A crowd of fans eager to see Blondshell, consisting of teenagers, people in their twenties, stylish millennials in cuffed chinos, and Radio 6 dads, lined up outside the Queen Margaret Union, an example of 60s Brutalist architecture located in the bustling student area of Glasgow's west end. With the doors opening promptly at 7pm, the only delays were caused by the indie attendees attempting to bring in their film cameras.
Blondshell herself hailed the young Glaswegians as cool, sharing on her Instagram story, “You are all so cool with your over-ear headphones and Eternal Sunshine Hair,” alongside a picture of Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, simply captioned, “Y’all.”
Blondshell is on a UK tour following the release of her album ‘If You Asked For a Picture’ in May, aptly named “If You Asked For a Tour.”
With star-shaped stamps on our hands, we headed to the bar, where the staff were busy serving the notably polite, Peach Jubel-drinking concert-goers. The sticky wooden floor, which had hosted acts like Nirvana and The Smiths, was quickly filling up for the opening act, Westside Cowboy.
The Manchester band settled comfortably onto the Glasgow stage, delivering a powerful set while showcasing their self-described sound “Britain-iana.” As they gathered around the microphone for their last song, ‘In the Morning’, the essence of folk punk’s raw energy was evident.
There was a swift changeover between acts, with Blondshell's band taking to the stage first, and she followed suit, greeted by an uproar from enthusiastic fans. Without uttering a word, she dove into ‘23’s a baby’, which resonated with the audience in their twenties, who sang along, “‘Cos 23’s a baby, why do you have a baby?”
She further captivated the Gen Z crowd with her effortlessly cool cover of Addison Rae’s ‘Diet Pepsi’, transforming the catchy pop tune into a pure indie rock anthem, while retaining Rae’s charm. Blondshell’s powerful vocals filled the venue, supported by the gentle sound of the band, perfectly in sync.
At various points, Blondshell leaned into the audience, with fans hanging on her every word while maintaining eye contact with a few. The QMU, though hosting 900 people, felt intimate; you could hear each footstep, pint splashing, and camera clicking. It felt as though we were all part of a significant moment in Blondshell’s journey, as her next visit to the UK will likely take place in larger venues.
Each song carried emotional weight, serving as a form of catharsis for both the audience and Blondshell. Tracks like ‘Event Of A Fire’ exhibited quiet resilience, while ‘Olympus’ conveyed deep emotional turmoil. Amidst the weighty themes, there were lighter moments of stage dancing, shared glances, banter with bandmates, and genuine “thank yous” to the crowd.
The show concluded with a track from her earlier album, ‘Salad,’ a poignant critique of the injustices faced by abuse victims within the legal system. A lasting impact resonated through the audience as they sang along to the lines, “It doesn’t happen to women I know/I put it in a box in a TV show.”
After a farewell wave and a final kneel into the crowd, Blondshell and her band exited, appearing lighter and more at ease, surely now aware that they are always welcome back in Glasgow.
Words: Margot MacLeod
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A crowd of fans awaiting Blondshell, which included teenagers, people in their twenties, fashionable chinos-wearing millennials, and Radio 6 dads, lined up at the venue's entrance.