Throwing Muses – Glasgow Garage

Some bands become woven into your musical history so deeply that seeing them again decades later feels like reconnecting with an old friend.

That’s certainly the case with Throwing Muses.

The first time I saw them was around thirty years ago in Glasgow, back before Kristin Hersh had released her first solo album. At the time, Throwing Muses occupied a unique place in alternative music, creating songs that were unpredictable, emotional and unlike anything else around.

Three decades later, I discovered their latest album online and was delighted to find that they still possessed that same distinctive spirit.

That was all the encouragement I needed to buy a ticket.

Of course, the band isn’t exactly the same as the one I saw all those years ago. Time has a habit of changing line-ups, and in this case Kristin’s son now handles bass duties. That’s one of the stranger aspects of getting older as a music fan. The children of musicians you grew up listening to suddenly start appearing in the bands themselves.

It’s enough to make you feel ancient.

Before Throwing Muses took to the stage, we were treated to a set from Beerjacket.

I’ve encountered Beerjacket’s music before and always found it thoughtful, melodic and beautifully crafted. His songs provided the perfect introduction to the evening, creating an intimate atmosphere that suited the venue perfectly. Support acts often struggle to capture an audience’s attention, but Beerjacket had no such difficulty.

By the time his set finished, the crowd was fully engaged and ready for the main event.

Then Kristin Hersh and company arrived.

One thing that immediately struck me was how little she has changed as a performer. The years may have passed, but that intense connection to the music remains completely intact. Some artists perform songs. Kristin Hersh seems to inhabit them.

The result is a performance style that remains utterly captivating.

What has always made Throwing Muses special is their refusal to follow conventional songwriting rules. Their music often feels as though it is unfolding organically in real time, moving wherever emotion and instinct happen to take it. That quality was evident throughout the evening and reminded me why I fell in love with the band in the first place.

The newer material sat comfortably alongside older songs, which is always a good sign.

Rather than feeling like a nostalgia act revisiting former glories, Throwing Muses remain a genuinely creative force. The latest songs carried the same sense of individuality that made the early records so compelling all those years ago.

That’s a rare achievement.

Many bands survive for decades.

Far fewer continue to make music that feels relevant and inspired.

Looking back, the concert provided an interesting perspective on the passage of time. Thirty years had passed since I first saw Throwing Muses, yet hearing Kristin Hersh perform still produced many of the same feelings. The faces on stage may have changed, and some of the audience members may have acquired considerably more grey hair, but the music retained its power.

That’s ultimately what matters.

The videos and photographs below capture some of the evening, including support from Beerjacket and another memorable performance from one of alternative music’s most distinctive bands.

Thirty years later, Throwing Muses still sound like nobody else.

You can view the full gig below and read a review of the show here.