TWIN ATLANTIC // BARROWLAND BALLROOM, GLASGOW
TWIN ATLANTIC PLAY THEIR PHENOMENAL ALBUMS “VIVARIUM” AND “GREAT DIVIDE” IN FULL
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
TWIN ATLANTIC PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S BARROWLAND BALLROOM
PHOTOCREDIT: PAUL STORR PHOTOGRAPHY
It's a rare and beautiful thing when a band decides to revisit their roots, and for Twin Atlantic, that means treating their hometown crowd to a spectacular journey back to 2009 with a full, front to back performance of their debut album Vivarium. At Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland Ballroom this is more than just a gig, it is a truly celebratory event.
From the moment the opening chords of "Lightspeed" kick in, the Barrowlands absolutely explodes. This sets the tone for the full evening ahead.
For many long time fans, seeing this record played in full is a moment to savour, as many of these tracks are rarely included in the band's current setlists.
Frontman Sam McTrusty is on top form, he pauses to joke with the audience about the venue’s history, noting how the band has never gotten a support slot at the Barrowlands back in the day - so they figure it is high time to "support themselves" just so they can say they have finally done it.
A highlight of the night is the resurrection of "You're Turning Into John Wayne," a track Sam admits they haven't played in nearly 14 years. The nostalgia is heavy, but the performance feels fresh. As the set progresses, the fan favourites deliver the biggest roars of the night, particularly the anthemic duo of "What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?" and the singalong of "Audience and Audio."
Bringing the journey to a close, the band wraps up the set perfectly with "Better Weather," leaving the packed ballroom buzzing for what they have heard, but also for the “Great Divide” set which is to come next.
A quick change of the gear on stage, and the band are back on for the 10th anniversary set for the album “Great Divide”
They immediately keep the energy high, opening with the anthemic "Heart and Soul." Things are kept bouncing with "Hold On" and the groove of "Fall Into the Party."
The sheer scale of the band's connection with the audience continues to shine when "Free" drops, seeing the entire Glasgow crowd raise their voices. Fan favourite "Actions That Echo" pushes the intensity up another level, generating huge noise across the ballroom.
Mid set, things slow down for an emotional breather. "Meltdown" brings a moment of reflection, and the tone is maintained with "Rest In Pieces." This isn't the album version, however - it’s a newly arranged, raw version featuring Ross McNae on piano. Frontman Sam McTrusty jokes that Ross asked for complete silence as they only learned this new arrangement in sound check.
As ever, the on stage banter is in full flow. After "Make a Beast of Myself," which Sam had previously joked included guitarist Barry McKenna's favourite middle section, the crowd erupts into chants of "No Barry, No Party!"
The massive singalongs return with "The Ones That I Love" before the ever anthemic "Crash Land." As usual, the crowd takes over vocal duties for the majority of the song, reducing Sam's job to little more than conducting the mass choir.
During the intro to "Oceans," Sam makes a mess of the start a few times, leading to one person in the front row shouting: "Bring back the support band!" which is easily the quote of the evening. It’s moments like these, full of shared history and laughter, that make a hometown show unique.
Sam sets off the classic Glasgow chant of "here we, here we, here we fucking go," at the start of "No Sleep." before the set is closed off with "Heart and Soul" again, which is somehow even more electric for the second time this evening.
The whole gig is an unforgettable night of volume, nostalgia, and hometown pride - be sure to catch Twin Atlantic on any of their shows this run if you can!
REVIEW & PHOTOS BY PAUL STORR PHOTOGRAPHY