REEF – Queen Margaret Union (QMU) Glasgow 8th April 2022
Glastonbury’s Reef return to Glasgow as part of their UK tour, playing in the cities West End, Glasgow University students Union, locally known as the QMU (Queen Margaret Union). A great venue that will suit tonight’s show. Tonight, is the 2nd night of the UK tour and there is a great buzz outside the venue from fans waiting in the queue, relishing that could hear the sound check going on indoors.
The show opened with former Grim Northern Social lead singer Ewan MacFarlane with support on drums from Dougie Hannah. Ewan out playing new solo songs from his album Always Everylong. A powerful vocal range leaves you feeling mesmerized by the performance as he delights the Glasgow audience with songs like Underneath You spell with its powerful catchy lyrics. The story telling about his music captures your imagination with songs about his own imaginary friend Me and James which is a little bit bluesy with brilliant lyric and guitar. Next up was a song was about going to a gig with his wife, a truly lyrically song that it could be about anyone, Won’t Stop Burning stood out within the set before treating the crowd to a Grim Northern Social Song Favourite Girl which he encourages the Glasgow audience to help out with feet stamping. This was a perfect opening to the night as Ewan put on a very commanding performance, if you get a chance to go see him, you won’t be disappointed, a great entertainer with brilliant songs old and new.
As the lights came up the stage crew could be seen resetting the stage for main support band A, as the fans refiled their glasses before A took to the stage the venue was now pretty full. As the lights dimmed, the 5-piece band from Suffolk took their places on stage. As the first chord of Took it Away were heard, the scene was set for some classic rock with an edge. Lead singer said he was recovering from nearly losing his voice from the previous night’s show, added to the bands rough start to the tour, with their bass guitarist pulling out due to covid and the tour manager having to learn all the songs in one day to make it all happen. That was then and this is now, geared up and ready to put on a great show with great music and songs including Somethings Going On, Old Folks and Starbucks. They had a great response from the Glasgow audience and the band didn’t disappoint with their music. After all the illnesses, they really put on a great show in Glasgow closing with Nothings. The band enjoyed the set as much at the Glasgow crowd did, thanking the audience for their support and Reef for having them on the tour as they left the stage.
It was now time for headline band Reef to take the stage, the atmosphere in the venue was electric, and the Glasgow audience were eagerly waiting their heroes to take to the QMU stage. As the lights dimmed the excitement levels grew, as they came on to the stage the welcome was deafing from the Glasgow crowd, the band seemed delighted as lead singer Gary Stringer looked into the crowd smiling. As the opening chords of Shoot Me Your Ace rang out, loud cheers could be heard around the venue, the band were playing with passion as they went straight in to Naked. This was a powerful start to the set treating their fans to some dirty rock n roll.
The band delighting fans with old and new songs including Higher Vibration, Right On before taking the roof of the venue with the excellent Place Your Hands that had the Glasgow crowd in full voice. The band were on top form enjoying every minute featuring Jesse Wood, Luke Bullen and Jack Bessant. The stage presence and passion overflowed into the audience, the magnetic strength could be felt pulling on both sides creating great emotion from the Glasgow audience with each and every song.
The show was full of in-your-face rock n’ Roll with a gritty bluesy feel in places, it was 110% entertainment that had the audience in the palm of Gary Stringers hand from the word go, working through a set of power and emotion they played the excellent Lucky Number, Precious Metal, and for the older fans Don’t You Like It? Smiling into the audience they could see the crowd were delighted with the show, closing the set with Yer Old before playing End, as the band left the stage you just knew they would be back, they were enjoying every second playing to the Glasgow crowd.
After a short break, the band came back on the stage, showing their delight and received a great welcome back to the stage, delighting the fans with a excellent cover of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain, played with great passion, as the encore came to a close, time was running out, as the venue’s curfew crept ever closer they finished the set with the excellent Good Feeling, and I Do Not Know What They Will Do. The band were emotional after the set after having given their all to the Glasgow crowd. This was a faultless performance from the band that captured music from old to new. Delighting old and new fans alike with a performance to be proud of, if you get a chance to see Reef, you will definitely be entertained with pure rock n’ roll, Reef style.
Review by Karen Edmond
