LIVE REVIEW: Arcade State, The Invaines, LAYAWAY, Oran Mor, Glasgow, 12/04/2024
The Oran Mor is a music venue in a renovated church that sits between Great Western Road and Byres Road in the west end of Glasgow and tonight the basement was almost full to its 500 capacity for the much anticipated Arcade State, Life Is Not Linear album launch show with the band promising to play the full eleven track album in full for one night only. Arcade State have been gaining a great reputation for their live shows while building a decent fan base across the city and beyond.
We made sure to get down early for the two support bands, the timing being perfect as LAYAWAY were just starting their set as we walked in, they were the perfect band to start the night off with their alternative rock sound not being unlike Arcade State themselves. LAYAWAY formed in 2016 with End Of The Night being their first release, a track we would get to hear tonight as well as some new ones. The Glasgow quartet are led by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Stewart Matheson who impressed us with his wide range of vocals, Gravity, their new track released on 9th April, went down well with the crowd and set the bar for the night ahead. 7/10
The Invaines have been making waves in the local Glasgow music scene since their formation in 2020 with their mix of indie-rock music, the four band members gave their all during tonight’s performance, Invaines have headlined King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut but this was one of their biggest crowds to date. The set included 2023 releases Tides and Home, with the Catfish & The Bottlemen cover went down a treat with the knowledgeable crowd. 7/10
The Oran Mor venue was just about at capacity as Arcade State took to the stage to loud cheers from the appreciative fanbase, starting the set with three of their most popular tracks, Lost Boy immediately drawing out the superb vocal talents of Ciaran Murray as the biggest gig of their career got underway. Ciaran is joined by his brother Jordan Murray on drums, Cammy Roxburgh (guitar), Kieran Robertson (guitar) and Lewis Taylor (bass) as 2022 release The Lost Boy keeps the energy high as the crowd join in with the highly infectious chorus. Arcade State have many influences running through their alternative rock music, with fellow Scottish bands such as Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic and Frightened Rabbit being just a few of them. The Dark is an outstanding moment of the set, some of the guitar work on this track were played beautifully alongside Ciaran Murray’s vocals as the crowd fell momentarily silent as we all took in this moment of beauty.
As promised the band then went on to play the Life Is Not Linear album in full, the album itself only being released on 28th March, we also felt privileged that tonight’s crowd would be the only one’s to hear the album played in its entirety live. Opener Dissonant immediately pulls you in and Nothing But War continues in the same fashion, the latter being one of the best on the album in our opinion. Recent release Thunderstatement has vocalist Murray screaming before a very addictive guitar riff throughout the track keeps the energy within the crowd high. Lost In Your Screams was written in dedication to Ciaran and Jordan’s sister Chelsea who sadly passed away last year with the live version tonight being emotionally charged. Fellow Glaswegian singer/songwriter Kirsteen Harvey joined Ciaran for a duet on My World Is Grey as the other band members left the stage momentarily, their voices combining to fill the room with joyous vocals and one of the highlights of the set as Kirsteen left the stage to a rapturous applause from the crowd.
The last two songs on the set were a reminder of how good Arcade State are live, with all five of those guys on the stage giving everything, the fans swayed along to The Barrens while the last song of the night Paper Heart has definite Sam Fender influences and the catchiest chorus of the night as Murray sang “Ooh ooh I see you looking down the barrel” creating a singalong moment with the crowd giving every last bit of energy to end the night on a massive high. This was a great night of music which we were so glad to have witnessed. Arcade State have discussed going into hiatus for a while but we hope they change their minds and continue on the upward trajectory that they are on. 9/10
Written by: Alan Brown
