LIVE REVIEW: The Reytons, The Ks, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, O2 Academy Glasgow, 07/10/2023
There are not many bands out there without a record label that have managed to claim a number one album and sell out just about every date on their tours. But The Reytons have and the bands motto is proudly being No Label, No backing, All Reytons. This sold-out show at O2 Academy with the 2,000 capacity crowd had everyone anticipating a great night of music and general mayhem, as Reytons gigs normally are! The Yorkshire lads sold out the Sheffield Utilita Arena which has a capacity of 13,500, so their support has risen massively over the past year.
They are big supporters of up-and-coming bands and two support bands were on the cards tonight. First up were Glasgow based band Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, with lead singer/guitarist Declan Welsh getting the crowd chanting along to No Fun, from their 2019 album Cheaply Bought, Expensively Sold. The band showed appreciation to the fans that came down early, as the band continued their set with King of My Head, Aw The Time, Talking to Myself before a big finale with Absurd, by far their most popular song on the music streaming platforms. 6/10
The Ks first met in Earlestown, a town in Warrington and since then have built up incredible support. They have had a massive 2023 so far, playing some of the major festivals: Isle of Wight, Reading and Leeds and Kendal Calling, the band were delighted when The Reytons asked them to be the main support on the tour. The crowd were singing along to every song on the set that vocalist Jamie Boyle played, as the atmosphere built in the arena. Guitarist Ryan Breslin had some nice interactive moments with the crowd as they worked through their six song setlist, Chancer and Hoping Maybe getting the best band/crowd connection. Sarajevo was the last track with Breslin afterwards asking if they would come back and see them headline at the O2. The answer being a resounding yes! The K’s will release their debut album I Wonder If The World Knows? In March 2024 and have their own tour at the end of this year. 8/10
Reytons is a Yorkshire slang term for ‘right one’ and there were maybe a few of those at the O2 tonight, with the dynamic of tonight’s audience being anything from sixteen to sixty five. The band even have their own Facebook group for older fans called ‘Greytons’! The Reytons are made up of Jonny Yerrell on vocals, Joe O’Brien (guitar), Lee Holland (bass) and Jamie Todd on drums.
After a short audio commentary telling the story of the bands rise to fame the band burst on to the stage in the fever pitch room, starting off with Low Life and Red Smoke, the crowd yelling every word back at them, as red smoke filled the Academy and fans jumping about everywhere you looked which was honestly unbelievable scenes, this band never lets their fans down. Another crowd pleaser – Antibiotics – from the 2021 album Kids Off The Estate followed by an older classic in Harrison Lesser kept the momentum among the crowd, with even the balcony becoming a standing area. It was good to hear newly released single Let Me Breathe on the setlist, which was appreciated by everyone and the energy levels rose again with Cash In Hand & Fake IDs, which was part of a recent video trilogy telling the story of one man’s fall from grace. Singer Jonny Yerrell created a good connection with the crowd in the chorus: ‘Don’t get your hopes up son/But don’t hide away/It’s not likely that she’ll stay/I never want to see you fail’
An acoustic version of Landside, from the Kids Off The Estate album was good to hear live before the bands two most popular songs with the fans came with Slice Of Lime being the track that helped grow the fanbase and the best was left to last in the encore, as they sent the fans wild with Kids Off the Estate; the title track from the album. There were a lot of sweaty bodies as everyone left the arena after a mesmerising set and memorable night. The only criticism is that the band played only two songs from the latest album – Cash In Hand & Fake IDs and Uninvited – and otherwise the setlist was almost the same as when they played at Barrowland in November 2022. The Reytons are also making waves across Europe with loads of festival dates played during the summer of 2023 and two sold out shows at the end of the year in The Netherlands and Belgium. After that they won’t have much time to rest as their third album Ballad of a Bystander comes out next year. And who would bet against another number one album? 9/10
Written By: Alan Brown
