Sunday 8 March 2015

Idlewild ABC Glasgow

Idlewild returned to Glasgow last night for the first of two sell-out shows to promote their new 'comeback' album Everything Ever Written. (see review here)

They played an absolute blinder, Rod Jones put in an astonishing performance on lead guitar, with echoes of Jack White at times, Peter Buck at others. Roddy Woomble was passionate and assured, often stepping side stage to enjoy watching and listening to his band.

Yes Idlewild are back, Woomble, Jones and drummer Colin Newton are now assisted by Andrew Mitchell, Hannah Fisher and Lucci Rossi - 3 extremely talented multi-instrumentalists that also added backing vocals and delightful harmonies.

The band were on fire, starting with Nothing I Can Do About It before launching straight into You Held The World In Your Arms. We were standing at Rod Jones side of the stage and it was an absolute pleasure to watch the guitarist in spellbinding form at such quarters.

Woomble quickly discarded his tweed blazer as the band swiftly got down to business, hitting their stride from the off. The audience reacted accordingly, the love and passion for Idlewild was evident from the roar that greeted their arrival on stage but it developed throughout with outbreaks of pogo-ing (and a mosh pit at times) and a mass sing-a-long at others. There will be a few hoarse voices today.




Little Discourage, Love In A Hiding Place, Roseability, A Film for the Future, Captain, Every Little Means Trust were played in quick succession by a band on top of their game - Woomble taking his mic from the stand and patrolling the stage, Jones leaping about on to the drum riser and then back to stand like a rock god on top of his monitor.

Idlewild have a stunning back catalogue and they have added to that with their latest gem of an album.

American English was greeted like a long lost cousin whilst (Use It) If You Can Use It from the new album was probably my highlight of the night. The closing instrumental was sensational with Jones guitar soaring. The duelling guitars were a real highlight of the night - sounding superb.

El Capitan was ferocious before Utopia brought a sense of calm before an epic Scottish Fiction closed proceedings with Woomble ensuring the full band came to the front of the stage to take acclaim from a crowd that were blown away by an incredible performance.

Welcome back, don't go away!

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