Craig Campbell, Scottish Tour 2023. Barga Bar, Paisley. Sunday 3rd December 2023

What a carry on! 

First, I saw a message from RocknRollas today saying they would be closed and to expect a refund from the ticketing site.

Then I got an email from the promoters saying the venue had been changed to Barga Bar Paisley.  

We turned up at Barga at 7 pm as requested. No one from the promotion team was there to check our ticket status. The bar staff confirmed there was going to be a comedy show, but that's all they knew. It had been hastily arranged that morning as a favour. 

A man who introduced himself as Robin Zetina, the support act for tonight's show, later asked if we were there for the gig and explained what was going to happen. Craig would arrive about 7.45 pm, and the show would begin at 8 pm. They were going to set up in a corner. There wouldn't be any microphones, but they would do their best to make it intimate.

We had a drink while we waited. I didn't recognise Parrot seated with his daughter at a nearby table, only clocking him after Craig arrived and greeted him using his name. It turned out Parrot was going to act as the impromptu compere for the evening.

At five to eight, we were asked to take our seats. There were ten of us, including Parrot's daughter. The staff turned off the TV screen that had been showing American Football but left on the noisy air extractor in the ceiling above us. The bar's kitchen was still open, so it needed to remain on.

Parrot had to shout to be heard. The last time I'd seen him perform was at the Bungalow, and tonight, he did some of the same material. He noticed my reaction to one joke (how could he not? There were only ten of us) and asked me about it. I explained that he'd told that joke over the road at the Bungalow. It threw him and he made a  big deal about how I'd wrecked his brain, expecting him to come up with new stuff when he couldn't even remember his old stuff. He made it funny, and the audience laughed at his bluster. I thought I was going to get picked on but it wasn't that kind of show. (He chatted to me in the interval, and we discussed his show recording at the Old Anatheum, which was never released by Sony).    

The first act was Sean Chalmers (www.instagram.com/seanchalmers2133). A Scottish comedian, he did well and could be heard over the extractor fan. He did a short and funny set. 

Sean Chalmers

Then on came Robin Zetina (

@RobinZComedy

). He suffered due to the background noise as his style was softly spoken and precise. I recognised a heavy influence from American comedian, Anthony Jeselnik, in his delivery and material, which is no bad thing. I'd like to see how his style matures. One to watch.

Robin Zetina

The comedians managed to persuade the bar staff to turn off the extractor fan after the interval, ironically in time for Craig, who doesn't require a microphone.  He gave us a wonderful set, so effusive, animated and funny, relating many comic tales. Such a large personality, he created a buzz in the room that felt comfortable and warm, despite it being freezing. Everyone had a great time.

Afterwards, he thanked everyone personally for coming out to see him. I even overcame my shyness and asked him for a photograph (not with me in it, obviously).

A lovely memento of a funny night that nearly never happened. One I'll always remember.