Live review. Gnome plus Wall, Glasgow Cathouse 03/05/25

Through a forest of red pointy gnome hats, you can just about witness support, and tour organisers Wall take to the stage. A scream of feedback fills the Cathouse before the massive riffs of their two-person attack crush Glasgow. The two Cole brothers from Desert Storm play instrumental music and it’s massive in tone. The audience is large and loving the vibe. 

The red hats continue to bob in time with the concrete riffs while the boys power through their set with smiles on their faces. The weighty riffs go down well in the Cathouse, and the audience displays their appreciation loudly.

More red hats congregate in front of the stage before Gnome make their entrance. With a pink Flying V named “Pink Dick” Rutger and the boys lay into “Rotten Tonge”, one of the heaviest tracks in their catalogue. The Scottish crowd immediately go wild and it’s not long before a Gnome pit is formed. We go back to the album “King” next with “Bulls of Bravik” while the pit gets bigger. The intensity of the melee increases with “Old Soul” including old school crowd surfing, I’ve not seen for ages. You remember, don’t you? When you try to surf to the back , while the crowd propels you forward. Gnome’s tunes contain riffs that are massive, with sticky grooves that move the body, and a pointy hat. The pit morphs into along conga and I am drawn in. The Glasgow crowd does not disappoint; it was wild in there, but there was no way I was leaving. Not even an old instrumental track from “Father of Time” lets anyone have a breather. Gnome just keep rattling out banger after banger, and the crowd laps it up. It’s not until the slightly calmer “John Frum” the red pointy hats take the foot off the gas for a moment. 

The last four tracks are all massive tunes, beginning with “Wenceslas” where my glasses get smashed on my face, seconds before my watch goes flying off my wrist. 

I begin to search the floor for my time piece, when suddenly fellow pit colleagues open the crowd, illuminate their smart phone torch’s and assist in the search. A gentleman behind me, taps me on the shoulder, passes me back my iWatch, a big cheer from all involved rains to the roof, and the dancing continues. It’s a deep breath for a final burst of energy for “Ambrosius”, a track that draws more people into the throng, and then it’s over. 

The band thank the crowd, the crowd cheer the band and all is complete. 

I get to have a quick chat with Rutger (guest on EP 19 of The Miserable Metal Mind Podcast) before I join the huge queue for a t-shirt. Giving me time to gather my breath and thoughts. I ask myself, should I grow up and enjoy gigs from the back and keep my possessions safe?

Not a chance I decide. 

Words and Photos Neil Thrashtash Bolton.