TORONTO -- Glasvegas is putting Glasgow on the world music map.

The much-hyped, guitar-rock four-piece, who Oasis discoverer Alan McGee recently called the "next biggest band in the world," and are opening for U2 on some of their European summer dates, made their Toronto debut on Friday night at the Mod Club Theatre in front of a packed, enthusiastic crowd who snapped tickets up in 30 minutes.

And fortunately for everyone, the Scots were great.

The cool-looking quartet, who favour black leather, and dramatic back lighting, lived up to the buzz, bringing their intense, grand, loud sound fuelled by Joe Strummer-like frontman James Allan on soaring, soulful vocals (his Glasgwegian accent fully intact) and guitar and the jet engine-like lead guitar playing of his cousin, Rab Allan, to rattle the rafters at the tiny College Street club.

Also of note was drummer Caroline McKay, who stood up behind her drum kit for the hour-long show, banging away in a fashion not unlike Meg White of The White Stripes (she apparently throws up before every show due to nerves) and animated bassist Paul Donoghue who bent down low over his instrument.

Opening with the social worker ode, Geraldine, James Allan was in big, full voice while Rab Allan began with his back to the audience, facing the speakers, building the excitement as the song progressed.

Adding to the crowd revelry, at least from where I stood, were the actual Scotsmen in the crowd - I had David from Helensborough on my left and John from Coatbridge on my right - whispering bits of information about their homeland in my ear when they weren't singing lyrics directly to me.

(The title of Flowers & Football Tops, for example, is a reference to the practise of placing flowers and football (soccer) jerseys on a place where someone has been killed in Glasgow).

After Geraldine, other songs of note were It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry - which name drops Oasis' "what's the Story Morning Glory," the wonderfully named F--- You - It's Over, S.A.D. Light, the aforementioned Flowers & Football Tops, and the fast-paced Go Square Go.

This is a group, who seems more like a street gang, and doesn't shy away from drama. (Their 2008 self-titled debut has a dark song called Stabbed, which features James Allan speaking over Beethoven's 'Moonlight' Sonata.)

For the encore on Friday night, it was just the two Allans on stage alone together for the ballad, Please Come Back Home, before they were joined by McKay and Donoghue for the final number of the night, Daddy's Gone.

James Allan, meanwhile, dropped the leather jacket about 25 minutes into the show to reveal a self-made black tank-top that showed off nicely sculpted arms and he eventually donned a red plaid scarf around his neck.

He's definitely the charismatic if reluctant sex symbol of the group telling the crowd, "I f---ing love you," as the show ended before shaking hands with male fans in the front row and kissing the hands of female fans, and then held his hands to his heart to demonstrate his feelings.

The group, who have been compared to The Jesus And Mary Chain but come across more in concert like a cross between The Clash and The White Stripes in terms of sheer drama, are expected to return to Toronto to play a much larger show in the fall.

Don't miss them.

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What Glasvegas played on Friday night:

Geraldine

Lonesome Swan

It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry

Polmont On My Mind

F--- You - It's Over

S.A.D. Light

Flowers And Football Tops

Ice Cream Van

Go Square Go

ENCORE:

Please Come Back Home

Daddy's Gone