‘The Dumbstruck Dumbf!@ck’ UK Tour led Neck Deep to their third show of the tour, a sold out gig at the O2 Academy in Glasgow. Showcasing their new and old tunes to a full crowd who were ready to deliver the energy they deserved and a warm welcome since their last UK tour in 2022.
Entering the stage at 7.30pm was the first support of the night, ‘One Step Closer’, a band who explored the depths of hardcore punk music, their music being heavier than the headliners but the perfect choice as they easily got the crowd moving and started what would be the continuous wave of crowd surfing throughout the night.
‘The Wonder Years’ travelled across the Atlantic to perform as the second support act for the night, and the trip was clearly worth it as they were presented with a practically full crowd, everyone coming down early to catch their set. Immediately engaging the audience by encouraging them to jump and sing along, and it worked. They were clearly a crowd favourite as most people knew every word to every song in their 45 minute set.
The two bands clearly had a lot of history together as Dan Campbell, the lead vocalist for ‘The Wonder Years’, told the crowd about how they brought ‘Neck Deep’ to support them on their first UK tour over 10 years ago, and now many years later, ‘Neck Deep’ were bringing them on one of their own tours. This story says a lot about both bands, both have been able to appreciate their roots, celebrate and support each other’s growth, it’s acts like this which are a direct reflection on their well deserved success.
As soon as the lights dimmed to allow Neck Deep’s entrance onto the stage, the crowd’s energy was already bursting; chanting one of Scotland’s many gig chants before they even entered onto the stage. It was a promising insight into the reception the Wrexham born band were about to receive. Known for their pop-punk perfection, the band came out to ‘Dumbstruck Dumbf**k’, introducing the tour and the gig flawlessly. With confetti cannons during the first song, it felt like a sign of the celebration that the night would become. A celebration of their success and how far they’ve come as their dedicated fans sung their songs right back at them.
The band’s fast-paced music, with punchy guitars and the constant drums, the music never stopped moving and was filled with passion. Not only was the music packed with life and energy, so was the band as they performed. With Sam Bowden and Matt West constantly jumping as they played guitar, Seb Barlow head banging the whole time he was on bass guitar and Matt Powles smashing it on the drums. As well as Ben Barlow’s incredible vocals and stage presence as he completely embodied the music. The band’s clear cohesiveness on stage and their chemistry is evident as they perform, despite having a few new members since they began in 2012, on that stage in Glasgow the band felt as if they’d been performing together their whole life.
From the crowd loving hits like ‘She’s A God’, when the crowd surfing paused and suddenly people were on shoulders with their hands in the air and singing along, to even older songs like ‘The Beach Is For Lovers’, which if it was a test to see who knew the words, the crowd passed with flying colours, to Barlow’s speeches throughout the night as he introduced songs, with a particular focus on ‘unity’ in one of them and how that was felt in the room tonight, they create amazing music but the connection they clearly feel with the music is also evident as they perform.
The 5-piece band put on an incredible show that was an eruption of energy, they are a timeless band that have amassed rightful success over the years and there is no doubt that they will continue to do so through their music that they release and the unreal gigs they put on every time.