Against Me! - Glasgow - Review - 14/11/14
It’s safe to say that Against Me! are one of the main reasons that punk still lives on these days. If you don’t believe that statement, you’ve obviously never seen them live. The good news is that they’re currently touring the UK with Canadian songstress, Billy The Kid. But the best part is, we managed to catch this amazing show when it rolled into Glasgow.
Now, you might be sitting there thinking, ‘one woman band, acoustic guitar, seen this all before,’ but we guarantee, you’ve never heard anything like Billy The Kid. She has this amazing unassuming quality; so much so that you could practically hear the audience’s shock when she opened her set. However, it was her rendition of ‘This Sure As Hell Ain’t My Life‘ that really stood out. Her crystal clear tone and enchanting manner made for a thoroughly watchable set.
Polar opposite to their serene support act, Against Me! were an unrelenting force, with their infectiously punchy brand of punk rock. Keeping in line with frontwoman, Laura Jane Grace‘s love of anarchy, they brought nothing less to the table.
Opening with ‘FuckMyLife666‘ one thing is abundantly clear, Against Me! aren’t just one of those bands who’ve gained a fair number of casual listeners. The crowd’s reaction points to higher prestige; they’re icons, a source of hope and inspiration. Not only that, but the band clearly know how to work a crowd, effortlessly. Laura seemed to be having the time of her life on stage, and that was definitely reflected in the crowd’s reception. Numbers such as ‘Cliche Guevara‘ and ‘True Trans Soul Rebel‘ saw the entire room on their feet, while the wildly political ‘I Was a Teenage Anarchist’ provided the biggest singalong opportunity of the night.
At points during the night, when the air hung heavy and the walls shook viciously, it really felt like one of those magical shows that you won’t forget in a hurry. But the most unforgettable moment was the band’s performance of the fabulously frank, ‘Black Me Out‘ which is clearly a fan favourite judging by the amount of people in the crowd drunkenly going for it, punching the air, yelling the words. Glasgow on a Saturday night is what that track was made for.
Rounding off their high octane set in the most memorable way with their feel good anthem ‘We Laugh At Danger (And Break All The Rules)‘, Against Me! have given an unbeatable performance. Not just in terms of atmosphere and energy, but musically too.
If you are looking for a night filled with straight down the line punk rock, with a political twist, then you had best add an Against Me! show to your list. We guarantee you’ll leave drenched in beer and sweat, with a big smile on your face.
