June 4 | Written By Anna Konovalenko

Tuesday evening in Glasgow prepared a surprise for its inhabitants. In Nice N Sleazy bar there was a gig presenting 3 aspiring music bands. The evening featured new-born creative music bands Dazed & Confused, Lily Grace & The String Merchants, and Leaving Bordeaux. All three bands had their style and energies they craftily mastered and tuned into the hall.

The evening kicked off with a performance by the birthday girl Lily Grace & The String Merchants. This pop-rock ensemble, formed in 2023, features five members who perfectly blend together the sounds of drums, guitars, and a keyboard, while Lily’s voice completes the picture. Presenting their latest hit, Lily Grace & The String Merchants fueled excitement in their fans' hearts. Many of Lily's songs are deeply personal, exploring the themes of toxic relationships and self-discovery. Part of the message was the power of self-love and the importance of staying true to yourself rather than running for the relationships that might start eating you from the inside. Lily said, “This is a song about the person I knew was gonna break my heart”. The message was strongly readable throughout the whole performance culminating with the cover of the song ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears. Infused with hard-driving rock beats the song lost its teenage pop motives and acquired a wholly new perspective. And while Lily’s voice gave out that at some songs she was feeling more confident than others, it was yet evident she knew what she was doing. What singles out Lily Grace & The String Merchants among other bands is their ability to balance Lily's vocals with powerful instrumental riffs. The end of each song was followed by the instrumental interludes allowing each band member to show their talents.  

The next act to take the stage was Glasgow-based alternative rock band Leaving Bordeaux. Formed in 2019, they already discovered their niche and style blending together rock, funk, and shoegaze genres. Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Killers, Blossoms and The 1975, Leaving Bordeaux is discovering their voice in the music arena. With three guitars and drums accompanying the lead vocals, Leaving Bordeaux showcased their musical prowess seamlessly. Frontman, lead vocals and guitarist Jamie McAulay accompanied by the most talented guitarist Darren Houston, bass guitarist Caleb Blackwood and drummer Louis Kane, Leaving Bordeaux created a captivating fusion within the band. The energy was evidently radiating from the band. Their passion was easily spotted in the way the music group communicated with each other, with the audience and how they carried on through the performance. Jamie's ability to connect with the fans fully immersed listeners in the atmosphere of the music. We got to hear the most popular singles like ‘Adrenaline’, ‘Caught Out In The Cold’ and ‘On Fire’ which clearly manifested the main genre of the band. As a surprise treat for the audience, Leaving Bordeaux debuted a yet-to-be-released single, adding an extra layer of excitement to their performance.

Coming up next as the headliners of the evening there were Dazed & Confused, the four-member funky alternative rock band that undoubtedly won over any sceptics in the audience with their electrifying performance. Everyone who wasn’t surely must have fallen in love with them at that same hour. With the influence of Aerosmith, The Strokes and Led Zeppelin, Dazed & Confused are crafting their own unique blend of funky psychedelic Scottish rock. Led by Callum Reilly on vocals and guitar, Ruariadh Rattray on guitar and backing vocals, Archie Brewis on bass, and Alfie Smith on drums (with another talented drummer from Liverpool band Dead Distance stepping in for Alfie on this occasion), Dazed & Confused is the sort of music you just cannot get enough of. The energy of both the band and the music is undeniable and with each member bringing their own distinct style and charisma to the stage, the impression was definably deep. While the band still seems to be exploring different musical directions, it's evident that they've had ample time to refine their musical style. We heard original hits like Burn’, ‘Come Around’ and ‘Swamp Song’ and with its catchy lyrics and rich instrumentals everyone sang along. While it might not seem so evident at first sight the repertoire was remotely reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys' sound. Listeners also got the chance to listen to the newly released single ‘Cream’ which is an indie love ballad.

 The uplifted atmosphere of the concert lasted for the whole evening with the guests obviously enjoying the music. The manager of the bands Harlan commented: “It went amazing. I am very happy.”

Check out Dazed & Confused here.

Check out Lily Grace and The String Merchants here.

Check out Leaving Bordeaux here.

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