The band D.A.D once sang that the best damned parties are thrown at “The Rim Of Hell”. After Sunday night I think there is a very good chance that Royal Republic are the house band! They created a fun party atmosphere with people dancing, singing, swaying and rowing imaginary boats at points! Almost a normal Sunday night in Glasgow but with extra craziness and smiles. 18 songs and 90 minutes of infectious rock disco (at best guess). The band created merry hell itself in the room. This reviewer watched from the side balcony. I found it was difficult to know where to look and what to watch between the smartest band I have seen onstage in a long time and the crazy buggers below! A visual and aural treat.
They focussed heavily on the new album Club Majesty playing 9 out of the 11 songs therein. Whilst making sure there were songs from each of the previous 3 albums as well making up most of the other songs on the night (they threw in a cover, but more on that later).
They opened up with a quick 1 – 2 from the latest album. Those being “Fireman And Dancer” and “Can’t Fight The Disco”. Immediately getting some movement in the audience. By the third song “Make Love Not War” they had settled in onstage and the band started to have a lot of fun. At one point drummer Per Andreasson had his feet up on the kick drum whilst relaxing back and just drumming with the sticks in his hands. Singer Adam Grahn worked the audience getting them clapping and singing. Although the fans didn’t need much encouragement on the night. By the time they got to “Getting Along” I could see that even the folks right at the back of the hall (Glasgow Garage) were clapping along. All I could see on faces were smiles. Folks dancing in each other’s arms and generally having a wonderful time.
“Underwear” led to on stage shenanigans with Adam trying to see how far the crowd wanted him across the stage (in fact offstage at one point) to throw his guitar to the roadie on the other side. I think the expression “hamming it up” sums up what the band do in general.
At this point he was really pushing it, winding the fans up. It is sometimes hard to tell without seeing a few shows to what is always in the act, and what might be just happening on the night. However, it seemed fresh and fun (that word will pop up a bit on this review for good reason). They made us feel like things were happening just for us on the night. Sometimes that can be a hard trick if a fair bit is indeed choreographed.
The one thing that is definitely different each night is his chat. It takes until around the 10th song for Adam to chat properly with the audience. He was certainly making it up as he went along. He was pretty funny having a go at British food and confusing “Brexit” for “Breakfast” with lots of the crowd booing the word “Brexit”! I laughed when he referred to being the frontman as he “likes the sound of my own voice, just ask my parents”. The few times he spoke he got laughs and the crowd seem to love it, reacting appropriately.
During “Full Steam Spacemachine” he said that the band will do anything for us but wanted to know what would we do for them. When he suggested a “little jump” the crowd leapt around. The pit during this was fun to watch with one guy ending up topless waving his shirt around his head during the singalong having a large space around him. Of course when the song kicked fully back in everyone ran from all around him nearly knocking the guy into next week. The crowd were a large part of the show what with members of the band ending up wearing a fan’s beanie hat and a sawn off jacket with patches which didn’t fit that well making it rather funny to watch.
The crowd were offered the choice of a metal cover. So we ended up with a frantic and short version of the Metallica classic “Battery” which went down a storm. Due to the venue hosting a club night after the gig there was a curfew so they had to be finished by 10pm. So, Adam had fun with that telling us it was so strict that the management could decapitate bassist Jonas Alman if they went over time. He said not the worst threat, suggesting “bringing the singer down to size” would be worse! Jonas had some fun on the keytar before getting fully into “Stop Movin’” by doing the opening refrains of Van Halen’s “Jump” along with Europe’s “Final Countdown” both of which the audience sang along with before dancing their asses off for the song itself.
Without a doubt Royal Republic know how to get a party going and give the fans what they want. A bloody good time! Between them and the audience it felt like an occasion. It was (yet again but in capitals) FUN! It was also as they proudly announced their first ever sold out Glasgow show. I have a feeling they will do that again but in an even bigger venue next time. Catch these guys if you get the chance. Leave the brain at the door and get on your dancing shoes, you are going to need them!
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Tom Cornell
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