Into Live Music Review: The Waterboys
This was the band’s second of three nights in the city, and their performance was a masterclass in reinvention. They opened with a rollerball of stone-cold classics, moved into a bold, confident performance with tracks from their latest album, the wonderful Life, Death & Dennis Hopper, then finished with a home run that reaffirmed their place in the pantheon of great live acts.
Mike Scott—the eternal Celtic cowboy—looked every bit the rock ‘n’ roll poet, leading his five-piece band (plus Barney Fletcher on guest vocals) with swagger and serenity in equal measure. He’s not just a front-man anymore; he’s a curator of mood, a lightning rod for energy. But it was never a one-man show. With no fiddle or sax in this lineup, the sound took a sharp turn toward the late ’60s: lean, electric, psychedelic. The result? A thrilling fusion of Crazy Horse grit and Doors-like mysticism, with twin keyboards swirling through every track. Credit especially to Brother Paul on organ, who was nothing short of a revelation.
Scott was in his element—kicking his height during the fiery set opener Be My Enemy, channeling dusty Americana on a reimagined This Is The Sea, and offering quiet vulnerability on Don’t Know How I Made It, one of the Hopper album’s most affecting tunes.
“ I don’t know how I made it but I made it. I don’t know how I held on but I’m here. It’s as if I did a deal with an angel. Somewhere back along the line.”
The new material didn’t feel like an intermission—it was the spine of the show, delivered with total conviction ( and the video storyboard backdrop was the perfect accompaniment). You could feel Scott’s personal connection to Hopper’s story, perhaps seeing some of his own life journey also in the narrative.
Then came the finale—a run of songs that would flatten a lesser band: Don’t Bang The Drum, The Pan Within, A Girl Called Johnny,The Whole Of The Moon, and to finish , an euphoric ensemble rendition of Fisherman’s Blues, with Scott sharing co-vocals with support act The Deep Blue and Barney Fletcher. It was communal, cathartic, and utterly joyful.
The Waterboys are a band who refuse to sit still. Post-punk, indie, folk, country, soul, Americana and now psych rock—all pulled together with urgency, passion and skill. They don’t play it safe. They play like every night matters. And at The Barrowland, it absolutely did.
Alas, once again no Purple Rain. But maybe, just maybe, Scott’s already working on a Prince-inspired concept album. And if that day comes, the Barrowland family will be waiting, with torches in their pockets.
Brian Davidson @weepeople1