P!NK - Summer Carnival Tour 2024, Hampden Park, Glasgow. Friday 28th June, 2024

 

I normally write my post-gig reactions immediately after the gig or on the following day. This one took more than a week. I went to work the next day, felt awful, and, upon my return home, slept for twelve hours straight (which, given my insomnia, is unusual). Turned out I had covid, as confirmed by a test the following day. So, seven days later, as my ability to concentrate returns, these are now distant memories.

This was my third P!nk concert and the second Summer Carnival I'd seen on this tour. Unlike Hyde Park last year, Hampden was freezing. We had Standing Golden Circle tickets and arrived early so that we could find a spot near the end of the front stage. KidCutUp was doing his stuff, and the crowd was full of ladies (and gents) in pink stetsons and feather boas with pink glitter on their faces. 

We watched Gayle have a serious wardrobe malfunction during her set as her new dress fell apart. I bet she wished she could have used a couple of those safety pins from her logo to hold it together. Instead, she ended up wearing a sweatshirt donated by someone in the crowd. She came across better this time. Her confidence has grown. I suppose getting picked by P!nk twice to support her will do that for a girl. That and recording a smash hit anthem that every girl in the crowd seemed to know.

The Script surprised me. I didn't expect them to be so popular with the young people around us who belted out all the lyrics to their songs. I don't understand the band's appeal. To me, lead singer Danny comes across like a Karoaoke Bono. He worked the crowd and wowed them. One song involves singing on the phone to an ex, and someone tossed their phone onto the stage, only for it to smash. Whoops. Danny did find one girl to sing to, and she stayed on the video call the whole time.   

Before P!nk came on, five of the young girls in front of us decided to use the facilities, leaving their mother to keep their spaces. They were away for ages, so long, in fact, that by the time they returned, that space was already swallowed up. That didn't stop them, though. They crammed in, creating ill feelings with those in front who'd been there all along. When a pair of posh young persons also attempted to worm their way in, they were met with substantial abuse. If they hadn't been so tall (and smartly dressed), they might have gotten away with it, but tensions were already stoked. They departed to try elsewhere.

We had three foreign people in front of us. I didn't recognise the language they spoke, but the bouffant-haired female wore what I thought was the Hungarian flag around her neck. It took a lot less than 100 minutes for them to piss me off (Euros 2024 reference). The tall, bearded male tried to be inconspicuous with his cigarette consumption, hiding it in the crook of his hand, but he must have been stupid if he thought we wouldn't smell it. Stubbing out the butt underfoot afterwards also reinforced that he wasn't vaping. The aforementioned female with the flag lifted it up, blocking my view, whenever P!nk approached. Either that or she raised her camera in front of me for part of every song. Her female companion did so, too, but less often. She wasn't alone in doing this as everyone had 'camera tourettes', especially the young girls who needed them to view the action, being too short to see the stage. I quickly gave up any hope of filming any of this gig.

We didn't have a clear view of the main stage anyway because of the risers on the front stage and the attendees' cameras. This didn't matter, though, as P!nk was often performing aerial acrobatics or dancing/singing on the front stage. It did reduce our appreciation, though, as we were not able to see everything.

I was determined to film one song, though. Twice before, I'd failed to film the finale. The first time, my battery failed. The second, I ran out of memory. This time, I had a new camera, and it was fully charged and had over a hundred gigs of free data. As soon as I realised there was one song to go, I pressed record long before anyone else. The arrival of the harness stirred some excitement, the crowd erupting when they saw P!nk marching to the front, the drums beating out the intro to "So What?". I managed to maintain a clear view as the main guitar riff kicked in, and then she was off, flying around the stadium, and somehow, this time, I managed to capture the whole song. As she was in the air, it didn't matter that everyone around me was also filming her. My view was clear. 

Even though I've seen her do this three times now, it never fails to impress. She is a fantastic performer who loves her audience as much as they love her back. They give her presents of chocolate, cuddly toys, and clothes. She signs their autographs and poses for pictures. She loves what she's doing, and it shows in every smile and laugh. She did find it freezing in her skimpy costumes, though. Welcome to a Scottish Summer Carnival, P!nk! 

Correction: the 'Hungarians' were actually Portuguese. I looked up the flag afterwards.     

Setlist

Intro Montage (video intro; elements of “ Raise Your Glass,” “TRUSTFALL,” “What About Us” & “Get the Party Started")

Get the Party Started (aerial stunt, w/Eurythmics " Sweet Dreams" & C+C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat" snippets)

Raise Your Glass

Who Knew

Just Like a Pill

What About Us (Dance remix)

Act II

Heartbeat (dance sequence to tape)

Turbulence (Aerial Stunt)

Beautiful Trauma (Snippet as a part of nightly “guess that tune” game with pianist)

Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan cover) (P!nk played the piano)

Just Give Me a Reason

F**kin' Perfect

Just Like Fire / Heartbreaker

Act III

Please Don't Leave Me

Don't Let Me Get Me (Duet with Justin Derrico on electric guitar)

When I Get There (Duet with Justin Derrico on electric guitar)

I Am Here

What's Up? (4 Non Blondes cover)

Act IV

Try (Aerial Stunt)

Are You Gonna Fall? (Spoken word interlude)

TRUSTFALL

Blow Me (One Last Kiss) (With band introductions, extended intro)

Never Gonna Not Dance Again (With dancer introductions, extended outro)

Encore:

So What (Aerial stunt, extended intro & outro)

   

Ticket Price:

2 Vodafone VeryMe Presale Gold Circle Ticket £150.00 x2  £300.00  

Per Item Fees (£12.00) x2  £24.00 

Order Processing Fees Handling Fee £3.25 

Total £327.25 

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.