Broadcast, Glasgow
14th October, 2023
Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Streets Broadcast venue had an inviting glow to it as we stepped into this late autumn gig. It’s just at the edge of the city centre where everyone was enjoying a Saturday night. The attractive layout offers a small winding staircase down to the cellar venue, we sat in the warm upstairs pub waiting for doors to open.
Westerman is a musician from London, with connections to Athens, who’s music is making its way to many hearts, the gig began when support act Joviale (a self titled name) took to stage as an image we could see somewhat silhouetted with great overflowing hair. She bravely and openly performed an acapella with a little haunting flavour before her two man show came to fruition, her sound would rest through vocals, guitar and bass in a performance of two.
Westerman is on a massive European tour this year and I think this Broadcast gig is among his first. This was my second gig by this tempting musician and I’ve got to say it has grown on me developing something that gets me deeper into his style, which is peppered with musical genre as though plucked from anywhere in the last 50 years. With a very gorgeous voice that raises or quietens the room (I’d be interested to see him in a bigger venue).
He comes from a very flexible world in his set up, and has grown so much and to so many ears that his current touring band has the elements of complimenting that sound off and offer his music a really great back up presence. As we were warmed by his support (pertaining to be friends) the stage was empty but stood ready with some interesting looking gear, vintage guitar, amps and a keyboard layout that just looked so handsome.
The basement holds up to 200 which when you see the space seems remarkable, but evening gigs there usually turn out about 50, it soon became clear that this audience were already followers and fans of his, they had their eyes closed in some kind of ecstatic bliss and all of his lyrics were whispered through their lips.
Considering his debut album came in 2020 (some kind of Covid thing) his fast progress is remarkable and his music is filled to the brim with brilliant flourishes. It was titled ‘Your Hero is not Dead’, and was released with a series of singles and was track listed with 12 songs as he brought together his sound that was received in a maverick spirit.
A sound that accompanies dance with electric guitar, racy and experimental drumming and very catching if not haunting keyboard progressions. His appearance, his voice, his songs were engaging
in the sense that you’re hooked for the gig, with an edge to make a statement about the modern life we are all in. His attire wasn’t too far away from a costume from the first Terminator movie in the 1980’s.
In his music he is forming a kind of figure head for his ever growing fans who enjoy a band hard at work and as I said embarking on a huge tour this year. He has such a grip that I’m sure there will be those who will follow them around Europe on their great adventure. Very sophisticated, gut grabbing gentility using music as a voice for and a liberation of his wide range of lyrical topics, strange sounding and melodically flowing modern music that was a joy to partake in.
Daniel Donnelly
Mumble Music 