Gun / Kira Mac - MacArts Centre, Galashiels 24th November 2024

This is the second time my partner in crime, Big Drew, and I have made our way to Scotland’s happiest town to see Gun. Once again, they were playing in the MacArts Centre and this time it was to mark the start of their 2024 tour.

The MacArts is a great venue, it is a nice square space in the middle of, what was, an old church. The beer is cheap and the view of the stage is pretty good regardless of where one is situated. It makes a really good alternative for us Embra folk, to heading along the M8 to see a gig in Glasgow. This is a venue I really liked. Better train services would improve things even more, but I guess that’s still a bit away.

So to the gig. We got there early, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was Kira Mac who was supporting. I’ve always enjoyed Kira’s voice and tonight was no exception. I didn’t think her band enjoyed the best of sound and that let her set down a little bit. Kira’s enthusiasm was outstanding and she, and her sparkly microphone, left it all on the stage. It is no wonder Planet Rock and playing her with the regularity they are. Kira and her band really set the night up well.

Bang on 9 o’clock the sways of the Sensational Alex Harvey band rang through the monitors. Delila welcomed Gun onto stage and, bang, we were off. First up “Lucky Guy” from this year’s long player “Hombres”. Tonight four of the 17 song set were culled from that album, and quite right too. It is a top record and really propelled Gun back toward the rock end of the line. Give it a listen.

“Favourite Pleasures” was next and “Vicious Heart” from 1994’s “Swagger” brought the first barrage to a close. A short breath and a bit of a chat and we were off again. “Don’t Say its Over” from the same 1994 album was the first radio cut of the night and it went down a storm with the packed room.

Halfway through the set, new single “Pride” got an airing, the first time it’s been played live. The band certainly looked a little nervous before they lamped into it, but it was a belter. If they plan on playing it across the tour, there is little doubt it will evolve into to a live staple going forward. I really enjoyed it.

“Word Up”, “Better Days”, “Inside Out” and “Steal Your Fire” brought the set to a rocking close.

Time for a stocktake, Gun have been around for the other side of 30 years and have remained a staple of the Scottish rock scene. There have been changes of personnel along the way but the solid line of Dante on vocals, Jools on guitar and Paul on drums have meant the core sound has always been there. Tonight, I thought there was a real intensity about the band, particularly in the early part of the set. Perhaps it was the first night of the tour, perhaps it was the choice of setlist, particularly the inclusion of “Pride” but there was an intensity coming from the stage. I thought that was a really good thing. Tonight, it was a mature performance from established, confident rockers. I’m not a great lover of the epithet “national treasure” but if Scotland has a list of them, Gun certainly deserves to be on it. Once again, they rocked; once again they delivered for the knowledgeable and expectant audience in front of them.

It wasn’t over though, after a quick break Jools and Dante were back for an acoustic version of that most Gun of Gun songs – “Taking on the World”. After watching the rugby earlier “I swear they’ll never break me/I swear they’ll never take me/Taking on the world, couldn’t have been more fitting.

The full five piece were back for a rousing “Shame on You” before they reminded us that we still had to fight for our right to party! That Beastie Boys cover that is now planted as closer to pretty much every Gun set and it’s a perfect fit.

We left the venue and put our empty, reasonably priced beer cans, in the bin and headed to the car. For me, Gun is a gift that keeps on giving. If you have tickets for this tour, you’ll not be disappointed. I am already looking forward to the next time I see this band of Scottish troubadours take the stage. Treasures indeed.