Adam Ant’s 1980 breakthrough Kings of the Wild Frontier built a chart-busting bridge between his punk roots and his newfound pop pin-up status, and both fan tribes were out in force for this celebration gig, misty-eyed for the days when the charts were full of such quirky, imaginative pop singles as opening double whammy Dog Eat Dog and Antmusic.
Adam Ant | Rating: **** | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
The entire album was still a joy to journey through. The Bowiesque Feed Me To The Lions, sci-fi rockabilly of Ant Invasion,virile punk-funk of Don’t Be Square (Be There) and Bo Diddley-referencing Jolly Roger were dispatched with alacrity by Ant and band, with the sheer propulsive energy of their dual drumming attack most keenly showcased on the rallying cry title track.
A second half of Ant favourites roamed deep and wide to encompass the frenetic Beat My Guest, fun plastic punk of Vive Le Rock, mean gutter-trawling Physical, a triumphant, impassioned Stand & Deliver and wise counsel of Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face).
The dandy highwayman himself looked, sounded and moved better than he has in years. Not many 61-year-olds could pull off the glam hussar look with such panache, or teeter on the edge without falling off – there was thankfully none of the resentful ranting which has marred his previous tours.
However, the Concert Hall was a curiously well-behaved choice of venue for such an out-and-out rock gig – despite the approving whoops from the natives, this punk pop idol could have generated even more hysteria in a scuzzier venue.
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