Embrace - Glasgow - O2 Academy - Friday 16 May 2014
Having purchased ‘All You Good Good People’ on CD single when it was released back in 1997 and having followed the band since, this was a gig I was not going to miss. In the lead-up to the gig I blew the cobwebs off my Embrace albums and gave them a bit of a blast in the car over the last couple of weeks. To be honest this is a bit of ritual of mine and I always enjoy digging out old CDs and hearing great songs from the past prior to a gig. Coupled with the release of new album simply titled ‘Embrace’ I was somewhat curious as to what songs from their back catalogue would make the gig set list or whether it would be dominated with songs from their sixth and latest studio album.
So onto the gig, having caught Embrace live on a number of occasions before I have come to know exactly what to expect at an Embrace gig – fantastic songs and massive crowd sing-a-longs. To my delight this was like a new songs/greatest hits set-list with nearly all the fan favourites making an appearance and an outpouring of love and appreciation from the dedicated fans in attendance who have clearly missed this highly popular band.
The set opened with three songs from the new album with ‘Protection’ and ‘In The End’ kicking things off. After 8 years away it was evident both the band and those in attendance were up for this one! Danny and the band appeared visibly taken aback from the reaction of the Glasgow crowd who had clearly missed having this band on the scene. Lead single ‘Refugees’ followed and sounded immense as the crowd bounced and bobbed away in appreciation.
Next up the band dipped into their back-catalogue with some of their big BIG tunes getting a run out to the delight of the fans. ‘Nature’s Law’ and ‘Someday’ reminded the crowd of the Embrace sound everyone has missed and despite some sound problems sounded great with the audience belting out their hearts as they joined Danny with singing duties at every opportunity.
‘Come Back To What You Know’ perhaps my own favourite Embrace track followed and the crowd went into overdrive with every fan singing along word for word for all their worth. To think Embrace have not released an album or toured for 8 years and still command a crowd in this manner is remarkable and testament to the quality songs they have released in the past. Highlights were a plenty and the Chris Martin penned ‘Gravity’ ensured the sing-a-long continued while new single ‘Follow You Home’ highlighted the ‘new’ Embrace sound and sent the crowd nuts! For me the climatic ‘Save Me’ from the second album ‘Drawn From Memory’ is one of those songs that sounds even better live and it was great to hear it again after all this time.
Fuelled by Friday night refreshments the carnival atmosphere continued with ‘previous comeback’ song ‘Ashes’ raising the bar to another level and testing the old Academy building foundations. To the delight of the fans, the band then returned to debut album ‘The Good Will Out’ with ‘All You Good Good People’,‘My Weakness is None of Your Business’ and ‘That’s All Changed Forever’ reminding everyone just why they fell in love this band.
After a quick break the band returned for an encore with new song ‘Quarters’. The almost aggressive and blood pumping ‘One Big Family’ is another track I really enjoy and feel it comes into its own even more so live. Embrace anthem and title track to their debut album ‘The Good Will Out’ brought a memorable night to a fitting end and as the band took a bow on stage and soaked up the applause and triumphant atmosphere Danny promised to be back soon in Scotland soon. Hopefully with the new album selling well and the tour going well it will not be another 8 years! For me, Embrace gigs have always been about great songs and a great atmosphere and once again this one did not disappoint.
Having purchased ‘All You Good Good People’ on CD single when it was released back in 1997 and having followed the band since, this was a gig I was not going to miss. In the lead-up to the gig I blew the cobwebs off my Embrace albums and gave them a bit of a blast in the car over the last couple of weeks. To be honest this is a bit of ritual of mine and I always enjoy digging out old CDs and hearing great songs from the past prior to a gig. Coupled with the release of new album simply titled ‘Embrace’ I was somewhat curious as to what songs from their back catalogue would make the gig set list or whether it would be dominated with songs from their sixth and latest studio album.
So onto the gig, having caught Embrace live on a number of occasions before I have come to know exactly what to expect at an Embrace gig – fantastic songs and massive crowd sing-a-longs. To my delight this was like a new songs/greatest hits set-list with nearly all the fan favourites making an appearance and an outpouring of love and appreciation from the dedicated fans in attendance who have clearly missed this highly popular band.
The set opened with three songs from the new album with ‘Protection’ and ‘In The End’ kicking things off. After 8 years away it was evident both the band and those in attendance were up for this one! Danny and the band appeared visibly taken aback from the reaction of the Glasgow crowd who had clearly missed having this band on the scene. Lead single ‘Refugees’ followed and sounded immense as the crowd bounced and bobbed away in appreciation.
Next up the band dipped into their back-catalogue with some of their big BIG tunes getting a run out to the delight of the fans. ‘Nature’s Law’ and ‘Someday’ reminded the crowd of the Embrace sound everyone has missed and despite some sound problems sounded great with the audience belting out their hearts as they joined Danny with singing duties at every opportunity.
‘Come Back To What You Know’ perhaps my own favourite Embrace track followed and the crowd went into overdrive with every fan singing along word for word for all their worth. To think Embrace have not released an album or toured for 8 years and still command a crowd in this manner is remarkable and testament to the quality songs they have released in the past. Highlights were a plenty and the Chris Martin penned ‘Gravity’ ensured the sing-a-long continued while new single ‘Follow You Home’ highlighted the ‘new’ Embrace sound and sent the crowd nuts! For me the climatic ‘Save Me’ from the second album ‘Drawn From Memory’ is one of those songs that sounds even better live and it was great to hear it again after all this time.
Fuelled by Friday night refreshments the carnival atmosphere continued with ‘previous comeback’ song ‘Ashes’ raising the bar to another level and testing the old Academy building foundations. To the delight of the fans, the band then returned to debut album ‘The Good Will Out’ with ‘All You Good Good People’,‘My Weakness is None of Your Business’ and ‘That’s All Changed Forever’ reminding everyone just why they fell in love this band.
After a quick break the band returned for an encore with new song ‘Quarters’. The almost aggressive and blood pumping ‘One Big Family’ is another track I really enjoy and feel it comes into its own even more so live. Embrace anthem and title track to their debut album ‘The Good Will Out’ brought a memorable night to a fitting end and as the band took a bow on stage and soaked up the applause and triumphant atmosphere Danny promised to be back soon in Scotland soon. Hopefully with the new album selling well and the tour going well it will not be another 8 years! For me, Embrace gigs have always been about great songs and a great atmosphere and once again this one did not disappoint.