KISS, OVO Hydro, Glasgow review - familiar feel to rock legends bombastic farewell

The face-painted group's final UK tour offered plenty of spectacle but not enough great tunes

The farewell for KISS has lasted so long that this Glasgow show, their final ever UK gig, came four years after the End of the Road tour first stopped off in the city. Admittedly that is partly down to the coronavirus scuppering touring plans for a couple of years, but even without that there is a suspicion a group who have monetised themselves so effectively over the years might have found a reason for another trip back here.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, BST Hyde Park review - Saturday in the park with Bruce

★★★★ BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND Saturday in the park with Bruce

Outsized E Street Band explores the Boss's huge catalogue

First things first. The support acts at events like this usually get completely overlooked, but it would be frankly criminal not to give a mention to a superb set by the Chicks. They dropped the “Dixie” from their original name because of its now “problematic” political connotations, and their critical comments about Dubya Bush provoked a career-changing backlash, but they’ve bounced back feistier than ever.

Album: PJ Harvey - I Inside the Old Year Dying

★★★★★ PJ HARVEY - I INSIDE THE OLD YEAR DYING Strange and wonderful songs

Strange and wonderful songs from Britain's most original musical artist

As an authentic artist, PJ Harvey manages to remain true to her essence as well as constantly shifting her creative stance. Each of her albums has been a leap forward, and yet anchored in a sound and style that are immediately recognisable as hers.

This new album, the first in seven years, is in character – sensual, mysterious, a mixture of introverted softness and extrovert violence. It's very good, full of surprises, slow to reveal itself, like a really well-accomplished piece of poetry.

The War On Drugs, OVO Hydro, Glasgow review - impressive musicianship but a lack of excitement

The seven piece's lengthy songs became bogged down too often

War might be good for absolutely nothing, but it does provide bands with some easy names. Before the War on Drugs headline set, Warpaint took to the stage, and despite a muted reaction to the quartet they were on enjoyable form. They’re unlikely to ever be topping the bill in arenas in their own right, but maybe that’s a good thing, and the funky closing double header of “New Song” and “Disco//Very” whipped by with pace and verve.

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers, Worthing Festival 2023 review - lyricism, amusing anecdotes and gorgeous guitar playing

Indie duo make heartbreak entertaining on a warm summer evening

Pete Fij and Terry Bickers are bathed in muted red light. They are sat side-by-side, Fij with an acoustic guitar, Bickers with a vintage 1970s CMI hollow-bodied electric. Behind them, oil wheel lighting gloops and bubbles gently, bespattered with glowing green circles cast by the stationary disco ball hanging high above them. “It’s surprising to see how much life you can fit into the back of a van,” sings Fij, dolefully, then adds, “It only took two trips.”

Le Tigre, Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow review - letting out their emotions while having a party

★★★★ LE TIGRE, BARROWLAND BALLROOM, GLASGOW Letting out their emotions while having a party

The reformed trio sprinted through a set of songs as relevant as ever

There was a youthful tinge to the jubilant chorus of “here we, here we, here we f****** go” that greeted Le Tigre arriving on stage.

Album: Foo Fighters - But Here We Are

The pre-eminent stadium rockers' poignant and heart-wrenching latest is coloured deeply by their loss and grief

In 1995 Dave Grohl returned with a new project and album, called Foo Fighters, following the death of Nirvana band-mate and close friend Kurt Cobain. Given his close connection with Kurt, and his avoidance of the media spotlight, this new album was pored over by many for any reference to Cobain or Nirvana.

Album: Dream Wife - Social Lubrication

★★★★ DREAM WIFE - SOCIAL LUBRICATION Making the political playful, powered by punk

The London-based trio make the political playful, powered by punk

Five years ago, breaking dry January a few days early, I joined a throng of folks amongst the merch boxes and strip lights of Rough Trade East to see Dream Wife. The London-based trio has come a long way since those small-scale shows in the backroom of a Brick Lane record shop.