On September 13th, Scottish local band The Lafontaines took to the iconic stage of Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom. The band are no strangers to the Barrowlands, having played there numerous times before. However, this gig marks the first played since their album release Business As Usual in June, making the gig highly anticipated for all new and old fans with excitement for new music live. On entrance, loyal fans were out in full force with an already packed-out venue, they were ready to experience the band’s well-known explosive performances.
Support act SLIX, another Scottish band, made a stunned appearance to rifle up the crowd beforehand. SLIX has been a band on the rise in the music scene lately, especially following their packed-out set at the TRNSMT festival, and there seemed to be some fans in the crowd who knew who they were. SLIX’s performance captured the audience’s attention with their youthful energy and confident charisma, their set was short but incredibly memorable, setting the crowd up for the anticipated The Lafontaines.
The Lafontaines strutted out and kicked off their set with ‘Alpha’, a fan favourite from their 2019 album Junior. The crowd were immediately hyped with energy making its way throughout the room. The Barrowland Ballroom is famous for its history of legendary performances, and it was clear from the beginning that this gig was going to be part of this memento. Lead singer Kerr Okan was everything that a frontman needed to be, energetic, charismatic, hyper and an incredible live vocalist. Sided by band members Jamie Keenan on drums and Darren McCaughey on guitar, the three-piece compliment their stage presence so well. The band have admirable music skills and undeniable chemistry, given they have been together for nearly 17 years!
The setlist consisted of an array of songs from their newly released fourth album along with old favourites to satisfy every fan in the room. The tracks from Business as Usual were welcomed with open arms as the crowd didn’t fail in showcasing their energy and enthusiasm for their new music, however, songs from previous albums were matched with unbelievable chaos such as tunes ‘Under the Storm’ and ‘Class’ with lyrics being screamed by a sea of people. Kerr continued to use his full command on stage, moving effortlessly between rapping and engaging with the crowd, his banter between songs added a personal touch to the performance.
The band’s sound with a hybrid of aggressive guitar riffs, pounding drums and electronic elements translated perfectly in the barrowlands with each track feeling more and more amplified. The band’s impressive use of tempo shifts was evident, with the band taking a moment to slow things down and immediately speed things back up with just one song change. The encore was a highlight of the night, with the band returning to the stage with a bang and finishing with the high energy song ‘All in’, the crowd erupted with the entire venue seeming to pulse. The Lafontaines connection with their fans was palpable, by the end of the night, it was clear that both the audience and the band had experienced something special. The Lafontaines had once again proven why they are one of the most exciting bands to have come out of Scotland, for those lucky enough to be in the Barrowland Ballroom that night, it was a night to remember.
Written by: Amanda MacEachen
Photographed by: Amanda MacEachen
Edited by: Ilse Muis
