Andrew Wasylyk and Gerard Love

On Tuesday 30th January I drove into Maryhill in the west of Glasgow to see Andrew Wasylyk and Gerard Love playing for Celtic Connections. The artists were performing in the beautiful Mackintosh Queens Cross on Gascube Road, the only church in the world designed by the great Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I first caught Andrew and his band playing in this wonderful venue back in 2018 when they supported The Pastels. 

Andrew is an immensely intelligent musician who takes inspiration from landscapes, people and stories to create his mesmerising, cinematic soundscapes. He is naturally curious about things, while his prolific nature that has led to him releasing 7 albums since his debut in 2015 -  1 per year since The Paralian in 2019. 

Watching Andrew playing the piano with his 7 piece band was a joy and this performance was enhanced by films playing on a large screen behind them. With strings, horns, additional keys, a solid bass underpinning everything and funky, playful and at times jazzy beats, Wasylyk and co conjured up something really special. 

As Andrew's music is almost completely instrumental, I have to confess that I'm not great at knowing the names of his songs! I do know that he closed with the sublime Last Sunbeams of Childhood, a favourite from his last album. I just enjoyed being immersed in the experience. Andrew also shouted Free Palestine before beginning his finale, generating a number of cheers in the audience.

There were definitely a number of songs from his Hearing the Water before Seeing the Falls album including a mesmerising The Life Of Time. Andrew explained that photographer Thomas Joshua Cooper was the inspiration behind the album. Thomas talks of life over a beautiful piece of music.

Wasylyk and co also played Truant In Gossamer which was possibly their most psychedelic song of the night, they really got into it and created something very special. I would highly recommend going to see Andrew and his band next time they play - especially if they have the visuals accompanying them. 

Towards the end of his show Andrew thanked his band, the production team, Tommy Perman for the visuals and support for the night - Gerard Love. The way Andrew spoke of discovering Teenage Fanclub around the same time as me really struck a chord. Andrew rightly called Gerry 'one of the greats' and I think everyone wholeheartedly agreed.

Gerry himself is exceptionally modest, but his body of work with Teenage Fanclub and Lightships really does inspire people. It's been a joy to watch Gerry playing various venues in and around Glasgow over the last couple of years; playing songs from his back catalogue and occasionally testing out new ones.

Backed by Noel O'Donnell on guitar/drums and the exceptionally talented Tom Crossley on keyboards/flute/xylophone, Gerry played a wonderful set. Don't Look Back had a beautiful church choir singing along gently.

The new songs sounded fantastic. One in particular has a warm flowing melody and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like when the album comes out.

Sometimes I have to close my eyes

When I look 

for you

Closing with Ain't That Enough, Love highlighted how blown away he was by the venue and turned around to his band to say 'we should play here again sometime'.

I hope they do.