Review: DeWolff Deliver Southern Soul and Psychedelic Fire at Stereo, Glasgow

Review and Images By Scott Anderson

12th April 2025 – An unforgettable gig in an underground gem

There’s something about discovering a gig venue tucked beneath a vegan café in a Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed building that sets the tone for a truly unique night. Stereo in Glasgow isn’t your average music venue. The exposed brick walls, visible pipework, and tightly packed space give it an underground grit that immediately creates an intimate and electric vibe. And on this particular Saturday night, it was the perfect setting for DeWolff—a band that thrives on warmth, closeness, and the freedom to jam with abandon.

From the moment the Dutch trio stepped on stage, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a run-of-the-mill rock show. With over 1,000 gigs under their belt and a reputation for blending blues, soul, jazz, and southern rock into a psych-tinged stew, DeWolff came out swinging. The crowd, an eager mix of longtime fans and curious first-timers, was visibly buzzing.

Bluesy Fireworks from the First Note

Frontman Pablo van de Poel barely had time to ask Glasgow how they were doing before launching into the night’s opener, “Night Train.” The song’s infectious groove immediately pulled everyone into DeWolff’s world. The room vibrated with rhythm—part swampy Southern blues, part 70s rock revival. Robin Piso’s Hammond organ roared into action, giving the tune a soul-drenched pulse, while Luka van de Poel’s precise yet explosive drumming held everything together like a heartbeat.

The energy was dialed up another notch with “Heart Stoppin’ Kinda,” a foot-stomping number that demanded crowd participation. Pablo’s natural showmanship made this an early highlight. As he encouraged the crowd to shout along with the chorus, you could feel any lingering Glasgow reservation melt away. We were now a room full of believers.

From Groove to Jam Heaven

After a short “hydration break,” the trio moved into “Natural Woman” from their latest album Muscle Shoals—a track that perfectly channels the soul and southern swagger the album is named for. The song slid seamlessly into “Out On The Town,” a more jazz-inflected slow-burner that built to a controlled blaze. The middle section of the track let Luka show off his dazzling drumwork with a solo that felt less like a technical exercise and more like a storm ripping through the venue. His speed and timing were so precise, you could almost see the air shift.

Next came “Will O The Wisp,” where Robin’s keys stole the spotlight, painting cinematic textures with his Hammond. Pablo’s searing guitar work added depth and urgency, resulting in a song that felt both grounded and transcendent. When Pablo asked again if the crowd was “still feeling good,” the roar that answered him was deafening.

Then came the storytelling.

Roulette Wins and Language Gaps

Pablo, ever the charming frontman, shared a tale of winning €37 on a roulette machine during the band’s travel over from the Netherlands via Newcastle—an anecdote met with laughter and cheers. His bemused observation that “it’s nice to be in a country that understands me… although I don’t understand you,” was pure gold and hilariously accurate. Even those from just outside Glasgow know how thick the accent can be. The exchange broke any remaining walls down between band and audience.

A Journey Through Sound and Soul

The band launched into “Live Like You,” their pandemic-era single. The crowd was clapping, dancing, and completely immersed. Robin’s Hammond once again took center stage, filling the room with a warm, vintage swirl that perfectly fit the venue’s retro charm. Given the tricky acoustics of the room—with its low ceilings and scattering pillars—it was impressive how rich and full the sound was. A nod to their sound engineer, perhaps, who knew how to turn this quirky space into a temple of tone.

Then came “Snowbird,” the calm before the final storm. The song’s mellow, dreamy rhythm was the sonic equivalent of exhaling deeply. It was hazy, hypnotic, and showed that DeWolff don’t need volume to impress. They can slow things down and still hold a crowd in the palm of their hands.

A 23-Minute Masterpiece to End the Night

Though the band left the stage briefly, the “one more tune” chant began almost immediately. They returned with grins and good humour, clearly not finished yet. What followed was less of a song and more of a journey. “Rosita,” a 23-minute behemoth, was the kind of encore most bands wouldn’t dare attempt. But DeWolff aren’t most bands. This was a masterclass in improvisation, musicianship, and crowd connection.

Pablo jumped off the stage and walked among the crowd, shredding on his guitar like some long-lost cousin of Hendrix and Gilmour. The jam sections twisted and turned—psychedelic one moment, funk-infused the next, then dropping into southern-blues rock. The trio didn’t just play together; they communicated on another level, like they were speaking a language only they understood and inviting us all to learn.

Final Thoughts: A Band You Need to See Live

As the final notes of “Rosita” faded, the crowd erupted in cheers that shook the floor. Pablo, Robin, and Luka took their bows, clearly moved by the reception. And as we all spilled back upstairs into the cool Glasgow night, there was a shared feeling—this wasn’t just another gig. It was an experience.

DeWolff are a band that thrives in the live setting. They take risks, stretch songs into new shapes, and invite the audience on a musical voyage that refuses to be predictable. Stereo may not be the fanciest venue in Glasgow, but its grit and intimacy made it the perfect place for a night like this.

If you get the chance to catch DeWolff on this UK tour—do it. They’re one of the most dynamic, genre-blurring live acts around, and their chemistry onstage is nothing short of electric.