Shining - Glasgow University Queen Margaret Student Union
Shining from Norway are a pretty intriguing musical proposition, combining very hard-edged metal, with its roots in black and death metal and free jazz. A combination that they describe musically as 'Black Jazz'.
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So here they are on a wet Sunday evening in Glasgow just before Christmas, playing at one of the City's iconic venues, with a long history of putting on some amazing gigs. The Glasgow University Queen Margaret Student Union, situated in Glasgow's West End, is a labyrinth of floors and bars, with a great concert area on the ground floor, that can accommodate a sizeable audience, but still offers an almost club like intimacy. Tonight is Shining's first time ever playing in Glasgow, and for that matter in Scotland too.
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Shining tonight have guesting with them the legendary metal guitarist Marty Friedman, formerly of Megadeth, and now massively big in Japan, as a musician and presenter. That comes later in the set, and after Shining literally blows the Glasgow audience away, in the most ferocious manner possible.
Their second number in is a blistering The One Inside. Shining create nothing less than a sonic maelstrom, with Jorgen Munkeby grabbing the mike, letting go of his guitar and literally screaming the song at the audience. He grabs his sax and starts free jazz soloing over a powerful metal groove, while guitarist Hakon Sagen jumps into the photo pit to get closer to the audience! The drum patterns are completely monstrous, and as the song finishes, Jorgen says 'Thank you so much Glasgow, thank you so much', and they have already captured the Glasgow audience's attention and appreciation, almost by the scruff of the neck. Electrifying stuff!
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Fisheye with its eerie keyboard fills and heavy riffing has a nightmarish feel, as the band unleash a wall of sound, which is followed by Jorgen pouring sheets of sax over some tricky time signatures. The band at one point stop to allow the sax to screech out over the audience, completely unaccompanied. This is brave and reckless experimenting with metal and jazz influences, which calls to mind John Coltrane's late career experimental jazz. Jorgen even gets the audience shouting along, and in time! Shining's music live is completely jaw dropping in its musical ambition!
Marty Friedman joins Shining onstage to a rapturous reception, and they immediately launch into a short jam, with Marty's guitar wailing over the top, in awesome style.
The concluding song is the absolute highlight of this great set, as Shining and Marty tackle the King Crimson classic 21st Century Schizoid Man, turning it quite literally into a metal masterpiece. The familiar opening spine tingling riff, led by the sax and two guitars, starts up with everyone perfectly synchronised, and then Jorgen spits out those familiar chilling words...
'Cat's foot iron claw
Neurosurgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door
Twenty first century schizoid man'
As the drums take the song into the rolling instrumental section, Marty solos free form with the most breathtaking guitar figures. This is music on the edge, breaking through traditional rules, and showing that metal has no musical limits. When the main riff returns, it's almost a relief from the intensity. Marty solos briefly again, and far too soon its all over, The audience of course erupts!
An amazing night in Glasgow, where it felt a privilege to witness and experience a mind-blowing fusion of musical talent and genres.
Thank you Shining and Marty Friedman!
To view all photos taken during this set click here. There are 5 available.