Live: We Were Promised Jetpacks @ The Garage

by | Mar 11, 2015

Following a pre-release tour of the UK and Ireland in late 2014 which teased tracks from their forthcoming third studio record Unravelling, Glasgow-based indie-rockers We Were Promised Jetpacks have hit the road once more in 2015 with a string UK and European dates supporting the new album with full steam.

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

 

Following a kick off show at the famous King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in their adopted home town, the Scottish rockers took their tour on the road around Europe before landing in England, with their second UK show on the tour at Islington’s Garage venue.

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

The original four-piece of frontman Adam Thompson, guitarist Michael Palmer, bass player Sean Smith and drummer Darren Lackie have now welcomed multi-instrumentalist Stuart McGachan into their fold, with his synths and guitars adding more depth to their make-up while retaining their signature sound.

Sean Smith (Kalpesh Patel)

Sean Smith (Kalpesh Patel)

Opening with Unravelling track Safety In Numbers, the Scotsmen launched into an epic, seemingly non-stop set which mesmerised the rather calm and dispersed crowd until around halfway through the set at which point the folks at the barrier in front of the stage were surprised by the sudden energy that overtook the crowd which resulted in a moshing frenzy.

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

Thompson and his motley crew interacted very little with the crowd, moving from one song to the next in rapid succession, the frontman briefly addressing the crowd towards the end of the main set as he introduced A Part Of It from their latest release. Although cast in shadows, it was drummer Darren Lackie who seemed to run the course of the set with boundless energy, thrashing out the stomping beats that march Jetpacks’ songs along while Sean Smith’s strummed bass parts added an extra dimension to tracks.

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

Adam Thompson (Kalpesh Patel)

The main set closed with This Is My House, This Is My Home from second record These Four Walls before the band exited the stage for a brief hiatus, encouraging the enamoured crowd to shout for more. A rapturous closer in the form of It’s Thunder And It’s Lightning had Stuart McGachan turn his microphone to the crowd as they yelled along with every word.

Stuart McGachan (Kalpesh Patel)

Stuart McGachan (Kalpesh Patel)

While the night seemed to be over just as soon as it began and this was about a shared passion for music rather than putting on a fantastical stage. The Highbury crowd were left without wanting from this group of young Indie-rockers.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00005EwFRBylATE” g_name=”We-Were-Promised-Jetpacks” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Photographs & Review by Kalpesh Patel. 10th March 2015

 

 

newshapes (Press)

Newshapes Share New Single ‘Falling Away’ Ahead of UK Headline Shows

Scottish alternative outfit newshapes have unveiled their latest single Falling Away, out now via LAB Records. The new track arrives ahead of a run of UK headline shows and a wider European tour later this spring.

Outpost Drive @ Gibson Garage, London (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Intimate Harmonies And Powerful Stories: A Thursday Afternoon At London’s Gibson Garage

A Thursday afternoon at the Gibson Garage in London might sound like an unusual time for a gig, but that didn’t stop the room from filling with energy, storytelling, and some truly unforgettable performances.

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

The Pretty Reckless Announce New Album ‘Dear God’, Share Punk-Driven Single ‘When I Wake Up’ And Confirm 2026 UK Tour

New York rock outfit The Pretty Reckless have unveiled details of their upcoming album Dear God, set for release on 26th June 2026 via Fearless Records. Alongside the announcement, the band have shared the album’s explosive lead single When I Wake Up and confirmed a run of UK headline shows for later this year.

President @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Adam Rossi)

Therapy? Announced As Friday Headliners For Takedown Festival 2026 After Phil Campbell Withdrawal

Northern Irish alt-rock veterans Therapy? have been confirmed as the new Friday night main stage headliners for Takedown Festival 2026, following the unfortunate withdrawal of Phil Campbell and his band Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons due to Campbell’s ill health.

Alana Springsteen @ The Long Road Festival 2025 (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Alana Springsteen: Turning Vulnerability Into Strength

When I caught Alana Springsteen live at the Long Road Festival last summer, the performance felt like something...
Gouge Away (Ian Enger)

Gouge Away Share New Single ‘Figurine’ And Sign To Run For Cover Records

Florida noise rock outfit Gouge Away have announced a new chapter in their career, signing to Run For Cover Records and unveiling the explosive new single Figurine.

Grade 2 (Christopher Bethell)

Grade 2 Confront Mental Health Struggles On New Single ‘Better Today’ Ahead Of Album ‘Talk About It’

Isle of Wight punk trio Grade 2 have released their powerful new single Better Today, offering another preview of their forthcoming album Talk About It, set for release on 3rd April.

Charlotte Sands (Juan Flores)

Charlotte Sands Shares ‘None Of My Business’ Video Following Release Of New Album ‘Satellite’

Alt-pop powerhouse Charlotte Sands has unveiled the official music video for None Of My Business, a standout track from her newly released album Satellite.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing