Who was in the soundtrack of your childhood? For me, it was new wave legends, the B-52s. As far back as I can remember, my parents were always playing ‘Love Shack.’ In the kitchen, in the car, you name it. ‘Love Shack’ was my first ever karaoke song (and my parents have the video to prove it). So when they announced that they were coming to Glasgow, I was obviously going to get tickets.
Naturally, I took my parents. Although we may all have different music tastes, the one thing that unites us all is the B-52s. On the eve of Scotland’s biggest music festival, Trnsmt, we queued excitedly outside Glasgow’s legendary Barrowland Ballroom, perhaps the most fitting venue in the city for a band such as this, what with its iconic neon sign and starry ceiling.
Usually, you can find me at the barrier at gigs. However, when it comes to sold-out shows, achieving such a thing soon becomes tricky, especially when you’ve got a B-52s superfan for a mother who wants her jacket to be taken to the cloakroom. Being the good daughter that I am, I relinquished my place at the front and kindly took it there for her.
With no need to stay in place, I was able to get a better feel for the venue, unlike on previous occasions, where I usually have to quickly scan my ticket, hot-foot it through to the front and remain in the same spot for four hours. Throughout the evening, I floated in and out of the ballroom between the sets, delighting in the bar and loo privileges that I’ve had to forgo on multiple occasions.
For some fans, it was a two-for-one that night. Whilst the B-52s were en route from Planet Claire, Edinburgh punk band The Rezillos got the crowd going with their hits ‘Top of the Pops,’ ‘Flying Saucer Attack,’ and ‘Destination Venus.’ Though soon enough, the ‘Roam’ singers soon flew into Barrowland’s orbit, beaming down onto the stage and opening the show with, you guessed it, ‘Planet Claire.’
For an hour and a half, they took us down the Atlanta Highway (and memory lane, for some). They may not wear their wigs as high as they used to, but the band are still very much at the top of their game. We got all the good stuff (pun intended), including ‘Topaz,’ ‘Private Idaho,’ ‘Give Me Back My Man,’ with ‘Rock Lobster’ for the encore.
Given how famous the band are, it felt very surreal to see them in such an intimate venue (both the London and Manchester shows took place in arenas). When they initially announced their UK tour, Glasgow had not even been on the list, not until a few weeks later, at least. The fact that they came all the way to Scotland to play for us is very special, especially given how many artists now skip Scotland altogether when touring. I’m sure we will treasure it greatly.