For many (including myself), Death From Above 1979 are a very special band and a lot of us assumed we would never get the chance to see the Toronto two-piece perform, but in the summer of this year, it was not only revealed that the group would return with their first album in ten years, The Physical World, but that they would return for a UK tour.
Tonight, DFA1979’s first Glasgow visit since touring their cult classic album I’m a Women You’re a Machine, The Garage is packed to the rafters with many left unable to find a ticket.
First off we’re treated to an extremely impressive set from Toronto post-hardcore band, Greys.
With a sound remnant of fellow Canadians METZ as well as legendary acts like Husker Du and Drive Like Jehu, the band are tight and play with a great amount of energy, really winning over the sold out crowd.
After 25-minutes of country music blasting over the PA, the lights go down and it’s time for the legendary duo to take to the stage.
They come on to an ominous intro track with bassist Jesse F. Keeler teasing the crowd with his signature bass squeals, but then it all stops and we hear the iconic tense piano intro to their debut album.
Across an 18-song set, the band don’t waste time talking, playing flawlessly Sebastian Grainger astonishes the crowd with his ability to sing and drum without an issue.
With a crowd going wild, they blast through the songs everyone wants to hear, opening on ‘Turn It Out’ firing through singles from the new album like ‘Government Trash’ and ‘Trainwreck 1979’, with a sure highlight being the 2004 hit ‘Little Girl’.
After leaving the stage there are only two songs left that the band could possibly play and the crowd are not going anywhere without hearing them, they expectedly return with ‘Cold War’ before hitting the crowd with iconic scratchy bass intro of ‘Romantic Rights’.
An unbelievable, high energy and hit filled show from one of the most innovative rock acts of this generation, gig goers can only hope they don’t have to wait another 10 years for the duo to return.
Words: Iain Gillon
Photos: Euan Robertson
