Photo Credit James Edmond
A stormy night in Glasgow, as the Hootie and the Blowfish truck rolled in to town. Darius Rucker and the band are set for two sold out shows at the famous Glasgow venue that has seen many a band through its doors. The crowd was already gathering at the venue snaking around the adjoining streets to gain prime advantage in the venue.
The show opened with Patrick Davis from Nashville USA, bringing his southern Country rock songs to the Glasgow audience, joking with the audience during the short set from Patrick, he entertained the crowd with his original songs of love and devotion of his country. Stand out songs from his set were a new one “Six String Dream”, and the beautiful “Numbers” before the crowd was treated to amazing version of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire”. He invited members of the crew on stage to perform with him to a beautiful song titled “Love” which he encouraged the audience to sing along too.
Drivin N Cryin from Atlanta Georgia were next, the 4-piece band had Glasgow singing and dancing to their country Moonshine rock. The treated the crowd to a set of good old-fashioned American country rock n’ roll, Stand out song was “A Good Country Mile”. Frontman Kevn Kinney knew how to work a crowd and surely get them warmed up, with guitar drivin music with upbeat they had the Glasgow audience in their pocket. Foot tapping, dancing and singing along during their support slot. As the band descried them self is “Their name derives from the eclectic nature of this sound: a little drivin’ rock n roll and a little country twang. Comfortable with their past and confident in their future, the band has an arsenal of songs, a full tank of gas, and no plans of stopping any time soon.”, this is so true. They bring a smile to any venue they roll in to, next up, headliner Hootie and the Blowfish, are getting ready to rock the legendary Glasgow Barrowlands.
As the lights went down, the time was nearing for Darius Rucker and the band to take to the famous Barrowland stage for the first of two sold out shows. The audience were ready, the atmosphere was electric with excitement to see the band return to the city. As the lights gradually came on, the opening intro from “Samuel L Jackson” to introduce the band, one by one the guys came on to the stage before Darius took his position at the front and centre of the stage, the stoplight lite the frontman up as he smiled to the audience, before opening the show with the excellent “Hannah Jane”, before lighting the house up with “State Your Peace”, with the superb musicians behind him they were on fire from the off.
The audience were delighted to hear songs from Platinum selling album “Cracked Rear View” along with songs from the new album “Imperfect Circle” due out on the 1st November, Darius and band mates Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld delighted the Glasgow audience with a set including cover songs from their favourite artists including “Losing My Religion”, “Hey Hey What Can I Do” along with Tom Waits “I Hope I Don’t Fall In Love with you”, played in Blowfish Style.
Highlights from the opening of the set were “Hold My Hand”, “Let Her Cry”, “Running From an Angel” before Darius played one of his own solo songs that delighted the crowd with his superb voice he sang “Alright”. The sweat dripping venue was taking in every ounce of his energy from the stage and emulating it with such an amazing atmosphere, it was a night the band giving their all and the crowd delivering the perfect place to be playing.
As the band left the stage, everyone knew they would be back.. within minutes they were back on stage to a warm welcome and Darius played through a four song encore that had the audience eating from his hand singing word for word and dancing from the back of the venue to the front. The Encore featuring “Goodbye”, “Go Tell Him” and the excellent version of Oasis’ classic “Champagne Supernova” before the band closed the show with “Only Wanna Be With You”. The band took a bow to the audience, the crowd, catching breath before leaving a venue that witnessed an excellent Rock n’ Roll show that only Hootie and the Blowfish could deliver.
Glasgow witnessed a whirlwind performance from Darius Rucker, with his outstanding vocals and his stage presence Hootie and the Blowfish took Country Rock n Roll to a new level.
