The The – back in Glasgow
Yes, The The, back. Having spoken to several people, I know there was much anticipation and expectation for the return of Matt Johnson and The The to Glasgow for two gigs on adjacent nights in very different venues Several people I knew had purchased tickets for tonight’s gig and the following evening in the more salubrious surroundings of the Royal Concert Hall.
When the dates were announced though, for me there was no contest, I knew I had to be at Barrowland. For many, The Apollo was Glasgow’s iconic venue, unfortunately, by the time I stated my gig going, the Apollo was already a thing of the past, so to me the Barrowland Ballroom will always be Glasgow’s premier live venue.
Back in Barrowland
On the night in question I had butterflies, it wasn’t like my butterflies of the past brought on by social anxiety and the thought of meeting people and having to converse. This was pure exhilaration and expectancy of what the night ahead would bring. I’ve said before, the minute music or a band doesn’t make me feel anything is the moment I know I have no soul.
Knowing a number of people who were at the gig, I looked out for familiar faces. Although as I was attending on my own, I knew all my focus would be on the music and the 5 figures on stage.
As the support DJ who was playing a selection of remixed The The tunes was finishing, I took my position waiting for the familiar figure of Matt Johnson to appear.
The The – The Men in Black?
Dressed entirely in black, the band took to the stage to rapturous applause from the partisan crowd. Many of whom I’m sure like me had been anticipating this moment with heightened levels of hope and excitement for what the next couple of hours would bring.
With stark white up lighting picking out Matt and the band, Johnson thanked us with one request, to enjoy the show live without phones, keep them in pockets or better still drop them to the floor and stamp on them. I have a few conflicting thoughts on this and will share them on another blog post…Having said that it was refreshing during the many highlights from The The’s back catalogue, not to witness a sea of glowing phones in front of me.
Mobilise
Mobilise… Globalise… Hypnotise… Homogenise… the band opened their set with backs to the audience playing Global Eyes from Naked Self. Truth Lies in plain sight sings Johnson in one of The The’s many politically and socially aware and currently relevant songs.
Johnson’s mike stand looked like a contraption more akin to the adapted vehicles in Mad Max, but allowed him to create the various vocal effects required on several The The classics.
The selection of songs played tonight was inspired with tracks spanning the bands entire back catalogue taking in Burning Blue Soul initially credited as a Matt Johnson solo album right through Soul Mining, Infected and Mind Bomb, complete with Dusk, Hanky Panky and Naked Self and other Matt Johnson projects represented throughout.
Infected track Sweet Bird of Truth made an early appearance followed by Flesh and Bones. The track with its dripping tap and cranes on the skyline imagery allowed Johnson to make links and references to Glasgow’s skyline before launching into the classic Heartland. This led to the first massive sing-along of the evening with the entire Barrowland singing “This is the 51st State of the USA.” A lyric which was true then and in the current no Brexit deal climate of the UK, is possibly even more prophetic now.
If this is what we were in for it was going to be a great night.
And so it played out.
This is the 51st State
Heartland was the first of a triumvirate of classics, following it as they did with a slower more laidback version of the Beat(en) Generation than the single featuring Johnny Marr. Then, like Heartland before it, the more relevant than ever, Armageddon Days (Are Here Again)
God doesn’t live in Israel or Rome
God belong to the yankee dollar
God doesn’t plant the bombs for Hezbollah
God doesn’t even go to church
And God won’t send us down to Allah to burn
No, God will remind us what we already know
That the human race is about to reap what it’s sown
The world is on its elbows and knees
It’s forgotten the message and worships the creeds
There is a certain depth, seriousness, religious exploration and imagery and social commentary to Johnsons work, which often appears to give a bleak edge to the songs. Take, for example, We Can’t Stop What’s Coming from Inertia Variations:
Wake up it’s time to go
The taste of tears still in your throat
Silence from your songs
Reminds us, when you are gone
We can’t hate the river for flowing
Can’t blame the wild wind blowing
Can’t slow time from running
We can’t stop what’s coming
But to counter that, there is also a cautious optimism to much of his work and Johnson was on top form banter wise tonight. Two beautiful tracks were played back to back. Beyond Love from Mind Bomb was followed up with Dusk’s Love is Stronger Than Death.
Here come the blue skies. Here comes springtime.
When the rivers run high & the tears run dry.
When everything that dies.
Shall rise.
…. Love is stronger than death.
This is the Day
Phew, a The The gig is a rollercoaster of emotions. Personally, none more so than, when a few tracks later having been treated to Dogs of Lust, Helpline Operator and This is the Night, we get an uplifting This is the Day. Again Johnson had the whole crowd singing along and me with tears welling in my eyes. This is the Day is, and always will be, one of my all time favourite tracks. Just now it resonates more than ever. 2018 hasn’t been the best year to date with health issues and death impacting family and friends and having being made redundant recently. Thankfully, I have a very optimistic outlook on life at present, so the tears welling weren’t of sadness but more of a recognition of the lyrics of the song, and the knowledge that things must and will change.
This is the day, your life will surely change
This is the day, when things fall into place
I could have left uplifted and glowing at that very moment, however, there was much more to come.
Too many highlights to mention but a triumphant version of Hank Williams I Saw the Light, a magnificent Slow Emotion Replay and sneering Infected led up to an uplifting and soulful I’ve Been Waiting for Tomorrow (All My Life) to close the set.
True Happiness This Way Lies
By now I’m feeling emotionally drained but reinvigorated and energised at the same time. There was one last assault on the emotions to come with the inspired encore.
A stripped back and tender True Happiness This Way Lies was followed by what was possible the highlight of the whole highlight filled set, the tender Uncertain Smile packing an emotive punch. Count the classics – the number of phenomenal tracks this man has written is astounding.
It would be remiss of me here not to mention the tremendous keyboard solo from DC Collard, or the contribution of the talented musicians that make up the current The The line-up. There were times throughout the set when I was mesmerised by Earl Harvin’s astounding and hypnotic drumming. Barrie Cadogan contributing sophisticated guitar work complemented perfectly by James Eller’s solid bass underpinning the sound.
Change the World
There could only be one song to end such an inspirational show. The transformational optimism and beautiful rendition of Lonely Planet.
If you can’t change the world. Change yourself.
And if you can’t change yourself… change the world.The world’s too big. And life’s too short.
To be alone… To be alone.
I leave the Barrowland an emotional wreck, but with a huge smile on my face. That’s what music should do to you. It moves you. It batters you, but ultimately it raises your spirits invigorating and refreshing your soul.
Thank you Matt Johnson and Co.