Ought @ Broadcast, Glasgow, 22 Apr

Although Broadcast’s low-lying stage has remained unaltered since Ought last played here 2 years ago, the Montreal art-punk quartet’s personal stock has been on an inexorable uphill rise. For proof of that, look no further than this Friday night show, which is positively rammed; so much so that opening proceedings are delayed by a few minutes to create more space for those near the back with a restricted view. It’s nights like this where the aforementioned platforms feel like a personal affront to the vertically challenged among us.

About 20 minutes into their performance, it dawns on us that Ought must be one of the most brilliant live acts on the planet right now. Tim Darcy has never skirted any accusations of pastiche in the past, but the intensity in which the rakish frontman performs marks him out as an intoxicatingly unique proposition.

Interspersing his frisky wisecracks with deft harmonics and razor sharp riffs, it’s almost like watching a young Morrissey born into the ’77 post-punk scene. During set centrepiece Beautiful Blue Sky, the room begins to resemble a sea of bobbing heads; each one focussed upon and drawing energy from Darcy as if he were some kind of jittering power generator, and by the time the band are back out for an encore with Sun Coming Down closer Never Better, there’s enough energy in the room to illuminate Sauchiehall Street. Even if you can’t see what's going on up there, you can sure as hell feel it.