Heading to ABC O2 in Glasgow there was an energy in the air that the cold and normal rain of Glasgow couldn’t squash. Talking with fans outside the venue, some of them had been queuing for eight hours before door in the Glasgow conditions all for the chance to see Tonight Alive.
Starting the night of were Milk Teeth. Although I had heard of them and had listened to their music I was not prepared for such a good live performance. They had a great punk feel with a grunge flex in their arsenal. The early songs they played tonight remind me of 90s female grunge and I could see myself falling in love with Becky’s dulcet tones. You should go and check out “Swear Jar (again)“.
(8/10)
Our Last Night came out on stage with great energy providing a good mix of pop rock and alt-rock. They commanded and interacted with the crowd making it seem like a home town show. They had a heavy drum beat that really I loved as it provided the catalyst for their energy on stage. However Trevor’s vocals did seem crackly though for a couple of songs (the pains of being on tour, I guess). Although they were great on stage they just never inspired me. Check out their song “Road to the Throne”.
(7/10)
With the tension in the crowd building with the anticipation of Tonight Alive coming on stage and the Glaswegian chants of “HERE WE, HERE WE, HERE WE FUCKING GO!” When they did arrive they came out with to a thunderous applause and screams while they jumped into To Be Free. This set the scene for a great night with its high energy and heavy guitars. With the set in full flow things were slowed down for Amelia, which was dedicated to a missing but not forgotten fan, making Jenna emotional and the crowd also.
They changed things up mid set with Jenna and Whakaio sitting down at the front of the stage providing a break in the form of a few acoustic numbers. Jenna at this moment asked the crowd to put away their phones as she wanted to see their eyes and have a moment that was just about us (the crowd) sharing this moment in live music together. I have never seen so many fans sheepishly put there phones and cameras away. During this the crowd threw Whakaio a Jimmy Hat (which later on, would work its way onto Matt’s head) and Whakaio doing his best to put Jenna off causing her to laugh when she was singing Complexes. They also at this moment did an extended version of The Other Side with a verse that did not make it into the final cut of the record. This had the crowd with arms around the person next to them (friend and foe alike) swaying to the music.
With the crowd all in a joyous mood Tonight Alive jumped into The Edge and with Spiderman (aka Craig MacCallum, a Tonight Alive fan) also joining them on stage (after a few words from Whakaio to security) the crowd got all fired up and sustained this to the end of the show. They ended their set with Drive (before coming back with an encore) a very happy “lets dance like no one is looking song” just had me smiling from all the good vibes coming from the stage.
They came out for their encore and played not one but two songs. beginning with How Does it Feel (my new favourite Tonight Alive song) getting the whole crowd jumping on their feet. They finished the encore with Lonely Girl. A few people trying to crowd surf to this song caused a few funny moments for sure! The song ended with everyone flipping the bird leaving all attendees with a sense of community brought together by Tonight Alive‘s music.
(9/10)