Live Music: Glasvegas @ Webster Hall, 3/30/09

They may only have an album and a Christmas EP behind them, but Glasgow’s Glasvegas are already performing like a big-time rock band.

Grabbing the attention of the US late last year with the release of their debut, self-titled album, Glasvegas have packed New York City venues of increasing sizes, including their most recent stop at Webster Hall last Monday.

Entering the stage amid blue strobe lights and fog machines, they opened with their hit, “Geraldine,” about a social worker, “I’ll be the angel on your shoulder / my name is Geraldine, I’m your social worker.”

Glasvegas, “Geraldine” (download)

The drenched guitars of their dream pop meets ’60s pop fell on the ears of a crowd that skewed older and more predominantly male than the average New York City indie rock audience. Both anthemic and cathartic, songs like “Fuck You It’s Over” and “Go Square Go” saw many fists (and beers) in the air. The band was equally enthusiastic, throwing themselves around the entire stage, and keeping in-between song banter to short appreciative statements, like “Thank you so fucking much” and “What can I say, man, I fucking love you.”

In a live setting, front man James Allan’s lyrics were particularly difficult to decipher through his thick accent, but this may have worked to the band’s advantage, since the lyrics tend to be the stuff of teenage LiveJournal entries. “I’m feeling so guilty about the things I said to my mum when I was ten years old,” he laments in mope jam, “It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry.”

The set was short – they don’t have much material to choose from yet — but they managed an encore, and walked off stage with handshakes and gifts from fans. It’d be a safe bet that the next time Glasvegas come to New York City, the venue will be even bigger.

SETLIST:
Geraldine
Lonesome Swan
It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry
Polmont On My Mind
Fuck You, It’s Over
SAD Light
Flowers & Football Tops
Ice Cream Van
Go Square Go
Encore: Please Come Back Home
Daddy’s Gone (see video below)

For more pictures, see here.

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Glasvegas, “Daddy’s Gone” Live @ Webster Hall, March 30th