GUN, Terrorvision, Wildhearts, Baby Chaos: Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow. Thurs 27th June 2019

We skipped the first two bands as it was a workday and I couldn't make the 6.30pm start. Upon arrival, we collected our VIP laminate lanyards and souvenir posters at the ticket booth first then found a space to sit. There were plenty of places left. The gig was far from being a sellout.

Terrorvision they raced through just under an hour of their hits, missing out 'Tequila'. The core of excitable fans at the front bounced about. The band were okay, the recognisable hits going down better than the obscure numbers. My wife complained to me that she couldn't make out what they were saying (she's not heard their songs before). I enjoyed them a bit more tonight than I did when they played the Armadillo, supporting Thunder. This venue suited them better.

At 9.30pm, while it was still light but getting breezy and chilly in the open air amphitheatre, GUN took to the overly bare stage. The crowd came alive. Singalong choruses, catchy tunes, old material and new(er) stuff in their relatively short set of an hour, I loved it all. I'm still hoarse from belting out 'Shame on You' and their finale 'Fight for your Right to Party'. Super stuff.

They are THE band of my student years, their debut album 30 years old this year. It's like their songs have been with me so long they are now coded into my DNA. The Barrowland gig in December when they play the 'Taking on the World' album in its entirety is going to be a special one.

One thing that was odd to see but nice was the queue of people waiting to meet Terrorvision while GUN was playing. The band all posed for photos and chatted. Good for their fans but a bit rude.

GUN Setlist

She Knows
Don't Say It's Over
Better Days
Word Up! (Cameo cover)
Favourite Pleasures
Taking on the World
Take Me Down
Inside Out
Steal Your Fire
Shame on You
(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) (Beastie Boys cover)

Terrorvision Setlist

I Like to Move It (Reel 2 Real song) tape intro
Alice, What's the Matter
Discotheque Wreck
Pretend Best Friend
My House
D'Ya Wanna Go Faster
Josephine
What Makes You Tick
Oblivion
If I Was You
Middleman
Celebrity Hit List
Perseverance
(Song played from tape) Nobody Does It Better

Rhod Gilbert, Kings Theatre, Glasgow. Sun 23rd June 2019

There was a problem with the sound at the beginning (nothing to do with his Welsh accent) but thankfully it was resolved to allow us to hear this great show. The Book of John relates to the snippets of dumbfoundedness spouted by his driver when Rhod wasn't allowed to drive after his stroke.

It was a difficult time for Rhod with his mother dying, his previously-mentioned stroke and being unable to conceive with his partner but thank God for driver John. Without his pearls, we wouldn't have been entertained for two hours (including interval) on topics like frozen prawns, Connect 4, infertility, dyslexia and ADHD/ADD.

This show is belly-laugh funny and beautifully crafted. The Welsh shy boy may have been away from the stand-up scene for eight but he's still got it.

P!NK, Beautiful Trauma World Tour, Hampden Park, Glasgow. Sat 22nd June 2019

If Ruby Wax and Eddie Izzard ever produced a love child that could sing, they would surely create P!NK. With Ruby's accent, sass and lipstick, Eddie's dress sense, conviction and chutzpah, their little girl could do anything, even fly. This she proved tonight.

Twas a joyful night in Glasgow, where the skies remained dry, the face paint became glittery (not mine), and everyone was up for a good time, even the midgies. P!NK brought her A-game, with Cirque du Soleil acrobatics, fantastic choreography, a super band of musicians, brilliant lighting effects, and lots of skipping, bouncing and coordinated dance moves.

She rocked, she popped, she gave it her all and still made time to meet the fans. Her finale was breathtaking.

Did I enjoy myself?

Hell yeah!


Setlist:

Get the Party Started
Beautiful Trauma
Just Like a Pill
Who Knew
Intermission (Revenge Land)
Funhouse / Just a Girl
Hustle 
Intermission (Secrets)
Try
Just Give Me a Reason
River (Bishop Briggs cover)
Just Like Fire
Intermission (Women Are Strong)
What About Us
For Now
90 Days (with Wrabel)
Walk Me Home
Barbies
I Am Here
Intermission (Mt Daughter is Beautiful)
F**kin' Perfect
Raise Your Glass
Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
Can We Pretend
So What

Here are a few pictures of the night.

Kelly Jones, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Sun 2nd June 2019.

Support act, The Wind + The Wave played an acoustic set. The Texan duo's performance was a bit earnest and sedate but the girl's vocals were strong if a bit samey. Nothing special.

Kelly without the rest of the Stereophonics played tunes that were special to him from his back catalogue, including his solo stuff. It wasn't a night for rocking out, until the encore, but he gave good banter and showed off his skills with various instruments so all was good. His band were versatile too playing a range of instruments as the need required. He played a couple of covers, bringing back the support act for the Tom Petty/ Stevie Nicks tune 'Stop Draggin' my Heart Around'. They also presented him with a birthday cake on stage and we got to sing him Happy Birthday.

Because it was a quieter show, with less well-known songs, a few in the crowd, notably upstairs, didn't behave themselves and insisted in interjecting whoops and calling out his name. The all-seated venue also suffered from irritating people who kept exiting to buy alcohol, causing the rest of the row to have to stand on the way out and in again, then repeat the process when nature called shortly after.

Overall, I think I prefer Kelly as part of the Stereophonics but it was a different experience. At two hours twenty, he gave us a good value.

Setlist

Hurry Up and Wait (Stereophonics song)
You're My Star (Stereophonics song)
Rosie
Liberty
Suzy
Katie
I Wanna Get Lost With You (Stereophonics song)
Fight or Flight (Stereophonics song)
I Stopped to Fill My Car Up (Stereophonics song)
Before Anyone Knew Our Name (Stereophonics song)
Feel (Stereophonics song)
Mr Writer (Stereophonics song)
Rewind (Stereophonics song)
This Life Ain't Easy But It's the One We All Got (Stereophonics song) (Live Debut)
Rainbows and Pots of Gold (Stereophonics song)
Jealousy (Stereophonics song)
Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson cover)
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (Stevie Nicks cover) (with The Wind and The Wave)
No-one's Perfect (Stereophonics song)
Show Me How (Stereophonics song)

Encore:
Traffic (Stereophonics song)
Step On My Old Size Nines (Stereophonics song)
Maybe Tomorrow (Stereophonics song)
Dakota (Stereophonics song)