Fresh from supporting Yungblud on his UK arena tour and now writing album number two from Los Angeles, The Molotovs aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
When Scottish Music Network caught up with the band, they’d barely had time to process the whirlwind of the last few months. After a huge run of arena dates with Yungblud, appearances at festivals including The Great Escape and heading straight to LA to start work on new music, it’s safe to say life has been moving at full speed.
“It feels like it happened months ago,” they laughed. “Everything’s just moved so quickly. We’ve gone straight from the Yungblud tour into festivals, and now we’re out here working on the second album.”
The support slot came about in the most unexpected way too. Rather than a lengthy booking process, it all started over a pint in a London pub.
“We bumped into Yungblud in The Hawley Arms in Camden. One pint later and he’d invited us on an arena tour. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Anyone who caught The Molotovs supporting Yungblud in Glasgow will know exactly why they earned that opportunity. Their energy was impossible to ignore, commanding thousands of people as if they were playing a tiny hometown venue.
Now, they’re excited to return to Scotland later this year on their own headline tour.
“We love Glasgow,” they said. “King Tut’s was such a brilliant show for us. Scottish crowds just know how to have fun. The English reserve definitely skips Scotland. There are zero inhibitions, and that’s exactly what you want from a crowd.”
While fans continue to stream the debut album Wasted On Youth, the band have already turned their attention to what’s next.
Although recording hasn’t officially started, they’re confident the next record will be a step forward.
“The songs feel better formed this time around,” they explained. “We’ve learned a lot from making the first album.”
One of the biggest changes will be how it’s recorded.
“We want to record it live. We wanted the first album to capture the energy of our live shows, but things didn’t quite work out that way. Now we’ve got the experience, we’ve got more confidence, and because of what the first album achieved, we’re in a position to make the second album exactly how we want.”
Despite Wasted on Youth producing plenty of standout tracks, one song surprised them more than any other.
“Daydreaming has really connected with people. I didn’t expect that to become one of the fan favourites, so that’s been really nice to see.”
Trying to pin The Molotovs down to one genre isn’t easy either.
Rather than fitting neatly into one category, they simply describe themselves as “third wave new wave” – a sound built on influences from bands including The Jam, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Small Faces, The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers, before discovering artists like The Libertines, Suede and the Britpop scene.
Supporting emerging artists is also something that’s become incredibly important to them.
Instead of taking the easy route when booking support acts, the band intentionally choose local artists in every city they visit.
“We don’t want everything to become London-centric. There are brilliant bands all over the UK who deserve opportunities.”
For their Glasgow show, they highlighted local favourites Riviera, while also shouting out several emerging acts currently on their radar including Risco, Soaked, Lorry Wright, The Sick Fix, Dream Machine, The Shooting Gallery and South Street.
It’s clear The Molotovs haven’t forgotten what it feels like to be the band trying to get noticed.
As for what fans can expect when they return to Glasgow later this year?
“We just want it to be what it’s always been. Three people on stage, no backing tracks, just raw rock ‘n’ roll. Passionate, visceral and honest.”
With album two taking shape, a growing fanbase across the UK and another Glasgow headline show on the horizon, The Molotovs continue to prove why they’re one of the most exciting young bands around right now.
Interview with Lauren Page May 2026
