On a rare sunny evening in Glasgow, the O2 Academy provided the perfect setting for a night of raw, unapologetic rock. The historic venue played host to Primal Scream on the second night of their Glasgow shows — and, as it turned out, the band did not disappoint.
Opening the evening was Baxter Dury, whose set was as divisive as it was distinctive. With a vocal delivery that veered between spoken word and shouting, Dury offered a stream of sardonic social commentary, peppered with profanity and, whilst at times monotonous, there was something strangely compelling about his performance — abrasive yet oddly engaging.
At 9pm (ish), the main event began… Night two of ‘Come Ahead’ in Glasgow was underway!
The stage was almost entirely dark when Primal Scream emerged, creating an air of anticipation before frontman Bobby Gillespie appeared under the lights. Dressed in a sharp white tuxedo jacket and black trousers, Gillespie cut a striking figure, commanding the stage with effortless cool and a languid confidence that only comes with decades of experience.
The band delivered a set packed with crowd-pleasing anthems — a collection of songs that any group would envy. From early classics to later floor-fillers, each track was met with roars of approval from a crowd that matched the energy on stage. Gillespie remained the magnetic centre throughout, coaxing and rallying the audience with ease.
This was a performance that reaffirmed Primal Scream’s status as one of Britain’s great live acts. Loud, unrelenting, and gloriously chaotic — for those in attendance, it was a reminder of the visceral power of live music.
If you didn’t get your rocks off to this… then music might not be for you!
Photographs and review by John Brown Photography
