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.
the525toglasgow 