The atmosphere outside the Glasgow Garage on Sunday was electric before the doors even opened. With a backdrop of heavy police presence and balaclavas
Read MoreThe atmosphere outside the Glasgow Garage on Sunday was electric before the doors even opened. With a backdrop of heavy police presence and balaclavas for sale on the street, it was clear that Kneecaps arrival in the city was more than just a gig—it was a statement.
This was the official launch for their brand-new album, FENIAN, which dropped on May 1st. The bands plan for the release was as cheeky as ever: "How funny would it be to get FENIAN to number 1 in the UK?" The room was fully behind the sentiment. There was plenty of political fire, from shouts of "Fuck Keir Starmer" to the celebration of "Freedom for Mo Chara." The band spoke at length about beating the UK government three times in court, and quite rightly too. Ive always liked what Kneecap stand for; artists should be allowed a platform to speak their truth, and the Garage provided the perfect pressure cooker for it.
The connection with the crowd was massive, with the band giving a big nod to how much they love Glasgow. There was a brilliant moment of comedy when "Fuck Taylor Swift" was shouted—a reference to her album beating theirs to the top spot previously—only for the lads to quickly walk it back, joking that you definitely dont want the "Swifties" coming after you!
The "Here we fucking go" chants were as loud as Ive ever heard them. The set transitioned from a love letter to the United Kingdom (contingent on a United Ireland) to the absurd brilliance of "Provo get your baws out" following an OnlyFans gag. Amidst the chaos, the message of "Free Palestine" rang out clearly, met with a roar of approval.
Musically, the night was a rollercoaster. They ran through the sharp, satirical tracks from the new album before a barrage of drum and bass erupted, sending the place into a frenzy as the previous hits were belted out. The moshpit was, quite frankly, insane—a sea of bucket hats and sweat.
I loved that it was an early show that still felt like it could go on all night. The work rate of these guys is unbelievable; putting these gigs together at the last minute, playing two shows in one night, and then announcing two more at St Lukes for the following day. Four shows in two nights is a proper shift. You said you love Glasgow, and its safe to say Glasgow loves you right back.
Full Setlist:
1. Éire go Deo (Preceded by live bagpipe intro)
2. Smugglers & Scholars
3. Carnival
4. Gael Phonics
5. Occupied 6
6. Cold at the Top
7. An Ra
8. FENIAN
9. H.O.O.D
10. Big Bad Mo
11. THE RECAP
12. Liars Tale
13. Cod Liver Oil & The Orange Juice (The Mary Wallopers - over the PA as we were walking out)
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