There’s nothing quite like a school night out in Glasgow. Even better, tonight features three incredible bands taking the stage at the Garage. VIP pass holders are lined up outside, eager for their chance to reclaim their spots at the front of the crowd.
Tyketto, featuring Danny Vaughn, are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their debut album, Don’t Come Easy. This tour also marks the release of their latest album with the Closer To The Sun.
Tonight’s lineup is outstanding, featuring headliners Tyketto with stellar support from the excellent Warrior Soul and Collateral.
Opening the show with an early set were Collateral, who exploded onto the stage with “No Place For Love,” immediately captivating the Glasgow crowd and getting them singing along from the start. The band are no strangers to Glasgow, having played both support and headline tours in the city, steadily building a loyal fan base despite hailing from Ramsgate in Kent. The group boasts a powerful sound and commanding stage presence, with frontman Angelo Tristan working the entire front of the stage, nodding and smiling at the fans, clearly enjoying every moment.
They’re playing a short set tonight, but they’re certainly packing in the songs. Highlights from their performance include “Glass Sky”, “Midnight Queen”, and the outstanding “Long Road”. They wrapped up their set with high energy on “Big Shot”, then gathered for a stage photo with the fans cheering behind them. What a performance from the boys – they truly warmed up the Glasgow crowd.
Next up is Kory Clarke of Warrior Soul; I haven’t seen the band in ages, whether supporting at Glasgow’s O2 Academy or headlining at Rockers in the city. It was great to see they’re still performing and touring.
Tonight feels like an unusual billing for them, given their heavier sound, but only time will tell how it plays out. The band launched into the intro of Joy Division’s “Interzone” as Kory, sporting gold-rimmed sunglasses, strode confidently to the front of the stage. With Kory’s bold, in-your-face presence and the band’s punchy punk-rock energy, it was difficult to predict how the crowd would respond.
Kory, ever the showman, delivered a strong set featuring the band’s biggest songs, including crowd favourites like “The Party” and “The Fourth Reich”, which had a good portion of the audience singing along. They closed their performance with an energetic finale, playing their two major hits, “Punk and Belligerent” and “The Wasteland”. As the band left the stage, they received a warm and enthusiastic response from the Glasgow crowd.
It was time for the headline band Tyketto, featuring Danny Vaughn, to take the stage. As the band appeared during the intro, they launched into the excellent “Rescue Me”, instantly prompting the crowd to sing along while Danny smiled between lyrics, soaking in the atmosphere. The Glasgow audience gave it their all, singing and dancing enthusiastically throughout the performance.
“Wings”, from the Don’t Come Easy album, set the tone for the evening. Danny remarked that there was no better place to celebrate the album’s 35th anniversary than Glasgow. This was followed by a powerful rendition of “Burning Down Inside”. Danny’s vocals were exceptional as he delivered songs that have stood the test of 35 years.
The tour showcases the new album, and the songs are electrifying live, with “Higher Than High” and the title track “Closer to the Sun” earning an enthusiastic response from the audience.
The crowd came ready for a rock spectacle from Danny, and he delivered, igniting the venue with classics like Reach, The Run, and the electrifying Seasons. The atmosphere was electric, and it was clear from the band’s energy that they were savouring every moment on stage.
The set was determined to give fans a night to remember, closing with a celebration of the Don’t Come Easy album through the brilliant “Lay Your Body Down”, which had the entire venue singing along, before launching into “The Brave” from the new album – a performance that captivated the crowd and brought the show to an electrifying close.
As Danny and the band launched into their final track, it was time for farewells – but they saved the best for last with an outstanding rendition of “Forever Young”. Both the band and most of the audience seemed to share this feeling, as tonight was rock ’n’ roll at its finest, with Danny Vaughn giving Glasgow an unforgettable night of music spanning decades.
If melodic guitar rock is your style, there’s no one better than Danny Vaughn. If you ever get the chance to see him live, you won’t be disappointed.
Review and Photographs by James Edmond Photography
