I arrived super early for this performance and ended up back in the car as there was no one waiting. I returned at 7 p.m. to find only two girls standing at the door. I waited, and slowly, a small queue formed behind us. The shop staff let us in ten minutes earlier than expected.
Just as I was about to have my ticket scanned, an elderly man in a wheelchair rolled up, pushed by his wife. I stepped aside to let them in. He got to sit at the front, which scuppered my plan to video the performance from that position, the girls already filling the remainder of the space there.
Inside, against the back wall of the record shop, a small stage had been erected with two microphone stands and a couple of acoustic guitars on it. Baz and Stevie mingled briefly with the fans before starting their set at 7.30 pm.
The pair sounded great despite it only being the two of them. They played four songs, all from the new album and bantered with the crowd a bit. Some of the chat backfired as it turned out only some were familiar with the band One Hundred Reasons, whose singer, Colin Doran, had joined them for the song 'The Good Die Young'. When asked if we were all going along to SWG3 for the actual gig, a small core of the audience cried, 'No'. They were going to Anthrax that night instead but would instead travel to Ireland to catch the tour. Baz apologised for the unfortunate Glasgow gig clash. "Bad planning, that one."
I attempted to film the set from behind the girls, but I gave up after the first song, not wanting to be that tit near the front who lifts his camera in the air above everyone's head.
After the performance, the two band members stood at the merch table to sign whatever the fans had brought along. I had my Maid of Stone Festival programme with me (the limited-edition album I purchased to gain entry to the event was already signed). When it was my turn, my nerves got the better of me (again), and I had no idea what words actually came out of my mouth when I asked them if they would be playing at the festival next year. Baz looked confused but twigged what I meant when he saw the programme and commented, "Nah. We played that one." He saw how disappointed I was and added, "It were a good one, though. Small."
My nerves wanted me to flee. I'd intended to take a close-up photo of the two of them, but instead, I moved away as soon as they signed the programme. Stevie advised me to wait until the ink had dried before closing the programme. I briefly considered taking the photo from another part of the store, but the angles didn't work. I'd blown the opportunity.
I returned to the car and was home by 8 o'clock.
When I got home, I reviewed the pictures I had taken, and most were blurry, the camera focusing on the hair of the girls in front. My disappointment was softened by the joy of attending the performance. It's not long before I get to see them again, the whole band this time.
SetlistThe Good Die Young
Night Skies
Fun While It Lasted
Ticket Price: purchase of Indies Orange Colour Vinyl LP to get 1 Priority Entry £31.
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