TYKETTO, WARRIOR SOUL, COLLATERAL - Live Review Glasgow Garage 21.4.26

Vaughn had already made his mark on the Waysted, Save Your Prayers album a record that lent more to the American aor scene than the bands earlier gritty bluesy metal sound and introduced many to the Cleveland born front man. This tour though is in support of the bands latest release Closer To The Sun, a whole ten years have passed since the band released their last album Reach and as Vaughn himself admits its been too long but shit happens most notably covid and along the way line up changes as well. 

The album made No 1 in the UK rock and metal chart on week of release and shows the UK's love for a band entering its 40th year. 

Opening the show tonight is Collateral, no stranger to Scotland and Rockfiend, the boys are on early for a short 30 min set and waste not time opening with No Place for Love from the Should've Known Better album. With such a short set there is not much time between songs, But we have everything that makes these boys a big favourite with fans, Angelo's infection smile, Jacks bare chested chest thumping head banging. Louis's guitar hero grimaces as he makes the fret board sing. And despite being lost in the darkness at the back of the stage we know full well new drummer Charlie is there somewhere as he keeps the beat. 

Fist pumping anthem Glass Sky is next and closely followed by Glass Sky always an emotional roller coaster of a song. Favorites Midnight Queen, Long Road, Merry Go Round and of course Big Shot round of the all too short set. And despite the early start the venue has filled up nicely along the way. I am sure it wont be long before the lads are back up north again soon for a longer set. 

Warrior Soul are a name I knew off but as for the music it was not something that had crossed my path before now. Fronted by original vocalist Kory Clark. Clark is every inch the rockstar and gives off Jim Morrison vibes as we struts around the stage complete with gold rimmed sunglasses. The sound is a contrast to the two other bands on the bill tonight with a much harder grittier edge, almost punk like at times. There is no doubt Clarke is the star of the show and he is a commanding presence center stage. They open with a cover of the Joy Division song Interzone, the punk edge is immediately apparent. Cargos of Doom maintains a grungy gritty sound with a heavy repetitive riff. Much the bands work is anti establishment anti political songs again just like punk was back in the late 70's. Love Destruction. 

The Party is a song that although written for the bands debut album in 1990 is still very relevant today as it deals with political elites and corruption. The theme continues with one of the more controversial songs from the bands career The Fourth Reich. A more polished industrial metal song the song is anti war and anti control song dealing with governments manipulating the people. The band finish with Punk and Belligerent and The Wasteland two of their more well known tunes and commercially sounding. 

The audience give them an appreciative reception, tonight was probably a tough gig for the band with the vast majority of those in attendance fans of the melodic rock style but the venue gave the band a good roar as they finished their set. 

And we move on to the headline act. Tyketto are one the big hitters in the melodic rock scene. That comes from the undoubted song writing ability of Danny Vaughn coupled with his amazing vocal talents, that 35 years on from the debut album have remained as strong as ever, there is no David Lee Roth comparisons here. Vaughn can still hit every note but jokingly admits he needs just a little longer to get his breath back in between numbers. 

Opening with Rescue Me from the Strength In Numbers album the band hit hard and quick immediately bursting into two of those big chorus sing along tunes from Don't Come Easy, Wings and Burning Down Inside, The Glasgow audience have always loved to chant and they need no warming up as they belt out every word. Woah Oh Oh during Wings and Vaughn could probably have taken a break during Burning Down Inside as word for word was coming back at him.  

He tells the story of how he knew Glasgow was a special place when he nervously took the stage at the

Glasgow Barrowland in 1991 on the bands first ever Scottish show and saw those nerves Disappear as he saw a mass of bodies jumping in unison to Forever Young.  

The set is drawn mostly from that debut record but we also have four songs from the newest release. Following the unbelievably catchy track Reach we have The title track Closer To The Sun is first up followed by The Run from the also from the 2016 Reach album. We Rise is a song that starts as a slow ballad esque number that build into a full on first pumping anthem. A surprise on the new album was the cover of the Roxette song Harleys and Indians from the classic Crash Boom Bang album, a song included says Vaughn just because I love it, well what other reason do we need. 

The tempo slows down once more for Circle The Wagons and lets everyone catch their breath before we launch into the big finish home run, Seasons prepares us for one of the bands most iconic tunes, Standing Alone is as classic as they come a true giant tune in the genre. Men in their 50's and 60's are seen belting it out word for word. Its certainly one of my favourite tunes of all time. 

Another from the debut Lay Your Body Down is next and then a final track from the new record called The Brave a song written by Vaughn to pay tribute to the many who put themselves on the line for us to protect, serve and heal. And with that the band leave the stage but we all know there is one more song, I mean would they be able to get out the building without playing it, probably not. 

They return and that riff hits and as one the Glasgow choir is in full voice, No Sleepin She Waits Tables Late..... total and utter perfection in a song, fists pump, aging bodies jump around, voices are strained to the limit and smiles as wide as the River Clyde a few hundred yards away. One of the best feel good songs ever in my dodgy old photographer come reviewer brain and that's it the band take their bows and leave the stage although we wont have to wait long to do it again as they were confirmed 24 hours later as the remaining headline act for this years Winsterstorm Festival in Troon in November. Don't miss it.