Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): November 2025

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

The Hives World Tour 2025, O2 Academy, Glasgow. Wednesday 26th November, 2025

This event was supposed to take place at the Hydro, but poor ticket sales put the kibosh on that, so the show was transferred to the O2 Academy instead (they also added a second show at St Luke's the previous night). Our new seating location was in the back row of the front balcony, on the aisle. There were still a few empty seats, but not that many (possibly some had been reserved for guests).

I was not expecting the first act, unaware that there were two support bands. Spiritual Cramp were LOUD, playing what I'd describe as American punk, and quickly reminded me to insert my protective earplugs. Their sound reminded me of The Hives, so they were a good complement to the main act.

Yard Act were 'different'. Their frontman had the bravado of Jarvis Cocker and the lyrical speed of a rapper, reminding me of Seb Lowe in that respect, though the band sounded more like early Arctic Monkeys (as Des pointed out). I couldn't make out much of their song lyrics, but they had the confidence to own the stage in front of a Hives crowd. Not my thing, though.

The Hives were immense. With a set backdrop adorned with five giant spheres, spelling H-I-V-E-S (the drum kit adding in the T-H-E), the stage resembled a 60s American music show, with raised cylindrical levels for the drums and bass. Dressed in their usual costumes, braiding illuminated, they blasted through their setlist, with the usual pauses for the singer to whip up the crowd with his unique style of banter. I wasn't feeling great, medicated, but still suffering from the early symptoms of a cold, and even I found myself rocking back and forward in my seat. The energy in the room was terrific, with so many kids downstairs bouncing and moshing (my time doing that is long gone).

Fortunately, punters standing on the balcony level were rare, so my view was consistently good, though the dome of a bald man in front of me does crop up in my photos. During the second number, a bloke the width of an American fridge-freezer got up to dance, but he only lasted one song, as the girl behind him gave him both barrels about how selfish he was. I did notice lots of people heading to the bar/toilet during the show, not just from our row, and there was a large exodus home before the encore. Trains and buses to catch, no doubt. The band played on till exactly 11 pm.

Another triumph for The Hives.

Setlist
Enough is Enough
Walk Idiot Walk
Rigor Mortis Radio
Paint a Picture
Main Offender
Born a Rebel
Stick Up
Bogus Operandi
Hate to Say I Told You So
O.C.D.O.D.
I'm Alive
Here We Go Again
Countdown to Shutdown
Come On!
Tick Tick Boom (With band introductions and Pelle in the crowd)

Encore:
Legalize Living
Bigger Hole to Fill
The Hives Forever Forever The Hives

Ticket Price: £54 (via Bob)

Videos

Enough is Enough

Hate to Say I Told You So

Photos

Upstairs merch table

Spiritual Cramp

Yard Act

Fancy lighting

The Hives

Saturday, 22 November 2025

Nina Conti & Friends, Paisley Town Hall. Saturday 22nd November, 2025

I think my expectations for this event were too high. The Town Hall in Paisley is a grand venue with a high ceiling and plush seating, so you expect events to be of a higher standard. While I enjoyed each act in its own way, I didn't feel any of them elevated the proceedings to match their surroundings.

Compère John Gavin worked the room like a pub crowd, cussing and effing from the off. Liam Farrelly opened his act by describing the various uses of the word 'cunt' in social settings. It all felt a bit seedy. Fortunately, Liam won me back with a well-crafted set, even if I'd heard it before when he opened for Russell Kane. Daniel Petrie let slip he'd only been 'friends' with Nina Conti for a short time, given he got the call to play only a few days earlier when the original booked act called off (he didn't reveal who it was). Daniel's act started off low-energy and didn't change, though his material improved after he revealed his main job was as a doctor, hitting us with deadpan jokes about how superior he was, backed up with examples. He closed the first half of the night.

After the break, John Gavin returned and did his short set before introducing Nina. Her act was half chatting with Monkey and half using her masks on audience members. The Monkey stuff went down better, though I'd heard some of the banter before. I was more fascinated than amused by the mask stuff, studying what was happening rather than laughing at it. She closed with her bit about Monkey inhabiting her mind, which she correctly stated was freaky as hell.

It's great that OneRen are bringing the comedians out to the provinces, but you'll find better value and more laughs at a Saturday show at the Glee Club or The Stand. This show felt a bit half-arsed.

Ticket Price: 2 x £27.50 plus £2.50 booking fee = £57.50 from OneRen

Friday, 21 November 2025

Halestorm "the nEVEREST tour", OVO Hydro, Glasgow. Friday 21st November, 2025.

I've wanted to see Halestorm for a while, but their choice of Bloodywood as a support act initially deterred me. I'm not a fan of growly metal, even with a novel Indian twist. Then I realised, if Halestorm hadn't announced their support acts, I would have bought a ticket straight away. So, what the hell, let's do this.

I arrived suitably early to grab a standing spot in front of the mixing desk at the rear of the arena. Looking around, I could see that the top tier had been curtained off entirely, as had large swathes of the middle tier. Ticketmaster showed lots of seats still available in the areas being used. Not a positive start.

My initial view

I liked being able to rest my back against the barrier. It was still quiet when Kelsey Karter and the Heroines took to the stage. Dressed in stockings and suspenders, her arse on display, Kelsey was definitely selling the hot rock chic act. Her voice was good, but didn't quite have the power to fill the arena. Nevertheless, I enjoyed their set.

It was then that I realised something stupid: standing at the back means everyone is in front of you, including all the tall people. I felt drawn towards all the empty seats. But it was early. The ticketholders might still turn up (by this time, Ticketmaster had shut down access to this event, so I couldn't check for a current update). I considered asking customer service to swap from standing, but what if they said no? Those seats were more expensive than what I paid for standing. I decided to remain where I was for Bloodywood.

These guys surprised me. Their performance had a strong presence, with a powerful sound complemented by excellent lighting. Reminding me of an Indian Linkin Park, the vocalists mixed rapping, singing, and metal growls over a heavy beat. I was glad I hadn't decided to go forward. The vocalist requested (and received) a mosh pit, my gig nightmare. Towards the end, I grew tired of them, but I can't fault their energy and their ability to rock the crowd. The way they merged Indian culture and metal was a potent combination. The room was bouncing.

After Bloodywood, I decided to risk it and find a seat. Section 051 had no security nearby, with a wedge of empty seats in the middle. The OVO Presale had obviously sold out the two front and back rows as well as the aisle seats, leaving the middle for general sale, with no takers. It felt strangely criminal sitting there. My view, while no longer central, was still excellent, leaving a clear line to the stage, at an elevation higher than any tall people. I could see around the edge of the raised curtain, so the band's intro was slightly spoiled.

Any fears that the venue's condensed scale would sink the band were quickly eased as they launched into Fallen Star from the new album, one of eight tracks they played from it. The setlist I'd copied from the Cardiff gig quickly became irrelevant as the band mixed up the running order and swapped in different songs. That made it more interesting, not being able to predict what was coming next. A nightmare, though, when you want to record particular songs (I missed filming the Ozzy cover because of this).

Lzzy has one of the best rock voices in the business. She easily switches from tender vocals to an all-out scream without making herself hoarse. She definitely owns the stage. They might do better in a smaller venue, but they were clever with the staging, keeping it simple: large screens on either side of the stage, a curtain backdrop behind them, and banks of Marshall speakers to fill the space. This left them more money to spend on throwing everything else at us: pyros, steam jets, confetti guns, streamers and an amazing lighting rig to enhance the performance and provide scale. Impressive!

I enjoyed the mix of tunes, Lzzy playing keyboards on some of the quieter numbers. I could have done without the drum solo, but when the drummer is Lzzy's brother, I guess he gets his way. They shouldn't have finished with the new album's title track, Everest. It is more like a mid-set number. Here's to Us felt like a more appropriate closer.

It was lovely to see the band throwing so many plectrums, drumsticks, setlists and drum skins to the crowd at the end, even before they took their bow. Shame that so many of the crowd had already started to exit by then.

I'm glad I decided to attend. It was a good show. Loved it.

Setlist

Fallen Star

I Miss the Misery

Love Bites (So Do I)

WATCH OUT!

Perry Mason (Ozzy Osbourne cover)

Shiver

Like a Woman Can

How Will You Remember Me?

I Get Off

Familiar Taste of Poison