As Those Damn Crows mainman Shane Greenhall mentions from the stage during the Welsh chart toppers set, it’s almost two years to the day since Those Damn Crows last played this venue. And the hugely likeable frontman seems genuinely taken aback that the 1,250 venue is much busier than last time around.

What he can’t see, however, is that at the main doors leading into the all-standing, largest hall of this multi-room venue, there are a handful of people who have given up on wrestling their way in, and instead have chosen to sit on the stairs and listen to the show, while every few minutes pop their head in to see what is going on.

What is going on is a masterclass performance from one of the UK’s shining lights of the rock scene. From a band worthy of the title of “The Nation’s Favourites”, and a band deserving of every accolade currently coming their way. Bridgend’s very own Those. Damn. Crows.

Opening act on this 21-date tour across the EU and UK is Nashville-based livewire singer-songwriter James Bruner. And he has not come just to make up the numbers.

With a stellar band alongside him that includes the exceptional Reverand Zach Mears on lead guitar, Bruner is a constant blur under the lights (kudos to The Crows for treating both supporting acts with respect and full use of the lights, and decent sound) as he works the crowd, who it has to be said, are on his side from the off. Vastly experienced on the live stage, Bruner is a joy to encounter. But unlike a lot of younger performers today, Bruner has the songs to match the performance; ‘Redlight’ is a catchy little number that lingers on for days on end; new single ‘Big Shot’ is chock-full of heavy, meaty riffs that cause involuntary head-bobbing, as well as plenty of toe-tapping thanks to the intoxicating, slithering nature of the track; ‘Alibi’ could be an early Arctic Monkeys track (if they learned how to play guitar that is) and then there is ‘I Get Everything’ which comes with a pre-loaded incendiary guitar solo from Mears. Catch James Bruner’s solo headline date at London’s The Black Heart on Tuesday, 4th November 2025.

With tAKiDA sadly having to relinquish the role of special guests on the UK leg of this tour for health reasons, Canadians Autumn Kings gladly jumped at the chance to make their UK debut. Descriptions of Linkin Park meets Fall Out Boy, or if Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy had a baby, are not too far off the mark, thanks mainly to the co-vocals of Joe Coccimiglio and Jake Diab (guitar/vocals).

‘SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD’ is especially a crossover of both of those acts; the intro and rap segments are pure Linkin Park, while the song grows into a pulsating, bouncing, snottier version of FoB. You might even throw a Papa Roach influence into the mix. The song title is all in caps for a reason – it slaps. ‘POWER’ is also all in caps for the same reason, and with Jake Diab delivering the fast, rapping vocals while Coccimiglio prowls the stage waiting to deliver his uber-clean vocals, it makes for quite a strong visual. ‘ALIENS!’ is where the Fall Out Boy comparisons come from. A fun, well-received set (that even includes a cover of Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’), which guarantees these guys an audience should they make the journey over the Atlantic again.

With Europe having fallen in a big way for the charms of Those Damn Crows (having caught The Crows in Berlin, this reviewer can say that the vitally important German market loves these guys), it’s back to the UK for Shane, Lloyd, David, Ronnie, and Shiner (a not-so-distant cousin of Noodles from The Offspring) for some of their largest headline dates thus far (excluding the homecoming arena gig t’other year, obviously). And they return with a number one album tucked under their arms – the emotional, joyous ‘God Shaped Hole’.

As you would expect, ‘God Shaped Hole’ forms a major part of the 17-song setlist. For a band that tours as much as The Crows, this is vitally important, as no matter how much a non-legacy band is loved, performing the same songs tour after tour not only means a stagnant and uninterested band, but it also runs the risk of punters not coming back. Thankfully, ‘God Shaped Hole’ is a bit of a belter, and the show opens the same way as the album: with the thick, call to arms of ‘Dancing With The Enemy’. Perfectly controlled by the powerhouse behind the kit, Ronnie Huxford, it’s a fantastic show-opener with lashings of chances for the crowd to bellow the lyrics back at the band. Loving the thick, crushing riffs on the breakdown from the twin guitars of Shiner and David Winchurch. Straight into the urgent ‘Man on Fire’ from 2023’s ‘Inhale/Exhale’ album, and the crowd down the front are bouncing as one.

Once the dust has settled on the opening salvo, Shane Greenhall pauses for a breath to soak up the applause, before asking “What’s up GLASGOW!…my Celtic brothers and sisters!”. The atmospheric newbie ‘No Surrender’ (always a tricky song title round these parts) leads on, and reinforces the long-held belief that somebody needs to get Those Damn Crows stateside, because their material is perfect for the modern US rock circuit. Put The Crows on the same bill as acts like Shinedown, Daughtry, Nothing More, etc, and not only will they hold their own, but will give the other acts a run for their money.

Greenhall is a warm and engaging frontman, and there is a great moment as he is introducing ‘Turn It Around’ when someone in the crowd shouts something out, and Shane asks them where they are from, and Yorkshire is the answer. Cue some good-natured pantomime villain booing, and Shane quips, “Bet you wish you said fuck-all now!” before telling the crowd with a wink and a smile to “Be nice, Scotland!” One of the highlights of the new album, ‘Glass Heart’, is up next, and Shane messes up the intro and apologises, saying “We’re going to have to start again, I’m so sorry for fucking that up” – and that, my friends, is the joy of live music, and why artists lip-synching need keel-hauling.

Much to admire about ‘God Shaped Hole’, especially the growth in the songwriting department, and the mid-set section of ‘Glass Heart’, ‘Dreaming’ (the Yanks would devour this one), and ‘The Night Train’ highlights this. The latter is especially poignant and reflective, and sounds staggeringly good live. One of Shane Greenhall’s finest moments? Yeah, having that. The same could also be said of ‘Still’, which features the frontman solo with an electric guitar. Leading into the piano-led version of ‘Blink of an Eye’ that sees Shane at the piano before each of his bandmates re-takes to the stage. The crowd takes over during the chorus, on a song that means so much to so many.

What’s next for Those Damn Crows? A bit of a leap of faith is needed. They have outgrown venues this size, and next time around, they need to make a step up. In a local context, that means booking a date at the infamous Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. If it’s good enough for David Bowie, Oasis, David Bowie, Biffy Clyro, David Bowie, Ozzy, and David Bowie, then it’s good enough for Those Damn Crows. They also need to get stateside pretty damn pronto.

Remaining tour dates:

Sun 26th Oct – PLYMOUTH Plymouth Pavilions

Tue 28th Oct – SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms

Thu 30th Oct – BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute

Fri 31st Oct – LONDON O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Ticket information, HERE.

All live images – Dave Jamieson

Those Damn Crows – SWG3, Glasgow

47 photos