I always find the use of the first person in criticism a little discomfiting, memoirs or op-eds aside, but the live review seems to be a form that invites it, particularly when it’s an experience such as Friday’s gig at Stereo; its viscerally enhanced, of-the-moment nature also brings that well-worn cliché of ‘dancing about architecture’ all too readily to mind, particularly in this case. Perhaps that’s why we don’t do so many on Blasted. But here we go anyway. To reach the venue component of Stereo, the site of many of my favourite gigs, requires a descent into the bowels of the Mackintosh-designed building – we’ll go deeper still later on. The stage has been significantly lowered since I was last here (October, for an astounding Young Marble Giants) and I’ve mixed feelings about it, given how many great performances I’ve seen on (and in front of) the departed platform. There’s no choice but to get down the front now, and I’m glad we do.