GLASGOW'S finest are celebrating three decades of existence with their To Be Here Someday – 30 Years of Deacon Blue tour and it was a privilege to finally see them live at the Pavilion after some years of missed opportunities.

And what a show they put on – 25 songs over two hours, all the hits and much more – and they even managed to get the good old Pavilion rocking with their energetic set.

The band, named after a Steely Dan song, was formed by Dundonian Ricky Ross in the mid-1980s and had soon notched up a string of hits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Everything had petered out by 1994, followed by a reawakening in the early noughties and low-level activity until six years ago when a creative spurt led to three acclaimed new albums, The Hipsters, A New House and Believers.

Ross, his wife Lorraine McIntosh (vocals), James Prime (keyboards), Dougie Vipond (drums/vocals) Gregor Philp (guitars/vocals) and Lewis Gordon (bass) now make up the current, resurgent band.

With six million sales, 12 top 40 hits and two number one albums behind them there was a chance they might slip into nostalgia mode and rest on the laurels of past glories – nothing of the sort!

Thus it was truly splendid to see them at the Pavilion on the eighth night of a month-long tour as they continue to remain relevant through new material and constant reinvention.

Ross, as Scottish as they come, remains an excellent frontman leading a tight band looking like they were enjoying their Friday night in Bournemouth. There was even a reference to a gig the then unknown band played more than 30 years ago at Mister C’s (opposite the bus station) in Poole.

Highlights included the sublime Birds, the driving Your Town and the magical Town To Be Blamed. There was time for Carole King, Chi-Lites and Burt Bacharach covers.

That said, it wasn’t half great to hear the classics too. Real Gone Kid was supreme, followed by Chocolate Girl, Twist And Shout, Loaded, and Wages Day.

Your Swaying Arms, I’ll Never Fall In Love, Dignity – somewhat marred by it being turned into a football-style anthem by the adoring audience – and Fergus Sings The Blues made up an encore up there with the best.

Ultimately, came the second encore, a stripped back version of Always On My Mind, and with that they were really gone for good this time.

Sterling support came from special guests Blue Rose Code, the eclectic, alt-folkish vehicle manfully helmed by Edinburgh songwriter Ross Wilson who is touring latest platter The Water Of Leith which is well worth a listen.

He is particularly relevant in Bournemouth as he spent two years living in Pokesdown while sorting life problems and his first song, his ‘most miserable’ was his area tribute, Pokesdown Waltz. Things got cheerier, believe me.

Review by Cliff Moore