Melin Melyn – The Poetry Club – Glasgow

It doesn’t usually take me very long to decide whether I like a band or not.

With Melin Melyn, it took about half a YouTube video.

Before I’d even reached the end, I was on Ticketmaster buying tickets for their upcoming tour.

That’s not something I do very often.

There was something about them that immediately stood out. Maybe it was the songs, maybe it was the humour, maybe it was the fact that they seemed completely uninterested in being like anybody else. Whatever it was, I knew I wanted to see them live as soon as possible.

So Emma and I headed along to find out whether the reality could possibly live up to the impression they had made online.

Before the main event, we were treated to a set from KuleeAngee.

Support bands often have an uphill battle when audiences are eagerly awaiting the headliner, but KuleeAngee won people over very quickly. They had plenty of personality, lots of audience engagement and, most importantly, some genuinely strong songs. By the time they finished, they had earned a room full of new listeners.

It was exactly what a support act should do.

Then it was time for Melin Melyn.

Their new album, Mill on the Hill, had only been released a few days before the concert and I’d already been playing it repeatedly on YouTube. The more I listened, the more I enjoyed it. Even so, I wasn’t entirely prepared for what happened next.

I’ve been to a lot of gigs.

A lot.

Enough that it takes something genuinely special to surprise me these days.

This surprised me.

From the moment they walked on stage, Melin Melyn transformed the venue into their own strange and wonderful world. The music was fantastic, of course, but what elevated the performance was the complete commitment to the band’s unique identity. Every song, every interaction and every moment seemed part of a bigger picture.

Some bands perform songs.

Melin Melyn create an experience.

The audience quickly realised they were witnessing something special and responded accordingly. There was laughter, there was dancing and there was the unmistakable feeling that everyone in the room was sharing in something genuinely original.

That’s a rare thing.

Too many artists spend their careers trying to fit into existing categories. Melin Melyn appear to have decided to invent their own category altogether.

The result was one of the most entertaining concerts I’ve attended in years.

In fact, when I look back over the countless gigs I’ve been to, this one comfortably sits alongside the very best of them. That’s a bold statement, but it’s true. Every so often you stumble across a band at exactly the right moment and they remind you why you fell in love with live music in the first place.

This was one of those nights.

Thankfully, unlike some concerts, I was able to capture the entire performance. So if you don’t believe me when I say how good they were, you can judge for yourself.

That said, I’d still strongly recommend seeing them live if you get the chance.

Videos can show you what happened.

Only being there can show you what it felt like.

The footage below includes KuleeAngee’s excellent support set and the full Melin Melyn performance. If you’re not already a fan, don’t be surprised if you find yourself halfway through a video and suddenly buying a ticket for their next tour.

That’s pretty much what happened to me.

Melin Melyn’s new album, Mill on the Hill, had came out a few days prior to the gig and I was enjoying it on youtube and was enjoying it a lot but I didn’t think the gig would be as outstanding as it was, because I have been to many gigs and this was up their with the best of them. Fortunately for you, you can see the whole thing below, but I would recommend going to see them if you can for the full experience.