Bill Callahan @ QMU, Glasgow, 5 Nov

A chilly Bonfire Night spent in the company of Bill Callahan is a very appealing concept. Glasgow’s Queen Margaret Union is packed for the sold-out show, and with no support act preceding Callahan the crowd waits excitedly in the near darkness of the venue. 

On the stage under yellow spotlights, Callahan is a slender figure in a black sport coat. He’s joined by guitarist Mark Kenzie, saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi, and veteran indie-rock drummer Jim White, whose wild and extravagant style is a captivating performance all by itself. 

Callahan strums straight into First Bird, the opener of his new record YTI⅃AƎЯ. 'And we’re coming out of dreams / As we’re coming back to dreams', he sings in his instantly affecting, deep baritone voice, and the words take on new significance when heard live, in the glow of a shared experience. 

Glasgow is one of his favourite places to perform, Callahan says – and he’s “not just saying that.” It’s true he chooses his words sagely, and he’s a controlled presence on stage; when fans scream out to him, he seems at first to not react, then after a pause quips: “You’re animals. I like animals.” 

It’s a wild and energetic show; mingling old and new material, the set frequently shifts pace and tone, keeping us on our toes. Songs end with vibrant improvisations, Callahan giving space to his extraordinary bandmates. While the band are clearly a unit, there’s a rawness and disorder to the show that gives it life force. Callahan commands the stage naturally, unpretentiously, and seems to genuinely love to be here performing. 

The songs chosen are on the lighter, airier side of Callahan’s discography. The darkest moment comes with a rendition of the old Smog song Rock Bottom Riser, Callahan’s vocals dulled and deadpan as he sings its mournful words. There’s also a delightfully rough cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s O.D.’d in Denver, which Callahan has previously recorded with Bonnie “Prince” Billy. 

The highlight of the show comes somewhere in the middle with Coyotes, a dreamy, off-kilter love song from Callahan’s newest record. Hearing it performed live is feeling it come to life, unfolding before us like a vast, luminous landscape. 'That is how and why I love you now and have always and will always love you now / Yes I am… your loverman', Callahan sings, filling the venue with warmth and shared gratitude.