There are gigs that entertain and then there are gigs that elevate. Primal Scream’s performance at Nottingham’s Rock City wasn’t just a trip through their sprawling discography. It was a reminder of how music can challenge transform and uplift all at once.
The evening began with Baxter Dury who walked on stage with an effortless swagger that perfectly matched his blend of sleazy synth grooves and deadpan charm. His set laid a sharp sardonic foundation that was subversive rhythmic and oddly danceable. There’s something hypnotic about the way Dury blends post punk with funk and his presence warmed the crowd with understated wit instead of volume. It was the kind of cool control that made what followed feel even more explosive.
When Primal Scream appeared the mood inside Rock City shifted instantly. Bobby Gillespie dressed in an immaculate white tuxedo stepped into the spotlight with the cool confidence of someone who’s been bending genres and blowing minds for over three decades. From the very first note the energy in the room hit a fever pitch. The air was thick with anticipation electricity and something close to reverence.
What made this night exceptional wasn’t just the band’s precision or presence. It was the way they shaped the set into a living breathing timeline. Instead of relying on nostalgia Primal Scream delivered a performance that bridged the chaotic freedom of their acid house years the strut and soul of their rock and roll era and the deeper more reflective material from recent years. Songs like Jailbird and Swastika Eyes exploded with swagger while tracks like Deep Dark Waters and Love Ain’t Enough brought moments of moody introspection that drew the crowd in close.
Loaded delivered the biggest eruption of the night. Gillespie didn’t need to ask the crowd to sing. The words were already part of them. And when Come Together hit it felt less like a performance and more like a moment of unity. It was the kind of song that stops time and makes you feel connected to everyone around you.
There was nothing lazy or rehearsed about it. Gillespie was expressive and razor sharp while the band played with soul urgency and precision. The way they blended the electronic elements with classic guitar based rock was seamless. It was a sound that felt rooted in the past but burning with present day energy.
The encore pushed the energy even higher. When they closed with Rocks the crowd surged forward and the venue shook. It wasn’t just a celebration. It was a release. A final burst of joy from a band that knows exactly how to finish strong.
Primal Scream’s show at Rock City wasn’t just a great night out. It was a vivid celebration of everything they’ve been and everything they still are. Loud fearless emotionally charged and gloriously alive. This was more than a concert. It was a reminder that true rock and roll never settles. It keeps moving and Primal Scream are still leading the way.
