The night started with the The Molotovs, a three-piece band of teenage musicians. They arrived on stage with a no-frills approach that felt like a punk show throwback. Pushing their gear right to the lip of the stage, they turned the massive Hydro into what felt like a small basement club for thirty minutes.
Despite the early opening slot, their music deserves a much larger audience than was present so early in the night. Their tracks, particularly the closer from their debut album, gave an almost mod revival energy.
My favourite part of their great set was actually after they had finished when, instead of disappearing backstage, the trio hopped straight down to the barrier to shake hands and chat with the fans in the front row. Class acts in the making. Great music. Great attitude. Definitely a band to keep an eye out for.
All the way from Mexico, sister-trio The Warning took the energy and cranked it into heavy metal territory. They took the stage with a level of confidence that would make many forget they weren’t the headline act. Their set was a blend of English and Spanish anthems. With all three members having a huge presence on stage, no one was fading into the back.
I was incredibly excited to see drummer, Paulina, take on so many vocals and to do them so well while performing the physically demanding drum set; it was amazing to witness. They truly gave us a masterclass in arena rock precision. By the time they reached their final chorus, they had the Glasgow crowd firmly in the palms of their hands.
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The lights went down as “War Pigs” played over the speakers before Yungblud finally exploded onto the stage. The level of production was immediately apparent. A special mention must go to the videographer; the live camera work on the giant screens was cinematic, capturing every manic grin and frenetic movement with stylistic flair. I was continually impressed with how perfect many of the shots were.
Even in the highest tiers of the Hydro, the pyrotechnics were so fierce that the heat hit your face like a physical wave. Yet, despite the stadium-sized fire, Dom made the show feel personal. He spent the night constantly pointing out and engaging with the fans in the upper seats, ensuring the “cheap seats” were always included.
The mid-section of the set was full of fan interaction. During a thunderous rendition of “Fleabag,” Yungblud, as he does in every show, invited a crowd member up to play guitar alongside him. Deciding he wasn’t close enough to the action, he ended the song literally standing on top of the crowd, held up by a sea of audience hands.
The momentum just kept going. “Lowlife” turned the seated sections into a standing riot, with not a single person remaining in their chair. Between the rock anthems, the addition of violins brought a nice orchestral change to the setlist. The emotional stakes were raised during “Changes,” a powerful tribute to the Prince of Darkness himself, the late Ozzy Osbourne, whom Dom had a close relationship with. “Monday Murder” was dedicated to his best friend, Adam Warrington, his lead guitarist, music collaborator, and local Scottish lad.
Yungblud knows his audience, and he knows Glasgow. Between swinging his mic cord like a lasso and sprinting across the stage, he paused to preach his gospel of unity. In perhaps the most “Glasgow” moment in the show, he instructed the thousands in attendance to turn to their neighbour, or as he called it, their “new pal”, and share a message of affection. The crowd was instructed to look at their neighbours and tell them “I fucking love you, c*nt!”
After “Loner” rang out to a deafening roar, it was clear that this wasn’t just a concert. It was a high-voltage reminder that in Yungblud’s world, everyone belongs, everyone is loud, and everyone is family. It’s fun to see someone as young as Yungblud fully embrace that old-school rockstar persona and it’s even better to see the positivity he spreads with it.
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Header image by Tom Pallant
Yungblud: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | tiktok | youtube
The Warning: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | youtube
The Molotovs: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | tiktok | youtube
