Its Monday. I’ve just about finished peeling myself off the ceiling after the festivities of Friday night. No, it wasn’t Christmas night out madness on the last Friday before Christmas, trying to avoid the once a year drinkers and unbearable queues at bars where people don’t have a clue what they are ordering. No, although there were a few beers involved, this was a far more cultured affair. It was the return of all conquering heroes, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, to the world’s greatest music venue, the legendary Glasgow Barrowland.
Who knew 12 months ago, this would be the last gig I attend in 2019. What a gig to end the year.
From the heart
I make no apologies in saying that this blog comes from the place of a complete adoration and is straight from the heart. As such you may feel it is a blinkered view, but while I would agree to an extent, I’ve been to enough gigs to know when I’ve had a shite night. This was as far removed from a shite night as you could imagine. If you want a balanced “review” stop reading now and seek out some newspaper review or other that devote a couple of column inches and a limited word count. if you are reading and you were there, you are probably on board with me. Whatever angle you are coming at this from, it was a phenomenal show.
At the beginning of 2019, this band didn’t exist in a physical form, having said their final Goodbye at an emotional gig in Glasgow’s Garage in 1995. We were left with a legacy of magnificent albums and singles including the worldwide smash that should have been The Rattler. As Martin said from the stage on Friday, NME named it as the best song written about male prostitution. In my humble opinion, it is one of the best singles ever released. Should have been huge. The bands various members went their own ways and, in doing so, spawned the likes of Angelfish, Garbage, Isa & the Filthy Tongues, The Filthy Tongues & The Fornicators producing some phenomenal music along the way and keeping Goodbye Mr Mackenzie fans content.
All that changed in a press announcement in February heralding their triumphant return to play a handful of dates in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of their seminal debut album, Good Deeds and Dirty Rags
Hello again Mr Mackenzie
An exceptionally long awaited Hello again Mr Mackenzie. Welcome back the prodigal sons (and daughters).
Little did we know at the time how things would escalate and that initially announced handful of dates would lead to a full blown tour culminating in a sold out date in the legendary Barrowland Ballroom and an end of year party in the nation’s capital city supported by the darkly majestic Filthy Tongues.
Band of the year
Despite having released no new music in their current form, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie are unquestionably my “band of the year”. As someone who likes to champion new bands and continue to search out new music, I feel no qualms about this statement. Taking nothing away from all the wonderful music released in 2019 and the plethora of new bands, for me, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie were a pinnacle in another fantastic year in music for 2019.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen dozens of fantastic live bands this year. Perhaps its nostalgia, perhaps its reminiscing, or maybe it is just because they are a bloody marvellous live band who produce phenomenal live experiences…
Tour
I only managed to see them on two of the dates of the tour, I know others who have managed to follow them around on several more of the gigs. I would say I was jealous, but that would be petty, I can’t possibly be jealous when the two gigs I saw were the best gigs of the year, indeed among the best I’ve ever attended and can keep me dining out on wonderful memories for years to come. The two gigs were on the same tour and for the most part, the same songs, but they were memorable for different reasons.
The return to The Garage was a night I will never forget, it was an emotive night, a night of raw excitement and passion. I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear, just as I had done on the last occasion they played the same venue. If music doesn’t move you then what is the point in it? The sheer joy in seeing a band I loved return to the live arena manifested itself in ways I couldn’t have imagined. That night was one I will never forget.
In the mood to party
Friday was a different beast altogether. Yes it was emotive, but it felt like a band at their peak, revitalised and in the mood to party. I had no tears tonight just sheer joy. This was a celebration of all that is good in live music.
A night I had ben looking forward to since the date was announced by Martin from the stage in the Garage.
Lets just say the night didn’t get off to the best of starts…
Walking down to the station to get to the city centre, I received a message. The trains were off, signalling problems outside Central. No matter – taxi it is then. Hmmm. Last Friday before Christmas, Gerry Cinnamon playing the Hydro…a taxi was easier said than done. Uber it was. And at 1.6x the normal fair I didn’t care, a small price to pay to see Goodbye Mr Mackenzie again. At THE BARROWLAND!
In reality we got to the venue in plenty of time, visiting the merch stall to get my silver Mac man t-shirt (after deciding against buying both versions on offer… “Silver & Gold, give me Silver and Gold…”) It was then I saw the first of many friendly faces of the evening.
Friendly faces
This was another lovely theme of the evening. I knew there would be loads of people I knew there, but you never expect to see everyone in a venue of that size. I was pleasantly surprised though – meeting folks I haven’t seen since I left school (and that wasn’t yesterday), old work friends, the usual gig suspects and a handful of Reservoir Droogs and others who, without Facebook, music and this blog I would never have met. Apologies to those who I had a second glance with thinking I recognised them but never said hello to…you know who you are.
SEIL LIEN
Preceding the main event was a support set from the wonderful Seil Lien. Marie Claire and co. provided us with a captivating set of their own mesmerizing take on bluesy rock n roll at times with an ethereal edge reminiscent of the wonderful Julee Cruise. We were treated, amongst others, to new single Kiss Me Like I’m Someone Else, a rousing version of earlier single I Am Fire and their unique take on The Passions I’m in Love With a German Film Star. Do yourself a favour, if you haven’t already, and check the band out. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. If you order physical copies of the releases you will see just how much thought and love goes into what Marie Claire does.
It was a busy night for her as she left stage to prepare to fill some big boots.
Erupted
And so, it reached stage time. Barrowland erupted in spontaneous cheering, chanting and applause as tonight’s guitar hero, the inimitable and seemingly unstoppable Big John Duncan. led the rest of the band onstage. As the band took their positions in front of two giant Mac men and launched into their debut albums opening track. Glasgow’s collective arms were wide open in welcoming the band back to the venue.
The scene was set, the band playing the entire album, virtually in order, save for keeping their eponymously named single and the aforementioned classic The Rattler to end the main set. The audience lapped up every track, singing, dancing and cheering along to every track. From my vantage point on one of the steps to the side of the floor, I had a perfect view across the whole crowd. On occasion throughout the gig I looked across and all I saw were rapt joyful faces. Every one of the gathered throng captivated by the band.
Leading the charge
Martin Metcalfe with his deep rich brogue leading the charge in his now expected sinister preacher/witchdoctor look topped off with steampunk styled witchdoctor topper. John & Jim forming the double guitar assault. Led by the legend that is Big John, supplemented and embellished with the addition of The Rezillos Jim Brady. The silent assassins of the rhythm section provided the usual dependable thunderous bass and drum lines. Both quietly and steadfastly getting on with the job at hand Kelly looking as cool and laidback as ever and Fin still never having aged since I first saw the band in ’87. The line-up was completed with the fabulous Rona Scobie on gold bedecked keyboards and Marie Claire White filling the shoes of Shirley Manson on backing vocals. It was like the intervening 30 years had never happened. It was so good to have them back.
As well as the entire classic album, we were treated to the punch to the guts that is Normal Boy with Marie Claire sharing the lead vocals and proving herself a more than worthy replacement for Shirley. The powerful if harrowing Face to Face remains as potent today as it always has. Fan favourite B-sides Green Turn Red and Here Comes Deacon Brodie completed the setlist for the main set. Closing with Goodbye Mr Mackenzie followed by The Rattler is something that will remain with me for some time. The sight and sound of 2000+ fervent fans singing the words to The Rattler in harmony with Martin made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and sent shivers down my spine.
No tears this time though, just a Cheshire Cat proportioned grin which is still there right now.
The Way I Walk
Of course, things were not done just yet. On returning to the stage, Big John took the lead, in his 30-year-old breeks that still had a fan letter in the pocket. Said punter was in attendance and was justly invited along for drinks after the gig… For a massive Cramps fan, what followed widened my smile just a little bit more as John treated us to his distinctively unique take on the Jack Scott classic, The Way I Walk.
The band left us with a brace of classic tracks from their Hammer & Tongs album, the powerfully rifftastic Blacker Than Black pre-ceded an emotional and soaring Now We Are Married. Everyone in Barrowland was seeing everything through a single eye…
Leaving the Ballroom elated, I viewed smiling faces all around, the return of this seminal band to Glasgow that had started so emotionally in the Garage earlier in the year was sealed indelibly in the hearts and minds of Glasgow’s music fans as the band once again owned Glasgow.
I don’t know if this welcome reunion will continue into the new year or we will see some Hammer & Tongs 30th anniversary gigs in 2021. Whatever happens, the band made 2019 a very special year in music for me and that is something I will never forget.
And whatever happens, we are due that third album in the trilogy from The Filthy Tongues… If you’re going to see both bands on the 29th, you’re in for an amazing end of year treat.
Load up your covered wagons…
SEIL LIEN website
Goodbye Mr Mackenzie website