Gig Review: The Sisters of Mercy / The Virginmarys – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow (23rd November 2023)

It’s been a long haul for The Sisters of Mercy over the last two months. A tour which has taken in pretty much all of the EU with the final week seeing their return to the UK in some of the country’s best venues, climaxing tonight in Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom. It’s been an eventful one to say the least with the kick-off shows in September at London’s Roundhouse rather memorable for those who were there. But you can go looking for those details yourself. It may be mid-week but it hasn’t stopped the hordes from arriving early on a windy Thursday. Clearly the goth icons have a hardcore and dedicated following.

The Virginmarys © Charlotte Emily Photography
The Virginmarys © Charlotte Emily Photography

Speaking of which, an hour after the doors have opened, the Barras is already rammed, and The Virginmarys are making their return to the iconic venue, almost two years after their debut. Despite being their favourite city to play, they’re greeted as strangers to the majority, but it doesn’t faze them as they launch into “The Meds”. But those who do know them are cheering them on from the first note as they rip through a high-octane forty minutes. Sonically they might be very different to the headliners, but it works. With the bulk of the set focused on newer material, they don’t rest on old glories. “NYC” is as sharp as a knife, “Lies Lies Lies” continues to be a thrashy, filthy monster, “You’re a Killer” still simmers threateningly and “Devil Keeps Coming” remains a groove-filled motherfucker.

Their unique effervescent sound of punk, grunge and blues collide in graceful style but the mid-point of “Where Are You Now?” presents a change. The penny drops. The steadily building polite cheers and applause transforms into an explosion as if they’re the headliners. It allows Ally Dickaty and Danny Dolan to ride the wave and push it up several further gears. Ally’s throaty vocals are on top form, benefitting from days off, and simultaneously fires out riffs and power chords which bounce off Danny’s gargantuan drums, his own trademark force somehow elevated further tonight. Giving every last bit of energy left in the tank for the final night, they leave us with a show-stopping rendition of “Bang Bang Bang” and their love affair with the city burns as brightly as it ever has.

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As atmospheric music is fed in from the PA, it doesn’t blare from it, rather supplied in an understated fashion to build the anticipation and right on time, four people clad in black stride onto the stage to the sound of a mighty roar. It’s a slow and meandering start which, if you’re unfamiliar with The Sisters of Mercy, would constitute as boring by most standards. But once they hit the early stop of “Dominion/Mother Russia” – very likely the touchstone for anyone under 30 given its inclusion in GTA IV – it sparks the crowd into life which the band respond to in kind. From there, it’s only an upward trajectory as they deliver a post punk/new wave masterclass.

Whilst most of the setlist isn’t featured on any albums since they’ve not released one since 1990’s Vision Thing, it’s still met with open arms. Whilst there’s enough reports and commentary online about how this band can be hit or miss, tonight, they give it everything they have. Whether it’s to celebrate the last night of a hectic two months or they were simply on it tonight is anyone’s guess. Longtime guitarist Ben Christo trades licks effortlessly with the new blood of Esprit D’air’s Kai who was drafted in after the London shows. Regardless, he handles the material effortlessly whether he’s on the electric guitar or taking a turn on acoustic.

The Sisters of Mercy © Charlotte Emily Photography
The Sisters of Mercy © Charlotte Emily Photography

Meanwhile, Chris Catalyst cuts a calm figure operating the drum machine (ie laptops) whilst enjoying a can of something or a cheeky vape. Given his prior involvement on guitars for The Sisters of Mercy and he’s got an impressive CV (The Wildhearts, Ugly Kid Joe, and a Nameless Ghoul for a number of years in Ghost to name a few), it seems odd he didn’t jump onto the guitar. Despite that, it’s an excellent show and the chemistry Christo and Kai share is palpable with the Esprit D’air linchpin holding his own against Christo, owning the work like it’s his own. His acoustic work adds depth and texture in combination with the drum machine to create full-bodied and faithful to the recordings.

Elsewhere, vocalist Andrew Eldritch cuts a commanding figure on stage, constantly prowling it. He interacts with Christo and Kai and despite the size of the show, it’s akin to going to see your favourite local or up-and-coming band with the sense of camaraderie and kinship. Whilst his voice isn’t as taut and rich as it once was, the gnarled present-day incarnation works well against the pulsing bass work and the dark tones of the guitars. However, it’s the encore where the band take their victory lap – it’s a long break between the set and encore and veers into self-indulgence but it’s quickly forgotten as they re-emerge, the four of them decked out in Virginmarys shirts for the finale of “Lucretia My Reflection” and “This Corrosion”. Eldritch pulls Ally and Danny onto the stage for the latter, raising Ally’s arm aloft like he’s Rocky taking down one of his in-ring foes before both he and Danny join in on backing vocals on the chorus, creating an unforgettable moment which the Barras has played host to countless of throughout the decades.

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With hugs between both bands exchanged after the final notes, it brings the night and the tour to a close and there’s not a bad word said about the night as we hit the bottleneck to get out into the black Glasgow night. Indeed, there’s several comments along the lines of this being an exceptional show for The Sisters of Mercy and on the strength of this one, it’s fair to see why they’ve packed out the room and have such a devout fanbase.

Pics by Charlotte Emily Photography

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