Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): Those Damn Crows "March Tour 2025", La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. Saturday 22nd March 2025

I love the Crows, as do some of my friends, so when they announced this tour, with one date in Scotland, we booked our tickets and prepared to travel to Edinburgh.

I drove us through midafternoon, electing to make a pitstop at the Frankie and Bennys at Fort Kinnaird for dinner (free parking, dining options and a short drive to the venue to snag on-street parking afterwards before the city got too busy). The weather was mostly dry on the way in, bar a couple of stretches on the M8 where the heavens opened and road spray reduced visibility drastically. It was uncomfortably wet, though, by the time we arrived at the Pleasance in Edinburgh's old town around the corner from the gig.

I headed straight to the venue while my mates detoured to Bannermans for a swift one and a toilet stop. At 6:25 p.m., the queue was already snaking down and back up the covered area outside the doors for the 7 p.m. open. Unfortunately, my spot in the queue was under the one section where there was an opening between the protective, sloped tarpaulin and the roof of the building. I caught a lot of drips as I waited, which was very annoying, as I'd decided not to wear my cap tonight.

At 6.45 p.m., they let us in. No sign of my mates, so I messaged them to alert them to the early opening. Inside, I made my way down to the front, finding a spot behind two smaller ladies. This gave me a perfect view of the singer's microphone stand. Of course, it didn't stay that way. It never does.

(Warning: the following section contains rude words. If you are likely to be offended, stop reading now)

Then before the support act has come on, a concert cunt landed beside me, trying to gain the forward advantage with his elbow. Shaven-headed with a goatee, this young, bespectacled lad had no concept of personal space, pressing his side against mine and standing so close to the person in front that the gentleman could feel his breath on his neck. Of course, the cunt was drinking, a pint tumbler in his hand, without the space to drink it properly.

Throughout the support act, the cunt kept trying to edge in front of me, but I wasn't having it. I stood my ground. I let the music move my body to keep pushing him away. The band were good, even though it looked like they were being led by a bare-chested schoolboy with a premature receding hairline. I enjoyed their music and their technical skill and even warmed to the frontman by the end of their set.

At the interval, the concert cunt fucked off, much to my relief. Unfortunately, so did the small woman in front of me. The height dynamic shifted as her tall friend shifted over to claim the space (and my view line). Then the cunt barged back again, this time wearing his massive jacket, announcing to no one who cared that he didn't think he'd make it back after going for a piss. I give him a cold stare. He justifies himself with a "What? I was standing here before." I replied, "I know. I felt you." The man in front of him nodded in agreement. The cunt didn't care. He took off his jacket and tied it around his waist, then checked his blood sugars on his phone. I began to think horrible thoughts about the youth's demise but remembered I needed to drive my mates home after the gig, which would be difficult from a police cell. Plus, I'd miss the show.

I buckled down, determined to stop the cunt from ruining my enjoyment.

The Crows put on a great performance. I managed to get a Hi Two from Shane (his other three fingers were holding the mic) during one song, and I lost him entirely on the one video I took when he jumped into the crowd and ended up singing from atop the bar at the back of the hall. There were no variations to the tour setlist for this show, but the energy from the band still made it special. The crowd sang so loudly it hurt my ears despite wearing ear protectors.

After the show, at the very end, the guitarist flicked his plectrum into the crowd near me. I didn't spot where it landed, so I shone my torch on the floor. Of course, the concert cunt got there first. He was crouched down straight away like Gollum after his Precious. By this time, I didn't care. He'd put in the effort. I just wished him an early death, either by something slow, pustulating and painful or a backstreet stabbing. Either would do. One less cunt in the world.

The ten o'clock finish meant an earlier, and much-welcomed, return home before midnight. Thanks to wet road conditions and poor lighting, I only nearly drove on the wrong side of the road once.

Setlist
Let's Go Psycho!
Man on Fire
Find a Way
Kingdom of Dust
Blink of an Eye
No Surrender
Glass Heart
Dreaming
Who Did It
Sin on Skin
Go Get It
This Time I'm Ready
See You Again
Rock 'n' Roll Ain't Dead!