Such a beautiful slow-burner of a gig, offering a musical groove and laid-back attack, fused with socio-political commentary that is almost poetry. Punk poetry.

The songs hot-dog between verse and prose that is as direct, revolutionary and complex as it is ambiguous and everyday. The majority of a Glasgow crowd may have no real understanding of life in a complex city like Washington DC, but then again, maybe you can also assume that there will be an empathy and understanding of individual struggle and community fragility that is universal, especially in this day and age.

D.C.-based Des Demonas have a sound that is difficult to pinpoint… and I shan’t try, but suffice to say that the sound waves created by the guitar and Farfisa-esque organ veer somewhere between The Doors and the Stooges via MC5. Younger members of the crowd may think Fontaines D.C. But then again, this may be totally off target. Their sound is so complex and formed from many illustrious individual parts and experiences that it combines and explodes into a night to behold.

It’s hard to put into words how important bands like Des Demonas are just now.

Slow-rapped, almost deadpan lyrics fused to an infectious musical swagger is an irresistible blend. You need to pay attention to fully grasp the message. Each lyric feels lived and endured, as opposed to imagined and made up.

Song titles such as The South Will Never Rise Again and Fascist Discotheque hint at the serious content lurking behind the infectious beat. Patti Smith does this so well, and yet this may be even better.

Tonight’s venue is a dark labyrinth in which I have had some of my best musical revelations. Thanks to promoters like Under the Wires and Pop Mutations, many unmissable US acts have been brought to Scotland to play to enthusiastic, appreciative, disbelieving audiences. Tonight is no exception.

Assume nothing. Question everything.

Words: Nick Tamer

Images: Chris Hogge