Riding The Low provided a fun and memorable night at their first show in The Cathouse in Glasgow with TRNDS and Big Iron. It is a Saturday night, which is usually filled with people partying and getting drunk. However, The Cathouse is a bit more cosy and sets the right mood for some fun rock ‘n’ roll.
Riding The Low – Big Iron – TRNDS
The Cathouse, Glasgow – 20 September 2025
Words And Photography: Razorrhead Productions
This was going to be a special show, not just because the music of Riding The Low is great. But it’s not often you get to see a famous actor play live in a small, cosy venue. I am talking about Paddy Considine, the man from great films and programmes like Hot Fuzz, Mobland, and House Of The Dragon, to name a few.
Considine can certainly act, but he can also sing incredibly well and put on a good rock show.
There is no time to waste with Riding The Low as they dive straight in with some hard and catchy rock music. There are very few conversations during the set as there were quite a few songs to cover in just an hour with a strict curfew at 10 PM.
The overall sound is tight and punchy, where you can hear every instrument clearly. The low-end bass locks in well with the drums, and the melodies are clear as day. There were often really decent backing vocals to help Paddy’s unique voice explode into the venue. 
Paddy can sing, but he can also play a number of instruments. In certain songs, he was seen using a tambourine, a Tom drum, a melodica, a baseball bat, and even a megaphone for extra impact.
For 52, he still has a lot of energy as he jumps and bounces around the stage, putting his acting skills to good use. 
The hour goes by quickly, but it was sure memorable. Each band member put in a solid performance and set a great example of how to do an entertaining rock show. They have had plenty of experience in the past, but there was no sign of them slowing down anytime soon. 
There was a mention that a couple were there, and it was their 30th show seeing this band live. They had often travelled around the country to see Riding the Low, and after their performance, it was no surprise.
All in all, a great night that ended swiftly. This was alternative rock at its finest.
TRNDS
Firstly, we had some local talent to kick off tonight’s music. TRNDs are a young four-piece alternative pop group, and they were in charge of starting the show and setting off a good impression. 
TRNDS may have looked young, but they definitely sounded like they had years of experience. For a ‘pop’ band, they sounded tight and responsive. Clear-cut tones from their guitars provided some memorable riffs, and the songs were easy enough to remain stuck in your head.
They were not a bad start. However, something felt missing, like there was a lack of energy on stage. Nothing bad if you like bands that are more ‘easy listening’, but I was hoping for a bit more of an impact. Still, if you like pop music with a grungy twang, then TRNDS are worth checking out.
Big Iron
Next were Big Iron. Honestly, I had never heard of this band before, so I was not sure what to expect. They appeared on stage wearing thick jumpers, something you would wear on a cold, lazy Sunday morning. I instantly thought this was going to be a slow show with more ‘easy listening’ music, but I was so wrong.
They brought an immediate impact to the stage. The music was rather frantic, fast-paced, and a lot of fun. Imagine merging Thrash Metal, funk, indie, and pop into a blender with 10 cans of energy drinks, and you get Big Iron. 
The riffs were tough to follow, but this provided a deeper insight into their music. You just had no idea where their songs were going to go next, and this was a pleasant surprise.
I was really impressed with their vocalist, Oliver Wardell, and his antics on stage. His vocal style and facial expressions were something you would be used to seeing in a Death Metal band. However, it worked perfectly with this style of music too.
His stage humour, too, was spot on and a joy, and a very sarcastic sense of humour provided some laughs in the audience. Often quoting things like “yay someone cheered for us, go us” and “this could be our last show ever, who knows, I might be dead tomorrow.”
I would highly recommend Big Iron to any fans of alternative music. If you have not yet seen them live, then you should check their social media pages for when they play live next. You will not be disappointed.
