A review of the Glasgow leg of the indie favourite’s sold out tour in support of new album ‘Pink Cactus Cafe’.
In many ways, Courteeners are the last of the classic Manchester bands. You could argue they took the baton from Oasis as guitar anthem machine successors, delivering big indie tunes with a swaggering, everyman appeal. Obviously, they don’t have same cultural footprint as the Gallagher brothers, but there’s only a handful of arena-playing British bands with as consistent a back catalogue this millennia. Take 2008 debut St. Jude: a perfect mix of gritty Northern indie anthems and rugged balladry, held together by the distinct charm of frontman Liam Fray.
I’ll be honest enough to admit I actively avoided them for many years. NME hyped up Liam Fray as another mouthy Liam Gallagher-type in what appeared a contrived attempt to create a new Oasis. Something about them was off-putting. However, years later, I eventually ventured into their discography after reading a Morrissey interview which praised Fray’s lyricism. Today, St. Jude deserves acclaim as a bona-fide classic and it’s an album I revisit more than I like to admit (because, well, music snobs love to sneer at Courteeners…).
That said, when the chance arose to attend a Courteeners show in Glasgow, not much convincing was required to go along and watch a solid live performer in a city Fray admits to being like a second home. So, tonight, Courteeners play the 14,000 capacity OVO Hydro in Scotland’s largest city to promote latest album, Pink Cactus Café. Underneath them is an impressive undercard featuring Mystery Jets and DMA’s, and the prospect of a very enjoyable evening, indeed.
Unfortunately, we arrive too late for the former, but DMA’s are on top form. The Sydney trio deliver an emotionally powered support set to a sizeable crowd who react as if the Aussie’s are headlining the evening themselves. Mid-tempo tunes ‘Silver’ and ‘Delete’ reveal the flawless fragility in Tommy O’Dell’s vocal delivery, while they bring the energy on tracks from last year’s anthemic record How Many Dreams such as ‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s the Weekend’ and ‘Olympia’. Simply put, this is an outstanding 45-minute performance.
One thing a gig of this nature brings is boisterous audiences. Mostly good natured (depending on your tolerance for pint throwing, of course…), but the drink-fuelled energy does bring a few bampots along for the journey. A group of drunk females act the part during DMA’s by obnoxiously invading the personal space of those round them and bringing to mind a quote Liam Fray would later sing on ‘Bide Your Time’: “the gaggle of girls who are singing too loud, well they f***ing do my head in…”. Otherwise, a male-dominated crowd prevails, especially those donning Adidas and Fred Perry apparel. As the seconds tick past 9pm, these same lads (more than a few testing their mod-top Liam Gallagher haircuts) can’t believe their luck when the lights are dimmed and Oasis’ ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory’ plays through the PA.
As they opened their TRNSMT headline set in 2021, Courteeners certainly know how to make an entrance. A lone piper plays out ‘Flower of Scotland’ and the place erupts as the band enters the stage. An inebriated lassie behind repeatedly shouts a mix of “this is magic” and “here we ******* go” in excitement. The room is ready for its socks to be blown off further...then it falls a little flat. Pink Cactus Café opener ‘Sweet Surrender’ introduces the set, but the subdued track feels a bit of a damp squib for a crowd hyped up and ready to bounce. Take two: redemption is on the cards during the next selection as live favourite ‘Are You I Love With a Notion?’ plays out, causing a sea of pint throwing and jumping. All is forgiven. Now the show has finally begun.
Keen to prove they aren’t just here to give us the old hits, there’s a decent sprinkling of songs from their latest album towards the beginning of the set. ‘Pink Cactus Café’, ‘First Name Terms’ (the chorus line “I lie back and think of England” hilariously bring a series of boos from the crowd before quietening as Fray continues, “but when does England ever think of you?”), and ‘Solitude of the Night Bus’ fit in nicely without setting the place alight. Later, in the encore, they bring out DMA’s for ‘The Beginning of the End’ - Fray and Odell blissfully sharing vocal duties on a more purposely dance-pop inspired anthem.
But really, everyone is here for the older songs they know and love. ‘Acrylic’ and ‘Take Over the World’ lead mass singalongs, the underrated ‘Modern Love’ adds energy and some frenzy, while lush pianos and instrumentations soundtrack an epic version of 2020 single ‘Hanging Off a Cloud’. At this point, Fray and co depart the stage, with only the singer returning. Firstly, for a cover of Madness’ ‘Must Be Love’ then St. Jude deep cuts ‘Bide Your Time’ and ‘Please Don’t’. Fray is energised by the adoring crowd in front of him, who, at several points, take over singing duties.
To finish, a lovely one-two of early singles ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ and ‘What Took You So Long?’ raise the roof for the evening’s climax – again, each word belted back again with as much gusto as the crowd can muster. “Never change Glasgow” pleads Fray as the band depart the stage. The Courteeners frontman looks as in awe at the scenes before him as we, the audience, are at him and the rest of the band.
A few idiots aside, there’s a positive atmosphere in the air and a lovely mutual appreciation between band and audience. I think its safe to say we got our money’s worth: tickets are priced around the £50 mark and, to be fair, the promoters have arguably given us a bargain when you consider the quality of the two support acts (Mystery Jets and DMA’s). Courteeners themselves bring the house down. And it was very much expected – this an outfit who’ll always have a second home in Glasgow and are empowered the reaction they receive. Now sing with me one final time: God bless the band, they’re doing all they can...
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