Eric Gales @ Oran Mor, Glasgow 1st April 2022

Posted on April 6, 2022 by coralmccallum

The weather gods were still shining on Boy Child and I as we boarded the 525 to Glasgow last Friday night. The only minor weather issue – those weather gods forgot to crank up the thermostat. It was freezing!

With more than a hint of déjà vu for Boy Child, we caught the subway out to Hillhead then set off in search of the venue for the evening -Oran Mor.

Both of us were more than a little curious to hear what the night would bring.

So, who were we going to see?

The legendary Raw Dawg himself, American blues/funk/rock guitarist Eric Gales. ( Boy Child wanted to hear him speak as much as he wanted to hear him play. Love that Memphis accent.)

There was only one support act for the evening and that was Danny Bryant, the British Blues guitarist and singer/songwriter. Not too sure what I expected but what struck me first was how down to earth and (I hate to use the term) normal he seemed. He also came across as a little shy and awkward or perhaps he was a little nervous being in front of the small Scottish crowd.

This is where I am going to apologise to Mr Bryant. I am not familiar with his music (Blues isn’t usually my thing) and therefore I can’t single out specific songs from his forty-minute set to highlight. What I can say is that for those forty minutes I was held transfixed. I was mesmerised by the tones he was getting out of his guitar. So much emotion in those six strings. Loved it!

Oh, and I hope you found a buyer for that Betamax fitness video, sir.

Shortly before eight thirty, the lights dimmed, and strains of O Fortuna began to fill the room. Eric Gales took to the stage to rapturous but polite applause from the capacity crowd. (Oran Mor holds around 400)

I had no idea what to expect but this guy oozed charisma right from that first smile.

Eric Gales – Show Opening Instrumental Jam @ Oran Mor Glasgow 01/04/22 – YouTube

Much to Boy Child’s delight, Eric Gales talks almost as much as he plays but in this small venue it added to the intimacy of the show. Honestly, you could listen to this guy tell stories and play all night!

The set was primarily made up of tracks from his current album The Crown.

All evening what struck me was the rapport between Eric Gales and his band (sorry, didn’t catch all the names- my bad) and Eric Gales and the audience. Yes, he’s the “big” name out there but each musician was given their fair share of solos and recognition.

Bass player, Smoke Face, who was standing in front of me slightly to my left, fascinated me. Initially, I was a little taken aback by the beanie hat and full-face mask but loved the quirkiness of the smoke trailing out from under his mask every so often throughout the evening. Different.

Highlight moments for me included You Don’t Know The Blues (so true, I’m no Blues expert) and Survivor.

My personal favourite song was probably The Storm from The Crown. There’s just something about that song that resonates with my soul.

Another highlight moment preceded by a Joey B story was Put It Back

Eric Gales – Put It Back @ Oran Mor Glasgow 010422 – YouTube

Momentarily, mid-set, Eric Gales surrendered the spotlight to his wife LaDonna Gales who up til then had been playing percussion. LaDonna stepped up to the mic and delivered a solid rendition of Take Me Just As I Am. It was clear for all to see just how supportive Eric Gales is of his good lady wife. Lovely moment.

Take Me Just As I Am – Erica Gales ft LaDonna Gales @ Oran Mor 01/04/22 – YouTube

When he came out at first, Eric Gales said he hoped that at least one person would leave the venue feeling inspired. This guy is beyond talented so its hard not to feel inspired when you watch and listen to him play. His whole story and lyrics are also inspirational.  Check out The Crown and judge for yourselves.

Towards the end of the set, a female member of the audience (a little the worse for drink most likely) shouted out to him to “Play some f**kin’ Blues!” He took her on quite nicely (firmly and politely) suggesting that if she wanted to hear Blues rather than his personal mix of Blues/Rock/Funk that she listen to some alternative artists. (I’m naming no names here). He started to play the next song on the setlist, Too Close To The Fire, then stopped playing. He stopped his band too then reflected back to his earlier comment about hoping to inspire at least one person in the room adding if the lady wanted to hear some “f**kin’ Blues” then he’d play her some “f**kin’ Blues – cue impromptu Blues solo! Incredible playing and the best way ever to shut up a heckler. Well played, sir! Loved it!

All good things have to come to an end and with a 10pm curfew looming, Eric Gales rounded off the night with the spectacular I Want My Crown.

Sir, you’ve more than earned that crown! Awesome show. Incredible musician. Such a large character. Loved it. Hurry back, please…. Oh, and add some tees to your merch stall.

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The Kris Barras Band at St Luke’s, Glasgow 18th March 2022

Posted on March 20, 2022 by coralmccallum

For the second time this year, I boarded the 525 to Glasgow, chaperoned once more by Boy Child and Mr A. Again, the weather gods were smiling on us, and it was a beautiful spring evening as we headed across town.

Our destination for the evening was St Luke’s and the Winged Ox, a small venue in a former church situated behind Barrowlands. It had been almost years since my last visit to this very pretty venue.

Who were we off to see? The Kris Barras Band.

Ok, I’ll confess I was also excited to see support act Florence Black.

Unlike our experience form a couple of weeks ago, there was only a small, scattered queue outside St Luke’s, and we easily secured a rail spot for the evening. Happy days!

First band on stage were a duo called Velvetbomb. I’m going to adopt my “Thumper Philosophy” here. (If ya can’t say nuffin’ nice, ya shouldn’t say nuffin’ at all.) Although their drummer did add a comedy element when he fell backwards off his stool towards the end of their mercifully short set.

Moving swiftly on…

With a little more space cleared on the cluttered, cramped stage Florence Black stepped out to a very warm reception from the crowd. The trio from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales opened their set with Zulu. This was swiftly followed by The Deep End and Bird On A Chain. These boys (Tristan Thomas on vocals and guitar, Jordan Evans on bass and backing vocals and Perry Davies on drums and backing vocals) didn’t disappoint with their eight-song set. One high point of their performance was Smoke.

(4) Smoke – Florence Black @ St Luke’s Glasgow 10/03/22 – YouTube

This was followed by a cover of Budgie’s Breadfan before the boys rounded off their set with their single Sun And Moon. Loved it!

Roll on October when they’ve promised to return to Glasgow for a headline show.

Not long after nine, the lights dimmed, the door at the back of the stage opened and The Kris Barras Band slipped out on stage to open their fifteen-song set with the awesome Hail Mary. Love this one! What a way to start a show!

(4) Hail Mary – Kris Barras Band @ St Luke’s Glasgow 18/03/22 show opener – YouTube

This was followed by recent single from the current record Death Valley Paradise, Dead Horses, and Rock N Roll Running Through My Veins. Yes, it was… and my ears. These guys were loud!

I love seeing bands having fun on stage and it looked as though these boys were having a blast right from the get-go. Bassist Kelpie McKenzie has to be one of the most animated bassists in the business!

Ignite (Light It Up) is always a fan favourite and tonight was no exception. The Glasgow crowd, a little more mature than I’d anticipated, sang passionately all night. (I have to mention “Jack and Victor” who were up on the balcony at this point. Anorak and bunnet on, they sat glued to the show all night, but I didn’t notice any singing. What would Isa say?)

Sporting a cut away Skindred tee, Kris charmed the audience with his easy banter and the stories behind the songs all night, adding to the intimacy of the show.

A new addition to the set is an acoustic interlude. Kris and Josiah started with Heart On Your Sleeve, which lends itself beautifully to a more acoustic arrangement. Josiah was pulling triple duty here (watch his feet in the video below) as he played the stomp pedal with his right foot and bass pedals with his left. Skilful stuff!

(4) Heart on Your Sleeve – The Kris Barras Band @ St Luke’s Glasgow 18/03/22 – YouTube

Their second acoustic number may have been the high point of the entire show for me. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man was their song of choice, and it was awesome! Ok, I may be slightly biased here as I absolutely adore that song.

How to follow that? With the beautiful soulful blues of Watching Over Me, the first song Kris wrote. It’s a tribute to his late father and it was certainly the most emotional moment of the night. Yes. Kris, your dad would’ve been beyond proud to be watching this show.

Current single My Parade rounded off the main set a couple of songs later. The crowd were loving this one and weren’t for letting these guys go home just yet.

A few moments after leaving the stage, the boys returned for one more song, Lovers Or Losers. Awesome!

There were no losers… that show was definitely a winner!

Hurry back!

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An Evening With Halestorm @ Barrowlands, Glasgow 7th March 2022

Posted on March 9, 2022 by coralmccallum

For the first time this year, chaperoned by Boy Child and Mr A, I boarded the 525 to Glasgow.

It was a beautiful early Spring evening as we walked along Glasgow’s Argyle Street towards one of the city’s most iconic venues- Barrowlands.

After a mix-up with our eTickets, I wasn’t holding out much hope for a spot near the front of the crowd. ( I had been advised to go to the box office when doors opened at 7pm to collect duplicates. Huge thanks to the venue for their efficiency here. Much appreciated.)

As we approached the front of the venue shortly before 6.30pm, a lengthy queue already snaked up the street and round the corner. My heart sank… zero hope of a decent spot within sight of the rail it seemed.

It looked like An Evening With Halestorm involved a couple of thousand close friends!

My woes proved to be unfounded, largely thanks to Boy Child. Once upstairs, we divided and conquered. He secured a spot a couple of rows off the rail while Mr A and I made the obligatory trip to the merch stall.

So, what does An Evening With Halestorm entail? No support act and as Lzzy herself said- the band playing whatever the f**k they want.

And play they did!

Halestorm promised to treat us to not one but two sets – a forty-minute acoustic set followed after a 20 min break by a full electric set.

Shortly after eight, Lzzy stepped out on stage alone. Sporting a grungier look than usual, she made her way to the piano, said hi to us all then opened the show with a stunning rendition of one of my personal favourites Break In. Breathtaking. This was followed by an equally awesome Dear Daughter. Stripped back raw musical talent at its finest.

Dear Daughter – Halestorm @ Glasgow Barrowlands 07/03/2022 – YouTube

Still alone on the stage Lzzy introduced a song that they have never recorded. A real deep cut that I had never heard before- God Bless The Beast. Why has this never found its way onto an album? I was held spellbound. Loved it!

(I couldn’t find a recording from Glasgow but here’s one from the Birmingham show a few nights before.)

 Halestorm – God Bless The Beast [Birmingham 02.03.2022] – YouTube

(credits to the owner)

Joe Hottinger got a very warm welcome when he was the first of the band to join Lzzy onstage for The Silence. Love this one too.

Another of my favourites made the cut for the acoustic set – Familiar Taste Of Poison. Wow!

All four members of Halestorm looked happy, relaxed and glad to be back in Glasgow. Seeing a happy band on stage always seems to add that extra little je ne sais quoi to a performance, don’t you think?

Lzzy explained to us that for this special tour they had committed to learning one new song per show that was local to the city they were playing. Their choice for Glasgow was inspired! Cheat sheet in hand, Lzzy and the boys treated their Scottish “freaks” to a rendition of The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). The fans sang their hearts out, almost raising the roof off Barrowlands. Their passion for the song wasn’t wasted on Halestorm. Definitely one of the high points of the night!

Halestorm – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) @ Barrowlands, Glasgow – YouTube

(credits to the owner via You Tube)

The acoustic set was rounded off with a raucous rendition of the ever-popular Mz Hyde.

What a start to the evening!

As the band left the stage, drummer Arejay remained on stage to “treat” (torture?) the crowd with his tongue-in-cheek stand-up routine. What’s not to love about this colourful character? Arejay – don’t give up the day job!

Twenty minutes later, an entirely different Halestorm took to the stage. Gone was the long dress and boots. Mz Hyde was back in her skin-tight dress and 9-inch heels!

These guys from Red Lion Pennsylvania were on fire from the get-go!

Back From The Dead, the title track from their forthcoming album, opened an awesome hundred-minute set.

Halestorm – Back From The Dead @ Barrowlands, Glasgow – YouTube

(credits to the owner via You Tube)

Halestorm were on fire and the Scottish fans were fuelling the flames with their passionate singing (and over enthusiastic arm waving – Mr Hairy Arms beside us made seeing the stage a challenge at times, especially for poor Mr A)

Lzzy had promised us a set that spanned all their albums, and she didn’t let us down. Almost all the fan favourites made the cut, including mine.

As the temperature in Barrowlands rose steadily, the fans were treated to Halestorm at their finest. The hits just kept coming!  Daughters Of Darkness, I Am The Fire and Amen led us nicely to Arejay’s second spotlight moment of the night.

It wouldn’t be a Halestorm show without a spectacular drum solo from the energetic Arejay Hale. I mean, who can resist Arejay and his big sticks?

How do you follow that display? With Freak Like Me, Bombshell and Love Bites (So Do I).

Halestorm – Love Bites (Live Glasgow 2022) – YouTube

(credits to the owner via You Tube)

By now, my voice had gone!

Latest single, The Steeple closed out the main body of the set.

This is my kingdom

This is my cathedral

This is my castle

And these are my people

Yes, Lzzy, we are!

A few minutes later, Halestorm returned to the stage for a four-song encore. Holding “a wee dram” each, there was only one song that could open the encore – Here’s To Us. Awesomeness.

The bar kept being raised higher and higher as Halestorm blasted their way through Apocalyptic, and Mayhem before bringing the show to a thundering climax with I Miss The Misery.

Halestorm, we’ve missed you! Here’s to you!

Thank you for bringing An Evening With Halestorm to town. It was an unforgettable evening. Haste ye back!

Oh and I forgot to mention, I “caught” these. Thanks, Joe 🙂

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The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 16th February 2022

Posted on February 18, 2022 by coralmccallum

“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.

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Myles Kennedy & Co at the O2 Academy, Glasgow 6th December 2021

Posted on December 9, 2021 by coralmccallum

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.

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The Quireboys @ The Garage, Glasgow 14 October 2021

Posted on October 16, 2021 by coralmccallum

A little bit of normality – accompanied by Mr A, I boarded the 525 to Glasgow, heading off for an evening of musical entertainment.

Originally, this show was to have been a Massive headline show in May 2020(?) That was cancelled and changed to a Massive support slot on a 30th anniversary tour … and that was supposed to have happened in February 2021, according to the date on the tickets in my gig bag. In reality, three-quarters of Massive are still trapped in Australia due to Covid travel restrictions and a fresh act has taken their place on the tour as support. Guys, fingers crossed- we’ll get that headline show in 2022!

Got to love this post-Covid gig world!

So here we are at 14 October, finally heading to Glasgow to see The Quireboys on their 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating their debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy. The record was originally released on 29 January 1990 so it’s the 31 ½ anniversary now!  (I still have my original copy of the LP.)

I have to admit that it was good to be back in The Garage. I have a soft spot for this venue. It was also the last one I visited in early 2020 before the world shut down.

I also have to say it was almost as cold inside as it had been outside in the queue!

Support for the evening was Troy Redfern. I’d recently read an article in Classic Rock featuring him so was keen to hear him play live. He didn’t disappoint! Troy Redfern is one talented, intensely passionate musician. A man of mystery under his wide-brimmed hat. I’m a sucker for a guitarist who plays a resonator…what can I say? Troy was ably accompanied by Finn McAuley on drums and the petite Keira Kenworthy on bass. Their allotted 30-minute slot disappeared way too fast. A mere six songs ending with a spellbinding Voodoo Chile. Roll on 2022 when this guy returns to Glasgow with his headline show.

As the stage was being cleared and set up for the headliners, another “celebrity” was spotted in the midst of The Quireboys crew – Freddy Kreuger! I’m sure he’s a lovely guy but I really hope someone gets him the gloves to go with the stripey jumper and hat for Halloween!

Shortly before nine, The Quireboys took to the stage, opening their eighty-minute set with I Love This Dirty Town. Glasgow was certainly showing instant love for front man Spike. He is most definitely one of life’s characters. He had walked on stage holding his pint of beer aloft, looking as fabulously eccentric as ever with his trademark bandana/headscarf knotted behind his neck.

The bulk of the set, not surprisingly, was all the tracks from A Bit Of What You Fancy, not necessarily in the order that they appear in on the record.

With a Quireboys’ show you know what to expect – Spike being his flamboyant self with his scarves and beads and mic stand gyrations and always a pint to hand.

The Glasgow fans were lapping up his patter, although I suspect much to guitarist Guy Griffin’s relief, no one in the crowd listened too closely to Spike’s requests for a brandy from the bar. He had joked that their manager didn’t know about the bottle of whisky he’d downed in the afternoon or the trip across the street to the pub- fact or fiction? Who knows!

They might want to consider changing Spike’s pints for bottles of Grolsch. Twice “Freddy Krueger” had to dash on stage to rescue Paul Guerin from a guitar strap mishap due to the lack of a strap lock. (For the uninitiated – Grolsch bottle stop washers make good emergency strap locks.)

Highlights from the main body of the energetic set were Hey You, There She Goes Again and firm fan favourite, 7 O’clock. Over the years, there’s been more gravel added to that distinctive voice which adds even more sultry tones to songs like I Don’t Love You Anymore.

Spike’s the first to poke fun at himself. So what if he wasn’t word perfect on the lyrics?  The fans weren’t caring- they were keeping him right and loving every word of it!

The final two songs of the night probably summed up the show – This Is Rock n Roll and Sex Party.

This certainly was rock n roll… good fun, feelgood, party rock n roll  (without the sex party angle) and this post-Covid world needs more of it!

Now, someone pass that man a brandy, please. (Just don’t tell Guy Griffin or their manager)

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Skindred at SWG3 10th October 2021

Posted on October 12, 2021 by coralmccallum

For the first time since 6 Nov 2019, Boy Child and I set off together in search of live music. No trains involved this time. I was being chauffeured to Glasgow as we headed up the M8 towards SWG3. (Ok, so technically the science centre car park and we walked the rest of the way.)

So, who had the honour of being Boy Child’s first post-Covid gig?… Skindred.

Negative lateral flow results, vaccine passports and masks at the ready, we joined the queue. Tickets were duly scanned, wrists were stamped (What do SWG3 put in that ink? I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed, and that damn stamp is still there 36 hours later!) we duly headed into SWG3.

This evening’s festivities were in The Galvanisers, a room that holds around 1250. This was my first venture into this hall, and I have to say I was impressed. Great venue! (Skindred voiced the same thought a few hours later.)

Rail spot secured. Happy girl.

First on the bill were Glasgow based band Anchor Lane. For those who follow this blog and have good memories, these guys supported Tremonti back in June 2018 and, due to travel delays caused by excessive heat (Yes it was the day Glasgow hit 30C), I missed half their set. Three years later and it was worth the wait! Six songs just weren’t enough. The growing Glasgow audience was treated to several tracks from their debut album Casino, including the title track. I’d love to have heard more. Front man, Conor Gaffney, did a sterling job of engaging the crowd. I think we were all clear that these boys were somewhat happy to be back onstage in their hometown. Do yourself a favour and check these youngsters out – Anchor Lane (anchorlanemusic.com)

Next up were Raging Speed Horn. Sorry, guys, I’m going to adopt my Thumper Principle here. (If ya can’t say nuffin’ nice, don’t say nuffin’ at all.) I do have to give them credit for going on despite being a man down (They were missing one of their two vocalists due an accident at the Nottingham gig the night before). Fair play to Benji from Skindred for nipping onstage to voice his encouragement too. Not my genre of choice.

Moving swiftly on.

At nine thirty, with the venue almost at capacity, the lights dimmed and the familiar sound of ACDC’s Thunderstruck rang out. The tape was almost drowned out by the crowd’s chant of “Here we, here we, here we f**king go” but the fans soon changed tune to sing along passionately to ACDC. As Thunderstruck moved on to The Imperial March (dubstep remix) Skindred took to the stage. Showman and front man, Benji Webbe looked resplendent in a scarlet sparkling jacket that matched his shoes and scarf.

This was only my second experience of seeing Skindred live. I last saw them support Disturbed back in May 2019 and was instantly hooked by their live delivery.

I’m not going to lie, I don’t generally listen to their music at home but live this is a party you don’t want to miss! It’s worth the ticket price to listen to Benji’s patter alone.

For eighty some minutes, we “woop wooped”. We declared “that’s my jam”. We “oh oh oh’d”. We “woah woah woahed” and it was awesome!

Their set was interspersed with snippets of other songs, adding to the party fun. We were even treated to a “30 second sandwich” challenge where a volunteer from the audience joined them on stage to consume an entire sandwich in 30 seconds. (Fair play to Dylan for choking down that piece!)

Above all, after months and months of musical drought conditions, we had fun!

Behind us, the crowd was moshing. (Boy Child declined to mosh – I’m guessing he wasn’t feeling “gig fit” after months of Spotify) Much as I hate to see it, the crowd surfers were coming down and over front and centre. Kudos to Showsec for taking care of those folks.

Highlights for me were That’s My Jam and Kill The Power. There was a moment of poignancy as Benji Webbe, and guitarist Mikey Demus played the only ballad of the evening Saying It Now. A reminder to all about what we’ve gone through since early 2020. The moment wasn’t lost on the Scottish fans who fell respectfully quiet.

It wouldn’t be a Skindred show if it didn’t end with Warning and the obligatory whirling t-shirt “Newport helicopters”. Entertaining if sweat-scented stuff!

As Skindred took their final bows, the room was filled with the strains of Nobody Does It Better. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

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Black Stone Cherry at Barrowlands Ballroom, Glasgow 17 September 2021

Posted on September 19, 2021 by coralmccallum

Well, it’s been a while since my last gig…572 days to be precise.

I’ll be honest in this Covid infested world, it was a thought to contemplate being back at a show. Who would have thought nineteen/twenty months ago that we’d be doing lateral flow tests before events, track and trace to get in the door and be wearing masks in venues? It all feels surreal.

Even as I boarded the 525 to Glasgow for the first time since 22 July 2019 (Lord, that feels like a lifetime ago!) everything still felt surreal. No Boy Child on this occasion. My chaperone for the evening was Mr A.

After a rather damp walk along Argyle Street, we joined the growing, damp queue outside the Barrowlands Ballroom. As we waited, I spotted a familiar face coming up the street – Mr D. I shouted him over and he joined us for the evening…the more the merrier!

Was this actually happening? Was I dreaming?

Protocol meant that getting into the venue was a bit of a juggling act- mask on, track and trace green tick visible on your phone screen for security to check, gig ticket and bag open for the obligatory bag check. Made me smile that it was the fans being scanned rather than the tickets – temperature check! You really need about three pairs of hands in those first few minutes!

We didn’t quite make it onto the rail – one or two rows off- but I wasn’t bothered. We were actually there! It was really happening!

So, who had we gone to all this effort to see? Black Stone Cherry, who had finally made it back to these shores. (This was the third attempt at scheduling this UK tour.)

There was only one support act for the evening – the Kris Barras Band. This was the third time that I’d seen Kris Barras live. He opened his nine-song set with his latest single Dead Horses. The venue was rapidly filling up and he soon had the Glasgow crowd on side. Glasgow proved that their singing voices were in fine form during Ignite (Light It Up) and quickly got their heads round the chorus of new song My Parade a couple of songs later.

If I had to offer one tiny criticism of the set, it was that it had too many brand-new songs in it that the fans didn’t know and while its great to hear new tunes, they perhaps fell slightly off the mark. (Kris’s new album is due out in 2022 and all things going to plan, he’ll be back in Glasgow to play a headline show at St Luke’s in March – already have my tickets for that one.)

Kris rounded off the set with fan favourite Hail Mary. Awesome start to the evening and, for me, a welcome return to live music. Thank you, sir.

At 8.50pm, the houselights dimmed…. and the speakers began to blast out Tribute by Tenacious D. Within seconds, the whole room was singing their hearts out… apart from a rather bemused looking Mr A. Tribute isn’t a song that had crossed his radar up until that point in time. It has now! LOL!

A minute or two after nine, the moment nineteen hundred Scottish fans had been waiting for finally arrived as Black Stone Cherry walked out on stage to a thunderous warm welcome, launching straight into Me and Mary Jane.

Live music Kentucky style was well and truly back!

These boys have lost none of their energy and were 100mph from the get to, especially Ben Wells. Where does that boy get that energy from?

Second song Burnin’ proved they’re human just like the rest of us as Chris fluffed the words of the opening verse. As he laughed at himself, the crowd kept him right. It was the first of many moments where you felt that there was a special vibe in the air, a connection between band and fans that’s rarely felt so genuinely. It was a beautiful feeling.

There’s been a tweak to the line up since the boys last visited these shores. When he stepped away from the band on an indefinite hiatus, Jon Lawhon, left big shoes to be filled but new addition to the brotherhood, Steve Jewell from Otis, is doing a sterling job. He’s brought a whole new energy to proceedings and seems perfectly at home among his Black Stone Cherry brothers. Felt like here’s here for the long haul.

The nineteen-song set had been carefully assembled and, personally speaking, I loved hearing so many of those older songs. In My Blood was the first of those and definitely took things to a different level – level 13 at least. Ben had declared that this show was already a 10 by the time we were barely three songs in!

I have to say, Ben introduces some of the songs on the list with a hefty helping of cheese. As folk in Scotland would say, his “patter’s like water!” Love it!

Hearing Hell and High Water, followed by Soul Creek and Devil’s Queen in succession felt a bit like a step back in time but those songs sounded as fresh as the first time I heard them. Eargasmic stuff!

One thing I love about Chris Robertson as a front man, apart from his musical talents, is how humble and appreciative he comes across. He’s sincere. He’s genuine and boy does he wear his heart on his sleeve.

After another spellbinding drum solo from the one and only Mr John Fred Young, came the most emotional moment of the evening. Sadly, Chris lost his father, Steve, recently so performing Things My Father Said solo in front of a sell-out crowd takes a lot of courage and self-control. I can’t begin to imagine the emotions Chris goes through each night on this tour as he performs this heartfelt song while playing his daddy’s guitar. I have my own personal reasons for being affected by this one. I’ll admit to having been in tears from the moment Chris said that the guitar in his hands had belonged to his father. Glasgow did their best to support Chris through the entire song – they sang with all their hearts through their tears and held their phones aloft as commanded for the closing choruses – “Somewhere there’s a star that’s shining so bright I can see you smile.” I’m pretty sure Papa Steve was smiling down with his heart overflowing with pride. Kudos to you, Chris. You’re a brave soul.

The crowd gathered their thoughts during In Love With The Pain before these Black Stone Cherry boys blew us away with Blind Man (Love that one!), Blame It On The Boom Boom and White Trash Millionaire to round out the main set. WOW!… if only there had been time for Rain Wizard too… next time, boys, please.

Now, Glasgow being Glasgow, as the lively fans waited for the boys to come back out for the encore, began to sing/chant “Here we, here we, here we f**king go!”

With a smile as wide as the Clyde, Chris came back onstage dancing to the fans chant. Those boys were soaking up the love from the Scottish fans.

There’s only one way to end a Black Stone Cherry show and that’s with Peace Is Free. Tonight, it felt more poignant, more emotionally charged (I’m sure I saw a tear in Chris’ eyes) and just that little bit more magical.

What a way to end an incredible evening! Thank you, boys. Stay safe for the rest of this tour and hurry back.

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Is it nearly time to press play again?

Posted on June 23, 2021 by coralmccallum

Tonight my musical heart is very much in the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City as Myles Kennedy (pictured above) plays his first post-lockdown show. I’d have loved to have been there!

Is it time to press “play” again on live shows? I sure hope so.

This blog has been mothballed since 23 February 2020 – the last night I was at a gig. New Year’s Day have the honour of being the only show I caught last year and, in hindsight, I feel fortunate to have at least had one gig before the world closed for what has felt like forever.

I did consider reviewing the livestream shows that, like many of you have done, I’ve used to plug the gig gap but they didn’t seem “real” somehow. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve been awesome but the atmosphere in the living room just isn’t the same. I wouldn’t rate it as a venue but the bar prices are great and there’s never a queue for the loo!

I’m sure, when the time’s right, we’ll all be queuing up outside venues in the rain, vying for that coveted rail spot.

I have a few shows lined up, that if the planets align both in the music world and my personal world, I’ll get to, camera in hand.

So far, I have tickets for the following:

Mason Hill

Black Stone Cherry

Skindred

The Quireboys (I’m really going to see Massive who are supporting – don’t tell Spike!)

The Cadillac Three

Blackberry Smoke

Halestorm

Eric Gales

The White Buffalo

and last but not least on 24 May 2022, Brian Fallon.

Keep safe. Stay positive. Obey the rules and, hopefully, we’ll get to enjoy live music as it should be enjoyed before too long.

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Mark Harrison – The Long Road To Liberty

Posted on June 20, 2021 by coralmccallum

With all things Covid having dominated the world since early 2020, the 525 to Glasgow has been pretty much mothballed… then an email dropped into my inbox a couple of weeks ago.

The incredibly talented roots musician Mr Mark Harrison has a new album coming out later this month…just the cue I needed to shake off those mothballs. (Never did like the smell of them!)

A rock chick at heart, I’ve confessed before, Mark Harrison is one of my guilty pleasures when it comes to music.

The Long Road To Liberty is the sixth album from Mark and he’s spoiled us all by making this one a double album. Across both discs, there are some twenty- one new original songs, each one of them stamped with Mark’s distinctive, highly skilled trademark sound.

To quote the press release “each song is a snapshot of life or has a story to tell, like a 3-minute film or novel.”

The first line sung on this record is “Well, I feel like crying. I feel like breaking down” on the opening, incredibly catchy track, Tribulation Time. I’ll admit I had a momentary panic – was this record all going to be Covid-blues? NO! NO! NO!

This record, both parts, is a breath of fresh air!

For the record, Tribulation Time oozes positivity and resilience. Great start!

One difference with The Road To Liberty is that Mark has brought along some old familiar friends, creating more of a band-vibe than the solo-effort of the previous records. He’s ably joined by Charles Benfield on double bass (or jazz-coffin as I heard it referred to as recently) and Ben Welburn on drums and percussion. Charles pulls double duty here as he also produced and master The Road To Liberty. Great job, sir!

With twenty-one tracks to enjoy, I’m not about to give a track-by-track resume. We’d be here until 2022!

The Road To Liberty is an uplifting listen, exactly what we all need after the challenges of the past few months, and it bleeds positivity with a strong injection of summer. Everybody Knows, the second track in Part I in particular made me think of long hot sunny days with more than an echo of Mungo Jerry at the start.

Some may consider it a tad ambitious to deliver a double album, but Mark has so many song/stories to tell that each and every one has rightfully earned its place on the record. Personally, I have to admit to preferring Part I but, having said that, Don’t Let The Crazy Out Of The Bag (Too Soon) on Part II is also a favourite. It’s filled with fun!

If I had to pick one favourite, today I’d choose Better Day. Filled with hope for better days, it left me looking forward to a brighter future.

Music-wise those better days start when The Road To Liberty is release on 30th June in its physical format. The digital release is split over two dates- Part I drops on 30th June with Part II following on 30th Sept.

Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself.

You can catch up with all Mark’s latest news on his website and you can also pre-order this great album using the link below:

http://markharrisonrootsmusic.com/

credits to the owners of the images used

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