What could be better on a Saturday Night in Glasgow than a trip to one of the city’s most vibrant music venues, SWG3? This time around, the versatile venue played host to Bogle, a lively, local, up-and-coming band, supported by two other emerging acts, Landline and Studio 8, who helped to round out this evening of indie music.
SWG3, known for it’s edgy aesthetic and diverse spaces, and for all three bands performances, offered the Poetry Club as the perfect setting for all three performances. This intimate and underground vibe of the room blended seamlessly with each band’s unique style of sound.
The synergy was immediately evident when Landline opened the night before an eager crowd. Their set highlighted an authentic take on indie rock with folk influences marked by storytelling lyrics and dynamic dual harmonies. At the same time, they surprised the audience with unexpected flourishes, like high guitar wails, jangly chords, wah-wah and reverb effects and syncopated rhythms within their songs, particularly in the track “All about you” These elements aren’t typically associated with folk-tinged indie rock, but subtly alluded to the band’s admiration for acts like Radiohead and Goo Goo Dolls. This seamless blend of genres and influences made Landline a perfect opener, that heightened the crowd’s excitement and set the tone for the night ahead that celebrated emerging talent in Glasgow’s indie scene.
Following a quick changeover, Studio 8 then took the stage. Their set intertwined original songs like “Waiting Till Summer” with covers of popular tracks like “Everybody Talks” by The Neon Trees, “I Bet you look good on the dance floor” by The Artic Monkeys and “Favourite” by Fontaines D.C. This carefully curated blend of songs showcased the band’s versatility and ability to infuse familiar songs with their own unique and distinct sound, creating a truly dynamic performance that pairs well with the spirit of Landline’s genre-blending set. Lead vocalists Noah McLean and Luisa De Barry, from each respective support band, captivated the crowd with performances that radiated confidence and charisma. Their showmanship felt entirely natural and effortlessly authentic, set against a backdrop of genuine sonic creativity. The ease and mastery with which each band performed suggested a promising future, leaving the crowd eager to see what comes next.
After the performances of Landline and Studio 8, there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the crowd as wires were plugged in, guitars were tuned and the room buzzed in preparation for another standout Bogle performance. Ater a brief delay due to technical difficulties, they launched into “A Past Blunder”, a track that opened with beautifully executed 60s style harmonies that were almost hypnotic in their ability to captivate the crowd through subtle dissonance and blend. In conversation before the show, band member Adam McCafferty discussed Bogle’s admiration for psychedelic influences, citing a love for “60s style harmonies and layered textures”, which are key elements in their evolving sounds, appearing throughout their set with other original songs like “In the bleak” and “Lost”, as well as influencing their choice of covers. The band’s guitarist and vocalist Joe O’Donnell, noted that these elements are present in Bogle’s “ shared favourite band of Teenage Fan Club” and is why they included TFC’s song “God Knows it’s True” in their set list.
Though the band has only been playing gigs in Glasgow for the past 2 years, they captivated the audience with ease, showcasing a passion in for their music that felt as natural as breathing. In addition to their commanding stage presence and distinctive sonic style, Bogle also brings a considered and unique approach to songwriting. Crowd favourites like “Always Nowhere” and “Beyond My Reach” featured subtle layers of word painting and musical metaphors, infusing the songs with a poetic resonance that invited listeners to interpret and project their own meanings, a fitting connection to the evening’s venue, The Poetry Club.
“Beyond My reach” in particular, stood out as a stylistically and metaphorically complex music journey. It’s melody seemed to constantly evolve and shift, pointing in all different directions at once that keeps the audience in a state of alert curiosity, continuously trying to catch up, yet fully immersed. The shadowy blue and purple hues remained low throughout the performance, becoming a perfect coalescence with the introspective and melancholic music of Bogle. This created an incredibly immersive and ambient atmosphere that heightened the band’s emotional impact and held the audience in quiet captivation.
Bogle concluded their successful performance by expressing gratitude for the audience’s energy and support. The band skilfully showcased their fusion of genres and styles in a way that undoubtedly left a lasting impression, reaffirming their place in Glasgow’s vibrant indie scene.
With their passion and unique flair, it’s fair to say that Bogle is a band to watch. If Saturday night was any indication, the future looks bright for Adam McCafferty, Joe O’ Donnell, Jacob Duffy and Evie Seenan, and many will be eager to see what happens next for this young local band.
Review by Rachel Bissett
Photographs by John Brown Photography
