel. Uber to the rescue!

Having left my bags in the hotel’s luggage room as my room wasn’t ready (I had requested an early check in but no such luck) I set off to catch up with my extended AB family.

Today’s venue was Birmingham’s O2 Academy, a third new venue for me for the week. Queuing at this venue was made overly complicated and stressful due to a lack of clear communication from venue security and staff. The VIP group was huge for this show – over 100!

Luck and some strategic planning ensured a space near the front of the re-entry queue. Whew!

With time to spare, a friend held my space in the queue while accompanied by one of my travelling companions in case I got lost again, I nipped back to my hotel to check in. Quickest hotel check in in history!

Queuing for re-entry at this venue is confusing. There are three rooms in the venue. Only two were in use that evening but there was our VIP queue, the other band’s VIP queue, the disabled access queue, the O2 priority queue, the general access queue for standing and the general access queue for the balcony. Penned in in our queue I got a sense of how a sheep must feel about being herded.

After a further palaver of security searches and ticker scanning, the VIPs were allowed in just before 7pm. I had no challenge getting my rail spot of choice – slightly to the right again between Myles and Zia. This was a bigger stage too so Zia’s screen had been removed once more.

As I stood there waiting for Devin Townsend’s set to begin, a wave of sadness hit me. This was my final show of the week. I wasn’t ready for it all to be over!

At 8pm Devin came out on stage to open his 35-minute set in his own inimitable way. Despite having seen him four times, I am still at a loss as to how to describe his performance. There’s a fine line between genius and insanity and Devin Townsend is treading it carefully. This guy has so much talent but the chaos of his delivery makes for another manic set. After four shows, I think he has won me over but as he claims he won’t be doing this in a year perhaps this was my final chance to experience the musical mayhem that is a Devin Townsend acoustic show. Sir, its been a pleasure….I think…

Let It Roll & Love – Devin Townsend @ O2 Academy Birmingham 30/11/24

Shortly after 9pm and stop/start Going Down from Freddie King, Myles et all walked out on stage. Curfew was 11pm so with more time at hand, this show possibly felt the most laid back of the four shows.

The set itself was pretty much the same as before however the banter between songs was back. There was even time to sing Happy Birthday to Mo, one of the crew. Myles’s long noodling intros were back too.

Watching him lose himself in his music is a truly beautiful sight to behold.

Both Blind Faith from Year of the Tiger and Saving Face from the current album made a welcome return to the set. Love both of these.

For the final time  for now, I stood back and lost myself in the incredible Behind The Veil. The solo in this really has to be seen and heard live to fully appreciate it. Love love love this one!

There had been several requests at the VIP Meet & Greet for Worried Mind to be added into the set. As I watched Myles swap to his acoustic guitar, I wondered if he would play it. Sadly, he didn’t. C’est la vie (He in fact played it in Cardiff at the next show…damn!) What we did get though was a stunning rendition of White Flag from The Mayfield Four era followed by Alter Bridge’s All Ends Well.

White Flag & All Ends Well – Myles Kennedy @O2 Academy Birmingham 30/11/24

As in Glasgow at the start of the week, there were tears in my eyes as Myles played the beautifully emotional Love Can Only Heal.

The equally emotional Miss You When You’re Gone followed. We were rapidly approaching the end of another awesome show.

Year of the Tiger, Get Along and the fabulous In Stride rounded out the main body of the set.

With plenty of time left on the clock, the Birmingham fans got the encore that Nottingham were kind of denied as Myles and Co returned to close the show with Say What You Will. Eargasmic!

Some folk have said I’m crazy doing multiple shows on one tour but no two of these four shows have been the same. Each night has been incredible and its nigh on impossible to pick a favourite from the four. If I was really pushed to do so, I might have to say Manchester as it was the birthday show…or Glasgow because it was my hometown show…or Nottingham because it was the best VIP experience…or Birmingham because it was my final show. They were all awesome.

I’m just sad I wasn’t able to follow my AB family on to Cardiff and London to complete the UK run.

Next time…

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Black Stone Cherry @ OVO Hydro, Glasgow 20th November 2024

Posted on November 23, 2024 by coralmccallum

On a rather chilly evening, after a surprise brief snowfall, Boy Child and I headed up the M8 through the rush hour traffic towards Glasgow. Doors for this show were early (6.30pm) so we’d set off early. Having parked the car at the Science Centre, we completed the journey on foot across the Clyde to the OVO Hydro. We timed it well as the queues were just starting to build some 30 minutes before the doors were due to open.

So, who were we braving the freezing temperatures to see? Those boys from Kentucky – Black Stone Cherry. I’ve long since lost count of how many times we’ve seen those guys play live.

Once inside we divided and conquered. I headed to the merch stall while Boy Child headed into the arena to snag a spot for the night. Boy done good and we were one row back from the rail. Happy days!

There were two support acts lined up for the evening. The first of those, Ayron Jones, was on stage at 6:45pm. This was my first opportunity to see him play live and he didn’t disappoint. As the crowd began to grow, Ayron Jones delivered a solid six song opening set.

Personally, I suspect the stage was bit big for these guys. I’d like to give them another chance in a smaller venue where you can see them interact with each other better. When they did come together centre stage, the chemistry was there. Highlight song of the short 30-minute set was Blood in The Water. Will definitely check these guys out in future.

At 7:30pm the second support act, Skillet, took to the stage. Their set for me was somewhat marred by the drunken antics of a female fan who barged her way forwards, eventually pushing her way onto the rail and who was just inconsiderate and a menace throughout the first three quarters of the set. She “took ill” a couple of songs before the end of Skillet’s 45-minute set and got unceremoniously hauled over the rail to receive medical attention. This whole scenario only served to put me off what was actually going on up on the stage.

Skillet are one of those bands that I’ve been aware of but have never listened to. They played a lively 11 song set with front man John Cooper coming off stage to interact with the fans (pen heads?) along the rail, much to the delight of the drunken fan in front of me.

I’m going to partially adopt my Thumper Principle here and reserve judgement on these guys until I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy them properly.

A potentially controversial point- I’d ban alcohol from the arena floor in big venues. If folk want to drink to excess and ruin the night for themselves and those around them then do it at the bar out in the concourse or get a seat up in the stand.

Now, where were we?

A huge white curtain covered the front of the stage in between Skillet and Black Stone Cherry, billowing gently as the Scottish fans waited impatiently for the headliners. The crowd had swelled somewhat but numbers were down on previous visits to the Hydro which was a wee bit sad to note. I suspect the wintery weather and the fact this was a second visit to town on the one album cycle may have had an impact. Who knows!

At around 9:15pm, the houselights dimmed, and a slightly creepy voice accompanied by some theatrical music declared “Ladies and gentlemen, count to three and make a wish.” With a loud familiar count of “One Two Three” and an almighty explosion, the white curtain fell as Black Stone Cherry were already powering into set opener Me and Mary Jane. CO2 cannons shot high into the air as the band’s 18 song set got off to an energetic start.

Me and Mary Jane (set opener) – Black Stone Cherry @ Hydro Glasgow 20/11/2024

The ever popular Burnin’ followed, keeping the energy levels set high.

Neither guitarist Ben Wells nor bassist Steve Jewell Jr need much encouragement to be energetic. Ben has always bounded around the stage like the Duracell bunny on speed, but Steve is giving him a run for his money. He doesn’t match Ben’s high kicks though!

A couple of songs later, they dug deep into the vault. Front man and guitarist extraordinaire Chris Robertson had commented on the loyalty of the support from Glasgow over the years, from their early shows in The Cathouse and The Garage to Barrowlands and the Hydro itself. The boys looked back to their self-titled debut album and played a blistering version of Rain Wizard, (the first Black Stone Cherry song that Boy Child and I heard way back in 2009.) followed by another of my personal favourites, Blind Man. This was simply vintage Black Stone Cherry, and it was epic!

The fan favourites kept coming – Like I Roll, and the awesome Stay then Cheaper to Drink Alone complete with a spellbinding drum solo from the one and only John Fred Young.

This was followed by the most emotional song of the night. Clearly wrestling with his own emotions, Chris Robertson said that the next song had taken an even more poignant place in his heart since the passing of “Papa Steve” a couple of years ago. The song of course was Things My Father Said, a song I struggle to listen to. I made it halfway through before the tears were flowing freely. Such an emotional song but Glasgow poured their hearts into supporting Chris bring it home.

So, how does a Glasgow crowd dry its tears and restore the energy to the room? With the Glasgow chant of “Here We! Here We! Here We f**king go!” …only in Glasgow! LOL… as the boys powered their way into another of my favourites, In My Blood.

As I mentioned earlier, this was the boys second trip to Glasgow on the Screamin’ at The Sky tour so there weren’t many new songs included in the set. Recently Black Stone Cherry released a cover of The Cult’s American Horse. I’ll be honest its not one of my personal favourites but live, with John Cooper from Skillet and Ayron Jones coming out to join the boys, it worked well enough.

The main body of the set was rounded out with three firm fan favourites. Set stalwarts White Trash Millionaire, Lonely Train (another of my favourites) and Blame It on The Boom Boom. Bang! That’s how to round out a set but the Scottish Cherry Heads knew there was one more to come.

It wouldn’t be a Black Stone Cherry show if the night wasn’t brought to a climax by Peace is Free. This time round, Chris Robertson ventured into the crowd to sing alongside the fans. Although I did wonder at one point if they were going to let him back up on stage to finish the song! The perfect way to end another awesome Black Stone Cherry show.

Til next time, boys.

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Cardinal Black @ Classic Grand Glasgow 25th October 2024

Posted on October 29, 2024 by coralmccallum

For the second time in a week Boy Child and I boarded the train to Glasgow in search of some live music. This time it was only a short walk from the station to the venue- Classic Grand.

When we arrived about 45 minutes before the doors were due to open there was already a queue forming. After a while some of the security staff came out to advise that there were two bands playing- one was an ACDC tribute band and the other was the one we were there to see- Wales’s finest Cardinal Black. When the security staff split the queue, no one joined the ACDC tribute band queue! By the time the doors opened there were three folk in that line, Maybe we should have press ganged them into joining the rest of us upstairs…

It’s a mighty climb up the stairs in this venue but slightly out of puff, we made it and while I went to the merch stall, Boy Child secured our spot centre front for the night. Happy days!

There was one support act- Liam Cromby and he stepped out on stage just before 7:30pm. Already there was a healthy crowd in the room to hear him play a solid opening set. Leaning towards the country/Americana vibe, Liam treated the audience to songs from his debut album, What Can I Trust If I Can’t Trust Love. The title track was one of the highlight moments of his all-too-short half-hour set. The lyrical content of several of the songs told a tale of darkness, some of Liam’s facial expressions suggested he was tortured but he promised us that he’s in a good place these days. So were we- we were in Classic Grand listening to him win the hearts of many new Scottish fans. Check this guy out, please.

I always like to watch the road crew swap the stage round in preparation for the headliners. Tonight, I saw a first – a crew member adding light bulbs to a table lamp and a standard lamp that looked to come straight out of your granny’s living room!

At 8:15pm the lights dimmed and the sell out crowd waited impatiently for the arrival of Cardinal Black on stage. The intro tape played. The Scottish fans cheered wildly as Cardinal Black stepped out on stage with Tom Hollister greeting us with a reminder “It’s Friday night, motherf**kers!” It sure was!

The boys opened their fourteen-song set with Ride Home. Initially the balance of their sound was a little bit off, and Tom’s vocals were drowned out, but this was swiftly addressed.

Ride Home (set opener)- Cardinal Black @ Classic Grand, Glasgow 25/10/24

This was the fourth time I’d seen Cardinal Black and the third time I’d seen them headline in Glasgow, but it was the first time I’d seen them with Tay, their female backing singer/percussionist.

Early in the set, Tom apologised for being loaded with the cold, blaming his young daughter for being generous with her germs, but he promised to soldier on.

There’s a magical chemistry at play on stage with this band, enhanced I suspect for the evening as they were having a few days off after this gig. Each of them seemed chatty and relaxed.

Cardinal Black have one full album, an EP and a recent streaming-only offering Welcome to the Valencia to draw on for their set.

During Jump In, guitarist extraordinaire Chris Buck commented that this was better than the previous venue they’d played in town. I have to agree- yes it was!

Jump In – Cardinal Black @ Classic Grand Glasgow 25/10/24

Something I’ve made clear many times in my reviews, I’m a music fan and not a musician but that said, I could watch Chris Buck make that guitar sing all night. There is simply so much talent flowing with ease from those fingers. Incredible musician.

We were treated to a new song, Morning Light, that’s set to be on the band’s second album. Beautiful song that bodes well for that release when it comes.

All evening there had been an acoustic guitar sitting behind bassist Sam Williams suggesting that someone other than Chris was going to play. Sure enough it was vocalist Tom Hollister who picked it up and played alongside the others during Adeline, a song he’d written for his little girl.

Probably the highlight of the evening for me was the gorgeous Warm Love. It’s always been one of my personal favourites. This evening’s rendition perhaps didn’t go quite as planned thanks to the ACDC tribute band playing on the floor below. A brief interlude for some impromptu Thunderstruck, a few jokes at the expense of Tom’s brother Gregg and an “honorary” can pop in his memory made for a few memorable moments before the band rounded out the main body of their set with Where Do You Go.

Warm Love & Where Do You Go – Cardinal Black @ClassicGrandGlasgow 25/10/24

After a brief moment off stage, Tom and Chris returned to open the two-song encore with Push/Pull, a song about not always seeing eye to eye before the rest of the band returned to the stage for the epic Tied Up In Blue.  Before they could start the final song od the night though there was an important job to be done. At the merch stall, there had been raffle tickets for sale to win the last signed copy of the first/only vinyl pressing of Live at The Memo. So, in true “social club” fashion, the raffle was drawn on stage. Well done to ticket #16.  Its fair to say that by this point Tom’s voice was clearly suffering but Tay and the crowd carried the night home.

Spellbinding show that was over way too fast. Hurry back, boys. Glasgow loves you!

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Skindred @ Barrowlands Glasgow 19th October 2024

Posted on October 21, 2024 by coralmccallum

On a mild October evening Boy Child and I boarded the train to Glasgow. Weaving out way through some of the city’s football fans, we made our way to the legendary Barrowlands Ballroom for the evening’s entertainment.

So, who were we off to see?

Skindred!

Much as I’ve grown to love Barrowlands over the years, it is a bit of a fight through the tide of fans coming in when you’ve gone to the merch stall and are then trying to get up to the ballroom. While I’d queued for merch, Boy Child had headed upstairs to snag a spot. Boy done good and we were only a row or two off the rail.

There were two support acts for the evening. First out on stage just after 7.30pm were North Atlas. We’d seen these guys once before briefly in G2 a couple of years ago when their set was blighted with technical gremlins, so I was delighted to give these guys a fair second chance. Accompanied by two bizarre wicker pagan gods (?) and an extremely acrobatic masked pagan, these guys delivered a solid 30 min opening set to the growing crowd. Their latest single Dead Tree is out now. Give them a listen. They’d make a great support act for Biffy Clyro!

The second act of the night were Nottingham’s As December Falls. I’d heard of them but had never hear them before and to be honest I won’t rush to listen to them again. It’s simply not my taste – think Arctic Monkeys and Paramore meets Glee or High School Musical. The crowd seemed to enjoy them, but I’ll pass thanks.

By 9.30pm the capacity crowd were fired up and ready to welcome Skindred to the stage. Thunderstruck playing signalled the band’s imminent arrival on stage. What the crowd hadn’t expected was the Imperial March from Star Wars on the bagpipes. As guitarist Mikey Demus walked out playing pretend pipes, the fans went wild. There was a mad scramble to grab them as he tossed them into the room as the band opened their ninety-minute set with Set Fazers.

Frontman Benji Webbe resplendent in a long black mock-croc coat was greeted with thunderous cheers. He truly is one of the most charismatic frontmen around.

With a Skindred show you know what you’re going to get… a great night of reggae metal with a smattering of cheeky comments. A Skindred show is perhaps not for the faint-hearted.

Temperature on the room were rising rapidly as Skindred treated the fans to a well-balanced set from their current album Smile and their back catalogue. It was a lively crowd which always helps as the band feed off the energy. The mosh pit was open pretty much all night.

Amid wardrobe tweaks aplenty, Benji makes the crowd work for him, encouraging fists in the air for the mighty Kill the Power, singalong choruses and peace signs too. This show is all about having a good time but also about looking out for one another, with the fans in the pit being instructed from the stage to pick up anyone who fell.

Benji Webbe knows how to work a crowd, even throwing in fan pleasing 500 Miles from The Proclaimers with a “ragga metal” vibe.

There was one cover song, Eddy Grant’s Electric Avenue amidst all the fan favourites. It’s nigh on impossible to call out the high points. The set was a high energy high point from start to finish.

It wouldn’t be a Skindred show if it wasn’t brought to a climax with Warning and the obligatory “Newport helicopter”.

Smile may be the current album title but almost two thousand hot and sweaty fans made their way down the venue’s iconic stairs with smiles on their faces.

Job well done, guys. Hurry back.

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Blackberry Smoke @ O2 Academy Glasgow 9th September 2024

Posted on September 15, 2024 by coralmccallum

With doors brought forward to 6pm, it was an earlier than usual train to Glasgow for Miss Rose Wine and I last Monday night. The weather Gods weren’t too happy about it either.

We made it to the O2 Academy just as they were opening the doors. Whew!

So, who had we rushed up to Glasgow to see?

The incredible Blackberry Smoke.

The rail Gods were in a better humour than the weather ones and we managed to grab a rail spot for the evening. Happy days!

There was only one support act for the evening, Bones Owens. Having read a recent article about him, I was keen to experience his live set. Based in Nashville, Bones Owens, accompanied by Sonny Remliger on drums and Doy Gardner on bass, delivered a solid opening set. Bones Owens is a larger than life, tattooed presence on stage and he treated the growing enthusiastic Scottish crowd to 45 minutes of heavy rock and roll with a strong blues influence. Unfamiliar as I am with his music its hard to pick out a standout track but Goin’ Back Where I Came From was one of them.

Goin Back Where I Came From – Bones Owens @ O2 Academy Glasgow 09/09/24 (youtube.com)

Look forward to seeing a headline show soon from these guys. (Hint)

Great start to proceedings.

This was my fifth Blackberry Smoke show and while I don’t want to dwell on the difficult journey that the band have had over the past couple of years, it would be wrong not to mention it. Their late drummer Brit Turner was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer (Glioblastoma) about two years ago, My heart broke for them when I heard this news as it was the same diagnosis my late husband received four years ago. I said my final farewell to him last autumn; Blackberry Smoke said farewell to Brit in the spring of this year.

Blackberry Smoke last played Glasgow in March 2023 and Brit was well enough to play that show. It was an emotional night with many fans not fully appreciative of the situation. I was….

As the band stepped out on stage at 8:30pm, you could feel the emotion in the air. The boys from Atlanta, Georgia were given a huge warm Scottish welcome by the capacity Glasgow crowd. They opened their two hour long set and the first show of the tour with Let Me Help You (Find the Door) only to find a few gremlins in the works with front man Charlie Starr’s guitar. Throughout the opening number, Charlie, ever the professional, kept the song going but he did look a little “lost/naked” without a guitar in his hands for a few minutes.

let Me Help You Find the door (set opener) – Blackberry Smoke @ O2 Academy Glasgow 09/09/24 (youtube.com)

The gremlins were finally beaten into submission during the second song of the night Good One Comin’ On, when the guitar tech resorted to a good old-fashioned guitar lead. Modern technology! Good One Comin’ On was merely a hint of the great set that was to follow.

The band’s 19 song set was a finely balance mix, drawing on their back catalogue and their recent album Be Right Here. Four tracks from the latest album made the cut.

With Blackberry Smoke you know you’re in for a good night every night. Their distinctive sound lives up to the almost cliched “too rock to be country; too country to be rock” slogan that adorns some of the tees from the merch stall but after just shy of 25 years on the road, these boys have truly found their niche.

Several of my personal favourites were given an outing over the course of the evening including Pretty Little Lies, Crimson Moon and Sleeping Dogs.

Pretty Little Lie – Blackberry Smoke @ O2 Academy Glasgow 09/09/24 (youtube.com)

Crimson Moon – Blackberry Smoke @ O2 Academy Glasgow 09/09/24 (youtube.com)

The most emotional moment of the night came in the latter half of the show. Having introduced the fans to Brother Paul Jackson on guitar, Brother Benji Shanks on guitar and mandolin, Brother Brandon Still on piano, Brother Kent Aberle on drums and Brother Richard Turner on bass, Charlie Starr declared that the next song was for Brother Brit Turner. The cheers were deafening, and the tears were flowing on and off stage as the boys played the beautiful Azalea, from the current album.

Azalea – Blackberry Smoke @ O2 Academy Glasgow 09/09/24 (youtube.com)

I can only imagine how difficult it is for them to perform night after night.

The main body of the set was rounded out a few songs later with an extended version of Ain’t Got The Blues.

After a few moments off stage Blackberry Smoke returned to the stage for the encore. Looking resplendent in his hat, Charlie and the boys opened their four-song encore with Old Scarecrow. Another one of my favourites made an appearance – the gorgeous One Horse Town. Love that song. The night was brought to a climax with Little Bit Crazy. Awesomeness!

What a show! Possibly the best one I’ve seen them play yet.

Hurry back to this “One Horse Town” soon, boys.

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Fools & Clowns by Mark Harrison

Posted on August 12, 2024 by coralmccallum

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to review Mark Harrison’s work. His fame and his fan base have been growing exponentially with each album cycle so I was thrilled to receive a sneak preview of his latest album Fools & Clowns, which is set to be released on 30th August.

I’ve previously said that Mark’s music was my guilty pleasure. It’s not the genre that you might expect me to be listening to but to quote Classic Rock Magazine “Everybody should be talking about Mark Harrison!” They really should!

Mark Harrison is a breath of fresh air to songwriting! He is the ultimate lyrical storyteller.

To quote from the album’s press release –

“FOOLS & CLOWNS is a collection of brand-new and totally unique songs in a timeless style that would sit well right next to the classic artists of the golden era such as The Band and Little Feat. It’s music to sit and listen to and pore over, and it’s music to make you smile and get up and dance too. You won’t hear anything else quite like it. The extraordinary MARK HARRISON BAND has a unique sound and style that is very much their own genre, and incorporates elements of classic roots, rock, folk and blues. Each track on FOOLS & CLOWNS is an event in its own right, each with its own highly distinctive arrangement and sounds. The album features Mark on National,12-string and electric guitars and vocals, Charles Benfield (bass, harmonies, electric guitar, keyboards, mandolin) and Ben Welburn (drums and percussion), and guest Guy Bennett on lead guitar and keyboards. Superbly produced, mixed and mastered by Buzz Allan, FOOLS & CLOWNS is beautifully packaged, with superb artwork by Andy Hall of We Are Frank, whose artwork on all Mark’s previous albums is much admired.

FOOLS & CLOWNS covers all manner of topics not normally found in songs, including house rent parties, the modern workplace, episodes in the lives of the original blues artists, a comparison between the great inventions of the past like sewage systems and modern inventions like social media, and today’s charlatans in new industries extracting money from the hapless citizen. Mark’s songs together present a world view, upsides and downsides of the human condition, common experiences of trying to get by, and fun in the face of adversity. In short, the human spirit.”

Ok maybe that’s cheating a bit but it gets the facts out there from the get go.

Now to the new songs themselves. I’m not a musician so am not qualified to comment on the complexities of each new song. I can only comment as music loving fan.

 Each of the 13 new songs is as quirky and catchy as we’ve come to expect from Mark. Think of this record as 13 new 21st century contemporary tales as much as 13 new songs. My personal favourite as much for the title as anything else is The Great Stink.  I loved the sleepy easy feel to Road Ahead Closed. Album closer is Ricky and if you listen to the lyrics, I think we all know an aspiring star like “Ricky.” Well, who are we to quash anyone’s dreams. We’ve all seen someone in a small club venue play as if it were Wembley Stadium.

Another sonic masterpiece from Mark and co. Do yourself a favour and check this one out.

You can purchase the album and Mark’s other records at

www.markharrisonrootsmusic.com

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Anchor Lane @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut Glasgow 22 June 2024

Posted on July 16, 2024 by coralmccallum

A bit late to the review party….

One a Saturday evening in June, Boy Child and I boarded the train to Glasgow to head to a venue we hadn’t been to before.

Our destination was Glasgow’s legendary King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut on St Vincent Street. We’ve been trying to get to this one for years and finally the planets aligned.

We arrived early so meandered around the area, pausing to mourn the late great ABC on Sauchiehall St (I really miss that venue) before returning to King Tut’s itself.

So, who were we there to see?

Glasgow’s finest, the awesome Anchor Lane!

And the icing on the cake- it was a sell out headline show for the boys!

The music gods were kind to us, and Boy Child secured a rail spot while I made the obligatory trip to the merch stall. Happy days!

There was only one support act for the night, a new band to us, Lo Rays who have recently collaborated with Anchor Lane boys on a track. (More about that later) Also hailing from Glasgow and fronted by Finnish songstress Laura Takula-, Lo Rays are an electronic/post-apocalyptic metal band. I have to admit it is the first time I’ve seen a VCR on stage plugged into an old school portable TV! Amid swirling smoke and subtle lighting, Lo Rays treated the enthusiastic crowd to a great 30-minute set. There are clearly In This Moment influences at play, but Laura is a brilliant quirky performer with a truly versatile style. Awesome start to the night.

Do yourself a favour and check out Lo Rays online.

Shortly after 9pm, amid more smoke and a dimly lit stage, Anchor Lane stepped out to open their 60-minute set with a blistering rendition of Choke. This was my fourth time seeing these guys and my second headline Anchor Lane show. Front man Conor Gaffney oozes energy and cheeky charm right from the off and it didn’t take long before the capacity crowd were nestled in the palm of his hand.

Choke – Anchor Lane (set opener) @ King Tuts Glasgow 22/06/24 (youtube.com)

It’s great to see these boys grow in confidence and develop their own inimitable style on stage to their growing loyal fanbase. Guitarist Laurence goes from strength to strength, regularly taking centre stage to showcase his skills while the engine room of the band, drummer Graeme Newbury, presides over proceedings at the back of the stage.

With only an hour at their disposal Anchor Lane fired through their set at a rapid rate of knots. It was clear for all to see that the guys were enjoying this hometown show as much as their fans.

To avoid disappointing those at the back of the room, Conor jumped off stage and played one number from the back. Expertly played, young sir.

Highlight songs for me were set opener Choke, Ministry complete with opening drum solo and Nitroglycerin.

Ministry – Anchor Lane @ King Tuts Glasgow 22/06/24 (youtube.com)

Nitroglycerin – Anchor Lane @ King Tuts Glasgow 22/06/24 (youtube.com)

Conor had teased the fans about a surprise for later in the set, but in reality, it was no great surprise when Laura and the bass player from Lo Rays joined Anchor Lane on stage for Sychophant, their recent collaboration track and the penultimate song of the night. Awesome stuff!

Sychophant – Anchor Lane & Lo Rays @ King Tuts Glasgow 22/06/24 (youtube.com)

Anchor Lane ended the night with Soul 2 Pour amid cries and please from the fans for more.

Short, sweet, sweaty and smoky! A killer headline show!

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The Cadillac Three @ the O2 Academy Glasgow on 8th May 2024

Posted on May 14, 2024 by coralmccallum

Last Wednesday evening, Boy Child and I boarded the train to Glasgow. The birds were singing. The sun was shining. The weather Gods were smiling on us. All was well with the world.

 We were heading for the city’s O2 Academy but who were we off to see?

Nashville’s finest, The Cadillac Three.

This was the third time I’d seen these guys live, and I was excited for this one.

Having queued in the early evening sun, the rail Gods also smiled on us. Sunshine and a rail spot! Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket! Happy days….

With the venue slowly filling up the first of the two support acts took to the stage around 7:30pm. First up was Willy Cobb, who described his style as “country punk”. Words fail me as I try to describe Willy himself. We’d seen him outside the venue before the show. Everyone is entitled to express themselves with their own style, but the heavy eye make-up, sparkles and bib front dungarees was a new one on me. Somehow it kind of works… This guy’s quirky. Check out his latest song Cigarette Smell online and judge for yourselves. Willy delivered a solid opening set and won over some Scottish fans in the process. And as Willy himself would say “that’s all I have to say about that.”

Much to my relief, the second support act was also afforded only thirty minutes. The second act of the night was Stephen Wilson Jr. I feel he must be an acquired taste as a section of the crowd were loving it.  Me less so. Thumper Principle duly applied….

By 9:00pm the venue had filled up quite nicely, not a sell-out, but definitely a good crowd. It’s been just less than 2 years since The Cadillac Three played Glasgow and the Scottish fans were patiently waiting for more from these guys. With spotlights trained on the crowd, the intro tape played, and as the lights pulsed, The Cadillac Three took to the stage to a rapturous warm welcome as they powered into their set opener, the ever-popular Peace Love & Dixie. One of my favourites and a great start to their set.

Peace Love & Dixie (show opener) – The Cadillac Three @ O2 Academy Glasgow 08/05/24 (youtube.com)

Right from the off there was a different feel to these guys compared to previous tours. Everything was less stripped back.  Things felt more grunge/rock then before, aided also by the simple fact that frontman Jaren Johnston, long hair neatly trimmed, stepped out in a black leather jacket. (what happened to “Long Hair Don’t Care”?) Now, I’m not saying that there was anything wrong with this. Change is good and I was instantly liking this 2024 TC3 vintage.

The two-hour set was a balanced mix from the band’s back catalogue plus three tracks from their current album, The Years Go Fast. Double Wide Grave was the first of those tracks to get an outing. Love this one. It’s the perfect fusion of the band’s country fuzz sound with a harder rockier edge. Around me, the Scottish fans were loving it too.

Bury Me In My Boots has become one of their classic set stalwarts. What’s not to love about this one? The Glasgow choir were in fine voice as they sang along to this fan favourite.

Bury Me In My Boots – The Cadillac Three – O2 Academy Glasgow 08/05/24@o2academyglasgow459 (youtube.com)

As this band has evolved over the past thirteen years, so has their sound. Back in 2020, they released two albums, Country Fuzz and Tabasco and Sweet Tea. The first as its name suggests saw the addition of more fuzz- a bit like more cowbell but with fuzz – to their familiar country rock sound. The second album from 2020 added some funk into the mix. The end result when you add their latest album to the mix is this 2024 vintage…. and it works like a charm! Even the older, more familiar tracks have been given a 2024 refresh and they sound awesome!

Tennessee Mojo mid-set was a high point of the night. These guys truly have found their mojo and from the chemistry between them on-stage, they are thriving on it.

Another high point for me was the gorgeous Graffiti. Such an atmospheric song.

Graffiti – The Cadillac Three @ OC Academy Glasgow 08/05/24 (youtube.com)

It was followed a couple of songs later my another one of my personal favourites, Runnin’ Red Lights. No video of this one. I was lost in the song.

For me the strongest section of the set was the final five songs, purely because among them were more of my favourites.

Before introducing Hank & Jesus, Jaren playfully listed Scottish/Glasgow bands that he’d “invited” along who had declined to come to the show. They didn’t know what they were missing! I love the lyrics to Hank & Jesus. For me it’s a song you can visualise- I can just imagine the family that ties into that set up, can’t you? A kind of modern day Walton family.

Hank & Jesus – The Cadillac Three @ O2 Academy Glasgow 08/05/24 (youtube.com)

It was followed by another clear fan favourite American Slang from 2017’s Legacy album. Love it.

Before The Cadillac Three could begin their next number, the Glasgow crowd took control with their infamous chant of “Here we, Here we, Here we…” Well, you know the rest of the words.. These three boys from Nashville (Jaren Johnston songwriter extraordinaire, Kelby Ray on lap steel and Neil Mason on drums) jumped on it and enthusiastically joined in. Love it  when a band does that. White Lightning was the song that eventually followed. Another atmospheric number and another crowd pleaser. One of my personal favourites too.

White Lightning – The Cadillac Three @ O2 Academy Glasgow 08/05/24 (youtube.com)

There were only two songs left. Two songs that left the fans in no doubt about where The Cadillac Three’s roots run deep. The South and I’m Southern brought the night to a rowdy climax as curfew approached.

For one night we were all more than a little bit Southern.

Till next time, guys.

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Slash ft Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators @ the OVO Hydro Glasgow 3rd April 2024

Posted on April 6, 2024 by coralmccallum

On a rather dreich Wednesday afternoon I headed up the M8 unchaperoned. Yes. I know I had set off over four hours before the doors were due to open but there were AB family members to find and catch up with and to get a decent spot for the show was going to involve some serious queuing.

So who was I braving the elements to see this time? Slash ft Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators!

I’ll spare you the intervening hours and skip to doors open time at 6:30pm.

Thanks to some tag teaming by the various AB family members, we were all together, centre front at the rail. I was slightly behind two friends so technically not “on the rail” but it was close enough. Closer than I had expected to be. Happy days.

There was only one support act for the evening – the awesome Mammoth WVH. This was the fourth time I’d seen these guys in a support slot. Half an hour just isn’t enough! Fronted by the uber talented Wolfgang Van Halen (son of the late great Eddie Van Halen) these guys just keep getting better and better. Drummer Garrett Whitlock is an absolute beast behind that kit. Bassist Ronnie Ficaro is like the Duracell bunny bouncing while Wolfie quietly and skilfully does what he does best. He’s flanked by guitarists Jon Jourdan and Frank Sidoris who is pulling double duty on this tour. The chemistry is perfect. Highlights of the short six-song set for me were their set opener Another Celebration at the End of the World, the title track from the most recent album, Take a Bow and set closer, Don’t Back Down. Awesome stuff.

Take A Bow – Mammoth WVH @ OVO Hydro 03/04/24 (youtube.com)

The question on everyone’s lips is – when are we getting a UK headline tour, Wolfie?

Shortly before 8:45 the lights dimmed, and an almost tribal beat began before the sound morphed into something that sounded like the creepy intro for a monster movie. Two minutes later the lights pulsed and amid the screams and cheers, Slash, Myles and the Conspirators appeared in the shadows before exploding into the River is Rising from the latest album 4. Right from the off, this was a far slicker and sharper unit that had last played Glasgow in 2019.

River Is Rising – Slash ft Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators – show opener @ Hydro Glasgow 03/04/24 (youtube.com)

There was so much energy on display and more importantly they all looked to be enjoying themselves. Happy band leads to an awesome show and happy fans – musical maths.

Bassist Todd Dammit Kerns was dashing from one side of the stage to the other while Slash calmly got down to business at his side of the stage. Guitarist Frank Sidoris is the ultimate Mr Cool, although he did eventually shed the leather jacket later in the show, and he too quietly got on with his second role for the evening while drummer Brent Fitz kept the engine running from behind his kit. As for Myles Kennedy’s vocals….well we all know I may be slightly biased here but he was sounding oh so sweet.

Driving Rain from the Living the Dream album followed then came one of my personal favourites, Halo from Apocalyptic Love to round out the opening trio.

It certainly was time to get that Halo dirty with some! An SMKC show is good old-fashioned hard rock with just a smidgeon of sleaze. You just can’t beat it!

Back from Cali was another highlight early in the set for me. Love that song. (Sadly my camera malfunctioned and the video didn’t turn out)

Whatever Gets You By another track from 4 followed. This one showcased Myles’ percussion skills and his infamous triangle solo. He nailed it! Brilliant.

Todd Dammit Kerns stepped up to complete the vocal chores on the first of three songs he’d sing on the setlist. His cover of Lenny Kravitz’s Always On The Run was awesome. A larger-than-life performer, he has pipes to give Myles a run for his money.

Avalon from World On Fire followed.

Avalon – Slash ft Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators @ Hydro Glasgow 03/04/24 (youtube.com)

Next up, offering more than a hint of Eastern promise was Spirit Love, another track from 4. Love the dark moodiness of this one.

The first song Myles and Slash every wrote together came a couple of songs deeper into the 22-song set – Starlight. Another highlight moment for me. This one never grows old and is simply beautiful.

Wicked Stone offered Slash his longest guitar solo opportunity of the night. My main criticism of these guys the last time I saw them in 2019 was that the set had felt top heavy with extended solos. This 2024 edition has seen the balance restored. There is no denying the talent that Slash has at his fingertips. He finished this solo on five strings. Occupational hazard that didn’t faze him in the slightest.

This show was flying by way too fast.

Fill My World was one of two songs that I had been really looking forward to hearing live for the first time. It is definitely a firm favourite with all the animal lovers in the band and in the crowd. (The lyrics are written from Myles’ dog Mozart’s perspective of being left home alone and scared during a thunderstorm.) Instead of lighting the place up with the torches from the crowd’s phones, Myles asked everyone to show them their fur baby photos. Too cute. This song surpassed expectations. There’s so much emotion in the lyrics. Loved it.

Fill My World – Slash ft Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators @ Hydro Glasgow 03/04/24 (youtube.com)

How to follow that? You follow it with Tood’s third song of the night, Dr Alibi. Always a fun song and it lends itself perfectly to Todd’s larger than life personality.

Dr Alibi – Slash ft Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators @ Hydro Glasgow 03/04/24 (youtube.com)

You’re a Lie and World on Fire rounded out the main body of the set.

I waited with bated breath for the encore I’d sneaked a peek at the previous setlists from this tour and knew what was coming next.

With Slash on lap steel and Brent Fitz on piano, Rocket Man, the Elton John classic, opened the two-song encore. I adore this song and this arrangement of it. Myles’ vocals on this one are something special to behold, What a note he hit and held! It truly was a magical moment that will live with me for a long time. (Sadly, my camera malfunctioned again and failed to record the video – c’est la vie).

Anastasia had the honour of being the final song of the night. The crowd went wild as Slash played the opening notes of the classic intro.

For those who have been following this tour, Slash always jumps from the drum riser at the end of this one and he’s been encouraging Myles to do likewise. Myles did jump in Birmingham a few nights before. Tonight, though they went one better. At the end of Slash’s blistering solo, they both jumped in unison.  It really is a delight to see these guys having such fun on stage.

Slash ft Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators (live) – Anastasia – Hydro, Glasgow 2024 (youtube.com)

Credit to the owner Iain C via You Tube

All good things have to come to an end. Picks were thrown. Drumsticks were tossed into the crowd. Setlists were gifted to the lucky few. Everyone else left with musical memories that will last a long while in their hearts.

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