Barrowlands, Glasgow
15/12/2024
When it comes to the rock music of the late 90’s/early 2000’s, Kasabian were a band playing the highest notes. Forming in 1997, they went on to throw legendary performances and record award-winning albums, all fuell’d by a dynamic collaboration of musicians. Tom Meighan is the former front man of Kasabian, leading the band for an enormous 23 years from 1997 till 2020, all the while playing the life of a rock star. It was great feeling for his fans to be once more re-unite, gushing on the gusto pouring from Tom’s performance, while he lay down fresh musical incentives for us all.
Joining Tom for the evening’s gig at Glasgow’s Barrowlands, a plush dance hall famous for music, was a home grown group called theCapollos who kicked the night alive with some wildly flavoured rock n’ roll.
The grandeur of this venue was lit up from the brightly coloured stage lighting offering a view of a crowd who shared this electric music, in its live element. And after theCapollos’s creative energy had stirred things up the vibe was in the throes of another epic rock gig.
Kasabian’s presence on their music scene was somewhat of a force to be reckoned with, a fascinating journey mirrored in their powerful music that would unfortunately lead to Tom’s publuc struggles in 2020. But this talented, & redemptive vocalist has returned on a new solo level to put the fun and joy back into playing and writing.
In 2021 he released a remarkably personal download single titled ‘Would You Mind’, a beautiful song about making a menze. He has always been outspoken about music and is known for having a very level head for criticism which to his credit has given him a voice on radio and many conversations on instagram and its nuances, last year in 2023 he released his debut solo album ‘The Reckoning’, a twelve track album tour-de-force from a very experienced front-man writing in his own way, and performing it with renewed energy in all its sultry and exhilarating happening.
This explosive concert had a bursting joy filling the room with the audience in a just loving it atmosphere and celebratory experience. His new music is attracting the same kind of attention as did his band Kasabian, there were fans of all ages ready for quite the show.
It was nice to see how he opened up his vocals to a band in full and gritty readiness to make that rock connection with his fans having the presence on stage and a style greatly in evidence. Catching a gig on his short 8 date tour condensed a magic into what was a packed house, ready with the flavours of another legendary presence.
Whatever genre is attached to this prolific writer he has come out with something fresh for his listeners, music that covers the nuances of feel good, yet gritty rocking rhythms to be danced to and lyrics of connections and heartfelt honesty. A front man who has lived up to the title while creating the robust music, we left the night rocking, and filled with the generous sight that can unfold at a venue of venerable proportions.
Daniel Donnelly
themumble.uk 