STEVE MASON // SWG3: TV STUDIO, GLASGOW
It’s a freezing Thursday night in Glasgow and Steve Mason is in town to promote his new album.
STEVE MASON PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SWG3: TV STUDIO - 31.01.2019
PICTURE BY: JOHN BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★★
The queue is forming outside SWG3 in Glasgow’s West End and the temperature is plummeting but the chat in the queue is excited; Steve Mason is in town with his live band to promote his new album ‘About the Light’.
There is some anticipation for the support act as he is known in his own right and is a long time collaborator with Steve Mason. Edgar Jones hails from Liverpool and is well respected by his fellow musicians.
Opening the night was Edgar Jones who was greeted on stage by a sparse crowd but is given a decent reception. Standing alone on stage with his guitar he plays a very accomplished set of Americana laced folk music. There is a hint of Bob Dylan to his appearance and sound and maybe a nod to the likes of Lloyd Cole.
A talented musician, with the usual Scouse happiness and chat, he finishes his set to warm applause from the growing crowd.
The lights go down, the background music goes off, the cheer from the crowd goes up... it’s time for the main event.
The band members, including Stephen Duffield and Barry Cadogan, arrive on stage to a warm welcome from the massed crowd and then Steve Mason joins them in a shiny metallic hooded cape!! He grabs a tambourine and struts around like Ian Brown in his prime. It’s immediately evident he is in a happy place and so are the crowd as the decibel level rises from their cheers.
High volume, High energy looks like it’s going to be the theme of the night as the intensity doesn’t drop until the end and by then everyone is on a high. Mason and his band are obviously talented but tonight they also seem to be on it; maybe it’s because it’s a homecoming gig for Mason. When a band or artist releases new material there are those anxious moments when they wonder how it will be accepted by the fans; anxiety was kicked into touch very early on tonight as there wasn’t a single low point in the set.
There were, however, many highlights...
The title track from the new album got a huge ovation from the audience and rightly so as it is a stonking track. Alive was also met by rapturous applause and cheers. There were notes of Ian Brown’s First World Problems in there and a little bit of Primal Scream here and there but that is no bad thing.
Other tracks of note were Walking Away From Love which sounds a little like Magic Bus by The Who but stands in it’s own right as a belter of a tune. America is Your Boyfriend would have graced any Beatles later years discography – it's that good.
At the end of a top class set Steve and his band left the stage to a much deserved ovation but the lack of house lights coming on meant an encore was imminent – despite a sub zero trek to be undertaken no-one left the venue. It was all about Steve Mason and his band.
The stage lights flickered back into action and huge cheers greeted Mason and his band back on stage. His air of genuine appreciation was once again evident as he thanked the crowd for their support and then he was back on it with an encore worth waiting for. Disappointingly there was no cape this time and after a super hero like performance capes would have been merited.
SWG3 is a cracking venue with friendly staff and great sound which helped add up to an awesome night.
All that was left was the wintry trek through the icy streets of Glasgow’s West End...
SETLIST: | STEVE MASON : SWG3: TV STUDIO, GLASGOW - 31.01.2019
Stars Around My Hreart
Planet Sizes
No Clue
America Is Your Boyfriend
About the Light
A Lot of Love
Fox on the Rooftop
Oh My Lord
Hardly Go Through
Alive
Come to Me
The End
ENCORE:
Walking Away from Love
Spanish Brigade
Words In My Head
STEVE MASON | UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: JOHN BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY