Live Review: Good Charlotte @ O2 Academy Glasgow (24/8/16)

Relevance. It’s a word that seems to be of upmost importance in rock music of the modern day, with bands doing all they can to ensure they don’t become a washed up nostalgia act. Good Charlotte are of that ilk and with all the mid 20-somethings in the crowd an argument can be made that they suffer from nostalgia. However, what is also evident is the number of younger audience members, especially down the front of the crowd and the reaction to newer songs, so have Good Charlotte managed to keep themselves relevant?

More on that later on but one thing is for sure and that is that opening act Waterparks (7/10) are definitely relevant at the moment. After a success warped tour run in the states, the band have been making big strides on both sides of the pond with major publications picking them up and supporting them now. As far as the performance goes, the songs are good but nothing particularly groundbreaking. What is special about this band though is the charisma evident in frontman Awsten Knight and his connection with his fanbase. That, alongside Mikey Way covering on bass duties for their injured member, makes an enjoyable opening set.

As good as they are though, the night belongs to one band and that is Good Charlotte (8/10). The Maryland 5 piece come roaring out the traps with megahit The Anthem as the crowd start to bounce to the ceiling to the massive singalong track, showing all in attendance that they definitely have not lost their touch live. They follow this up by quickly launching into Story Of My Own Man and then My Bloody Valentine before the band floor the place with the massive singalong of nostalgic anthem Boys and Girls. The crowd collectively roar back every word of the track and even the band looked awed by the occasion.

The night isn’t all about nostalgia however, as when the band let the crowd hear some of the material from newest record Youth Authority, the reaction hardly changes. The first new song the crowd are treated to is Life Changes which see’s almost all of the crowd knowing the words before later in the set a triple bill of tracks from the album is played in a row with The Outfield and Life Can’t Get Much Better proving to be very powerful tools live with neither feeling like it is lacking when compared to older material.

That being said, the set definitely hits its stride in the last half hour when the band show of a set of hits that anyone would be envious of. Songs like Dance Floor Anthem, I Just Wanna Live as well as set closer Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous show everyone what Good Charlotte are capable of both on record and in the live in environment but the real highlight comes in the form of what is (in my opinion) the best song they’ve ever written in The River. The crowd eat up the song from the first note to the last with massive sing alongs and the band provide them with a brilliant performance to match.

So, are Good Charlotte relevant in 2016 or are they just another nostalgia act trying to survive? The answer is for everyone independently to decide but based on the younger fans in attendance and the reaction to the new songs I can tell you now that they are not going to be going anywhere fast and there will be a lot of people happy about that.

8/10 – Great performance, a lot of fun

Highlights – Makeshift Love, The River, Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous