Ride

Tonight, Glasgow’s legendary Barrowlands houses a bunch of 40-somethings with an eagerness to revel in the return of former heroes.

Rarely has an emergence and decline been as pronounced as that of Ride. Early EPs Ride, Fall and Play, brought an underground scene crashing into the mainstream and in 1990 Ride became the darlings of the music press. Their sonic and often thunderous sound set to dreamy vocals and catchy, pop melodies had heralded a new sense of purpose in the British music scene.

Debut album, Nowhere, and 1992’s follow-up, Going Blank Again, continued their ascent but by the time of 1995’s Tarantula, Ride’s sound had lost its edge, and Andy Bell’s need to be recognised as the principle songwriter and the band’s leading light had caused too much damage. The band’s label, Creation, and the rest of the UK, had also found a new love: Oasis and Britpop. 

It’s 20 years on, and Ride’s name is rife again. Praise and attention has been plentiful, and shows in Glasgow, Manchester and London – the first in the UK since 1995 – sold-out within minutes. Ride, too, to their credit, made it clear they understood the growing appeal of their music and vowed to draw mainly from early material. 

After a low-key entrance, the quartet waste no time making an impression, launching into Mouse Trap and then straight to traditional set closer, Chelsea Girl, with its ocean of noise propelled by drummer Loz Colbert’s crashing rolls and fills. Seagull is full-force Ride, taking on the whole room with its power and urgency and seducing all with its beauty.

The set continues with little in the way of small talk but plenty to savour, Paralysed seeing Bell’s effect-laden guitar take the fragility of the song firmly by the throat with distraught, jagged outbursts.

By the time Taste and the wistful Vapour Trail arrive, the crowd have returned to heady days as one after another journey the crowd-surf conveyor belt.

Drive Blind’s cyclonic instrumental leaves the room shaking and the crowd in awe, and classics Like a Daydream and Leave Them All Behind wrap up an exceptional two-hour set. These songs justify the ongoing affection and there’s an assured, fresh sharpness that dispels any notion of embarrassing nostalgia: that risk of sounding like your own cover band. When you’re as talented as Ride – and have as much know-how – those concerns can be saved for others. A rousing return.