KING CHARLES: GLASGOW, UK - 31.10.21
Alex reviews King Charles’ Halloween show at Classic Grand in Glasgow on 31st October 2021. Photo Credit: Barnaby Fairley
A man dips his wife slowly as they both smile. There’s nothing else in the world, and I know I’m watching their movie, and so does King Charles. He smiles at the crowd as he plays amongst the purple and gold lights that perfectly reflect off his shimmery gold jacket. The music is filled with so much love, bittersweet joy, and overflowing depth that couldn’t be found anywhere else that night. Even during the heartbreaking melancholy songs, fittingly ‘Melancholy Julia’, you can’t help but smile. There’s just something inexplicably magical about King Charles.
So while I showed up to the Halloween show without a better half, there was love all around me. I befriended a few other people in the audience that travelled from St. Andrews to Glasgow because of how much they fell in love with the world due to King Charles’ music. It’s not hard to see why.
He beautifully flows between genres --- smooth jazz to head-banging rock to Hallmark Christmas movie-eque tunes with little transitions helps you sing along even if you don’t know all the words. Because by the end of the song, you will- ‘12345’ is a perfect example of that. The question of “Will life go by me or is there something I can do?” forms this connection not only between all of us in the audience, but all of us individually with King Charles.
‘Feel These Heavy Times’ is something relatable, with the steady drum in the background, just about wanting, and being able to, to love but having to struggle through the heaviness of the world. ‘Freak’ takes you back to the 80s, and while I wasn’t alive during the 80s, it transported me perfectly so I could feel like I was. Every song has a similar energy as that no matter what you’re feeling, you want to listen to all of them. There will be a line that sticks to you and can help guide you through what you’re feeling. And that’s unique to music like King Charles.
And while his voice flows like the softest melted chocolate, his heart is even sweeter. The venue was closing up for the night and he stayed as late as he could to talk to everyone that stayed behind for him. He genuinely cares about his fans, and even remembered someone that came from another gig to see him. For someone doing this ten years, a memory like that is rare yet always appreciated. He also, as the supporting act mentioned, reached out personally to them to perform before him at the Glasgow show.
If you ever get the chance to see him and his wonderful band perform, I would. I know I’ll go back when he’s in town (and bring my better half this time!)