Gig review: Adam Ant, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

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.

Still the glam hussar at 61, Adam Ant was in fine form. Picture: contributed

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 AntInvasion, 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.