As Emma and I made our way through the city, there were moments when I genuinely wondered if we were ever going to make it. The rain was relentless, the roads were chaotic and common sense was probably suggesting that staying at home would be the sensible option. Thankfully, common sense rarely gets much of a say when live music is involved.
The effort proved worthwhile from the moment Altered Images took to the stage. Fronted by the ever-energetic Clare Grogan, the band delivered exactly what the audience had come to hear. Decades after first finding fame, Clare still possessed the same infectious enthusiasm and charisma that made Altered Images such a beloved part of the Scottish music scene in the first place. Watching her perform, it was difficult not to be impressed by how naturally she connected with the crowd.
For many people, Clare Grogan will always be associated with Gregory’s Girl, one of Scotland’s most cherished films. That connection inevitably came up during the evening when she commented that her local Glasgow audience had been far less heckly than she had expected. Sensing an opportunity that was simply too good to ignore, I shouted, “How’s Gregory?” It wasn’t my most original contribution to popular culture, but it got the desired reaction and briefly allowed me to feel part of the show.
The band themselves were excellent, running through the classic songs that have kept Altered Images in people’s hearts for so many years. One of the pleasures of seeing artists like this is that the songs instantly transport the audience back to another time while still sounding fresh enough to stand on their own merits. Judging by the reaction in the room, there were plenty of people enjoying that journey.
By the time the concert ended, the weather had finally decided to behave itself. The torrential rain that had threatened to derail the evening had disappeared and we made our way home thoroughly pleased that we’d made the effort. It’s often the gigs you almost don’t attend that end up becoming the most memorable.
Looking back now, it’s pleasing to know that Altered Images weren’t simply revisiting the past. Clare has since announced plans for new music, proving that there is still plenty of life left in a band many people had assumed belonged solely to another era.
The videos and photographs below capture a thoroughly enjoyable evening with one of Scotland’s most enduring pop bands. Free tickets, terrible weather and a great concert. Sometimes everything works out in the end.
The Photos
Cheers!
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