There comes a time in a young man’s life when he has to stand up in front of everyone, and put it all on the line. With beating heart and sweaty palms, this is the time when he opens his mouth and speaks his heart. This is when a boy becomes a man.
No, this wasn’t Calvin Harris tonight, this was fan Andoni Graham, whose onstage proposal to girlfriend Amy captured the hearts of the audience (and my girlfriend). With a proposal like “I know I‘m fat, but I‘ll go to the gym – will you marry me?”, a slightly disappointing night was redeemed with smiles all round.
I say disappointing, because fans sporting 3D glasses in anticipation of a light and sound masterpiece were let down by an unwell Calvin struggling to get through the set. Throat problems, the result of a gruelling 150-gig run, meant the set had to be shortened. However Dumfries’s own still managed to pack in fans’ favourites ‘Acceptable In The 80s’, ‘The Girls’ and ‘Merrymaking At My Place’.
Despite Calvin’s handicap, he still put in 100% and actually showed little sign of vocal problems in a set which was wasn’t just packed full of energy, but was visually stunning. With throat problems being potentially career-threatening for artists, respect must be paid to the lanky lothario for still putting on a short (but sweet) show.
This, the closing show of the Beck’s Fusions tour – which also stopped at London, Dublin and Manchester – combined the latest multimedia technologies in both art and music.
It’s a brilliant concept which deserves the chance to grow and I would personally like to see the event make a return next year. Perhaps the best thing about the Glasgow show, however, was the inspired choice of support from audio visual pioneers Novak 3D Disco and an absolutely cracking display from Glasgow’s Errors.
Calvin Harris’s blend of electro pop and dance has divided opinions, with many fusty old frown-wearers denouncing him for not being serious enough. Since when was that a crime?
Hats off to Calvin for making the effort, but Glasgow can expect more from him on his winter tour…
Photos by Elaine McWalter – more at itm?’s flickr page
