Alvvays @ Saint Luke's, Glasgow, 27 Aug

Anticipation manifests itself in many forms, from giddiness to gut-busting terror, but the main thing that Alvvays' first Glasgow show in two years seems to have inspired is punctuality. As such, Spinning Coin's early support slot is met with a pretty-much-full room. The five-piece respond with a solid set of melodic indie rock punctuated by a few heavier, grungier moments. Their sonic variety sits nicely alongside a winningly democratic approach to lead vocals and some fantastically deadpan banter (bassist Cal Donnelly's four-word description of the headliners as "nice music, nice people" is a poster quote if ever we've heard one).

Spinning Coin mention that they're trying out new material tonight, and they aren't the only ones. As Alvvays leap straight into Saved by a Waif – an album track from second LP Antisocialites, a record that isn't out for another week – the reception is solid, but not rapturous. Molly Rankin wonders whether the softish reaction to the set's first few songs is down to our ecclesiastical surroundings, and there's a very mild hint of trepidation in the air.

The band then unleash the enormous shoegaze tidal wave that is In Undertow, then fellow Antisocialites toe-tapper Hey. The Skinny has heard and enjoyed all of these tracks on record, but gets the distinct feeling that some of our cohorts might not be as lucky. Rankin asks: "Is it okay if we play more new ones?" The response is, again, polite. The turning point comes with the second ever performance of Forget About Life, the dark synth-heavy ballad that closes the new album. Rankin ditches the guitar and takes the whole room with her, as washes of lush electronic sound fly around the walls.

The resulting applause is thunderous, and then we're straight into an all-killer collection of the rockier moments from Antisocialites and the crowd-pleasing instant classics from the band's self-titled debut. Archie, Marry Me sparks a mass singalong and a truly improbable spot of pogoing from some committed members of the faithful, while tracks like Ones Who Love You and the set-closing Party Police are drum-tight and slot right in alongside the band's newer, more dynamic material. By the end, it's a struggle to stop the applause.

Alvvays clearly have a great love for Glasgow and its music – guitarist Alec O'Hanley draws attention to drummer Sheridan Riley's Teenage Fanclub T-shirt, enormous cheering ensues – and tonight that love is paid back in spades. That new album drops this Friday, so Alvvays could be back sooner than later, but tonight they prove to be well worth the wait. Or, should we say, 'vvorth the vvait'.