Like the New Past: The Miraculous Return of Life Without Buildings

The clock ticks down, slower and slower, until inevitably it reaches 9am. Across the nation, fingers are poised above the 'BUY' button, waiting for the light to turn green. There’s a moment of panic, fumbled bank cards, forgotten passwords. In five minutes, some are lucky, some left seething. The show is sold out.

Oasis? Taylor Swift? Not today. This is the quasi-religious fervour that greeted the announcement that Life Without Buildings, one of the most important bands of the new millennium, were back to play their first live shows in almost 25 years. Billed as part of the Rough Trade 50 series of events, the reformed group might seem like little more than a curious footnote in the label’s history when set against The Smiths or The Strokes. But these shows represent confirmation of the Glasgow-formed band’s legendary status which has gradually bloomed over the past few years.

There was the TikTok moment when lip syncs of The Leanover went viral. The secret set at Mono this July which left some audience members in tears. And the sense that, a quarter of a century on, there was still so much to discover about a band whose entire recorded output stretches to what – 15 songs?

So, what’s the appeal? They were always a band that sounded like the future. And perhaps the most interesting thing about them was that they never wanted to be pop stars. They saw the music that they made as just one part of their creative practice. 

Live, they were simply astonishing, from early shows at much-missed venues such as The Spitz through to supporting Belle & Sebastian at Brixton Academy. Life Without Buildings join the small but perfectly formed group of artists who created one special album before splitting up: The La’s, World of Twist, Young Marble Giants. Groups for whom asking any more might have seemed greedy.

Now the band are back. I managed to grab a few words with vocalist Sue Tompkins, and guitarist Robert Dallas Grey.  How are they feeling in advance of the shows? “I guess having proven to ourselves we could do it at the Mono show, I’m nervous but excited,” says Dallas Gray, whose record as one half of Whin, alongside De Rosa's Martin Henry is also released this month. Tompkins agrees: “Only took us 25 years or so but looking forward to the gigs!”

That excitement will be shared by anyone lucky enough to have a ticket for these very special shows.

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Life Without Buildings play Saint Lukes, Glasgow, 16 & 17 Nov