KEO at O2 Academy Glasgow: We’re Going to Need a Bigger Venue
Review by LiveWithLP | Photos by Lynsey Wyllie
It’s not often that someone as chatty as me is left speechless, but KEO at Glasgow’s O2 Academy managed it. I’ve been to plenty of loud gigs, but hearing a crowd sing back every lyric, from the first song to the last? That takes some doing. On a Tuesday night, may I add. Clearly nobody was saving their voice for work in the morning.
With two headline dates at the Barrowland Ballroom lined up for next year, there’s plenty happening for KEO. But before that, there was a packed Academy to entertain, and Glasgow seemed very happy to do its bit.
Opening with Be Happy, the band went straight into Pistol, Hands and Best I Can Do. A strong opening run, although judging by the response, this crowd would have happily worked its way through the entire catalogue.
You know how at most gigs you get the big singalong, followed by a slightly quieter song where everyone catches their breath? I kept waiting for that quieter moment. It never really came.
Thorn and Spent on You followed, and what struck me was just how much these songs meant to the people in that room. Fans were singing every word with the sort of passion you can’t manufacture. You could see it in their faces as much as you could hear it.
And occasionally, the band’s faces were just as good.
Lead singer Finn Keogh would look across at his brother Conor with what I can only describe as an “is this actually our life?” expression. Obviously, I wasn’t privy to the conversation, but that was very much the look. Finn also admitted this was the biggest headline show they'd ever played, what a moment for the band.
Those were some of my favourite moments of the night. When you’re watching from the crowd, it’s easy to forget how this must feel from the other side. Having an entire room sing your songs back at you is quite something, and catching the brothers taking it all in made it even more enjoyable.
An extended intro led us into I Lied, Amber, before Stolen Cars, Loser and That’s Me kept the set moving. By this point, Glasgow had made its intentions fairly clear: if Finn was singing it, so were they.
I love a gig where you can look around and see people completely caught up in it. There’s something lovely about sharing a room with people who have all attached their own memories to the same songs. You might have arrived with different favourites, but for that evening, you get to enjoy the lot together. KEO had plenty left to give us.
Fifteen songs in, and Glasgow hadn’t run out of words. Or enthusiasm, apparently.
What I came away thinking about most was that relationship between KEO and their fans. The response was huge throughout, and those little looks between Finn and Conor suggested they weren’t about to take any of it for granted.
It also made those two upcoming Barrowland shows make perfect sense. One night? After seeing this lot, I can understand why Glasgow needs another.
I’ll even go a step further: I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re watching KEO at the Hydro by 2028. A bold prediction? Possibly. But after what I witnessed on a casual Tuesday at the Academy, I’m happy to put my name to it.
For now, though, the Barrowlands awaits. Glasgow, you’ve got a few months to get your voices back.