Touché Amoré / Self Defense Family / Dad Punchers @ Stereo, 10 December

Boasting two members from our headlining band (Nick Steinhardt on guitar and Elliot Babin on vocals), Dad Punchers blast through a joyous little set of emotive, anthemic punk. Whether it's the overriding indie rock vibes or Babin's heavily-accented delivery, it couldn't be more American-flavoured. They're a likeable presence, mainly because they make the process of harking back to an era of sweet power-pop gems look easy.

 

Self Defense Family (a “reformatted” End of a Year) find themselves fighting against some technical issues throughout their set, but frontman Patrick Kindlon's admirable banter carries these moments: he speaks directly to the younger members of the crowd as a peer, encouraging them to discover and be open to Glasgow's rich musical history. Turn the Fan On's eerie, melancholic sonics provide the perfect accompaniment to Kindlon's gruff, weary vocals, and Self Immolation Family's almost-kraut mantra manages to sound both minimalist and expansive. Their weird, post-modern inversion of punk is the perfect antidote to thousands of samey post-hardcore bands.

 

LA's Touché Amoré recently took steps to blow open their blueprint with September's Is Survived By, retaining some of the quick-fire hardcore that gained them their initial following. But it also had them reaching more than ever for the anthems: the dramatic, tempo-shifting sway of Harbor works beautifully live alongside the nervous bursts of energy from their previous records like Pathfinder and Honest Sleep. Elliot Babin shows incredible stamina as he blasts behind the kit, whereas Nick Steinhardt and Clayton Stevens' frantic-yet-catchy guitars collide perfectly. Frontman Jeremy Bolm remains as humble an onstage personality as ever – his burning love for this city is well documented, so it's no surprise to see him on form. They may have sacrificed some of their live ferocity for a more nuanced and attentive approach, but it's more than a fair trade.