Welly are one of those bands that somehow feel as though they’ve always been there. Their brand of dancey and unbelievably high-energy pop-rock is familiar enough that the audience are quick to get into things, but fresh enough that you’re never quite certain where they might go next.

King Tut’s is far from packed tonight, which would understandably be disheartening for many artists. Nevertheless, the five members of Welly seem to take no heed of the headcount tonight, and explode out onto the stage as if they’re headlining TRNSMT. Welly have fast gained a reputation for their infectious live energy, evident in the fact that thirty seconds into track one every member of the crowd is bouncing about, beaming, and singing along.

Welly’s debut record, Big in the Suburbs, was released in March of this year, and with lyrics steeped in irony and droll observations, it’s not hard to see why they connect so immediately with a Glaswegian crowd. Near enough every song sees at least one member of the band diving into the audience, never allowing the collective energy in the room to even come close to dipping. Between songs, lead singer Elliot pauses to chat with the crowd, bantering with an audience that are as humorous and quick-witted as himself. There’s not a moment in the whole evening where the crowd aren’t fully engaged, giving back everything that Welly themselves are putting into it.

Welly’s influences are evident in their sound, calling to mind the most euphoric tunes by bands like Blur and Pulp. While elements of their musicality may hark back to the 90s, Welly are a band who appear never to look back, constantly pushing forward to whatever sounds and feels new and exciting. While Glasgow was being battered by a storm this weekend, it was Welly who were blowing the cobwebs away tonight.

Article: Elliot Hetherton