Glenn Hughes makes a welcome return to his native British shores, as he opens his 2017 touring schedule at the Riverside in Newcastle.

The rock legend released his twelfth solo studio album Resonate last year, which was the first Glenn Hughes solo album in eight years. The record reached an impressive #6 in the Official UK Rock Album Chart. 

The critically acclaimed album has been well received around the world. Hughes himself states that “this album is the first kind of a complete Glenn Hughes album”. Although much heavier than his previous solo material, his musical diversity shines through. 

There have been some lineup changes within the band since Glenn Hughes last performed in the region with lead guitarist Søren Andersen returning to the fold following the departure of Doug Aldrich to The Dead Daisies. Long-standing drummer Pontus Engborg is accompanied by new boy Jay Boe on Hammond, who only very recently joined the band and completes the lineup. 

As Glenn Hughes takes to the stage it doesn’t take long for him to delve into his latest offering, opening the show with the hard rocking “Flow”, which is one of the several new tracks included in the set tonight along with the groove heavy “My Town” and “Stumble and Go”. These songs sound great on the record but live they are really brought to life by this incredibly talented group of musicians. 

Tonight’s 90-minute show covers all of the bases throughout Glenn’s career spanning almost five decades of rock. Having performed with a who’s who of the music world, Hughes is blessed to have a vast song book to be able to dig deep into throughout the course of the show. The likes of Trapeze’s “Medusa” truly showcases Glenn’s incredible vocal range. The crunchy guitar riffs of Hughes/Thrall’s “Muscle And Blood” and the epic jam number “Getting Tighter” by Deep Purple takes the Geordie crowd to classic rock heaven. 

Hughes dedicates “You Keep On Moving” to his mother, who has been sadly unwell in recent times. Again during this rendition and frequently throughout the course of the show, Glenn shows the audience exactly why he has so deservedly been given the title “The Voice of Rock”. He consistently and effortlessly hits those sustained high notes. The track also features some sublime Hammond licks from Jay Boe and some blistering fretwork from his Danish counterpart Søren Andersen – who has flair in abundance.

Only a matter of days ago Glenn Hughes was in the studio in Hollywood, California with Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian recording the eagerly anticipated new Black Country Communion record. Hughes teases “Black Country Communion 4 is on its way” before unleashing the pounding bass line of the euphoric “Black Country” from B.C.C’s debut self-titled record. At which point Pontus Engborg also gets his moment in the spotlight with a devastating drum solo.

Hughes closes out his main set with the funky, bass heavy number “Soul Mover” from his 2006 solo album of the same name, and leaves the crowd wanting more. Returning to the stage for a duly deserved encore, Hughes blasts through “Heavy” from his latest album Resonate, before Anderson delivers the unmistakable opening riff from the anthemic Deep Purple MK 3 number “Burn”, which sends the crowd into a frenzy and is a fitting finale for the night.

As Hughes leaves the stage, he seems to be humbled by the love and adulation he has received on this the first night of his UK tour. Glenn Hughes most certainly resonated with the Tyneside audience this evening.

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