There’s a particular kind of electricity that crackles through the West End whenever a major rock act rolls into the part of town, and last night was no exception. Finnish titans The Rasmus brought their gargantuan ‘Weirdo’ European tour to a brimming SWG3, and Glasgow—predictably—responded with the sort of boisterous enthusiasm that could probably power the city’s streetlights for a week.
Even at 7:30 pm, the hall was already half full when rising Finnish newcomers Block of Flats bounded onto the stage in classic four-piece formation. Young, confident, and buzzing with the kind of nerves that only sharpen a performance, they carved through their set with punchy riffs and endearing gusto. Their tunes—equal parts grit and glimmer—landed well with the early crowd. One to keep on your radar, without question.
Barely a breath later, the second support act The Funeral Portrait tore onto the stage, this time hailing from Atlanta. Dynamic, energetic, and gleefully insistent on audience participation, they transformed the steadily thickening crowd into a chorus of claps, chants, and gleeful whoops. If you’re catching a later date on the tour, get in early—you’ll regret missing them.
By now the hall was swelling with anticipation, fans on tenterhooks.
Then—slightly late, in true headliner fashion—the lights dropped. No grand fanfare, no theatrical countdown. Just a pitch-black stage and a massive screen blazing to life behind it. Intro track ‘F-F-F-Falling’ pulsed through the room before sliding seamlessly into ‘Rest in Pieces,’ and there was Lauri Ylönen, unleashing his trademark movements from the very first beat.
The lighting design was unapologetically moody – inky shadows, deep floods of colour, and the obligatory smoke – perfectly tuned to the band’s atmospheric aesthetic. The towering projector screen added cinematic flair, sometimes amplifying the drama, sometimes simply illuminating the band’s name in bold, iconic fashion.
As ever, the group’s reputation for relentless energy was fully justified. From the front rows—pressed so close they could practically lean against the five-foot stage—to the packed rear of the room, the synergy between band and crowd was palpable.
A sprawling 20-song setlist showcased five songs from their new album, including the title track and the wonderfully mischievous “Banksy,” nestling effortlessly alongside nostalgia-laden staples like “First Day of My Life” and “Immortal.”
Predictably – but no less joyously – ‘In the Shadows’ ignited the night’s biggest eruption. This eternal earworm refuses to age, imprinting itself onto your brain like sonic super-glue.
Call it alternative rock, gothic rock, indie rock—whatever genre you prefer – The Rasmus deliver one unwavering truth: relentlessly entertaining, melodically addictive tunes. Lauri was a kinetic whirlwind throughout, while Emppu Suhonen delivered a blistering, angst-soaked performance that threatened to set her fretboard ablaze.
Even after a two-song encore, the curtain fell far too soon. And as you spilled out into the cold Glasgow night, one thing was undeniable: ‘In the Shadows’ still prowled in your head, utterly unshakeable. Accept it – it’s going to live there forever!
Review & Photographs by John Brown Photography
