Support act, Cold World have been hardcore favourites for a few years now and their abrasive and hook laden songs have gathered the attention of a fair bit of this crowd, on a night when The Classic Grand looks a little light on numbers.
Still it’s not entirely quiet as the band charges and storms through classic numbers like ‘Refuse To Lose’ and ‘Can It Be So Simple 05’.
When bands like this tour together, so different in style, you do wonder how one or the other will be received to their respective audiences.
The crowd down front give the usual dues in the form of a pit and mic grabbing, which makes for a pretty classic and expected set from Cold World, nailing it down heavy and low for the Glasgow faithful.
The crowd clears a little and some different faces start to form en masse down the front as await the arrival of Title Fight.
Their latest release, Hyperview, is so fuzzed out and markedly different from the previous release that I’m more intrigued by how it will come off live than anything else.
The band makes easy work of hurtling through songs from the new record with ease and without much of a break: ‘Chlorine’ sounding haunting and blissful as the delay and echo pervades from the stage.
‘Mrahc’, another new song, rocks the stage back and forth in a manner more reminiscent to their early work, with the audience responding as such.
Indeed the reception they receive tonight is a very warm one; there’s a good few faces down the front screaming the words to every song.
An acknowledgement by primary singer and bassist Ned Russin is forthcoming, stating that although they’ve been to town before, this time it feels different and better.
We’re treated to seeing the band perform a slower number in ‘Your Pain Is Mine Now’, as guitarist Jamie Rhoden takes to the vocals.
It shows a different side to this ever evolving outfit, one that has The Classic Grand at their attention with the quiet opening blossoming out to the full breadth and dynamics of the number, all nods and appreciations going to the nucleus of songwriting that the band have clearly refined for this record.
As I watch and listen to the end of a brilliant ‘Rose Of Sharon’, it becomes apparent the real evolution of this band’s more pop sounding side – it’s not a revolution of makeup or DNA in the songs, it’s more a refinement in certain areas, more twang and inventiveness in their guitar lines, but also the general pacing of the songs.
‘Liar’s Love’ is performed in such a good and tight fashion; it definitely makes my highlight reel of the night.
We’re treated to some older material as expected, and the band does not fail to deliver.
All night I eager await ‘Lefty’, the crushing number from Floral Green that I’ve come to define as one of their best efforts.
They crash through the song with wails of feedback for the intro and a groove for the end, seemingly without a lack of energy as they pop one or two more from the record in for good measure.
Die-hard fans are treated to an absolute belter version of ‘Shed’, from a time where Title Fight’s songs sounded quite a bit different from how they do now, but unmistakeable in identity and execution.
Words: Matthew Thomas
Photos: Thomas Ritchie
