Pete MacLeod - Glasgow - Roxy 171 - Friday June 28 2014
Admittedly I am a big fan of Pete MacLeod and always enjoy hearing him live and once again I was more than impressed. This intimate gig was billed as the last in Glasgow before Pete heads off to Germany to support Midge Ure later in the year and in the lead up Pete also announced he would be joined on-stage by Rab Allan from Glasvegas. All things considered, it was a gig I just had to be at.
Support on the night came from talented newcomer Emma Milligan with highlights being her single ‘Jumping The Red Light’ and ‘Growing Old’. Crawford Smith followed and sounded great with his fine guitar and broad Scots vocal.
Admittedly I am a big fan of Pete MacLeod and always enjoy hearing him live and once again I was more than impressed. This intimate gig was billed as the last in Glasgow before Pete heads off to Germany to support Midge Ure later in the year and in the lead up Pete also announced he would be joined on-stage by Rab Allan from Glasvegas. All things considered, it was a gig I just had to be at.
Support on the night came from talented newcomer Emma Milligan with highlights being her single ‘Jumping The Red Light’ and ‘Growing Old’. Crawford Smith followed and sounded great with his fine guitar and broad Scots vocal.
By the time a relaxed Pete takes the stage
the venue is rammed and instantly there is a feeling of this is gonna be one of
those nights from the outset. Joined by his guitarist Andy Connor (from the
Complete Stone Roses), Pete opens the set with ‘Re:Ality’ from his fantastic Rolling Stone debut album and follows
this up with relatively new song ‘Away’. Having heard this track now on a
number of occasions it is a real grower and suggests Pete is more than capable
of following up his debut album with another cracker. As expected (and hoped) the
set comprises of a number of songs from Rolling
Stone and ‘Let It Shine’ and one of my own favourites ‘Give A Little Love’
both feature early. By this point, Pete has the audience in the palm of his
hand and between songs engages the crowd with some banter as well as sharing
the odd joke or two he has pinched from his bassist Fergy.
‘God Speed’ sounds fantastic as always and Pete belts out an emotional rendition of album title track ‘Rolling Stone’. Fittingly, Pete dedicates a song to his sister who is in the audience tonight and is then joined on stage by the rather tall (and evidently talented) Rab Allan. Well known in Scotland from the success of his band Glasvegas, Rab picks up his guitar and joins in a mesmerising version of ‘On The Other Side’ and another track ‘Without Love’. Prior to the gig, I wondered what if anything big Rab could add to a Pete MacLeod track however any reservations I may have had where instantly extinguished with Rab’s style sounding immense alongside Pete’s distinctive vocal.
Regular guitarist Andy re-joins the stage for ‘Lost and Found’ and the exceptional ‘Today I Went Swimming’ before Pete closes out the memorable performance with a solo rendition of a new song ‘I Need Your Love’. Hearing Pete live once again I am left in no doubt this guy is destined for big things. I will keep writing it until I hear a better track and for me, ‘Today I Went Swimming’ is right up there with the best of them and worth the trip to the venue itself. Pleasingly Pete is now going to be managed by Mr Creation himself Alan McGee and if anyone is capable of spreading the magic of Pete MacLeod it is Alan.
After his recent support of The Strypes in Germany, the German music loving fans are once again in for treat when Pete returns with Midge Ure in November. Prior to that, Pete has one further Scottish date at The Duchess in Kirkcaldy. A final piece of advice, get yourself a copy of his debut album Rolling Stone it will be money well spent.
Words: Bazza Mills
‘God Speed’ sounds fantastic as always and Pete belts out an emotional rendition of album title track ‘Rolling Stone’. Fittingly, Pete dedicates a song to his sister who is in the audience tonight and is then joined on stage by the rather tall (and evidently talented) Rab Allan. Well known in Scotland from the success of his band Glasvegas, Rab picks up his guitar and joins in a mesmerising version of ‘On The Other Side’ and another track ‘Without Love’. Prior to the gig, I wondered what if anything big Rab could add to a Pete MacLeod track however any reservations I may have had where instantly extinguished with Rab’s style sounding immense alongside Pete’s distinctive vocal.
Regular guitarist Andy re-joins the stage for ‘Lost and Found’ and the exceptional ‘Today I Went Swimming’ before Pete closes out the memorable performance with a solo rendition of a new song ‘I Need Your Love’. Hearing Pete live once again I am left in no doubt this guy is destined for big things. I will keep writing it until I hear a better track and for me, ‘Today I Went Swimming’ is right up there with the best of them and worth the trip to the venue itself. Pleasingly Pete is now going to be managed by Mr Creation himself Alan McGee and if anyone is capable of spreading the magic of Pete MacLeod it is Alan.
After his recent support of The Strypes in Germany, the German music loving fans are once again in for treat when Pete returns with Midge Ure in November. Prior to that, Pete has one further Scottish date at The Duchess in Kirkcaldy. A final piece of advice, get yourself a copy of his debut album Rolling Stone it will be money well spent.
Words: Bazza Mills