Concert review
SECC, Glasgow, Scotland - 22 February 2001
from The Scotsman by James Mulholland
Texas bring it home
The pop group Texas made a triumphant return to home ground last night with a spectacular first gig in their four-night run at Glasgow's SECC.
The band led by singer Sharleen Spiteri, played a two-hour set full of their classics I Don't Want a Lover, Black Eyed Boy and their version of the 1970s Al Green soul classic I'm Tired of Being Alone at Glasgow's SECC, on the first night of their four-date run at the venue.
More than 10,000 people sang along to their versions from the albums Southside, Rick's Road and White on Blonde.
A Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre spokesman said the band could have sold many more tickets and surpassed the record set by Wet Wet Wet – the Clydebank group once sold out the SECC on six successive nights in 1993.
The centre has also just played host to Irish boyband Westlife.
The spokesman added: "The place was absolutely heaving. The crowd were as noisy and as up for it as any of the Westlife shows."
One fan, Claire MacIntyre, 21, from Ibrox in Glasgow said she had tickets to see each of the Texas gigs.
She said: "They're great. I've been waiting to see them for absolutely ages. I can't understand why so many people go on and on about Westlife and Eminem.
"They're here today and gone tomorrow bands – throwaway pop.
"Oasis are really past it and Blur haven't been the same since Parklife. Texas are my generation's equivalent to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones."
Her friend Pauline Mackay, 23, from Dumbarton added: "I can only afford to go one night this week but that's enough.
"They're a great home-made band and they don't get enough credit here in Scotland. The world would be such a better place if there were more groups like them."
A Texas spokesman, William Rice, said the shows would elevate the band to the same level as supergroups such as U2 and Simple Minds.
"Absolutely no doubt about it," he added.
Their British tour has sold 250,000 tickets – a similar number has been sold for their shows on the continent – and their Greatest Hits album has gone five times platinum with a total of 1.5 million sales.
Critics have also thrilled to the band and in particular Spiteri's voice.
Over the years their influences have ranged from the country and western feel of first album Southside to the northern soul tinge of White on Blonde.
Spiteri once said: "We are inspired by just listening to music."
Talking about Spiteri Gordon Barry, a music commentator said: "Once in a while there is a gig that hits you full in the face with the power of a tidal wave. Sharleen Spiteri is simply faultless."
But decide the acclaim and the hob-nobbing with superstars like notorious US rappers the Wu Tang Clan, the band still claim to be normal west of Scotland punters.
Now living in London, Spiteri confesses to missing that exotic Scottish culinary delight – the plain loaf.
She added: "I have to phone up the guy who works there who tells me when they come into stock. He asks me how many loaves want and I have to tell them. I just miss having it around."
All band members have family living in the west of Scotland and all are keen to see them.
Last night the entire band were treated as heroes by the crowd and Spiteri as a homecoming queen.
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