Gengahr @ King Tut's, Glasgow, 23 Apr

It’s one of those pallid, drizzly Monday nights that Glasgow knows so well. And for many it seems that the cosy confines of Netflix and the sofa are too much to resist. After two support bands wrap up, the expected rush of Gengahr fans to bolster the half-empty upstairs of the legendary King Tut's fails to materialise.

It’s a disappointing start to what should be a sold-out show given the band's track record. For many, their 2015 debut A Dream Outside gave a glimmer of guitar-shaped hope in an increasingly electronic and synthesised world. Follow-up Where Wildness Grows may have not garnered quite the same attention as its predecessor (second albums rarely do) but judging by tonight’s lacklustre attendance it seems to have struggled north of the border in particular.

And it's a shame, as it's easy to see both band and audience are disappointed. Gengahr's set feels tight, well-rehearsed, but scripted – almost as if they're playing to get the job done rather than to entertain. From the off the quartet rarely seem to smile or engage with the audience in any way other than the usual inter-song murmurs. The punters notice, and while hefty applause greets the end of each track the energy that should be present is strangely absent.

What makes it more of a pity is that musically, the set is next to flawless. Felix Bushe’s warbling high vocal is entrancing, as are the woozy, dreamy guitars that characterise Gengahr’s music. The song choice finds a healthy balance between the two records, and new tracks Pull Over (Now) and Before Sunrise feel fresh and jubilant. The band seamlessly intertwine their velvety, melodic verses with squalling electric guitar digressions; a dichotomy that keeps the audience willingly on their toes. And while the band begin to visually enjoy themselves more as they go, it’s impossible to escape the sense that something is missing.