On a night that saw Pop Mutations collaborate with the Tiny Changes charity to present six shows across Glasgow, the hottest ticket was undoubtedly Altered Images at The Glad Café. Returning home for an incredibly intimate gig, everyone knew this was going to be special — one of those rare evenings where the stars align.

Altered Images will always be one of Glasgow’s perpetually shining lights of 1980s pop — a band that has never really gone away, their songs woven into the fabric of our collective memory. Instantly recognisable and loved as much today as they were four decades ago, to see such an act with this kind of pedigree in a venue this small was always going to be something to behold and savour. A real “I was there” moment.

But where do I start? Clare Grogan needs no introduction, especially here in Scotland. She and her songs have soundtracked our lives for as long as I care to remember, and like so many people here tonight, the thought of seeing her perform so close up left me almost breathless. That joyous, infectious ray of light that just makes you smile — a presence that feels both familiar and magical.

She appeared dressed in the most remarkable costume — shimmering and floating like a butterfly, reflecting light and creating an eye-catching focal point that seemed to capture the very essence of the music itself.

The first knockout punch came with set opener “I Could Be Happy” — such a heavyweight number to kick off proceedings and get everyone on side. From that moment, the room belonged to her.

The hit-laden set unravelled beautifully, with Grogan perfectly at ease, chatting and joking between numbers. She reflected on how her singing voice has deepened over time, leaving her “Minnie Mouse” voice of youth behind, though she remained determined to sing in the same key as before. She giggled — albeit perhaps slightly miffed — at the thought that her husband and daughter were working in London rather than being here to give moral support. She grew emotional remembering how her then-bandmate and later-to-be husband had written “Don’t Talk to Me About Love” together, and in the same breath, almost welling up, marvelled that she cannot believe she has been with him so long. These tender and at times tongue-in-cheek moments felt truly genuine, shared with humour and humility — unguarded glimpses into a life lived in music.

There was a welcome nod to the band’s very early roots, with new wave classics “Dead Pop Star” and “Insects” sitting perfectly alongside newer, yet almost retro-analogue synth tracks such as “Mascara Streakz” and “Double Reflection”. The evolution evident, yet the essence unchanged.

Tonight was utterly fantastic. To see a band of this calibre in a venue this intimate really is a rare thing — spellbinding, joyous, and a memory to hold dear and cherish. An evening where past and present merged seamlessly; where nostalgia felt not like looking back, but like coming home.

Words: Nick Tamer

Images: Chris Hogge