Twisted Nerve and The March Violets.

It is Saturday 4th July, the sun is shining and it is HOT!  I am heading to one of Glasgow's smallest venues, The Hug And Pint on Great Western Road to see Twisted Nerve and The March Violets.

When this gig was announced I was extremely surprised because the last time The March Violets played in the city, they pulled a very healthy crowd at The Classic Grand.

Possibly this was the only venue available on this date. I have been at The Hug And Pint a few times before, so I knew tonight was going to be special. I get to the venue quite early so I can get close to the stage, there is a healthy crowd already. I knew a lot of them. Dave and Mike from Twisted Nerve joined in the conversation. Topic? Gigs of course! 

I leave the conversation and head downstairs to the gig area. There are a few people there already and it is HOT! With a full house this is going to get intense! 

I got my spot right at the stage. As Twisted Nerve took to the stage, not only could you smell the sweat, you could feel the moisture in the air. 

Twisted Nerves history goes back to 1978. In a previous review I tagged them as post-punk, not knowing their full history, I think I might have hit a Raw Nerve. I meant no disrespect. Pigeon holes are very personal. I grew up in the 70's, I have my favourite punk bands (I have photographed one of them several times for Rockfiend). Personally, Twisted Nerve don't fit my pigeon hole of punk, which is a good thing, which I take as they created their own special place within the genre.

Tonight almost didn't happen because for the last month or two, vocalist Craig, was virtually immobile with a bad back, but knowing the man, to quote Freddie Mercury, the show must go on! And it did! I do have a setlist, however, as I write this review, the setlist is in my setlist folder which is not beside me, I do know they played "Medusa" "Lost Souls" and my personal favourite and final song of their set "5 Minutes"

As I mentioned earlier, the heat in the venue was intense. Craig was constantly wiping the sweat from his face, he also tried to throw a few moves like he usually does, he even mentioned that while in the groove, his back rather swiftly remined him that maybe tonight wasn't the right time to be his usual flamboyant self. Everybody, the band and every member of the crowd, felt the heat. Bassist, Norbert Bassbin looked like the only person who the heat didn't affect! Guitarist Mike was regularly wiping his hands and Drummer Dave looked like he had just stepped out of a shower, he was soaking wet, but never missed a beat, he even had time to give "the one finger salute" 

I have never felt heat like this at a gig before, I had to sit on the edge of the stage when Twisted Nerve ended their set, a friend behind even asked if I was ok. I found out afterwards two friends had to leave after Twisted Nerve because of the heat. As it was a below ground venue, they couldn't open a door to let fresh cool air in. it is also the biggest crowd I have seen in the venue, there was another photographer standing next to me, when I turned, I bumped her arm, and when she turned she bumped me, that's how tight the crowd were. We did however, managed to swap places throughout the gig, but it was a struggle to even move one step to the right or left.

The March Violets are touring to support the 42nd anniversary of their album Unnatural History, so a healthy part of tonight's set will be from this album, with several other favourites thrown in for good measure!

Prior to the show I was chatting with Rosie Garland about my photos, at the last International Woman's Day I posted a photo album on social media with all the female singers that have been inspirational to me, I tagged all that I am "friends" with on social media, Rosie replied saying that she was honoured to have been on my list. Tonight I introduced myself so she could put a face to the name. 

As a photographer I get to meet a lot of people in bands, some can be aloof, some can be blasé and some can be downright rude, Rosie is none of the above, she was humble and full of gratitude that I had come out to see the band perform never mind to photograph again.

The March Violets are a trio, Rosie and guitarist Tom Ashton are original members, going all the way back to 1981, plus current bassist Mat Thorpe. With the stage and venue being so small, a graceful entrance is not really achievable, two steps and your on stage, but like every other gig, as soon as the band steps onto the stage there is a wall of sound coming from the crowd. Again, like Twisted Nerve, I do have a setlist, but it is also not at hand, so as I list some of the songs they play, they might not be in the order they were performed, but I really was there, honest! 

"Long Pig" and "Religious as Hell" introduced one hell of a set. Rosie's first conversation with the crowd, (there were several more) she said that when you have been in a band for as long as they have, newer modern bands that they influenced, take their name from song titles or lyrics. The following song was "Children On Stun" (Children On Stun are a Gothic Rock band mentioned above).

I thought I had a healthy knowledge of Gothic and Post Punk bands and music until I met my other half, in the grand scheme of things, what I actually know, could fit on the back of a stamp! She introduced me to the band roughly about a month before the bands last gig at the Classic Grand a year or two ago. I did some research, the songs that got me interested were the next song "Fodder" and "Snake Dance" which was tonight's penultimate song. I was going to say there were a few fan favourites in tonight's set, but every song The March Violets played were fan favourites. Next Rosie asked for a change in the stage lighting, she asked "Can we have some green lights please" "Grooving In Green" was next, everyone cheered before the song title was even mentioned. Other songs that got the bigger cheers were "Radiant Boys" "Kraken Wakes" It was so hot that Rosie had to take off her waistcoat, and commented about the heat in Glasgow, which brought a laugh from the crowd.

The set progresses, heading towards the end, which I could see the setlist, "1 2 I Love You" was next, then "Made Glorious". As I said above "Snake Dance" was the penultimate song, but like a lot of bands these days, they didn't have a "final song" then an encore, they just played on. Working from memory, I'm more than positive that the final song is "Walk Into The Sun" which, with todays weather is a fitting way to end a show!

Rosie thanks the crowd and says her goodbyes, this is where a crowd usually hangs about at the merch table to get photos and signed merch, however, with the heat a majority of tonight's crowd are out the door and upstairs to the bar for a well needed refreshment. I however, am one who stays behind. Craig from Twisted Nerve comes out for a chat until it's my turn for autographs, I get my tickets, (yes, an actual paper ticket!) signed, plus I swiped Rosie's setlist before anyone else did, well I am still a fanboy at heart!

If you do not know any of the bands above, please head on over to your favoured streaming platform and give the bands a listen to, both bands have been around for a year or two, so there is no screaming, so the lyrics are understandable, you never know, you might hear music you don't know and like and even add to your daily playlist.

See you at the barrier.