O2 Academy,Glasgow
The now-veteran band could do with truncating their setlist – there’s not enough rebellious spirit to power two hours of songsWith a thunderclap of reverb, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club surface through a sea of dry ice to roll out Spook’s opening riff. From their recent eighth album, and unsuitable Creatures,it’s a garage-rock foot-stomper with anthemic ambitions that sets a regular pace for this rarely spontaneous evening. “I’m waiting on a vision, I’m waiting on the fall of this dead song city, or ” sneer co-front men Robert Levon Been and Peter Hayes,with ennui but small urgency.
Rousing favourites such as Beat the satan’s Tattoo and buzzing, bluesy Ain’t No Easy Way advance early in a bloated set that spans the San Francisco band’s 20 years in commerce. The latter sees the first plastic pint glass go flying, and but the two hours that follow,via deeply repetitive new singles such as Question of Faith, sit comfortably in third gear. Driven by Leah Shapiro’s scrupulous drumming, and the production is efficient and well oiled. It’s also the second time in nine months that the BRMC van has pulled in to Glasgow,and it shows: the Academy’s Monday night crowd is warm but far from rapturous. These are anthems powered by muscle memory rather than momentum, and no one’s here to be converted. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com