As expected, the place is entirely freezing no matter where you stand. Unexpectedly, however, is the quality of sound for the opening band. The balance is completely wrong; too much in the guitars and drums, and nothing even close to being enough in the vocals, which sound like they’re being delivered through a giant water tank or something. To her credit, the vocalist does try to get the crowd to “help” by clapping along. It fades out pretty quickly. It’s impossible to figure out what they’re actually supposed to sound like, and it isn’t until our photographer Clare Ballott points out that it’s Divides who are playing that I even recognise anything about them. This definitely doesn’t sound the way it’s supposed to. In the end, it’s hard to discern one track from another, but that’s not really the band’s fault. As they attempt to leave the stage in the darkness that follows, something is knocked over and something else is broken. It doesn’t bode well, does it?
Main support comes in the form of With One Last Breath. And yes, as it so happens, they do sound exactly like you think they would. One of the most entertaining things about them is one of their number sporting head-to-toe red tartan. The guitars mostly clash and, while the lead vocalist does have a nice voice, the unnecessary addition of a screamer – who, and I almost hate to say it, sort of resembles a demented pug – ruins it and drowns him out. Plus, the singer can also scream rather well himself; two of them is just overkill. There is some real potential there, but first, they’ll need to actually start working together instead of against each other. Worry less about looking cool, boys, and concentrate on sounding like an actual band. As it is, it’s all a bit embarrassing.
The lights go out and the chant gathers ground at an alarming rate. It’s a staple at Scottish shows, to say the least. The crowd have really woken up now, so much so that the floor is vibrating and the band can’t be heard whatsoever. Upon vocalist Harry Radford’s command, the crowd below him start jumping. ‘The Renegades’, title track from their previous – and final – studio album gets the biggest crowd response I’ve ever seen. The only reason I know it’s ‘The Renegades’, is because that’s the only part I can hear – almost entirely from the crowd alone. The track that follows is one that requires the audience to spin on the spot; it’s something of a Yashin tradition, and since it’s their last ever show, who are we to deny them such things? Four tracks in and it’s still utterly impossible to discern anything specific. It says quite a bit when the band can’t be heard because everyone else is having such a great time.
I’ve lost count of the tracks and I genuinely have no idea what’s going on. At some point in the evening – as I expected, though it doesn’t make me feel any better, Harry climbs over the barrier and into the waiting arms of the audience and appear to float over everyone’s heads while I tentatively look through my fingers if only to make sure nothing disastrous has happened. If only I knew what else was to come…
The Garage has previously played host to the farewell show on Welsh rockers The Blackout‘s last ever tour. But even that crowd has nothing on this one, between the two of them, Radford and vocalist/screamer/all-round nice chap Kevin Miles has them eating out of their hands. They could literally do whatever the Hell they liked, it wouldn’t matter. During ‘The Last One Standing’ (after reflecting on the past year’s loss of Bowie, Prince and other names in music) heads into the crowd on the shoulders of a security dude. It’s good to see them having such a great time themselves on what must be a very emotional night all-around, and it’s sure to leave a lasting impression on those who gathered. The crowd is boiling over, and from my vantage point from the balcony it looks pretty special.
Their original guitarist – Lewis Millen – joins them on stage for ‘Mr Hyde’ and ‘Heroes’. The former has a bit of a 1980s Glam Rock vibe. Perhaps is what prompts Harry to once again launch himself into the crowd in what looks like a tiny inflatable kids paddling pool. This could end in tears; it doesn’t, thank goodness, but it could have. Apparently, it’s a theme tonight because shortly after Radford makes in back on stage, Kit Nelson – who has designed all of the band’s artwork – climbs over the barrier and into the arms of the audience, with strict instructions from Kevin to keep him up.
“This is the song that broke Yashin,” Radford loudly declares before launching into ‘Get Loose’, and serenading a member of security in the process. Throughout the evening, the chant is repeated. I get it, it’s what you do here, which is cool. But there comes a point where’s it loses all context and verges on comical and contrived, and then it becomes boring; it quite literally means nothing by this point.
The encore is surprising, with a cover of Britney Spears‘s hit single ‘Everytime’. They’ve really managed to make it their own. It doesn’t matter how many times I hear it, it still takes me a while to figure it out. If I thought watching the band take turns at surfing the crowd was difficult, we are all in for a heart-swallowing surprise. During ‘Stand Up’ Kevin carries the inflatable paddling pool to the balcony, and then drops it and himself into the crowd below. He’s either dangerously optimistic or adrenaline is making him reckless. Thankfully, nothing bad happens and all is well.
Yashin are on fire for what is to be their last show ever, and they certainly left their mark. For some, the end of an era has come all too soon, but whatever happens next, they’ll have an entire army of supporters, if this crowd is anything at all to go by. Goodbye, Yashin; it’s been fun.
Photo: Clare Ballott
