Adam Ant

Patience is a virtue, so they say, and fans of Adam Ant have been asked to demonstrate their own form of stoicism in recent times.

The post-punk legend was in Glasgow for two rearranged shows 12 months on from being forced to postpone his scheduled Antmusic tour in 2024.

A bonus for those present was the addition as a special guest of Adam's Jubilee co-star Toyah, who instantly wired in to the nostalgic vibe among the onlookers present.

"None of you were born in the 80s," she mischievously told them. "What's your diet? You look fantastic."

Hits like Good Morning Universe and It's A Mystery – "This song can only be sung by a singer with a lisp; I won't be offended if you imitate me" – are sure-fire crowd-pleasers, of course, and here both numbers stood up well thanks to her trademark other-worldly vocals coupled with some jaunty instrumentation from her five-piece band.

Declaring herself a "pensioner punk", the black-clad singer eagerly launched into Neon Womb, pointing out that it was the first song she wrote after getting a record contract after appearing in The Who's film Quadrophenia.

The quirky feminist anthem moved matters into more prog-like territory, with other early cuts Race Through Space and Ieya underlying the sheer youthful exuberance of her heavily theatrical early work.

With her voice sounding as powerful as at any point in her lengthy career, a closing coda consisting of the rollicking single that never was We Are and a lusty I Want To Be Free helped set a high bar on the night.

While Toyah came into these shows off the back of rave reviews for her summer festival performances, it's been an uncertain scenario around Adam Ant.

Keeping a relatively low profile in recent times due to health issues and other factors, plenty of his followers had recently voiced online concerns that this could, in effect, amount to a farewell tour.

It's unclear whether such claims have any credence or not, but having not so long ago reached his three score and 10 years, some would inevitably have been wondering if Adam's heart was still in it.

After all, new music from the former dandy highwayman of pop has been off the table since the 90s bar an unexpected album in 2013.

No one turning up realistically expected anything unheard, and many probably didn't want that anyway. Antmusic was what was promised, and that was exactly what was delivered (boom, boom).

Much teenybop-style screaming greeted the erstwhile Stuart Goddard's arrival on stage in his trademark buccaneer garb, but sadly his vocals were barely audible on opener Dog Eat Dog as the mixing desk struggled to get a grip on proceedings.

Thankfully the volume started rising on Vive Le Rock – I don't think I could have tolerated the out-of-tune roars from a superfan behind me much longer – as the gritty glam stylings of his band became apparent.

Twin drummers Yola and David Green went into tribal overdrive on a pulsating Antmusic, with guitarist Will Crewdson and bassist John Poole's efforts carrying a brilliant rendition of little-heard B-side Miss Thing that was a pure punk moment.

Looking slim and way younger than his actual age, Ant somehow manages to still closely resemble his 80s self – not wearing his glasses also helped in this aspect – and he picked up the guitar for a batch of songs that maintained the edgy vibe.

Early staples Cartrouble and Zerox hit the mark, with the ominous Ants Invasion proving one of the night's highlights.

Other pre-Antmania efforts Lady, Fall In and Young Parisians also stood out, before the legend's energy seemed to take a dip on a surprisingly insipid Kings Of The Wild Frontier.

Beat My Guest was better – with the dynamic sticks duo behind and above showing no sign of letting up – as was 90s hit Wonderful, surely one of Adam's best songs.

More introspective than almost anything else he's written, the track was delivered with feeling and provided a contrast to some of the more fast and furious work the singer's perhaps better known for.

Still, the sonic blitzkrieg that is Red Scab stood out just as much, and there were genuine spaghetti western vibes coming over during the oddball Kings favourites Killer In The Home and Los Rancheros.

Goody Two Shoes was the most danceable moment, and it all concluded with a euphoric Stand And Deliver.

Was this Adam's last stand? Hopefully not, but if so, he can ride off into the sunset with his head held high, assure in the knowledge that he did things his way.


Picture credit: Steve Gunn shotbyagunnphotography.com