Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): The Karma Effect, "Promised Land" Tour, Garage Attic, Glasgow. Thursday 5th September, 2024

After a busy, short-staffed day at work, I wasn't sure how much energy I'd have left for this gig. I quickly munched down my Greggs Mexican Chicken Oval Bite and glugged half a 500ml bottle of Coke Zero, then headed out to join the others who had gathered at The Hengler's Circus, a Wetherspoons pub near the venue. There, I managed to finish off a whole can of Irn Bru (at a fantastically cheap price of only £1.67), restoring my wakefulness for the night ahead.

I had a ticket, an actual paper ticket, so the bouncers waved me in. There are a lot of stairs up to the Attic at The Garage, but my lungs and knees managed it without too much distress. The venue is tiny, only holding a hundred and fifty punters, and it was already busy, with the first band, Battalion of Flies, nearing the end of their set. The sound of BoF is reasonably riff-heavy, which I liked for the short time I heard them.

Gaps in the audience appeared after they finished, punters heading to the bar or toilet, so we snuck in near the front (or, in Trish's case, at the front). Initially, I felt uncomfortable going so far forward in front of others, but that feeling didn't last long. One of the benefits of being in the company of friends who are already tipsy and don't care.

Austin Gold was a revelation. They had great vocals, tight playing, and proper rock music. They finished with a song that reminded me of Foo Fighters, so that was a big win for me.

Two short young girls slipped in front of us before The Karma Effect took the stage. One was outstandingly gorgeous in a Gemma Arterton way. She was rocking a Tomb Raider vibe with a white Lara Croft vest top and tight trousers, her long brown hair clipped up at the back so it fell over her bare shoulders. There was a risk the rest of this blog would have been about her if I hadn't managed to remember I was here to see The Karma Effect and not to be a perv.

When I saw the band at Maid of Stone, I was unsure about the singer's voice. It was raspy in an end-of-tour tired kind of way, struggling to find power in the upper range. Tonight was similar. It's just how he sings. The big difference, though, was that the sound was so much better here. Their parallels with the musical stylings of Aerosmith were more apparent, too, with the band's walk-on song being Heart's Done Time.

The band had a new keyboard player who coolly rocked at the side in his black fedora and sunglasses. The other young girl seemed totally obsessed with him, shooting videos of him to the exclusion of the rest of the band. Which struck me as odd. At one point, her attractive pal started filming one song, turning the phone from portrait to landscape during the performance. My heart sank. This was how I ruined my recording of one of the Those Damn Crows songs at Maid of Stone. I wanted to point out her mistake but resisted. It was inappropriate and too late. The damage was done.

Trish had a fantastic time down the front, dancing away, wheeling her frizzy perm in big circles. My mates kept disappearing to the bar, returning with more drinks for themselves and her, which she protested about but still accepted. She was very merry by the end of the night. I usually find someone from the audience to complain about, and tonight, it was them. They were the night's irritation, chatting and carrying on while the band played. That's alcohol for you. On the plus side, they had no qualms about suggesting to Trish she snag the paper setlists from the stage for me. Which she did.

Austin Gold's setlist

The Karma Effect's setlist

After the show, Trish commandeered Liam Quinn, their bassist, to record a cameo for her pal Kerry, who could not attend. It was nice of him to agree. Pity the background noise was so loud.

The two young girls were talking to the keyboard player. After he left, Trish went up to hug them, having bonded with them during the show. This opened an avenue for Bob to start a conversation as is his wont with a drink in him. The keyboard player was the other girl's boyfriend. The one in the Tomb Raider top was originally from London, though she now lived in Glasgow, having moved here ten years ago for work. Christ, I thought. She's in her mid-twenties.

Anyway, I chipped into the conversation about the problem she would have with her video and recommended she try PowerPoint to switch the orientation to fix it. She looked at me like I was speaking Martian but thanked me for the suggestion. Afterwards, I realised I'd tried to mansplain how she'd used her phone wrong. Well done, idiot! This is why I don't talk to strangers. At least my friends know what I'm like.

Ticket Price: £12 plus per item fee £2, Processing Fee £1.50, Delivery £2 = £17.50 from Ticketmaster.