LIVE REVIEW: L.S. Dunes @ The Garage, Glasgow
Last Friday night, L.S DUNES kicked off their inaugural UK headline tour at the smallest venue of this four-date club run, The Garage in Glasgow. One of the most high-traffic musical hubs in the city, tonight belongs firmly to this supergroup for a night of post-hardcore soon-to-be classics and the spirits are high. Pulling tonight’s setlist wholly from recent debut full-length, Past Lives, L.S. DUNES – fronted by former CIRCA SURVIVE vocalist Anthony Green – launch ferociously onstage and into angst-adorned bangers Bombsquad and Like Forever, announcing their arrival on UK soil in effortless style and full-throttle energy from both sides of the barrier.
Speaking of effortless style, it’s a running theme stemming from a wholly stunning performance from lead support KAYLEIGH GOLDSWORTHY who has the large task of warming up this crowd solo as second supports NO DEVOTION sadly had to depart the tour the day before due to family emergency. As the Philadelphian native herself acknowledges, this is her first outing performing her own work, though many in attendance tonight will already be fully familiar with GOLDSWORTHY as part of FRANK IERO AND THE PATIENCE/CELEBRATION/FUTURE VIOLENTS since 2015.
She also pours over her deep love for Scotland, Glasgow in particular, after playing here so many times over the years and it’s something the crowd vocalises is very much mutual tonight – KAYLEIGH is welcomed warmly back with open arms, and with very good reason: she is a star. One that few can hold a candle to with her brand of catchy modern bittersweet breakup songs, magnetic personality and vocal prowess set for much larger stages than her current one this evening. Closing out an all too brief but stellar setlist with the 2021 hit, Overambitious (backed up by 4/5 of L.S. DUNES), she leaves a sea of smiling faces behind and anticipation for her next trip back.
Rating: 8/10
It really shouldn’t be understated the sheer starpower L.S. DUNES has built their very foundations from, completed out by vocalist Green, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero [MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, DEATH SPELLS, PENCEY PREP/aforementioned solo projects], lead guitarist Travis Stever [COHEED & CAMBRIA], bassist Tim Payne and drummer Tucker Rule [both of THURSDAY], when this ensemble was first announced it’s safe to say there was an equal amount of healthy anticipation and baited breath to see what exactly would be produced from such a strong group of genre spearheads.
Thankfully, those expectations were met and exceeded with the release lead single Permanent Rebellion, which is perhaps why as the familiar drums roll in at exactly the halfway point of their set, the instant classic garners piercing heart-felt screams and energy levels once again jolt sharply through the roof even higher than before. This is a true anthem and a post-hardcore calling card for the ages.
It’s almost inevitable, then, that a band with such seasoned collective history of crafting and performing some of the biggest and best known soundtracks to many tonight’s musical childhood and subsequent adulthood would bring nothing short of a world-class level display whether they are in arenas or dark local clubs like Glasgow’s Garage – but tonight is notably separate from most.
It can be both seen, felt and above all heard this evening as the set progresses that these songs have already nestled their way deep into everybody in the room, precisely paced yet performed with the reckless abandon and passion of a debut. Beats and moments hit hard in waves and, for a lyrical baseline of the sombre and age-old life struggles, are all delivered with freshness and electric positivity; it’s clear tonight is pure catharsis at it’s finest for all gathered here, and shines a light on exactly why L.S. DUNES are a much needed injection into the scene in 2023.
As far as debut tours go, it doesn’t get much better than this. Not only did every date on this run sell out in minutes but, from looking around at a crowd of wall-to-wall sweaty faces bellowing for one more song by the time emotional closer Sleep Cult (featuring special guest KAYLEIGH GOLDSWORTHY on violin) reaches its crescendo with melancholy hook “sorry that I wish that I was dead”, it’s clear this is only the beginning of something very special for L.S. DUNES.
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Glasgow from Chelsea Cochrane + Kyle Watt Photography here:
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