It’s been nearly six years since Crystal Castles exploded across the globe rapidly building hype across a variety of scenes and yet Alice Glass and Ethan Kath still leave their fans longing for more with Glass’ undisciplined vocals and Kath’s Feral sound.
Not to mention their electrifying stage presence and involvement with the crowd.
Canadian synthpunk legends grace their Glasgow fans with a show that’s just as vibrant as the last, leaving them chanting and screaming for an encore.
Standing in crowd a range of faces can be seen from different ages to different styles.
Everyone on the edge of their toes with their eyes fixated firmly on the massive backdrop pulled from their new album, III.
There definitely is a lot of confusion over the support act, with technicians and sound checks being repeated over and over, people are not sure if Bo Ningen has started playing or had even shown up, which unfortunately leaves something to be desired to get the crowd jumping.
However, after two hours and 20 minutes from the doors opening, Glass adorns the stage as the lights dim for only a short moment as they ease into ‘Plague’ before everyone is drowned in a torrent of lights and a raw, powerful yet familiar sound that gets everyone jumping and screaming to the full capacity of their lungs in mere seconds.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there, just in case any older fans felt they could be missing out they blaze straight into an old time favourite ‘Baptism’, sending the crowd into a near state of musical anarchy as the ripple of insane arm flailing and bouncing infectiously passes on from one fan to the next, quickly into the far reaches of the audience, which possibly sparked a few calf twitches from a small amount of once disapproving parents dragged along by their kids.
The set list rages on, featuring Skins classic ‘Alice Practice’, fan favourite ‘Crimewave’ and many more including ‘Not In Love’, which, albeit the absence of Robert Smith, is still astounding with Glass’ own lyrical improvisation.
This of course is all happening simultaneously with Glass’ unwavering determination to literally crowd surf by almost fully standing up swinging her mic above her head while frequently standing then kneeling on a sea of devoted hands.
But the show doesn’t stop there, begging for more the audience coax Glass and Kath back onstage.
This wasn’t until Alice indulged herself by doing a little coaxing of her own, getting the crowd to chant after their touring keyboard/synth companion whom she Connor with lighters in the air as if it was 2003 all over again and once satisfied, bursts straight back into their electro ecstasy as if it hadn’t even ended.
So, how would one try to describe the experience of seeing Crystal Castles live? You would only have to hear the murmurs of fans leaving the venue.
The repeated phrase of “fucking amazing” is notably popping up conversation as fans bustle out of the doors.
Words/photos: Juliet Eccleston
