CALLUM BEATTIE // KING TUT'S WAH WAH HUT, GLASGOW
CALLUM BEATTIE SHOWS PEOPLE LIKE US LOVE HIM LIVE AT KING TUTS
★★★★☆ (4/5)
CALLUM BEATTIE PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S KING TUT’S - 14.09.2021
PICTURE BY: | STEPHEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Edinburgh’s Callum Beattie took over Glasgow’s King Tut’s venue on Tuesday, for a rearranged gig so many anticipated would be a stormer, and they were not wrong. A set comprising most of his album and the odd new tune thrown in and the crowd had an evening that would live in the memories for a long, long time.
Support on the night was Keir Gibson, another talented singer songwriter, and his short set was well received by the growing audience. A young man with a bright future, certainly one to watch out for, if tonight’s showing is anything to go by.
As the lights dimmed and the band took to the stage, the opening music played out as Beattie was met with a huge roar of approval. His recently released debut album People Like Us would provide most of the songs for this evening. Opening with Mouth of a Tiger, he set about rocking the foundations of the old concert hall from the off, with the audience lapping up every second of this intimate gig. Man Behind The Sun and a rip roaring Daddy’s Eyes had everyone on their toes, with Beattie nearly joining the crowd as he leapt on to the barrier, guitar in hand and started a sing song with the front row, as the atmosphere was cranked up another level. The tunes came thick and fast, with some good banter between the tracks.
Every song tells a tale of emotions, growing up, falling in love and the despair at world issues. Personal experiences put to words and music that so many in attendance this evening could relate to. An autobiographical record, as he puts it himself.
We Are Stars sees Beattie finally vaulting the barrier and joining the crowd on a karaoke followed by Easter Road and Tears in My Eyes. He has a fabulous voice, and is in fine form tonight, as is the 400 strong, sold out crowd. Closing the set would be Some Heroes Don’t Wear Capes, a very personal song written about his father, which brought him (and many others) to tears on the first live play of the track, and his most well-known number Salamander Street. On leaving the stage for a well-earned break, Beattie returned for an encore of Fuckers and Ghosts in The Dark and the evening was done.
The Scottish music scene has produced its fair share of solo male talent over the years, from Paolo Nutini, to Lewis Capaldi and now Callum Beattie joins the ranks. He is nothing new, nothing original but he is a very talented individual who produces great melodies and personal, meaningful lyrics with a tale to tell, and can take you from one emotion to another in the strum of a guitar chord. He creates a terrific atmosphere on stage and it’s easy to see where the hype comes from. A genuinely likeable guy, his album is great, he’s great live and has a great future ahead of him. Callum Beattie is going places, catch him live while you can.
