The Interrupters – Live in Glasgow

Fight the Good Fight

Three albums in and seven years down the line, The Interrupters played their debut Scottish gig to a fervent sold-out crowd in The Garage. It may have been a long time waiting for many of those in attendance last night, judging by the comments on my Facebook feed before the gig. The wait was worth it for them all.

It may have been a long time coming, but the band have spent their time well, and taken heed from their mentors, working with the likes of Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, ensuring that their debut gig in Glasgow would be a night to remember. I have seen ska-punk often ridiculed by “real” punks, but tonight’s performance should have been enough to silence any sceptics.

The Interrupters

The Bivona brothers, Jessie, Justin and Kevin alongside singer Aimee Allen have honed and refined their live show. And it was a show in the sense that the theatrics and audience interaction was polished and practiced. I’ve often heard this as an insult – performances being too polished – but tonight the lustre made the band shine as much as the glitter on Aimee’s face.

While Aimee is the vocalist, the audience interaction and between song banter came very much from guitarist Kevin encouraging the audience (who really didn’t need much encouragement) to clap, sing and dance along.

Wind Up

There was an element of wind up and teasing the audience into a frenzy by introducing a cover of a song by a famous band from the Bay area. There were numerous (intended) false starts as the band launched into several intros, kicking off with Metallica before cutting short after a few bars, and doing the same with several more before ending on a burst of Rancid, only to stop to a chorus of boos when they said they weren’t playing it. Armstrong fans weren’t to be disappointed though as the band settled on playing an energetic version Operation Ivy’s Sound System.

Everything about the bands performance gelled, the sound, the lights, the crowd interaction, the performance but mostly the songs. The band ply their trade superbly, years working with the likes of The Transplants and Rancid have paid off. New and old tracks blended perfectly together with every one of them lapped up by the ardent crowd (apart from the one over-exuberant fan that was ejected from the venue during support band Grade Two’s set).

Unity

The enduring theme of the band’s music is one of unity and coming together. Not fighting with each other but fighting against the system with tracks old and new like Take Back the Power and Divide Us.

There was no let up in the energy all night as the knockout songs kept coming, blow by blow aimed straight for the left frontal lobe causing a feeling of punch drunk joy and happiness – Title Holder, Babylon, Leap of Faith and She Got Arrested just a few more of the tracks on show.

This is My Family

Choosing to stay onstage rather than leave and return to rapturous applause, which they had pretty much received all night anyway, the band played their two final tracks. Both of which are tailor made for an encore – We Got Each Other from the latest album saw drummer taking vocal duties on one of the verses and the theme of togetherness and unity carried onto the final track, Interrupters “classic” (can you have such a thing if you are only 7 years in?) Family. And that’s the way it felt:

“This is my family

My one crazy family

The ones who understand me

This is my family

Whatever the plan be

They stand beside me

This is my family”

 A perfect end to a fantastic show.

The lights came on as the band were still taking their final applause, band and audience alike reluctant to leave. Rancid, ska-punk “Title Holders”, watch out, The Interrupters are after your crown.