GLASGOW synth-poppers Prides enhanced their mainstream credentials last Saturday as they sold out the 02 ABC in Glasgow. The gig rounded off a sensational year for the trio, having released their debut album The Way Back Up only this summer.
The show followed a more intimate performance in King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut the night before, where they played a similar set to 300 fans. Overall, their glossy sound felt more suited to the bigger venue.
The crowd reaction was overwhelming as tracks like Messiah and Out of the Blue were shrieked back by the crowd. The band’s life-affirming choruses were belted out with such conviction, Stewart Brock could easily have taken a back seat on vocal duties.
For the band’s encore he literally did, inviting up Ross Leighton from supporting act Fatherson to front the band’s slower tunes. The ballads proved a weak spot, though, with acoustic numbers like Same Mistakes feeling more boyband-esque than anything.
Still, Prides’ avidly anthemic approach is part of their charm. Despite the band’s limitations, they felt comfortable in front of the large Glasgow audience. If they do make the jump towards arenas, they may look back on this show as a pivotal moment.
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