The Killers, "The Rebel Diamonds" Tour, OVO Hydro, Glasgow. Tuesday 25th June 2024

My first attempt to see The Killers was on the Imploding the Mirage Tour back in 2020, when I had tickets for the Middlesbrough concert (I was prepared to travel because the Manic Street Preachers were the support). That date got postponed due to the pandemic and rescheduled to a disappointingly unsuitable Wednesday night in June 2022. I couldn't get time off work, so I had to cancel and claim a refund. 

When these Glasgow dates were announced, I jumped at the chance to catch them. I took advantage of my OVO presale access to snag two standing seats. This meant we could skip the queue at the entrance on the night and find a spot in the middle near the front.

Support act Travis got the ball rolling, coming on to the theme music from the TV show Cheers. Fran Healy, the band's lead singer, bore a distinctive look with his wispy, bright orange hair and thick-framed, round spectacles. Imagine if Harry Potter had been given an acoustic guitar instead of a wand and, taking hair inspiration from Vyvyan from The Young Ones, grew up to make catchy pop songs instead of magic. Fran had a great time dancing like a minstrel dervish, bantering between songs and encouraging the audience to sing along, which they did. At one point, Fran and Andy even strummed each other's guitars. It was a fun set full of hit singles, the only downside being the echoey sound quality at the start.

Travis was only a bonus, though, because we were all here to see The Killers. It was packed—hot and sweaty—and not unexpectedly, we experienced a few interlopers trying to push in during the interval. 

The first was a short-haired, drunken youth, stinking of booze, who paused beside me to use his phone. He was too far gone, though, to operate it, unable to focus on the screen. The woman behind me had to help him find the right contact because he kept closing his droopy eyes, swaying dangerously, nearly falling over. She even held his drink for him so he could hold the phone and scroll through his contacts (but still not focus enough to read them). Eventually, his call connected with some girl, and he wandered off, managing to tumble over a gaggle of girls who'd sat on the floor nearby. The surrounding crowd helped him up again and sent him on his way. I didn't see him again.

The other party pushers were a four-foot-nothing girl and her brick-house boyfriend. She led the way, stopping directly in front of the elderly couple on our left. They were standing so close to the couple that the older man could smell the BF's hair if he wanted. Position captured, she went away (probably to the toilet), leaving him to hold the territory. He had the body build of a guy who liked to work the weights at the gym but wasn't averse to the odd bacon butty - meaty with a rind of fat. When she didn't return, unable to find him (well, she was short), he phoned and eventually talked her back to him just in time for The Killers to start. Then the real trouble began. During the second song, the BF put the short-arse on his shoulders, totally blocking the elderly couple's view. The man complained but was ignored. The third time the BF lifted her, the elderly man flipped. He grabbed the girl's belt and shoved her forward. The BF nearly lost his balance but managed to put her down before turning to confront his assailant. Words were spoken, and threats were made. If the man hadn't been on the wrong side of sixty, I reckon there would have been physical violence. Instead, the BF put her back on his shoulders again out of spite. 

They left before the end. One word: Cunts!

The Killers, on the other hand, were not. They were out-of-this-world fantastic. I've seen many bands play the Hydro, but few inhabit it. The Killers took the Hydro and made it their home. Like the screen signage above, the diamond-shaped stage came out in a wedge with diamond motifs across the front.  Raised platforms on either side elevated Brandon's presence so he could be visible to everyone. Behind the band, a huge screen filled the entire background, getting used creatively throughout the show. The lighting rig in the ceiling lowered to form an upside-down pyramid shape. From within that, a huge chandelier decorated with feather boas descended. Lasers, confetti cannons and streamers were all used. Fireworks sprayed down at the rear at one point. The visuals were amazing.

The sound was even better. Brandon's vocals were slick and strong, his banter delivered with the smarm of a maitre'd and the passion of a preacher. At one point, he noticed a kerfuffle in the crowd and paused to check if everyone was okay. When it became clear someone had fainted, he got frustrated that no one from security was going to aid them, insisting the staff jump the barrier and help. The girl had to be carried away, conscious but obviously out of it. She missed a great show.

I can't fully express how good this Greatest Hits package was. It was chock full of banging tracks, and they even made room to cover A Little Respect by Erasure. My photos do not do the concert justice. It might even be my gig of the year. 

Setlists:

Travis

Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)

Sing

Driftwood

Alive

Side

Closer

Turn (Not originally on the setlist)

Flowers in the Window

Why Does It Always Rain on Me??

The Killers

Read My Mind
Somebody Told Me
Spaceman
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Smile Like You Mean It
Shot at the Night
Running Towards a Place
On Top
The Man
A Dustland Fairytale (with "Be Still" segue outro)
Be Still
Runaways
All These Things That I've Done (with band introductions)
When You Were Young
Caution
Dying Breed (Piano)
Encore:
Your Side of Town
boy
A Little Respect (Erasure cover)
Human (Electro)
Mr. Brightside (50/50)

Ticket Price:

2 OVO Live Presale Tickets £90.00 x2 £180.00
Per Item Fees £12.15 (Service Charge) x2, £1.70 (Facility Charge) x2 +£27.70
Order Processing Fees Handling Fee £2.00

Total £209.70 via Tickemaster

VIDEOS

Travis - "Sing"

Travis - "Flowers in the Window"

The Killers - Read My Mind

The Killers - All These Things I've Done

Photos (don't do the gig justice) 

Anchor Lane, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow. Saturday 22nd June, 2024

It's not often that I see a gig listing for a band unknown to me one hour before the tickets go on sale, and by the time that hour has elapsed, I've listened to enough of their music to decide I have to go. Anchor Lane are a rock trio from Glasgow whose most recent album, Call This a Reality? has enough hooks to keep a fleet of fishermen happy, though their boats would be rocking so hard they might capsize. 

After purchasing two tickets, I checked in with my mate to see if he wanted the other and Disaster! He was already going to The Skids at the Bungalow in Paisley that night. I asked my wife if she wanted to come along. Rock isn't her usual musical fare, but after hearing a few of their songs, she agreed, surprisingly. Maybe she didn't want me hanging about with all the young rock chicks in case they stole me away from her. (Ha!)    

King Tut's is iconic. You feel the gravitas as you climb the stairs, seeing the names of all the big names that have played there. Being a small venue, you're so close to the performers that it can't help but feel intimate. The only downside is that the lighting employed for rock bands tends to blast at you with the intensity of a nuclear explosion. It becomes difficult to see the band and occasionally induces a migraine. 

As usual, I arrived early, before the venue's doors opened, in order to snag a particular spot on the bench at the back of the standing area. It grants you a seat during the wait before the bands come on and provides an elevated view, unobscured by heads when the gig starts. There wasn't much of a wait, though, as the support act, Lo Riders, came on at 8 p.m., just thirty minutes later.

I wasn't familiar with them. They make a good racket, but I didn't warm to the Finnish singer's voice. Most of the time, her vocals lacked power and clarity, though that might have been due to the sound mix. Musically, they plough the same furrow as Yonaka but don't match that band for style and quality (based on what I saw and heard tonight). I probably wouldn't make the effort to see them again unless they bring out some better tunes.

Anchor Lane are young, but they certainly don't lack confidence. They delivered an assured set with lots of energy and swagger. Conor's voice was strong, and he was a great presence on the stage. The audience played their part, singing along, knowing all the words. The guitarist produced some amazing sounds with his effects pedals, and the drummer kept everything tight. When the crowd erupted into an impromptu "Here we, here we, here we fucking go" (as they inevitably do these days), the band accompanied us like it was a proper song in the set that we just happened to be singing.

The band are great live. Their songs are catchy with a good balance of hook-ladened choruses and thumping, jumping-up-and-down rock numbers. They totally deserve wider recognition. I'd love to see them perform on a bigger stage in front of a larger audience. Unfortunately, tonight's show wasn't sold out, but the room was packed enough for everyone to enjoy themselves. Even my wife thought they were good, though she did complain about the lighting. Just because there is a heavy beat, it doesn't need to be accompanied by a blinding pulse of bright light every single time. 

In light of that, I hope to see the band again somewhere else, somewhere bigger. 

Setlist:

Choke
Stutter
Call This a Reality?
Ministry
Sit Tight Sunshine
I've Been Waiting
Electric Karma (Conor performed beside the crowd on the small stage in the bar area)
Honey
Blood & Irony
Fame Shame
Nitroglycerin
Sycophant Disorder (with Lo Rays)
I Don't Have Another Soul To Pour

Videos: "Stutter", "Fame Shame" & "I Don't Have Another Soul to Pour" 

(Videos contain flashing lights)

 

Ticket Price: £13.50 each, service charge £2.70, Delivery 0.00, Total £29.70  from TicketWeb.

Lo Rays

Conor performing from the bar area stage

Anchor Lane & Lo Riders

Artist Bio:

Anchor Lane, who cite a wide range of influences including Nothing but Thieves, Royal Blood, Biffy Clyro, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse and Foo Fighters are undoubtedly one of the most exciting bands to come out of Scotland in recent years.

2023 saw the release of their new album Call This a Reality? which garnered top reviews and airplay from the likes of Jack Saunders, Daniel P. Carter & Alyx Holcombe at BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing and Planet Rock etc. The album entered the Top Ten Official UK Rock Albums Chart upon release, scoring the band back-to-back Top Ten placements as their debut album Casino did likewise. Notably in the Official UK album charts, Call This a Reality? also placed at #3 in the Record Store chart, #9 in the Scottish chart and #21 in the Independent chart.

Anchor Lane have built a reputation as a thrilling and dynamic live act through several successful headline UK tours and appearances at numerous prominent music festivals such as Download, Isle of Wight, Belladrum and most recently Reading & Leeds.  The band have also played notable guest spots with artists like Eagles of Death Metal, Tremonti & Skindred.

Foo Fighters, "Everything or Nothing At All" UK Tour, Hampden Park, Glasgow. Monday 17th, June, 2024

When the tickets for this rock'n'roll show went on sale, I didn't know whether I could get the day off. With no golden circle, I didn't want to risk buying standing tickets and ending up at the back of the pitch, so I panicked and paid for the best seats I could get, which turned out to be in the South Stand, opposite the stage. 

In my haste, I hadn't even realised they were VIP tickets, which sounds fancy but isn't. The reality was that we got a clear plastic bag printed with the FF logo, which contained an exclusive art print and a fabric wristband with the tour name. There was no early entrance, no exclusive bars, and no special assistance to take us to our seats. 

We could have benefitted from a personal guide as we ended up sitting in the right row, on the right seat number, but in the wrong section. We sat there for both support acts and only discovered our mistake when the actual people with the correct tickets arrived. Cue a shameful shuffle out from the row, then a traipse down the stairs to the front to ask another steward where we should have sat. Which turned out to be more central. To be honest, we should have realised earlier because we were the only people sitting there holding VIP bags.

We missed the start of Honeyblood's set as I had parked in Shawlands, miles from the Stadium. The all-girl, indie guitar rock act from Edinburgh were okay. Pleasant to watch and listen to, and it was good to hear a Scottish accent.

The second support act, Courtney Barnett, didn't get me fired up. At first, I thought the Aussie was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan's rambling, not-quite-singing style. Then, she transitioned into shouty mode. Later, she proved she could sing, but her songs didn't win me over. Not that that mattered because we were only here for the Foos. And they did not disappoint. 

Dave Grohl has the kind of magnetic personality that draws your attention even when he's a tiny blip at the other end of the pitch. His warmth, personality, and charm fill the entire stadium, and boy, does he know how to rock. It pours from his sweat, screams from his roar, and shows in his passion. For the three hours they're on stage, we all become part of his Foo family.

I did miss Taylor Hawkins. He was such a huge element of the Foo's live shows. His drumming was joyful and subtle, and he used amazing technique. He was even known to take over the lead vocals on occasion, with Dave swapping onto the drumkit. Josh Freese might be a great skin basher, sitting in Taylor's seat by necessity, but he hasn't filled the hole. Without Josh, though, there would have been no show. 

With such a long set, there were inevitably lulls. Some of the more obscure numbers and newer songs will need to work hard to stay in the sets for subsequent tours, but it was nice to hear them play Skin and Bones. I still don't get the appeal of The Teacher from the recent album. It's way too long and downbeat—not exactly typical fare for an encore.      

I took a few pics and some vids, straining my camera's zoom to the max. I kinda wished I'd had telephoto-zoom contact lenses myself to see the stage better. Thankfully, the large screens on either side displayed what was going on. The staging itself wasn't overly ornate. I'm not sure why they have so many television-size screens racked behind them. In such a huge venue, I could hardly see what images they displayed. I also couldn't tell if the disc logo that appeared mid-set was just on the screen or an actual prop. Probably the latter.

For once, the weather stayed dry, but once the sun went down, it was freezing in the Stand. A right chilly wind blew around us, so much so my hands were frozen and my thighs chittered. Clapping was a great way to warm your hands. I actually missed that sweaty heat you get from standing in the crowd.

However, despite a few reservations, this was still another amazing experience. Long live the Foos!

Setlist:

All My Life
No Son of Mine (with snippets of "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath and "Enter Sandman" by Metallica)
Rescued
The Pretender
Walk
Times Like These (Dave and Rami only into full band)
White Limo
La Dee Da
This Is a Call
Guitar Solo / Sabotage / Keyboard Solo / Flower of Scotland / Blitzkrieg Bop / Whip It / March of the Pigs
My Hero (acoustic into full band)
The Sky Is a Neighborhood
Learn to Fly
Arlandria
These Days
Skin and Bones (tour debut; acoustic with Rami on accordion)
Under You (Dave solo acoustic)
Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners (acoustic into full band)
Nothing at All (with a snippet of "Blackbird" by The Beatles)
Unconditional
Monkey Wrench (with added audience “Here We Fucking Go” and “No Scotland No Party")
Show Me How (with Violet Grohl) (tour debut)
Aurora (dedicated to Taylor Hawkins)
Best of You

Encore:
The Teacher
Everlong

Ticket Price: 

Artist Presale - Best Seat Experience £175.00 x2 = £350.00
Per Item Fees £11.80 (Service Charge Artist Presale - Best Seat Experience) x2 = £23.60
Order Processing Fees Handling Fee (£2.75) £2.75

Total £376.35

Links to my YouTube videos:

Photos:

Honeyblood

Courtney Barnett

Coincidental contrails of a passing plane