The support were and .
Every now and then you come across a band that makes such a strong first impression that one gig simply isn’t enough. That was certainly the case with Tomorrow Syndicate. Having seen them just a few days earlier at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh, I enjoyed the show so much that I immediately decided to do it all over again. This time, however, I had company. Emma was coming along to see what all the fuss was about.
One of the benefits of catching a band more than once on the same tour is that you start to notice different things. The first gig is often about discovery. By the second, you’re paying closer attention to the songs, the musicianship and the reaction of the audience. It also gives you the opportunity to see whether your initial enthusiasm was justified or whether you simply got caught up in the excitement of the moment.
The venue for round two was Glasgow’s Mono Café Bar, one of those places that has quietly built a reputation for hosting interesting artists long before they become household names. Before Tomorrow Syndicate took the stage, the audience were treated to support sets from The Poachers and Yolo Manolo, both of whom helped make the evening feel more like a celebration of the local music scene than a standard concert.
Thankfully, my instincts from Edinburgh proved to be spot on. Tomorrow Syndicate were every bit as impressive the second time around. If anything, seeing them again only reinforced my feeling that they were a band worth keeping an eye on. There’s something satisfying about discovering an artist before everyone else starts talking about them, and this felt very much like one of those occasions.
One of the unexpected perks of documenting concerts for BillyWatson.tv is that musicians occasionally notice what you’re doing. As a thank you for supporting the band with my videos, I was presented with a free Tomorrow Syndicate T-shirt. It was a genuinely thoughtful gesture and one that was very much appreciated. Unfortunately, my career as a successful owner of band merchandise was destined to be short-lived. Somewhere between leaving the venue and getting back to the car, I managed to lose it. Emma and I even retraced our steps in the hope of recovering it, but the shirt had already disappeared into the Glasgow night.
Doh.
Still, it’s the thought that counts, and the gesture itself meant far more than the T-shirt ever could. It was a nice reminder that supporting emerging artists can create connections that go beyond simply buying a ticket and standing in the audience.
The videos and photographs below capture another excellent evening with a band that made a lasting impression in a remarkably short space of time. The T-shirt may be gone, but fortunately the memories — and the footage — survived.
The Photos
Cheers!
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