THE SILENCERS // SWG3: TV STUDIO, GLASGOW
SCOTTISH ROCKERS THE SILENCERS RETURN FOR A CHRISTMAS GIG AT SWG3
THE SILENCERS PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SWG3: TV STUDIO - 21.12.2019
PICTURE BY: | STEPHEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆ (4/5)
The Silencers are back in Glasgow for a one off show at the old SWG3 warehouse. The line up is far changed from the original band formed in London in 1986 by Jimme O'Neill and Cha Burns, after the demise of their post-punk outfit Fingerprintz. Tonight, O’Neill on lead vocals is joined on stage by Stephen Greer, Baptiste Brondy and Jimme’s kids Aura and James O’Neill, and would play through a setlist covering all stages of the bands career.
Opening tonight for the band was the local poet Kevin P Gilday and Glasgow folk duo Tenement and Temple, both very different warm up artists but both entertaining the audience in their own way, and set the scene for the main act to storm the stage.
21:15 prompt, the lights dim and the band take to the stage to a huge welcome from the packed Glasgow crowd, an audience of all ages, fans old and new. Lead singer Jimme explains he is recovering from an ankle injury so will have to remain seated for the gig, and perched himself on a stool in front of the main mic.
The setlist tonight would be pretty much a run through of the bands biggest and most well known numbers. Opening with A Letter From St Paul, title track from their debut album followed by Painted Moon, the bands debut single and I See Red, another early single. The band were on point, Jimme’s vocals sounding like your in the living room listening to a vinyl and the crowd were up for it from the get go. Fantastic stuff.
Arguably the bands most recognisable work came with the release of the album A Blues For Budha, and the tracks from that record Scottish Rain and Answer Me lifted things to another level, the latter song having found fame in the mainstream after being used on a McEwans Lager advert in the late 80s. The set continued Partytime in Heaven, Cellar Of Dreams and Bulletproof Heart before returning to A Blues with The Real McCoy, a great singalong tune. The last song of the main set was another used for television, I Can Feel It regularly used on BBC’s football coverage, but another tremendous tune nonetheless.
After a short break the band returned for a four track encore of Sin City, Windswept, Sylvie and finishing off with a mass karaoke version of the old Scottish classic Wild Mountain Thyme, and the evening was over. The band left to a standing ovation and the crowd left more than happy.
This was a thoroughly entertaining evening, the band were sounding great and the big old warehouse providing a terrific atmosphere for the packed audience. The Silencers are one of a strange breed, who seem to be more popular in foregn lands than their homeland, still the old songs still sound great live and Jimme still has the voice to promote them. A gig still worth seeing if you get the chance.
SETLIST: | THE SILENCERS - SWG3: TV STUDIO - 21.12.2019
A Letter From St. Paul
Painted Moon
I See Red
Hey Mr. Bankmanager
67 Overdrive
This Is Serious
Scottish Rain
Answer Me
Number One Friend
Partytime In Heaven
Receiving
Cellar of Dreams
Want You
Bulletproof Heart
The Real McCoy
I Can Feel It
ENCORE:
Sin City - (The Flying Burrito Brothers cover)
Windswept
Sylvie
Wild Mountain Thyme