Glasvegas, Shepherds Bush Empire, December 1st
Glasvegas played Shepherds Bush Empire on December 1st
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Thursday, 04, Dec 2008 04:46
inthenews.co.uk's Lewis Bazley finds a stadium atmosphere invading west London.
A queue snakes around a Shepherds Bush corner that isn't for Westfield ahead of the London leg of Glasvegas' Christmas tour, a night that begins with a young band staking claim to rule 2009 and ends with a cathartic cascade of ticker-tape.
Gloom merchants White Lies kick off their short support set with former NME single of the week Unfinished Business and it becomes clear that though it's only been a few months since their headline-making Camden Crawl set, Harry McVeigh has grown in stature as a frontman, much helped by his cavernous vocals.
With a set of songs ready for an arena or festival stage, the West Londoners could fill the mantle for those who miss the way the Killers used to sound and as fitting closer Death brings a surprisingly uplifting end to proceedings, there's a sense that we'll be hearing a lot more about White Lies in the next year.
It only hit the shelves in September but with a sea of hype behind Glasvegas' debut, and a set of heartstopping, Wall of Sound songs to back it up, few bands have matched the Glaswegians' first offering in 2008.
Reverb and a bass thud reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine floods the glittering venue and as album opener Flowers and Football Tops kicks into gear, you're aware of the same 'Scottish pub singing' feel of the Fratellis, but with the finesse and feeling sorely lacking from their lad rock dirges. As Caroline McKay's drumstick silhouettes against the back screen and James Allan's voice sends a ripple through your heart on a menacing F**k You (It's Over) and an impassioned Geraldine, troubling levels can be easily overlooked for the sheer spine-tingling soul of it all.
Allan's Oasis referencing on It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry has more feeling than Noel and Liam have had in years while Go Square Go is an exhilarating set-closer.
As the refrain of "here we f****n' go. " bounces around the Empire, there's a rush akin to being in the home end as your team crashes home a winner and former footballer Allan forges beauty and unity from the ugliest of sources.
It's not a perfect set, with Ice Cream Van destroying the set's momentum while an eschewing of Stabbed's Moonlight Sonata backdrop for the Beatles' I Want You (She's So Heavy) is bewildering.
But as Daddy's Gone - the predictable climax - reaches its crescendo, ticker tape cascades from the ceiling, and a lump rises in your throat. It's as if the heavens have just opened at the strain of bearing the weight of singing audience members' laments at their dysfunctional upbringing.
Who knew stadium rock could be so sad?
Set-list:
Flowers and Football Tops
Lonesome Swan
F**k You (It's Over)
It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry
Polmont On My Mind
Please Come Back Home
Geraldine
Ice Cream Van
Go Square Go
Encore
Stabbed
Daddy's Gone
Lewis Bazley
Click here to watch the Please Come Back Home video