Review & Photography by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
Has there ever been a more apt tour name than “about time” ? Two bands that have managed to avoid the UK for a very long time, no matter how loud we raised our voices on this side of the pond but finally the dam burst and we are treated to two bands at the height of their powers and who provided us with sheer entertainment that has been worth every second of the wait.
Unsurprising the venue is packed out tonight and first on in this co headliner tour is Blacktop Mojo and as this was the band I had basically begged to come here way back in 2017 during an interview it was perfect timing.
They kick the set off with “Wicked Woman” from their self titled album and the bands intent is set down immediately. The power, the vibe and the beastliness of the band kicks out of the PA and it does not let up for the (too short) hour set.
The bluesy intro of “Where the Wind Blows” filters to our ears and live it is huge. The southern swagger flows through the audience and the lyrics are spat back at the band with vigour.
It is hit after hit as “Burn the Ships” comes forth and as one of my favourite songs this was sublime. Valhalla called and Glasgow responded. Matt James vocals were just as powerful live as on record but with a whole lot more bite and the band were on fire.
After an airing of “ Stratus Melancholia” we are treated to something the states has not heard live yet in “ The End is Gonna Come” from the brilliant Pollen. The slow burn was perfectly placed in the set and showed the versatility of the band.
Another track from Pollen was “Rise” and having Nathan Hunt on hand to duet was incredible. In a set full of highlights this song soared as did another Pollen track in “Weary I Roam”. The almost poppy track had everyone bouncing off the ceiling and dancing in place due to the lack of space.
It is hard to believe we are heading into the tail end of the set but with the outstanding “Prodigal” alone worth the entry price. The crowd sang out every word and that one song was my gig highlight of the year, a beautiful song I was not even sure I would ever hear live and now I have I can lay my bones to rest.
The band bowed out on “It Won’t Last” and I really did not see my reaction to this coming. I love my blues, I love this song but this was just stunning, Seeing Matt take on bass duties so Matt Curtis could add a third guitar to the proceedings left me in awe. You can love a band on record but till you see them live you cannot be sure they are the real deal. I have been disappointed many times in the past but witnessing this band and this song told me everything I needed to know. They are the real deal as this rendition was flawless.
Blacktop Mojo delivered in every department tonight, every anticipation was surpassed but I do have to let loose my qualms. After waiting so long to see the band such a short set was a real downer, missing the acoustic numbers did pull on my heart strings and having no “Dream On” was gut wrenching. this is one of my all time favourite songs and I had came to terms with the fact I was never likely to see Aerosmith perform this masterpiece again so I had maybe unfairly placed all hope on the boys being my one way to hear this song live again.
The good news is after the show I managed to speak to the guys and they have been blown away by the responses from the British audiences and we may not have to wait so long to see them again.
I did have a little smile at the venue tonight…it was here I first saw Black Stone Cherry and those boys now play The Hydro in this city which is a stadium. Those boys saw instantly the impact the UK could have for them and I have no doubt that the same is awaiting the boys from Texas.
I have to be honest, it was going to be a tough act to follow but I gave Shaman’s Harvest the floor, the time and the opportunity and with the first three songs they nailed it. After the intro they broke into “The Come Up”, “Dangerous” and “Blood in the Water” and they were firing on all cylinders. I heard some niggles of people and the mention of backing tapes but these songs were banging.
They were ticking all my boxes, power, Southern boogie and some anthems. What was there not to like? When we got to “Bird Dog” the sound engineer must have went for a crap and it must have been a beauty as the issues stuck for a large part of the set. The vocals were smothered and we could not even make out what was being said between songs.
That aside the band plowed on, the music was flitting between good, bad and what the fuck at times. The impetuous of the start had waned and it was only the die hard fans who knew what the hell was going on.
The one song that the sound issues didn’t affect was “Country as Fuck” as that one is pure attitude and the chaos coming from the speakers matched the song to a tea.
Things settled down on “In Chains”. The quieter music let the vocals through and I loved this song. Its sprinkling of Country, Southern and Rock was massive.
The band ended with “Broken Dreams” and “Dragonfly”. I loved the mix of heavy as fuck and thoughtful brilliance, is there such a thing as progressive Country?
This was a tour I was never going to miss. Hell, I have waited so damned long I would have sold a kidney to be here and after seeing the show I would happily have thrown in a lung. Two bands on fire and finally over here.
