Concert review
SECC, Glasgow, Scotland - 22 February 2001
by Vicky Shields

TOP Scottish band Texas were given a rousing welcome home last night when they appeared in front of 10,000 ecstatic fans.

A massive roar greeted the band as soon as the haunting sounds of Zero Zero began to echo around Glasgow's SECC. And when the shimmering blue cloth dropped from the front of the stage and Sharleen launched into "In Demand", the home-coming crowd went wild. It was just the start of a night that Texas fans all over Scotland are bound to put down as one of the band's best performances ever. From start to finish the show was flawless and filled with typical good-humoured 'Glesga' banter ... from both the band and the fans. Sharleen appeared totally overwhelmed at the crowd reaction at the end of the first song. And looking around the venue, she admitted, "It's great to be home." In response to the mandatory wolf whistles she added flirtatiously, "I could just stand here and listen to that all night. Give me more ... more." In essence, the Glasgow beauty had the audience right where she wanted them ... in the palm of her hand. And she knew it!

A string of the band's best known hits, coupled with some fabulous cover versions, ensured almost two hours of non-stop entertainment. And Ally was not to be left out of it ... Sharleen chatted to his mum, who had turned out to see her boy in action, and joked, "Mrs McErlaine is going to see something she hasn't seen for a few years." Ally then turned round to display the Texas logo across his bum. Afterwards he burst out laughing then muttered to Sharleen, "Im going to totally fuck the next song up now." What followed was a perfect acoustic version of Prayer For You.
Another surprise was Sharleen's keyboard skills. She played almost manically to mark the end of Insane. But then sat down with Eddie to play Tired of Being Alone. Before starting she joked., "I'll sing in a minute ... I've got a hairball in my mouth - do you think I should get it cut."
But the biggest surprise of the night was for Kevin ... a 20-something Glasgow boy ... who in years to come will tell his grandchildren how he danced with the sexiest woman of pop. Sharleen pulled him out the crowd after spotting him on a mate's shoulders whistling at her. And when he finally found himself face-to-face with the woman herself, all he could say was "I'm speechless". Sharleen then launched into a raunchy version of Grace Jones' Pull Up to the Bumper ... at the end of which Kevin collapsed into a heap on the stage. And she joked afterwards, "I think he was a bit excited there ... or was that his car keys in his pocket."
New drummer Steve was given a real Glasgow welcome ... his first time playing before a Scottish crowd. And Sharleen told him, "That was just a taster, they can do a lot better than that." She then promised, "If it's louder at the end we'll maybe come back on and do another song." then teased, "or do you want us to stay here all night and just carry on into tomorrow night." The answer was obvious ... nobody wanted to go home. When the band left the stage the noise was deafening.
But when they came back ... Sharleen clad in her leather Elvis outfit ... it was even louder. Inner Smile was followed by a cover of Elvis' Suspicious Minds.
Sharleen told the fans, "It's not easy getting out of those jeans and into this gear in two minutes." But to the offers of assistance, she replied in typical Glasgow fashion, "Nah yer awright."
The final encore of the night was the song that relaunched Texas ... Say What You Want, which looks destined to remain one of their best ever live tracks, if audience participation is to be used as a judge.
Sharleen then told the fans, "Glasgow - you're the best."

After a two hour show of total entertainment and fabulous music ... I think the crowd would disagree ... "Texas - YOU'RE the best."


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