Written/Artwork by Becca Kathleen

Photographed by Cameron Maxwell
 

The Indie band that has skyrocketed to the top, Keo have headlined a sold-out Glasgow’s o2 Academy as a part of their autumn tour. Having just released their debut album ‘Put A Smile On For Me’ the quartet just keep getting bigger and better. After attending the gig, we knew why. 

On October 27th, Keo played their biggest headline show yet, in Behind The Mic’s hometown of Glasgow. The queue for the venue was immeasurable, with fans having been in line since 12 that afternoon. In a row of Kangol hat’s and band tees, fans waited in anticipation to enter the infamous venue. Upon 7PM doors opened, with fans rushing inside, it was finally time to secure our spots for the night ahead. 

The venue was packed to the point of concert goers surrounding the sound desk and the merch stall, all before the opening act had appeared. It was not long before the lights dimmed and the opening music transitioned info “My Rifle, My Pony & Me” by Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson, a western country-pop classic, setting the tone for the overall performance.

The guitar-driven quartet took to the stage, consisting of Vocalist, Sarah Brookfield, Guitarist, Dara Gooney, bassist Jake Brennan, and Dummer Anna Kelly. The band opened the show with their alternative-rock track ‘Don’t Leave’, a tune that signifies personal yearning through song. The heavy, guitar driven ballad’s of Brooki are those of which have the ability to fill a room, no matter how big. The performance then transitioned into the boldest track on their set, 16. Brookfield’s vocals towards the chorus of this track are simply unmissable. The song blends post-punk with grunge and 90’s rock in a way that is simply effortless. The band didn’t stop there, debuting tracks such as ‘Lisa’, ‘Little Portland Street’ and ‘Broduil’ to a brand new crowd. It was long before the Irish group were performing their final song, and most prevalent ‘Amber.’

The following Brooki has gained having no music released is truly unbelievable. The band have paved their way through various dynamic live performances, grasping the audiences attention for their half hour sets. This leaves the new followers of Brooki, including myself wondering, when will these exceptional tracks be released.

After Brooki's supporting performance, Keo's playlist of alternative rock, grunge and indie played, including the likes of: Fontaines DC, Nirvana and Led Zepplin. Fans stood in anticipation, so much so it was not long before the 'KEOOO!' chants started. 

It was not long before Keo's pre-show playlist came to an end, with "Sweet Jane" by the Velvet Underground blaring through the o2 Academys speakers. The Velvet Underground came to an abrupt pause, leaving room for Keos iconic walk out song: "Love Spreads" by The Stone Roses. As the tune blared, a singular bright spotlight hit the stage, showing Keo's iconic flower symbol.

The guitar riffs hit the speakers as Finn Keo (Vocals & guitar), Conorr Keogh (Bass) , Jimmy Lanwern (Guitar) and Oli Spackman (drums) graced the stage for their biggest live performance in Glasgow.

The drums were struck and the riffs came in, Keo’s headline was about to begin. Beginning their performance with the first track; ‘Be Happy’ from their debut album ‘Put A Smile On For Me’

The crowd belted the lyrics off the song they know all so well, echoing:

‘WHAT A NIGHT,

WHAT A NIGHT TO DIE.’

With the crowd’s energy filling the room alongside Keogh’s voice, Glasgow was in for a spectacular night of live music. The riffs exploded into absolute chaos, as did the crowd - signaling the end of the tune ‘Be Happy’’s O2 Academy debut.

Finn Keogh tells the crowd: 

“This is the biggest headline show we’ve played…”

What a show it was. Keo continued the set with the momentum of ‘Pistol’, ‘Hand’s’ and ‘Best I Can Do’, before transitioning into the most emotional tune their discography: ‘Thorn.’

Keo’s performance of this track was beyond mesmerising. It is with no doubt the O2  Academy crowd reiterated all of their lyrics back to them, but the atmosphere for ’Thorn’ was truly unforgettable. With fans hands high in air, tears streaming and the stage lights flashing, the 4-pieces ‘I made it moment’ was in this very moment with the people of Glasgow. The crowd echoed:
 

“And you’re so much more

Than a change in the tide, the thorn in my side

I adore watching you cry

The love in your eyes like a chore.”

If the performance couldn’t get any more emotional, the crowd was hit with the starting chords of ’Spent On You’. Progressing into a guitar sequence that hits you hard, the band capture the relief of letting go of a painful chapter. The performance flowed in a direction that even Keogh (Finn) himself labelled as “Special”, playing the sensational ‘I lied, Amber’. Glasgow mirrored the lyrics once again, whilst listening to a combination of hard hitting drums and electrifying guitars.

The night continued to get better and better, with a fans 'Stolen Cars' sign being noticed. The band continued to play the melodic tune, which features an acoustic guitar and lyrics that were once again mirror by the crowd. It was easy to notice that the entirety of the O2 Academy was captivated by the band’s performance. Wherever you looked in the room, you’d find fans who’ve attached their own experiences to the songs, finding their own meaning in live music.

The next song played was the infamous tune, 'That's Me' , a song i'm confident everybody in the room knew. With Glasgow belting the lyrics, the venue provided a display i've never seen before. 

I've never seen a mosh pit like the chaos that occurred during 'That's me', with concert goers flying around the room. The array was unavoidable, spreading towards the barriers, sides and back of the room. It was a mosh pit that could not be avoided unless you were on the venue's balcony. 

After the intense performance of ‘That’s Me’, Keo wrapped up their biggest headline so far with a cover of ‘The End’ by The Doors, ‘Fly’ from their debut album and an unreleased track: ’Only We Know”. The quartet proved through this one, memorable performance alone that their only just getting started. With gig goers bouncing, belting the lyrics and being immersed in the world of Keo, its evident their sold out Barrowland Ballroom headline will be even bigger than any previous show. 

You cannot miss Keo.