Primal Scream have always garnered a reputation for serving up an eclectic smorgasbord of acid-dipped grooves made for the dancefloor from their extensive back catalogue, which for many epitomised the indie discos and festivals of the nineties and noughties.
Fast forward to 2025, and the band led by rock ‘n’ roll troubadour Bobby Gillespie still have the raw energy and dynamism that has been omnipresent throughout the time in the music industry.
The sonics that effortlessly blend indie-rock, psychedelic garage rock and blues are still there, but the band have taken somewhat of a soulful shift with a more soulful sound inspired by the Philly soul acts of the seventies, a period that deeply influenced the beguiling frontman’s childhood.
Primal Scream Live Review at O2 Guildhall Southampton
A Night of Energy and Iconic Sound
Primal Scream delivered an electrifying performance at the O2 Guildhall Southampton, proving why they remain one of the most influential bands in British music. Known for their genre-blending sound, the band seamlessly fused indie rock, psychedelic tones, and soulful influences throughout the night. Led by Bobby Gillespie, their stage presence was as captivating as ever, with a setlist that balanced classic hits and newer material. From the opening moments, the atmosphere was charged with energy, drawing the audience into a nostalgic yet fresh live music experience that showcased their enduring appeal.
A Career-Spanning Setlist and Evolution
The Primal Scream set highlighted the band’s evolution, featuring standout tracks from iconic albums like Screamadelica alongside newer songs from Come Ahead. The performance moved effortlessly between high-energy anthems and more reflective, emotionally driven moments, capturing the depth of their musical journey. Fans were treated to unforgettable renditions that reinforced the band’s cultural and musical impact. Supporting act Baxter Dury added to the night’s momentum, setting the tone for a dynamic show that celebrated both legacy and innovation in equal measure.
Baxter Dury
The band were superbly supported by the ever-charismatic Baxter Dury who I had the pleasure of seeing back in 2022 where he was part of a mind blowing line up which included Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher and more to celebrate Sir Peter Blake’s birthday.
Back then, he flew solo but for this set he came with a supporting band and really put on a show for the sold out crowd. He cut his usual moves looking resplendent in his tailored suit taking the audience through both classic mainstays from his back catalogue to more recent offerings from his most recent album ‘I Thought I Was Better Than You.’
From his vivid storytelling which is both irascible and sagacious to the heady bass lines and hip hop influences, Baxter is a force to be reckoned with and his energy, punk puissance and slinky moves are highly watchable.
Primal Scream
Whilst Primal Scream’s set was brimming with tracks from their career-spanning back catalogue which includes the perennial classic ‘Screamadelica’ and the industrial rock-focused ‘XTRMNTR’, it was largely focused heavily on tracks from their most recent album ‘Come Ahead’ which is a love letter to the legendary lead singer Bobby’s admiration of the funk and soul music genres that resonated with him growing up.
The band’s latest work sees Gillespie in a reflective mood, dissecting big themes such as death and mortality, but there are still the political elements that have made Primal Scream one of the best bands utilising social commentary in their music.
An electrifying set, the band kicked off proceedings with a barnstorming rendition of ‘Don’t Fight It, Feel It’ from their incredible 3rd album, ‘Screamadelica’ which still remains as vital and fresh almost 35 years on.
‘Love Insurrection’ was punchy and the band, which included some impressive bass lines from Simone Marie throughout, went full throttle expertly navigating their way through standout tracks like ‘Jailbird and ‘Ready to Go Home’ – with it’s infectious refrain of ‘I’m ready’ certainly intoxicated the crowd.
The grief-laden ‘Deep Dark Waters’ was emotive and captured the heart of the band’s most recent album. The pounding back beat of the evocative ‘Medication’ turned things up a notch which was closely followed by the emotive ‘I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have’ from the band’s eponymous sophomore album, which was equally matched by ‘Heal Yourself’ which talks of how the love of someone special has healed him.
From the spellbinding seminal track ‘Loaded’ which was a joy from start to finish to the euphoria of ‘Movin’ On Up’, it reinforces the importance (both musically and culturally) of the band’s most famous album ‘Screamadelica’ which is without doubt one of the most adventurous, cosmic-fuelled and bold records of that era.
‘Love Ain’t Enough’ was a triumph as was the anthemic crowd pleaser ‘Country Girl’ which was celebratory, full of swagger and was a sublime way to end an enthralling set from Primal Scream.
Photo Credits – Joe Flanagan
