Glasgow's got the X Factor

Deviating slightly from my usual topic of 'pop-punk in Glasgow', I'm going to discuss yesterdays 'X Factor' tour at the SECC. 

My Mum decided to surprise me and my 7 year old brother to 'X Factor' tour tickets as our Christmas presents. We were both pretty excited and I was looking forward to sharing my experience with my little brother - it was his very first concert. I remember how I felt before my first concert, Steps, around '99, also at the SECC. The anticipation of walking down the long tunnel, over the motorway. The smell of the burger van outside. Knowing you had your tickets as you were watching others buying them from touts.

My little brother Callum standing outside the SECC before the show

For someone who shows little emotional expression, I could tell he was excited as he entered the arena yesterday and said "Wow! This is awesome". The concert was held in Hall 4, the biggest space available at the secc with a capacity of up to 12,500 people. Already you could tell there was to be a host of show spectaculars with multiple stages, harnesses from the ceilings, large screens and many stage props.

Little Mix suspended from ceiling, image courtesy of  tellymix.co.uk

Sitting on the raised seating meant there was no giant in-front of you blocking your view - good for the wee one. However I don't think he was impressed when nearly all the acts at some point walked through the floor crowd and we were unable to see.

Amelia Lily performs 'Since U Been Gone' whilst walking through the crowd

In terms of the additions to the performances - the set, lighting, fire and glitter - it was all very overwhelming, however I felt the actual acts and their timings to be rather disappointing. As each act came on and came on again for 1 or 2 songs each time there was no real grasp for our attention. Every time someone left the stage and we waited for a new act to appear, I felt a little bored and un-exhilarated.

We all seemed to be a little confused as to why the X Factor 2011 winners 'Little Mix' didn't come on till the very end. Although we agreed they deserved a little longer than the rest and a defining block of stage time, we felt an appearance earlier on in the show would have heightened excitement.

Little Mix perform 'You've Got the Love

Overall, the performances in terms of vocal ability and stage presence were outstanding and it seemed obvious why these acts had came to be in the final in last years competition. I do feel however that the crowd were a bit of a letdown. I don't know if this was due to the fact there was a large percentage of <10 year olds who seemed to be at their first concert and unaware of how to raise an atmosphere or due to the fact I was extremely hungover from a 21st the night before.

X Factor hosts a live tour every year from the majority of 'live show' acts and SECC are continuing to be the venue for Glasgow's appearance. Tickets can be found on the Ticketmaster website and are usually in the £30-£40 region. I would recommend the tour to any avid X Factor fans/children (the Brother once again emphasised the "awesomeness" of the day) however, as I wasn't largely interested in this years contestants, I felt the money would have been spent better elsewhere.