Reviews: Alice Cooper, The Hoosiers, Heaven And Hell, Robyn, The Young Knives, Biffy Clyro, Idlewild, The Charlatans, The Verve, Groove Armada

Nov 11 2007 Edited By Mickey Mcmonagle

Alice Cooper Is 'Hanged' For His Sins, Rockers Biffy Get Riffy And The Oldies Still Work For The Verve.

ALICE COOPER *****

SECC, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 7

Rock's greatest showman got off to a flying start, with a brutal one-two combo of classics Under My Wheels and I'm Eighteen. But the real treat was the run-out of classic songs such as Welcome to My Nightmare and Halo of Flies. And the highlight was when Alice was 'hanged' for his camp antics. Monty Archibald

THE HOOSIERS *****

KING TUT'S, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 7

It's one thing to take inspiration from your heroes but to blatantly rip them off is another matter though The Hoosiers seem to get away with it - Goodbye Mr A could have been ELO's Mr Blue Sky. It epitomised the band's uninspired and derivative song-writing style. Andy Kerr

HEAVEN AND HELL *****

SECC, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 6

The renamed 80s line-up of Black Sabbath played classic after classic cut, with material from 1992 reunion album Dehumanizer among the unlikely highlights. But the lack of movement onstage meant the gig lacked atmosphere. An impressive rendition of Heaven And Hell closed the show. Monty Archibald

ROBYN *****

CLASSIC GRAND, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 6

Robyn Carlsson was unknown outside her native Sweden until this year's poppy No.1 With Every Heartbeat. Live, she was reinvented with a unique electro-punk sound.

Her all-action stage presence reminds of Pink but songs such as Handle Me make her much better. John Kelly

THE YOUNG KNIVES *****

KING TUT'S, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 5

In their bog-standard suits, the band looked like music teachers at an end-of-term show. Counters, Light Switch and recent single Terra Firma stood out with fan favourites Here Comes The Rumour Mill and The Decision. Adam Andrews

IDLEWILD *****

QUEENS HALL, EDINBURGH, NOVEMBER 3

Cramming as many songs as possible into their set made Idlewild's performance samey. You Held The World In Your Arms, Modern Way Of Letting Go and American English were welcomed by the fans and a rousing rendition of In Remote Part sent everyone home happy. Adam Andrews

THE CHARLATANS *****

ABC, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 3

Breaking straight into Weirdo was a great start to a fabulous performance with tunes across their entire back catalogue. They played an adventurous array of new songs, including You Cross My Path, while Can't Get Out Of Bed and Just Lookin' were welcome blasts from the past. Lesley Haw

THE VERVE *****

ACADEMY, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2

The re-formed band played much of their most successful album and songs such as The Drugs Don't Work, Space And Time, Lucky Man and the magnificent Bittersweet Symphony went down a treat. This Is Music, Life's An Ocean, All In The Mind and B-sides Let The Damage Begin and Man Called Sun were among the highlights. David Pollock

GROOVE ARMADA *****

BARROWLAND, GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2

The Barras became a sweat box as the crowd shook their asses to celebrate 10 years of the dance duo's infectious club classics. Andy Canto and Tom Findlay are one of those rare dance acts who work well in the live arena. Chill-out classic At The River was the only respite in a set of thumping classics. Graeme Lennox