If it wasn't already obvious to anyone in the scene - promoters, musicians, fans - Tenements and company really showed why supporting local bands and venues is the lifeblood of the alternative music industry in their headline show at the effortlessly cool Glasgow venue The Ice Box last night.

It's not often that you can attend a gig that features a line up with 5 different bands and come away having loved all of them, but that was the case at this small and intimate show, with the bands managing to compliment each other's style and genre without being identical copies of one another. It really was a showcase of the kind of talent that Glasgow's music scene has to offer, proving yet again that Glasgow deserves its recognition as a UNESCO City of Music.

Fresh from the release of their debut album, Shapes & Sounds (read my review and interview with Kris here), IKARI delivered an impressive set that wouldn't have been out of place at The Avalanche Stage of Download Festival (seriously, if someone doesn't pick these guys up for the newcomer tents at festivals then you're missing a trick). When I was reviewing Shapes & Sounds, the album struck me as having a maturity to it that was surprising for the band's youth - that was echoed in their polished yet charismatic set, and you would be forgiven for thinking this was a band with numerous albums already under their belt. With an amazing live sound and an obvious and infectious passion for the scene, IKARI should definitely be on your "ones to watch" list.

IKARI showing their love of the music scene in their impressive set at The Ice Box

IKARI throwing their everything into their first gig since the release of their debut album, Shapes & Sounds.

When headliners Tenements took to the stage, it was transformative - I've been to gigs with ten times the audience numbers and half as much energy. Proof that venue size has no bearing on the atmosphere of a show, the audience were lapping up every note and every move that Tenements offered up, dancing, moshing and jumping along like their lives depended on it. The fact that The Ice Box operates a B.Y.O.B policy (revolutionary) makes for the perfect mix and it was just pure, unsullied fun. It epitomised everything that I love about this genre - people letting go and coming together whether they knew the lyrics or not.

The energy of Tenements' set would put some gigs in legendary venues like the O2 to shame.

I had the privilege of catching Tenements when they supported Novelists in late 2018 and since then it's obvious how much they have come into their own and they owned that stage. Finishing up with an energetic cover of Linkin Park's Papercut (I was front and centre in about it, obviously) the band threw out a confidence that is frankly, more than well deserved. This is another band that I'll be expecting to see frequenting festivals in the coming years; I'm excited to see where these bands go next.

In an industry that's being threatened by the straight-to-fame culture fostered by social media channels and talent shows, it's refreshing to see bands that are dedicated to honing the skills of promotion and live performances. With streaming services being a constant spectre over those that create and distribute music, shows like this and small, local venues are the pillars on which the alternative scene are built; the nurturing of new and true talent and accessible shows are what will keep the heart of this industry beating.


Did you catch this show? Let me know in the comments!