Courteeners took on Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on the 14th of November, with support from Mystery Jets and DMA’s.
The English band from Middleton was formed in 2006, their sound is reminiscent of 2000’s alternative indie genre. As they currently tour the UK, they play a fantastic gig for fans, new and old.
l arrived just in time for DMA’s to make their way onto stage, it was riveting to watch their stage presence and their buzzing energy, which was live in the crowd for the rest of the night. Band member Johnny Took spoke to the crowd; “It’s a pleasure to be back, it’s been about 11 months. This song’s called Silver.”
It is undeniable that DMA’s were one of the best supporting acts I’ve seen to date. It is undoubtedly rare that the supporting act successfully gets the crowd pumped for the headline, although DMA’s were an excellent choice as support. Their set was filled with infectious energy and iconic tunes that had the crowd moving from the start. The Australian band delivered their well-known songs, showcasing their unique blend of Britpop and indie rock.
Fans of the band were thrilled to hear songs like “Lay Down” and “Delete”, the chemistry between the band members was evident in every song and their enthusiasm was contagious. DMA’s effectively warmed up the crowd ultimately setting a high bar for Courteeners to follow. Their set was a perfect complement to the headline, leaving everyone ambitious for more music as the night grew longer.
Kicking the show off, the Manchester band welcomed the crowd with bagpipes just before their appearance on stage. Fans cheered and belted “Flower of Scotland” along to the tune, I was shoulder to shoulder with eager fans punching the sky with patriotic fists. The addition of bagpipes consumed the attention of the entire venue, building a unique and vibrant pre-show ambiance. The combination of the bagpipes with the anticipation for Courteeners created a lively environment, perfectly blending Scottish tradition with modern rock.
“Are You In Love With A Notion?” one of the band’s most infamous songs played exceedingly early in the show, promptly on the second song of the set, a total surprise to the audience to have the iconic song situated at the beginning of the night. The band not only played iconic songs but tracks from their recent album “Pink Cactus Cafe” their newest album in four years since the release of “More. Again. Forever.”, debuting in early 2020. Tunes like “Sweet Surrender”, “First Name Terms” and “Where Are We Now?” featured throughout the set, marking the bands’ resurrection into making music that will electrify fans for decades.
Band front man and lead singer Liam Fray shares an anecdote with the crowd, “Glasgow I bought this guitar when I was 16 years old, we’ve been to ABC O2 Academy, King Tuts, The Barras,” as they engaged with the older fans in the crowd, it made even new fans proud to see how far the band has come in the last 20-odd years.
The band were certainly on point with their song introductions, “Is there anyone who likes a disco on the bus?” said Liam to the crowd with their 2024 single “Solitude Of The Night Bus” shortly to follow after.
Later in the night, Liam took over the stage to play a solo acoustic set, letting the audience take over a few songs where he stated, “This is pretty special, Glasgow.”
The rest of the group made their way back onto stage and were united soon after with DMA’s for their joint song “The Beginning Of The End”, their combined stage presence was legendary. The song was set with dark blue moody lights shining over the stage. It is moments like these where it is hard to separate yourself from the artists, their energy on stage was equivalent to the audience’s.
Moving towards the end of the night, Liam announced “People make Glasgow and you’re not f****** wrong!” As the crowd was waiting in anticipation for their last couple songs, there was one song that the audience awaited the arrival of, “You’re Not Nineteen Forever”. With everyone jumping around me, it was a given that this was the song you had to scream and dance along to. It was inevitable that a mosh pit was bound to happen, I braced myself and jumped with the crowd to the renowned song, a vivid souvenir that I will remember for a long time.
Courteeners proved once again why they are such a staple in the UK music scene. Their Glasgow show was a testament to their incredible talent and their strong passion to connect with their eager fans, making it a memorable night for everyone in attendance. If you get a chance to see them live, don’t miss it!