No Brakes, Some Souvenirs and One Less Shirt: Warren Zeiders in Glasgow
Updated: 2 days ago
Review by LiveWithLP | Lauren Page
If you’re going to kick off the European leg of a world tour anywhere, Glasgow is a pretty good place to start. Last night, Warren Zeiders brought No Brakes to the O2 Academy with a set that gave fans plenty of reasons to lose their voices before Monday morning.
With a new album to celebrate, there was plenty of fresh material on the setlist. But Warren also dipped into the archives, taking us from the 717 Tapes through Pretty Little Poison and Relapse. For those who have been following him from the beginning, there was a lot to enjoy.
First up was Bellah Mae, whose appearance on Warren’s latest release, Overrated, made her a fitting addition to the tour.
Alongside her own material, Bellah brought out a cover of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream. It’s a song most people need very little encouragement to join in with, and a fun addition to a night otherwise firmly rooted in country. She also played new song Platinum, giving us something fresh to get acquainted with before Warren took over. She's made a name for herself on the British County scene and now in Nashville, I hope it's not long until we see a headline tour from her very soon.
It wasn't long until Warren took to the stage. Last time he played Glasgow in February 2025, he delivered a show that had fans talking right up until this announcement.
Opening with Intoxicated, he moved straight into Up to No Good, Betrayal and Heartbreaker. That opening run alone was a reminder of how much ground his catalogue already covers, and how many favourites he has to fit into one evening.
I always want to hear the new music when an artist heads out on tour, but I also want those songs I’ve spent far too long playing in the car. Warren’s set gave us both.
Speaking about the positive response to his new album, he brought No Brakes and Drinking Game into the mix. With the record still so fresh, this was Glasgow’s first opportunity to hear those tracks in person, and a chance to see where they sit alongside the songs that have brought him this far.
Weeping Willow followed, while Looks Good On You added another helping of heartbreak. Between those tracks and Sin So Sweet, Warren had plenty of opportunity to put that distinctive voice to work. His rougher edge is a huge part of what draws me to his music, particularly when there’s a lyric that needs a little weight behind it.
Thats one thing about Warrens albums, they have such an extenseive range. The sound of the 717 Tapes compared to No Brakes - still has that Warren Zeiders grit, but explores all avenues of his range.
Burn It Down kept the set moving before we reached my personal highlight: Souvenirs.
Now, I’ve made no secret of this being my favourite on No Brakes, and I fear I may have sung louder than everyone around me. No shame whatsoever. Hearing the song you’ve had on repeat finally make its way into a live set is one of the best parts of going to a gig, and this was the one I’d been waiting for.
Mine came next, before Bellah Mae returned to join Warren for Overrated.
Having opened the evening, her return gave the collaboration a proper place in the show. There’s something satisfying about getting to hear both artists perform a duet together, especially when you’ve been listening to the recorded version beforehand. For Glasgow to get that on the first night of this European run was a welcome addition.
Relapse rounded off the main stretch before Warren left the stage, although there were still some fairly significant songs left to hear.
The Devil I Know arrived in the closing section, followed by Pretty Little Poison. Before performing the latter, Warren reflected on how much it had changed his career, telling the crowd it was the song that got him where he is today and his first to reach a billion streams.
For all the newer material throughout the evening, that moment brought the significance of his earlier releases back into focus. Pretty Little Poison has become such an important part of his story, and it deserved its place towards the end of the night.
But Warren had one final return to make.
Coming back on stage without his shirt, he announced, “you guys asked for this sh*t,” before launching into Ride the Lightning.
Well, Glasgow, there you go.
Taking us back to the 717 Tapes era was a fitting way to finish a show that had covered so much of his journey. The new album had its moment, the older favourites earned their place, and Bellah Mae brought something extra to both ends of the evening.
Warren may have arrived with No Brakes, but he made time for the songs that got him here. As an opening night for the European leg, Glasgow got a strong reminder of why we keep coming back.
Read our chat with Warren Zeiders ahead of the UK tour here
Read our review of Warren Zeiders - No Brakes here
