Gig review: MONSTER TRUCK/ SCORPION CHILD – King Tut’s, Glasgow, 22 March 2014

Billed as the ‘Lords Of The Riff’ tour, tonight’s gig was a good value package bringing together three bands who have sparked a lot of interest in the rock world lately. Joining co-headliners Monster Truck and Scorpion Child were Welsh rockers Buffalo Summer who have been touring constantly over the last few years and who have built up a real buzz around themselves.

Buffalo Summer had just started their set as I arrived in a rammed King Tut’s and once I had fought my way to a decent vantage point it was clear the guys were going down well. The band’s particular take on southern rock is highly infectious with frontman Andrew Hunt having a soulful voice with plenty of depth.

The guys were clearly enjoying themselves, especially larger than life bass player Darren King who bounced his way through the set. The set list was culled from the band’s debut self- titled album which I haven’t heard but on this evidence I will need to track down. Their set was short but sweet and at the end they got a resounding send off from an appreciative crowd.

Next up tonight were Scorpion Child, they are rotating with Monster Truck at each gig as to who closes the show. The band from Austin, Texas have undergone a personnel change lately and have gone from a five piece to a four in the process. Again the guys are out in support of their self-titled debut album which was released last year and judging by the reaction to their entrance it would appear they have sold a few copies in and around the Glasgow area.

Scorpion Child have a heavy, metallic sound coupled with a psychedelic edge. All tracks are built on big riffs and meaty hooks and they twist, turn, ebb and flow like a large river. Recent singles, ‘King’s Highway’ and ‘Polygon Of Eyes’, went down well as they were familiar to most but all tracks were impressive as was the band’s delivery.

The focal point of the band is Aryn Black who stalks the front of the stage like some feral preacher looking to convert the masses, he had an easy task here though as most were more than willing to join ‘the child’. By the end of the set the capacity crowd had been well and truly won over by Scorpion Child and had that been the end of the night most would have gone home happy that they had had their money’s worth.

The night was far from over though as we still had Canada’s finest, Monster Truck, to grace the stage. I caught the closing numbers of the band’s set at the Download festival last year and was keen to see more. I obviously wasn’t alone as when the guys emerged to set up their gear and do a bit of a sound check the crowd spontaneously burst into the ‘whoo-whoo-whoo’ chant from the song ‘Old Train’ which brought big smiles to the band’s faces.

After a bit of a prolonged set up due to the odd technical glitch the band took to the stage and started the ball rolling with ‘The Lion’. As expected a large section of the crowd were obviously familiar with the band’s album and sang along with Jon Harvey on vocals. The band’s heavy grooves are led by Harvey’s bass work whilst guitarist Jeremy Widerman cranks out super heavy riffs, dancing and jumping around the stage. Other set highlights were the afore mentioned single ‘Old Train’ again with much crowd participation and ‘Sweet Mountain River’ which has a huge chorus and an even bigger groove.

Monster Truck proved once again that they are a band on the ascendancy and larger venues surely beckon soon. The other bands on the bill though were no mere also ran supports, they both provided equally entertaining sets and for me the set of the night was provided by Scorpion Child purely on the basis that they offered something a bit different. For a tenner though, this tour is value for money from start to finish.

Review and photos by David Wilson.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)