Tonight is the opening night of the Inglorious tour and where better to start than at such an iconic venue as Rock City.  It did feel good to walk up the steps for the first time in over 19 months due to the ‘C’ word, my first indoor gig and speaking to people waiting to go in, for many this was also their first back.

Inglorious had been busy during lockdown with two new releases hitting our ears, the second ’Heroine’ due to land in inboxes this very day.

UK based alternative rock band Mercutio got things underway, the band had supported Inglorious during their last tour and had gone down very well.

Skilled musicians and a truly enigmatic frontman in Ross William Wild did not disappoint, performing rather than just playing. Wild has a strong stage presence and a vocal to match.

Opening their set with ‘Where the Pain Lives’  and ‘Playtime’ they delivered a consistent passionate performance throughout the 8 song set with Wild dropping to the floor at one stage completely at one with the music. 

The Inglorious fans did really engage with the band and although a completely different style of rock to Inglorious, ensured an appreciative response as they closed out their set with ‘The Ghost’. 

Rock City had really started to fill up during Mercutio’s set and now eager faces were rammed up to the barrier waiting to welcome a band that always pulls out all the stops to give a brilliant live show.

A roar went up as Phil Beaver took his place behind his kit, Dan Stevens and Vinnie Colla took their positions and Danny Dela Cruz plugged in his guitar as the familiar intro of Grandstand played across the PA’s but the biggest cheer went up for Nathan James who genuinely seemed delighted and emotional as walked out onto the stage. 

I don’t want to give the full set list away so early on in the tour but I can’t think anyone would be disappointed by the mix of songs from across the albums and of course from the two newest in the collection, ‘We will Ride’ and ‘Heroine’.  However, opening the set with ‘She Won’t Let You Go’ was a huge reminder of the power of this band and of course the vocals of Mr James.

I was blown away! What an incredible band, and they are very much a band. The guitars of Dan and Danny effortlessly splintering out the soaring riffs and the earth-shaking basslines from Vinnie are so tight and accomplished, I almost forgot about the vocal for a few minutes. In his usual flourish of hair wafting and cymbal smashing, superb tub thumper Phil provided the pace. As always on the road, the keyboard skills of Rob Lindop really do fill out the music to allow the sound to be as full as the recordings. 

I have never heard Inglorious play this well, they were impressive on the last tour but now there is a familiarity with each other more, a mutual appreciation of each of their talents with Stevens taking the leading riffs on many tracks but the soaring noodling talents of Danny do come into their own at times, he is a phenomenal talent and one that this band seems to be allowing to develop and flourish. A home gig for Danny and the appreciation levels took the roof off Rock City on several occasions during the set.  The solo that finishes ‘Uninvited’ catapults his ability into the stratosphere.

A lovely acoustic break with Phil picking up the now familiar 12 string and Danny accompanying Nathan as he really allows us to hear the clarity, range and emotion in his voice with ‘Wake’ ‘Glory Days’ and “Time After Time’ all being given a brief airing. Lovely songs from across their albums and Nathan James probably has the best live vocal out here.

I loved every minute, I don’t think I have ever written that before about any gig but I did, and what made it for me was Inglorious the band.   I did wonder when the “Heroine’ album came out if it was almost a Nathan James solo album, we know he has done a couple previously of some of his favourite songs,  but I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

Yes, there are very few singers who could pull these songs off, they are so huge and iconic, Heart, Mylie Cyrus, Cindy Lauper, Lzzy Hale for God sake, but hearing them play and sing some of these tracks tonight showed that the whole band had engaged with them, made them their own by adding so much energy and power to them. The more familiar Inglorious songs exploded with energy and passion, hiding in the smoke and glume at times, not coming forward as often as he should, Vinnie Cola is the lynchpin, the undercurrent that brings it all together, supporting the intricacy of the riffs, the solos, the vocals from Nathan, it’s all so joined up now.   

The guys should be delighted that they have had such a fabulous start to the tour, a splendid set list and a fabulous opening night back to live indoor gigs for many.

If you haven’t bought tickets yet then do, go and see for yourself. 

Words & photographs: Lindsay Smith (Exasperated tog!)

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