THE VAMPS // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
THE VAMPS RETURN TO GLASGOW FOR SOLD OUT SHOW AT SSE HYDRO
THE VAMPS PERFORMING AT GLASGOW'S SSE HYDRO - 29/04/2017
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Energetic, enthusiastic and eccentric, the young British band leave lasting impression on the Glasgow crowd. British pop-rockers The Vamps took to an impressively structured and neon lit custom stage In Glasgow’s SSE Hydro on Saturday – and left quite the impression by time they left it again.
The night started off with the support from a similar American band from California ‘The Tide’ who warmed up the hard-core fans while performing an energetic set including performing their massive number one hit “Put the Cuffs One Me”. Lead singer ‘Austin Corini’ used entire stage to perform his lyrics and fans around the arena shined their light, showing much love they have for opening band. Every single person in the room was singing every lyric to songs which was surreal for opening band.
Next up were ‘New Hope Club’, a band consisting of three members – Blake Richardson, George Smith and Reece Bibby who have been touring around with the world with The Vamps on their last tour and now been invited back. The band came out to the walkway stage and performed there for their entire set, with their backs to super fans standing in the pit. The band performed their hit single ‘Perfume’ which got the whole crowd singing along. Each member turned around to touch fans hands who were reaching up to them. New Hope Club have been said to be the 'The Vamps’ successor and are definitely following in their footsteps.
Up next were the main act. A band which are considered a cross between Busted and One Direction. 'The Vamps' which is made up of front man Bradley Simpson, guitarist James McVey, bassist Connor Ball and drummer Tristan Evans, they supposedly don’t like the term 'boyband' – the lads would prefer to write their own songs and play their own instruments – this gives them a larger audience to play for and allows each audience member to like them for who they are, not what they like to call themselves.
The songs can be a little bit samey, but the atmosphere of the audience didn’t seem to care much and the lads certainly know how to keep the crowd on side and in tune. The lads kicked off the night performing their hit single ‘Wake Up’ followed by ‘Wild Heart’. Quarter into the set lads took massive challenge to perform a cover of Ed Sheeran’s hit single ‘Shape Of You’ from his latest album ‘Divide’, the audience didn’t seem care and sang every lyric of the song all you heard was the arena echoing back.
THE VAMPS PERFORMING AT GLASGOW'S SSE HYDRO - 29/04/2017
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
The lads also performed acoustic version on the b-stage of their hit single ‘Cecilia’. Bradley Simpson was joined by James McVey and Connor Ball on stage while Tristan Evans performed a drum solo on a raised high stage above the floor.
The show took place in front of a giant LCD screen, showing giant close-ups of the band, as well as videos to the songs they were performing to a sold out audience. One of the clips included a certain ‘Brooklyn Beckham’ who starred in their video for opener song ‘Wake Up’. The screen worked well for the fireworks, sparks, smoke and the finale of red paper hearts falling from the ceiling.
The Middle of the Night Tour is named after their new single, which was released the same day the tour started the other night in Sheffield and just happens to be another hit with the crowd. The Vamps played a handful of new songs interspersed with previous favourites such as ‘Can We Dance’ and ‘All Night’. The big screen was a crucial part of the show, with several “behind the scenes” clips, including one plug for the new album, with a short video showing all four band members, separately, revealing the new album’s release date of July 14 – and it can be pre-ordered from May 5.
However, it did all feel a bit corporate, especially the announcement that each band member will have their own version of the album, with two unique tracks, ensuring some parents may be forced to fork out four times over to keep their teenage daughters happy. But those daughters were certainly enough leaving a show which was a clear winner with the fans.