Inside a packed and sweltering ABC2 strobe lights flash and a jaunty refrain plays over the stereo as Northern Irish rockers And So I Watch You From Afar take the stage.
Their new album, All Hail Bright Futures, added steel drums, calypso rhythms and flute to a band previously best known for their whiplash inducing math-rock riffs but live it adds breadth to a set heavy on quiet-loud duelling guitars.
Opening with ‘Big Thinks Do Remarkable’, from their new album, it’s clear how far the quartet’s song writing has progressed, veering from discordant noise to a blissed out gang mantra of “the sun is in our eyes”.
There are still the frenetic double time breakdowns to keep the punks happy but ASIWYFA no longer seem afraid of setting out to write something with a tune.
For all this talk of refinement however ASIWYFA’s main appeal still lies in their colossal riffage and the sense of unhinged reckless abandon they elicit in their dedicated band of followers.
Like early Biffy Clyro, it’s a potent mix of tricky time signatures and daft facial hair, unlike The Mars Volta they don’t attempt to imbue their music with weighty concepts – it’s enough that everyone is here to have a great time and the band do everything in their power to help them along the way.
It’s no exaggeration to say that some of these riffs would slay stadiums so up-close it’s rather like being repeatedly punched in the face and enjoying it.
Even though he’s not centre stage ASIWYFA’s beating heart is undoubtedly guitarist Rory Friers, whether pogoing around the stage or shredding heroically, massive cheers great him from the second he announces ‘Ambulance’ ‘til the moment he crowd surfs triumphantly back to stage at the end of the show.
“We’ve been waiting for this Glasgow show ever since we started this tour three weeks ago in Switzerland” he yells and for once you’re inclined to believe him.
‘Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate’ serves as both an epic closer and fitting mantra for a band who give it their all on stage every night.
Watch from afar? No, these guys are best seen up close.
Words: Max Sefton
Photos: Ann-Margaret Campbell
