Live Review: Nation Of Language - Classic Grand, Glasgow 30/11/2022
Their second time in the city, Nation of Language took to the iconic Glasgow Central Grand stage this week with support from Deep Tan. The last leg of their European tour before they head back to NYC for Christmas, this show was full of heart, warmth and most of all, good music.
The show began with the all-femme all-fierce and all fabulously queer trio Deep Tan. This band is all about blending stuff together and using music as a way to talk about life. A beautiful mixture of different sounds and genres, nothing is off the table when it comes to inspiration and muse. Particular favourites include ‘Tamu’s yiffing refuge’, a tale of furry hedonism and the fantastic ‘rudy ya ya ya’ which cusses out at a disgraced Rudy Giuliani. Singing in both English and French, lead vocalist Wafah oozes sensuality and plays guitar in a way that fuses different sounds and cultures together. Bassist Celeste is effortlessly cool and the chemistry they have with their bandmates is palpable. Drummer Lucy is equally brilliant and brings so many different rhythms to their sound. A special shout out has to go out also to their coordinating leather fits and platform doc martens. It was lovely to meet with and chat with them as they joined the crowd to listen to the headliners and it is clear this band has an exciting future.
With trainspotting’s hit ‘Perfect Day’ playing in the background to welcome them onto the stage, Nation of Language saunter onto the stage with huge applause. The crowd is noticeably diverse; from veterans who travelled from America and further to see them to new faces who got a taste for the band on BBC radio 6. A real mix of young and old, this audience is not what you would have immediately expected from the band’s outward appearance but once the music starts it becomes abundantly clear why so many people have connected with their sound.
They kick things off with ‘Automobile’ and from the moment Alex’s bass line comes, the energy in the room is high. Lead vocalist Ian keeps saying how glad they are to be back and how shocked they are that so many people came along. It's clear that they are really pleased to be here and though they are well into their tour, they are tighter and stronger than ever. Their sound is a marriage of the old and the new; their masterful use of synth and tech elements demonstrate how we make music has evolved and yet their stuff has that classic 80’s quality which is full of nostalgia and charm. Their ability to capture the essence of 80s sounds whilst using kit that is modern is a stroke of genius - it brings the best parts of the old and new together.
Each of the band members bring SO much to the table. Ian is charismatic and sings like there is no one else in the room. Any space his resonant and sweet tone doesn’t carry in the room he takes up himself, dancing around the stage with passion and urgency. He switches easily between a clean belt and gritty rasp, showing everything from power and vulnerability to elation and desperation. Clearly a man of many musical abilities, he joins in on some songs with the synth and at points when singing and dancing isn’t enough brings an electric guitar onstage too. Aidan is an immense talent and the way she effortlessly builds up the tracks, adding in elements you wouldn’t ever think to feature is a joy to watch. Between songs she says that her favourite thing about performing in the UK is the way the audience sing along with her playing. She jokes that the love for the synthesiser is something unique to British audiences and can’t help but giggle when the crowd cheers every time she has a solo line. Full of references and nods to other musicians, there is so much thought, passion and flair behind what she does and the way she mouths along to the lyrics through it all is the icing on the cake. Bassist Alex begins with a cool composure and understated quietness which gives the band real depth and contrast but as he comes into his stride it becomes clear he is just as much in his own world as his band members. His talent speaks for itself and there are moments where you feel the bass vibrate through you, as though the music itself is going from your head to your toes. Aidan and Alex join in with backing vocals in a few of the songs and their gorgeously airy tone blend seamlessly. The harmonies and amount they join in is just right and accent Ian’s lines perfectly. The chemistry between the three of them is so genuine and you can really feel their closeness and bond as they play.
These guys have intent and purpose behind everything and it is evident how much thought has been put into the performance. Throughout the gig, they are lit up in warm hues and the stage is constantly flooded with yellows, reds, oranges and purples. The light is projected onto the stage and audience in the shape of suns and flowers and gives the room a real familiarity and glow; you are transported to sweaty festivals and the feeling of a sweet summer, instantly forgetting about the rain and wind outside.
During the gig, the synth and instrumentation is the star of the show but listening closely on the journey back makes you realise the brilliance behind their songwriting. ‘What does a Normal Man Feel’ stood out most during the performance and something about the repetition of the lyric ‘can I find it inside myself’ was really evocative and moving. Their earliest track on the setlist, it's incredible to see on stage that they perhaps have begun to find what they were so desperately looking for. Ian’s songwriting abilities and lyricism is phenomenal and listening again gives context to the amount of raw emotion that was left on the stage. Their setlist is a journey through their different albums, from 2016 to 2022 you are given a full showcase of their progression as artists. The variety is brilliant for newcomers but they’ve made sure to include all of their biggest releases too.
After they go off-stage, as is synonymous with Glasgow crowds, there is immediately chanting and calls for more. More than happy to oblige, Ian and Alex laugh as they confess ‘I’ve been waiting a long time to hear anyone say that to us. Is it okay if we do more than one more?’. They close the night out with ‘Across their Fine Line’ taken from their latest album and they give it plenty of room to breathe, milking as much out of the moment as possible. The fans are gutted when they say they really have to go as they need to get ready to get back out on the road, but the show really feels like it ends on a high.
Chatting with them afterwards, I got the opportunity to get to know the people behind the music. Aidan explains to me that this tour has been really great for them; she feels their bond has grown stronger and their sound is tighter than it ever has been. They take time to get to know the fans who have waited outside, happy to see a familiar face or two and keen to hear how they felt. They let loose that a new album is on the horizon, something they are super excited about. While they’re headed back home to NYC for Christmas, there’s hints that we won’t have to wait too long for a return and Alex jokes that he always will find an excuse to come back to Scotland as it helps him connect with his roots. Their team are just as warm as they are and thank us for coming along, apologising that they have to hit the road to get enough sleep before heading to Manchester in the morning. They ask us to send any photographs and genuinely heartfelt hands are given all-round. Leaving the gig and on the train home, I really felt as though I had been welcomed into a family. Charismatic, charming and with real authenticity, I am disappointed that I hadn’t come across this band earlier.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
