Music Monday: Gigs in Glasgow This Week

Kicking off the week in style we have Depeche Mode taking to the stage at The Hydro. One of the few quintessential 80’s acts who have managed to stay relatively relevant, probably due in no small part to their ability to develop stylistically. There’s much more to the band than the upbeat pop of “Just Can’t Get Enough,” and they’re probably far more respected (at least by me) for their forays into so-called ‘darkwave’ than they are for the sunny day-glow pop of their earlier records. Recent comparisons to CHVRCHES have certainly helped in keeping them relevant, and recent album Delta Machine was well received by many in the music press, receiving comparisons to earlier, gothic albums like Violator.

In a similar vein, Wednesday sees the return to Glasgow of another synth pioneer, Gary Numan. Just as with Depeche Mode poor Gary is probably more well known for singles like “Cars” and “Are Friends Electric” than he is for his vast, and relatively consistent, body of work. Far from burning out after that initial, and unexpected, success, Gary has kept on quietly doing his own thing for years. His frequent appearances in Glasgow are always greeted by a rapturous and dedicated crowd, due in no small part to his lovely low-key approach to fans (his mum purportedly manages his fan-club). Having long ago embraced the industrial sounds of the likes of Nine Inch Nails, a sound he inspired, latest album Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind) was a mild chart success, showing that Gary is still a cultural force to be reckoned with. Plus it’s freaking incredible, all heavy synth textures and gothic atmospherics.

At the heavier end of the scale Glasgow is also playing host to a range of top end metal, from the blockbuster stoner rock of Queens of the Stone Age at The Hydro, to the death metal double bill of Amon Amarth and Carcass at the Barrowlands. Heavy highlight of the week however goes to Nails, the California Grindcore ensemble whose latest release Abandon All Life is one of the year’s best metal albums. Making a name for yourself in a genre where everything more or less sounds much the same is difficult, but Nails pack more ideas into 2 minutes than most bands do in their entire career. These guys should be topping best of lists all over the place come the years end.

Finally, there’s a range of big shows which you, like most of Glasgow, probably didn’t manage to get tickets for. But what kind of music critic would I be if I didn’t rub your noses in it? First up there’s the worlds worst kept secret, The Reflektors, playing two nights at the Barras. The alias of Arcade Fire, but with big papier mâché heads, don’t expect an awful lot of ‘classic’ Fire material. Instead expect a selection of tunes off of their stellar new album called, funnily enough, Reflektor. Then there’s Frightened Rabbit, for once not playing one of their so-called “special shows” (which beg the question, how often can you play a special show before it becomes the norm?) They’re also playing two nights, and if you try hard you might just be able to sneak a ticket for the Sunday one. If, however, you’re unsuccessful in your endeavours then you could always get a ticket for Vampire Weekend on Friday. Quite how their delicate pop sensibilities will fair in the cavernous Hydro remains to be seen, but their last album Modern Vampires of the City was one of the year’s highlights, so the music might just be able to overcome the surroundings.

Full Listings

Let us know in the comments, who are you going to see this week? Or are there any must-sees which somehow haven’t made it onto our list?

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