Those Damn Crows "God Shaped Hole" UK Tour 2025, SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow. Tuesday 21st October, 2025

After last night's pop warblings, I needed a palate cleanser, and Those Damn Crows were on hand to provide such a feast.

I snagged a position in front of the sound desk, using the barrier to support my back. What a relief that was! Unfortunately, the space on either side was swiftly swallowed up before any of my pals arrived.

The first support act was James Bruner. I'd seen him support TDC in Edinburgh, and my opinion of him didn't change. He still looks like a wee boy playing with the big boys. They are talented musicians. He's the frontman who likes to show off his front by stripping to the waist. It's not a sight to swoon over. Hard pass!

Next up were Autumn Kings. From the off, I thought I could hear a Linkin Park influence, with the guitarist rapping opposite the singer. When they played an odd, heavy version of Livin' La Vida Loca, he admitted it might split the audience. It did. Their lead singer's voice wasn't strong enough to carry the melody. Their own songs were fine. The audience came alive during their cover of LP's Bleed It Out, cementing my previous suspicion over their influences. By the time they finished their set, I was into them. They need a stronger lead singer, though.

Up until then, I had enjoyed the luxury of a small space in front of me. Needless to say, as the place filled up before TDC took to the stage, that luxury was stolen away, this time by a petite, older lady with silver hair. Not a problem, I thought. She was so small, the top of her head only came up as high as my nipples, although her hair did keep brushing against my arms. I expected her bob to blow up like a dandelion head from all the static generated, but she must have been using a lot of product. I did feel slightly sad for her when Alex returned from his drinks run, leaving her literally in his shadow. Her appeals to those around her fell on deaf ears as he had been there first, and there was no space for her to shift over. Rather than leave, she decided to use her phone as an occasional periscope.

The Crows were in immense form tonight, if a bit ragged at times. Shane, the lead singer, fluffed the intro to Dreaming twice, much to the audience's amusement. I'd already accepted that videoing any songs was off the table, which allowed me to engage with the music. There's no better feeling than when a song inhabits your body, the bass and drumbeat taking control of your movement, making you feel alive and in the moment. It doesn't matter who is around you or what they are doing; the music has claimed you. Co-codamol helps too, to stop that movement turning into pain. My hip ain't what it used to be, hence the barrier relief.

I so wish TDC would book the Barrowland, rather than (almost) fill SWG3. I know it's a big step up in ticket sales, but their music deserves to be played in a greater venue. Maybe if they assembled a stronger support bill, they'd gain the confidence to proceed, but I suspect they fear the financial loss if the gamble didn't pay off. Shane complained tonight that the cost of running past the 22:30 curfew was two grand. I think everyone would have been happy to chip in an extra £2 if it meant they'd played on till midnight.

Come on, boys, book the Barrowland next time! 

Setlist:

Dancing With the Enemy

Man on Fire

No Surrender

Find a Way

Spit & Choke

Turn It Around

Glass Heart

Dreaming

The Night Train

Who Did It

I Am

Still

Blink of an Eye

Go Get It

Sin on Skin

This Time I'm Ready

See You Again

Ticket Price:  £22.50 (Face value) plus fees = £26.31 x 4 = £105.24 Plus Transaction Fee £1 = £106.24 from Gigantic

James Bruner

Autumn Kings

Those Damn Crows

Those Damn Crows "Instore Mega Tour". Assai Records, Glasgow. Monday 21st April 2025

Those Damn Crows achieved their first UK No 1 Album these week, with me contributing three sales to their total: signed, alternate cover CD, KiT album (with download) & Indie Clear Colour Vinyl LP (yeah, I  love this band a lot).

Notice on the door

We arrived about fifteen minutes before the record store doors opened for this sellout, in-store performance. The queue was already the length of the record store along Blytheswood Street. By the time we got in, the area in front of the performance space was packed, and since there was no stage, I gave up on the idea of taking photos or videos.

In case we hadn't read the notice on the door

The band performed four songs, with Shane singing and playing the last one solo. I felt this was a bit stingy compared to the 45 minutes we got from Ricky Warwick. The sound was great, though, and it was nice to hear the acoustic versions of the album's songs. 

With no direct view, this was as good as it got.
.

Setlist

Let's go Psycho!

Dreaming

Glass Heart

Still

Then we all got papped outside to queue again for the signing. 

The record store set up a long table, which only had space for four stools, so guitarist Ian had to stand. The signing was well-organised, with staff on hand to help with photo duties. This part was relaxed with everyone getting a chance to talk with the band, shake hands and get a photo if they wanted one. I didn't feel rushed and even asked them a question. Reply: Yes, they'd love to play the Barrowland. 

I wish the performance had been longer, but given the number of fans in attendance, I can understand why the band opted to spend more time signing. There were plenty of happy fans afterwards.  

My goodies:

Photos from the KiT album signed

Vinyl album insert signed

Signed CD

Ticket Price: Indies Clear Colour Vinyl LP + 1 Priority Entry £30 

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!

Blink of an Eye

Ticket price: From Ticketmaster
3 Artist Presale Ticket  £22.50 x3 = £67.50
Per Item Fees £2.85 (Service Charge Artist Presale Ticket) x3 = £8.55

Order Processing Fees Handling Fee (£1.50) £1.50
Delivery Charge £2.00
Total £79.55 

James Bruner

Concert Cunt did eventually get ahead of me

Those Damned Crows, "The Takedown Tour". SWG3 Galvanisers, Glasgow. Wednesday 11th October 2023

 

It's not often I go to see a band twice in one year but Those Damn Crows are special live so I wasn't going to miss them. Last time, it was at The Garage in Glasgow and I felt at the time that the venue was too small for them, not just because the audience was packed in so tightly. Their sound and presence seemed bigger than the stage they were performing on. I still felt the same tonight at SWG3 Galvanizers. Although not sold out, with around 800 eager punters in the hall from a capacity of 1250, the stage still seemed too small for them, although the band did make good use of the tiered stage. The night started outside the venue on a chill but dry evening watching the queue dwindle to nothing as we waited for two of our group. They'd decided to come into town early for a bevvy and had lost track of time not realising how far it was to walk to SWG3 from Charing Cross. Meanwhile, not far from us, a helicopter beamed its spotlights down on the Kelvin River, assisting the firemen and other emergency services searching the water for a missing person. Eventually, the pair arrived at 7.40 p.m. (doors opened at 7 p.m.) and we all headed in. The hall in front of the sound desk looked rammed. The others headed to the bar and I waited inside, thinking the night was a bust standing so far from the stage. But the thing is, those uninhibited by alcohol don't mind being a bit pushy, so when they returned with their pints and snaked forward through the crowd, I followed and we found a great view right in the middle. Support act The Cruel Knives were unwatchable. Not because they were unsightly. The problem was with their lighting. It seemed synced to their drumkit so, with every beat, multiple lights blasted the crowd, to the point I had to keep my head down and my eyes shut or else a migraine would have been induced. The music was okay but their guitarist was a bit up himself and the lead singer was too enthusiastic with his sweary crowd encouragement. That's not how you earn a Glasgow audience's respect, mate.  Those Damn Crows played for about an hour and a half and were fantastic. The set was fairly standard with no surprises. I could have done without the drum and bass solo, but the songs were sung well and the music was great. I desperately want to see them in a bigger venue like the Barrowlands so, hopefully, their audience will continue to grow on the back of these live performances.  At the end of the gig, something happened that I've never experienced before. For years, bands have been throwing plectrums and drumsticks into the crowd and I've never been close to being on the receiving end of one. Well, not tonight. I watched as that drumstick arced its way through the air towards me. Bob reached up to snatch it from me but only succeeded in knocking it against Alan's head. I was the first to find it at our feet, holding it aloft like Excalibur, half expecting someone else to grab it from me. But no one did so I kept it. An early birthday present from a delightful band. Thank you very much, Those Damn Crows. Setlist: The Cruel Knives The Life That We Made Overdose Hollow People Black Eye Friday If This Is The End (I've Been a Fool From The Start) All Your Heros Hate You Shotgun to the Head Crawl Those Damn Crows Who Did It Man on Fire Send the Reaper Takedown Find a Way I Am Wake Up (Sleepwalker) Lay It All on Me Drum and Bass solo Waiting For Me Blink of an Eye Go Get It Rock N Roll Ain't Dead Sin on Skin This Time I'm Ready See You Again