Blog Post
Scarlet Rebels - Dreadnought Rock Club, Bathgate 22nd July 2022
Kevin McCallum • 24 July 2022
Live Review
It's not often that you can go out on a Friday night and see a rock band that has released in 2022 a top ten album play live in Bathgate at Scotland's longest running rock club, the Dreadnought. Scarlet Rebels released ‘See Through Blue’ on Earache Records on 28th January and reached a well deserved position of 7.
Night openers, local favourites Gordon’s Alive, played a powerful set consisting of mostly their own material, highlights being ‘Strange Days’ and ‘Going Crazy’ and excellent covers from such as Billy Idol, The Eurythmics and Deep Purple.
Scarlet Rebels hit the stage at 10pm, to a good crowd. Frontman vocals/guitar Wayne Doyle apologetically made it clear at the start that he wasn’t feeling too good and the lads would adjust the set list accordingly. Tell you what Wayne, you and the guys still delivered a great show.
Set opener ‘I’m Alive’ (and also ‘See Through Blue ‘opener) is a belter of a track and sets the pace for the rest of the night. Following up with ‘Let Your Love Go’ from their 2019 release ‘Show Your Colours’, keeps the tempo and quality flowing. This was the first song I heard from the band a year or two ago, liked it then and still like it now.
Track 3 of the night, also from ’Show Your Colours’, is ‘Part Of Me’ gives you a deep moody rock number, Dreadnought crowd are loving it.
‘Let Me In’ lifts the pace again and for me was one of the songs of the night. These guys aren’t pretentious, just deliver a solid rock show. Solos, yes for sure but not overbearing. There’s banter amongst the band and then with the crowd and that’s what a good night out should give you.
Next up two back to back from ‘See Through Blue’, first is ’I Can Sleep Now’ this is one of best live songs of the night and then ‘Take You Home’ fast paced and big sound, pulls you back and forward a bit then hits you with great guitar work.
The guys step back with two songs from their career as Void with ‘Say My Name’ and ‘Not The One’ telling you that these guys have a history of writing good songs and competently share them with us live.
Banter continues with drummer Gary sharing with the Dreadnought crowd his now famous/infamous ‘joke of the day’ slot, so memorable, oh to be a Ninja!
‘Save Me’ gives you ACDC homage with some ‘Its a long way to the top’ in the middle.
Another favourite for me from the night is next up ‘You Take My Breath Away’, great lyrics, backing vocals and a solid rhythm section keep the power on.
That’s the end of the main section of the set, the band moves into encore with second last song of the night ’These Days’ from ‘See Through Blue’ which is one of the best rock songs released anywhere by anyone this year. The set closes with ‘Heal’ which is one of the great songs on ‘Show Your Colours’.
Great night at Scotland's longest running rock club, the Dreadnought Bathgate. If you get a chance to go and see Scarlet Rebels don’t sit on the fence, go and see them you’ll be impressed.