Its Christmas time again. At the end of another great year of gigs at the old Barrowland Ballroom, what better way to round things off than with a gig by Glasgow’s own Del Amitri. The Barrowland event was one of a couple of sold-out Christmas shows arranged by the band with this one and a night at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall scheduled across two evenings.
Support for both of these shows was Iona Luke. The singer, songwriter from Cambridge had half an hour to showcase her music to the ever-populating crowd, and songs like Can we Still Hang, Hymn, From Dust, Headlights and Cowboy Boots left those in attendance in no doubt of the talents on display. A singer who definitely has a very bright future ahead of her.
After a half hour break to clear the stage, Del Amitri entered to a huge roar of approval. ‘Merry Christmas Glasgow!’ screamed front man Justin Currie, as the band opened proceedings with a rousing cover of the Kiki Dee classic ‘I’ve Got the Music in Me’, and the bar was set. Stone Cold Sober, Kiss This Thing Goodbye and Always the Last to Know, a trio of classic tracks by The Del’s followed on, with the crowd in full voice on backing vocals. What a start to the show!
Tonight’s set would see the band delve into their back catalogue and revisit some of their lesser-known tracks. Just Like a Man, Not Where It’s At, Driving with the Brakes On and thru to the bands last single from 2021 All Hail Blind Love, all tracks going down well with the packed crowd.
The stage tonight is illuminated with a number of bright blue and orange spotlights behind the band, sending blinding beams of light across the stage and front few rows of the crowd making it difficult to focus on events, at some points a welder’s helmet wouldn’t have gone amiss they were so bright, with main duo Justin Currie and guitarist Iain Harvie occasionally depicted as silhouettes due to the spots behind them. Having recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, the slight hand tremors of Justin Currie when patrolling the stage with the mic on hand are clearly evident, but when fully kitted out behind his bass guitar he is the same old front man, and tonight he is on fine form.
One highlight of the night was a full crowd singalong when Spit in the Rain followed by Nothing Ever Happens closed the first act, two tremendous songs by the band with the latter from 1990 still the bands highest chart position to date in the UK.
A four-track encore would see the evening out. Tell Her This, Roll to Me, the fabulous Move Away Jimmy Blue and Be My Downfall and the gig was over. This was a terrific show. A greatest hits setlist, a band on top form, an electric atmosphere which is virtually guaranteed at the old venue with a sell-out crowd, all combined makes for a top night out and on tonight’s showing Del Amitri are still a band well worth catching live.
Review and photographs by Stephen Wilson Photography
