The Wildhearts - The Garage, Glasgow 13.03.2025
The Garage on Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street is an iconic venue in a city full of iconic venues. At the far end of one of the main thoroughfare, it's location marked by a giant truck front jutting out from above its entrance. Once you’re inside and up the stairs, decorated with the names of some of the countless bands that have played there, you're ushered into a wide, spacious room that can hold around 700 gig goers. It's my first visit here and I'm suitably impressed by how it looks and feels.
We're here (myself and another displaced English man, my friend Phil), to catch The Wildhearts as they tour their new album, “Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts”, as well as frontman Ginger bringing in a new lineup of the band, something that has split some of the passionate fan base. I mean, how dare the co-founder, frontman and lead songwriter resurrect a band that had messily imploded on more than one occasion, right?
First up though, we've got a couple of support bands to entertain us. Opening the night is Dirt Box Disco, a four piece punk metal band that immediately catch your attention by looking like they've just ran through a sex pest's wardrobe (lead singer/guitarist Spunk Volcano looks Faster-era James Dean Bradfield crossed with one of the Macc Lads). They barrel their way through songs like 'My Girlfriend’s Bestfriend’s Sister', 'Cinderella’s Motorhead Tattoo 'and new single 'Second Hand Sex Toys' faster than a forty year old virgin finally getting some. They're fun and clearly don't take themselves too seriously, despite some serious musician chops. It's good to see a good few people here to see them with more getting converted as their set progresses. They announce they'll be back in Glasgow before the end of the year and, on the strength of tonight, they'll have a good few people coming along to see them.
Although the stage is a decent size, it struggles to contain all eight members of the James Jones All Stars. Taking their cue from the traditional revue bands that would mix rock n roll with soul, blues and gospel, they throw in a little flavour of punk and voodoo into the melting pot. The band are all smartly dressed, totally committing themselves to their performance. Frontman Jim Jones comes across like the bastard son of Nick Cave and Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream, and he's profusely perspiring within a few songs. They're as tight as a very tight thing and, to my ears, they sound like a cross between The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and The Cramps; all drive, zeal and grit, fuelled on juju and the spirit of Little Richard. A pair of saxophonists add a sense of flair and pomp to Jones' reverie. By the end of their set I feel like I've enjoyed myself but I'm not sure or not if they were a good fit. However, I'm definitely in the minority as I hear nothing but praise from the people around me with one guy even saying they they were the best support band he's seen in ten years. I think that seeing them in a smaller club doing a full set would be more than beneficial so I'll happily try age catch them on their own tour.
To begin to describe my relationship with The Wildhearts and their frontman/principal songwriter Ginger Wildheart would take a good while to get through. They've been one of the constant soundtracks of my life, through thick and thin. As a band though, they have their own storied history of drugs, splits, fights and self destruction, with the band imploding a few years ago seemingly for good. Ginger however, found himself channeling some inner voice that became a new album for The Wildhearts. Putting together a new line up seemed divisive to some of their audience, almost sacrilegious, but here they are, striding across the Glasgow stage.
Ginger is taking no prisoners tonight and starts the set with a frantic 'Suckerpunch' from their debut album “Earth Vs.....” New drummer Charles Evans adds a fantastic double kick drum sound to the band that is nothing short of phenomenal all while looking so damn alike to the late Taylor Hawkins. It's a good job he has the chops to match too. To Ginger’s left is “Random" Jon Poole, a previous WH member and someone who's been a main fixture in the main man's musical career for over 25 years now. His playing may not be as dirty or “punk" as Danny McCormac, but it's fluid and tight, helping holding the rhythm section while adding plenty of melody. New guitarist Ben Marsden looks as though he's been waiting for this moment all his life, like he was born to be in this band and he adds a certain something to the playing all while looking like he's having the time of his life. The lovely Carol Hodge adds backing vocals and keyboard based sounds hidden away from most of the audience’s view but she contributes the perfect amount of colour and sparkle to proceedings.
And as for Ginger himself? I've seen him go through a lot in the past 30 plus years and this tour seems him totally rejuvenated. The last few shows I had seen him do (as special guest to Frank Turner and a co-headline jaunt with Backyard Babies) had me thinking that The Wildhearts weren't themselves, they seemed like they were going through the motions rather than wanting to be there with each other. Tonight though sees him on great form, like he's actually enjoying being in The Wildhearts again while looking incredibly healthy for someone who's gone through a hell of a lot.
Signature tune 'I Wanna Go Where The People Go' is, surprisingly, dropped in second, catching audience members off guard as Ginger’s dreadlocks flail away in the stage lights. Tight guitars usher in new album opener 'Eventually', a song that sounds like it's always been part of the set.
The band draw heavily on the newly released “Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts” with 3 other songs peppering the set. 'Troubadour Moon', 'Failure Is The Mother Of Success' and 'I'll Be Your Monster' join the repertoire with a strong showing, especially the latter track which sees roadie and guitars tech Dunc leap up onstage to mime along to the song's sax solo.
It's an unusual set, drawing from most of the band’s albums, although it's a shame that there's nothing from my personal favourite “Endless, Nameless” tonight. Still, there's plenty of great choices, including 3 (yes 3!!!!) from the criminally underrated “¡Chutzpah!” album. Ginger is also on fine form chatting between songs. “I'm a Geordie and I only deal in facts" he tells us at one point before asking how many people haven't bought the new album yet. He hopes the band can return soon to play a longer set at the famous Barrowlands.
The band gel together well. The rhythm section lock together really tightly with Charles’ playing more akin to Bam’s playing than Ritch or Stidi. Ben and Ginger’s touring of acoustic Wildhearts songs means the two have had some decent experience playing together, and it shows.
Ben’s solo on set closer ¡Chutzpah! is a particular highlight for me, his playing takes the original and adds a little something to make it feel a little more soulful. A short break sees the band come back on to start playing 'Inglorious', a particular favourite of mine before finishing with the classic 'My Baby Is A Headfuck'. There's grins all round as they finish from crowd and band alike.
The night air feels warmer than expected. The 2025 version of The Wildhearts seems pretty damn solid, something that will only get better over time. Some people might complain that it's not the original. Ginger actually looked like he was enjoying himself more than we've seen him in a long time, and he let's slip tonight that they'll be going off to demo a new album after the tour had finished, something which sounds incredibly promising after tonight's showing. I don't think that Ginger’s thoughts of playing Barrowlands sounds far fetched at all after tonight.
James Jones Allstars
Review - Scott Hamilton
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