Geese at The Barrowland Ballroom

Arguably the hottest band on the planet were in town at the weekend to play what many consider to be the best venue in the world. 

When Geese fly, they really soar. Pardon the pun. There were times when their Saturday night Barrowland show felt euphoric. Notably the section around halfway through Taxes when Cameron Winter sings you're gonna have to nail me down as guitars begin to ring and chime. He then lifts it further with the doctor, doctor, heal yourself section, ending with the great lyric I will break my own heart from now on.

Guitars are chiming, the bass is holding to down, drums are pounding - Max Bassin, looking good in a King Tuts t-shirt is an outstanding drummer, and Cameron Winter, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh.  is coo-ing oooh.

There are other time when it just doesn't do it for me. I love their melodic, slightly weird and wonky, more than a little stoned, songs with cool grooves. The heavier stuff that Geese play, 'bordering on prog at times' as one friend said, just doesn't connect with me. But it sure did connect with the Barrowland crowd who lapped it up. 

Anticipation hung heavily in the Gallowgate air, the queue at 8.15pm stretched round the corner towards Saint Luke's. I hadn't seen anything like that in some time. Loads of people were walking up and down the line with cardboard / digital (on their phone) signs looking for tickets. A few exchanged hands for over £100. 

Inside the crowd were singing along with Cameron Winter from the off. Even for songs that I didn't expect sing-songs for. Then there was pogo-ing and multiple crowd surfing moments, people on shoulders. There was also a brief pause around 3/4's of the way through the show where Geese seemed concerned about people down the front being dehydrated/fainting. They threw multiple bottles of water into the crowd before restarting.

Geese kicked off with Husbands, one of their slow melodic stoned jams that I really enjoy. It's slightly wonky, very different and very cool.

Getting Killed is electrifying, before going off on a slow and stone tangent. Islands of Men rides in on a seemingly simple guitar riff, just about hanging together for the instrumental section that is stripped right back, then Winter is singing (about two feet back from the mic) you can't keep, you can't keep running away.

A lot of Geese material sounds fresh, like it has stemmed from jams and improvised lyrics, rather than thought out, constructed and structured songwriting.

Crusades, from their 3D Country album, rides in on a riff that sounds Bowie/Stones inspired. Cameron Winter does a stripped back cover of Primal Scream's Movin' On Up and the band also dedicate a song to King Tuts.

A section of the show doesn't really work for me. It's a bit more heavy, a bit more experimental, but then things change with Cobra, a woozy delight, with the crowd singing in full voice. Au Pairs du Cocaine is glorious, the guitar playing the riff, then bass, drums coming in and Winter crooning his heart out. Then there is the aforementioned Taxes.

The rest of the set is kind of lost on me, I lose connection. Geese go off on a heavier vibe for the remaining couple of songs and then the two song encore. Personally, I always skip Long Island City Here I Come, the closing song on Getting Killed, and Trinidad, the opener, when playing the album.

In a sense, Geese are kind of like two different bands. That's the thrill of it for most people in the audience, while I prefer their more melodic stuff and Cameron Winter's solo album Heavy Metal.

However, what is abundantly clear, is that people have fallen for this band big time! It's going to be really interesting to hear what they do next. I can see them veering off into experimental territory like Radiohead. While maybe Winter will keep his stoned ballads for his solo material. Who knows?!

In spite of the commotion they are creating, Cameron Winter doesn't display a great deal of emotion throughout. Do Geese want to be big? Do they want this kind of adulation? 

They'd better get used to it! Geese are hot to trot and are on a constant tour, including two more dates back at the Barrowland in August. 

Albums of the year 2025

2025 was a year where reunions, anniversaries and nostalgia threatened to cast a shadow over new music and breaking artists ... it didn't though. 

The year also saw artists (recording, releasing and touring at all levels) speak out to highlight how difficult it was to make it all financially viable and sustainable and for the importance of small and independent venues throughout the country.

• Credit to Myles Smith for making an impassioned speech while accepting his Rising Star award at The Brit Awards in March.

"To the biggest venues in the country and around the world - if artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive? Stick with artists. Moments, they fade, but careers last forever."

• Credit to Coldplay for donating 10% of earnings from their UK tour to the Music Venture Trust to support small venues. 
• And to Sam Fender who donated his £25,000 prize for winning the Mercury to the MVT. Well played to both. They have set a bar for others to follow.
• And (of course) to Glasgow - a city blessed with so many small venues, the places I predominantly go to experience music - The Old Hairdressers, Mono, Stereo, McChuills, upstairs in The Doublet ... Saint Luke's and The Barrowland tend to be as big as I usually go.

The cost of everything has gone up. Musicians, roadies, sound engineers, lighting operators, merch managers, bus drivers ... all need to be paid. Then there are food and hotel costs. Touring isn't cheap. 

A few musicians I know said that their hometown shows tend to help them break even on touring smaller venues in the UK and Europe. Merchandise is a saviour. Never feel guilty about buying a t-shirt! Although the cost of gig going has risen!

So, as always, there are challenges. And as always, there is creativity - new bands and artists breaking through, artists who can't stop writing and recording and veteran artists finding a new generation of fans falling for them. 

Back to my albums of the 2025 though. Albums that need to be toured, artists that need venues of all sizes to take them (ideally) to places that want them to play. Whether that is to 200 people or 13,000. 

Here are my 6 favourite albums of the year, plus a further 11 that I have enjoyed. As always, I'm sure other end of year lists will send me off to check albums I might have missed over the course of the year. 

I've also created a playlist with one song from each album - check it HERE

2025 - 6 favourite albums

Snocaps by Snocaps

Twin sisters Allison and Katie Crutchfield are twin sisters who decided to form a new band to get back to working together like they did in their teens (they were 15 when their first band The Ackleys played their first show) and early twenties (P.S. Eliot). 

Katie now records as Grammy nominated Waxahatachee and her Tigers Blood album was one of my albums of 2024. Allison records with her band Swearin' who I need to check out.

Backed by a cracking band including MJ Lenderman on guitar, this is gorgeous alt country indie guitar pop, 13 songs in 33 minutes - sunshine inducing and spine tingling harmonies, warm guitar sounds, sublime heart string pulling slide ... this is fresh and pure, this is the twins, Lenderman and producer Brad Cooks, with all 4 playing a variety of instruments. This is currently my favourite album of 2025.

Playlist - Heathcliff is one of my favourite songs of 2025.

Getting Killed by Geese

Geese exploded in 2025. They were everywhere. Getting Killed is actually their third album in four years. Singer Cameron Winter also released his acclaimed (and highly recommended) Heavy Metal album late in 2024. He seems to be a prolific songwriter. We'll see if he can keep that up while he is on a constant tour for the next year. Expressive, eclectic, emotive and exciting - a brilliant album.

Playlist - Cobra (see blog)

In Limerence by Jacob Alon

What a gorgeous album. Alon's voice is beautiful and the textures on In Limerence are sublime. This is an album full of warmth, sounding familiar, yet distinctive. Alon has you hanging on every word, every finger picked riff. You're almost waiting to hear a pin drop. Enthralling, I found myself getting sucked in. 

Playlist - I Couldn't Feed Her

Waves by Frank Popp Ensemble

I fell for this album back in April. I described its eclectic nature as being like a mixtape - a vibrant blend of northern soul, psychedelia and garage rock, embellished with strings and drenched in reverb. Cool!

Playlist - Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way)

The Cords by The Cords

Strong debut album by teenage sisters Eva and Grace, first blogged on HERE in January 2024. The Cords have gained huge support among the Glasgow indie community and have bagged a great record label in Slumberland. I look forward to seeing and hearing what they do next. Raw guitars, a beautiful voice with a natural knack for melodies and cool playful and primitive beats - joyful. 

Playlist - When You Said Goodbye

Unclouded by Melody's Echo Chamber

This early December release really won me over, resulting in my having a top 6 favourite albums rather than a top 5! 

I had heard a couple of songs on 6Music in advance of the album, so I was waiting for it. And Unclouded didn't disappoint. Cinematic strings, dreamy and seductive vocals, super cool beats (drummer Malcolm Catto who plays with DJ Shadow and The Heliocentrics) and a gorgeous feel throughout. Melody describes her rhythm section as 'masters of the velvet groove'. Absolutely! Sadly there is only a London date in her scheduled European April tour.

Playlist - The House That Doesn't Exist

11 more albums I have enjoyed through 2025

Anxious by Nell Smith

Posthumous release by a young singer songwriter who was bursting with creative ideas. A lovely album, tinged with sadness and thoughts of wondering what she could have gone on to do.

Playlist - Billions of People

We Are Love by The Charlatans

Keepin' on keepin' on. The band that keeps giving. A very organic and Autumnal (season and in band lifespan) album. Producer Blood Orange captures the band beautifully. Their Oran Mor launch show was a delight. Roll on the Barrowland end of year show!

Playlist - Deeper and Deeper

Love Chant by The Lemonheads

A new album, an autobiography and seemingly a new Townes Van Zandt covers album on the way. Now managed by Alan McGee, Evan Dando seems to have a structure and guidance to support his creative nature. I love Evan Dando! It sounds like he had fun recording this album with Juliana Hatfield and J Mascis guesting. Garage guitar pop forever!

Playlist - Cell Phone Blues

Double Infinity by Big Thief

A gorgeous album. Whether hushed and sparse, or lovingly layered. A special band.

Playlist - All Night All Day 

Pinball Wanderer by Andy Bell

Andy Bell has it all going on. Before he embarked on rehearsals and then a mammoth tour with Oasis, he released Pinball Wandered (great title!) at the end of February. Bell has been releasing a steady stream of albums under his own name and his alter ego GLOK for more electronic ventures. In addition to recording a touring with a reformed Ride, Bell pretty much has the creative musicians life nailed! This is dreamy, trancey, psychedelic pop. Lovely!

Playlist - I'm In Love w/ Dot Allison

Idlewild by Idlewild

A supremely confident and consistent album by a band who have always played by their own rules. 

Playlist - End With Sunrise

Loner by Barry Can't Swim

Scottish producer who is consistently producing euphoric electronic music with delightful pop melodies and hooks.

Playlist - All My Friends

Bleeds by Wednesday

Another album I got into through 6Music. I wish I had gone to see them at Tuts earlier in the year. I love their sound - raw, soulful and cool.

Playlist - Phish Pepsi

The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift

Probably my most listened to album courtesy of our youngest daughter Rosie. Funny, loving, biting and enjoyable pop music. 

Playlist - Opalite

It's A Beautiful Place by Water From Your Eyes

An album I discovered via Spotify algorithms kicking in. I love it. The album has experimental jams and then gems like Playing Classics.

Playlist - Playing Classics

41 Longfield Street Late 80's by Kieran Hebden and William Tyler

This album is really dreamy and chilled and it soundtracked a drive home from an overnight in Anstruther. My youngest daughter Rosie slept in the passenger seat as I drove West towards the sunset. The perfect soundtrack.

Playlist - If I Had A Boat

Cobra

Trust me #108
Cobra by Geese

Sometimes I discover a song, fall for it and then play it non-stop. And annoy my wife and daughters! I am happily guilty as charged. Sometimes you just find something that stops you dead in your tracks, causes you to turn up the volume and marvel at the melodies, delivery and sound. Right now, that song is unequivocally Cobra by Geese.

They are the band of the moment. Latest album Getting Killed, released at the end of September, is likely to be riding high in end of year lists, it certainly will be in mine. My friend Joe alerted me to their song Taxes prior to the albums release and we bagged tickets for their Barrowland shows next August as a result. It's quite rare for me to buy tickets so far in advance.

Then, when I saw Gigs in Scotland post that their SWG3 show in March had been upgraded to the Barrowland, I jumped on and bagged tickets straight away.

I've really fallen for the band and singer Cameron Winters. They seem to be prolific and in a rich vein of form. Check out Winters debut solo album Heavy Metal that he released in December 2024.

With Projector (2021), 3D Country (2023) and Getting Killed (2025), Geese are in the groove of releasing an album every couple of years. Hopefully something they can keep going after this years breakthrough and year long + touring schedule.

Photo by Galea McGregor

Cobra rides in on a slightly weird, wonky, woozy and delightfully playful riffs that somehow gel. Then Cameron Winters voice comes in, instantly grabbing attention. The use of baby in songs has been around for decades; sometimes it can be used at the wrong time, sometimes it can be overused, but when it's used at the right time and in the right way ... it really hits the mark. 

Baby, let me dance away, forever

Baby, let me dance away, forever and ever

Probably the 'poppiest' moment on the album, and at just over 3-minutes - the shortest, Cobra immediately has me reaching to turn up the volume when it comes on 6 Music. The station have championed Geese - good on them. The song builds naturally and beautifully with Winter seemingly ad libbing over his bands groove. 

You can get it on your own

You can make the cobras dance

But not me, yeah

Cobra is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

96. Common People by Pulp

97. Let Our Love Grow Higher by Eula Cooper

98. Regret by New Order

99. Keep On Keepin' On by Nolan Porter

100. Sit Down by James (Live at G-Mex) by James

101. Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder by Yeti

102. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

103. Life Is Sweet by The Chemical Brothers 

104. How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) by Brooke Coombe

105-107. Wigan Casino - Three Before Eight - Time Will Pass You By by Tobi Legend, Long After Tonight Is All Over by Jimmy Radcliffe, I'm On My Way by Dean Parrish