I’ll never forget the last time that Riverside visited Scotland, the scars from the sudden passing of their band mate and musical brother, Piotr Grudzinski, still raw. That evening in Edinburgh was hugely emotional, with a connection between band and audience created that will seldom be felt under any different circumstances. It was a moving, tough, yet still indescribably uplifting experience transcending the normal gig-going encounter and something that will live long with anyone who was there. The band’s next show on Scottish soil was sure to be a very different event, and as Sea of Tranquility’s Steven Reid can attest, so it proved.

With the sad demise of the ABC and it’s smaller room, the ABC2, in Glasgow due to intensive fire damage caused by the blaze in the neighbouring Glasgow School Of Arts last year, gig goers in Scotland are now experiencing some of the less celebrated live music venues in and around the city. Tonight was my first visit to St Luke’s, a converted church a mere stone’s throw from the legendary Glasgow Barrowland. Not only did it prove to be an atmospheric building both in and out, but it also has quite excellent acoustics and a really vibrant feel. Paying his respects to the ABC from the stage, The Pineapple Thief main-man Bruce Soord quite rightly commented on the excellent venue chosen for tonight’s show and it was no surprise when he and his band - now featuring full-time member Gavin Harrison (ex-Porcupine Tree) on drums - positively thrived in this previously reverential setting. Sea of Tranquility’s Steven Reid was there…