The sun shone on Leith yesterday as Saturday had a day-long reprieve from an otherwise very damp and windy weekend. It was also sunny in Glasgow so Sue and I made the most of the good weather by going to the Rebels and Renegades photo exhibition at the Street Level Photoworks at 103 Trongate. I hadn’t been back since the opening day. It was also Sue’s first opportunity to see the exhibition. Then a quick trip to Tantrum for a doughnut then back to Queen Street to meet Michelle for the journey on to Edinburgh together.
We got into Waverley just after 3.30pm. I had booked us a table at Vietnamese restaurant Pho, located on Lothian Rd (just a short walk down from the Usher Hall) for 4pm. The food was absolutely delicious and we were well fuelled for the show.
We joined the queue outside Usher Hall around 6pm. There were already about 15 people in the queue, including George, Mark and their partners who’d I met in Aberdeen. Sarah and Penny were also already in the queue. I saw Naomi as well and we had a brief chat. I’m getting to know a few of the HH diehards and we have become a small clique.
Doors were opened promptly at 7pm. It felt like we’d only just got ourselves settled when Redolent’s set started. I’m pretty sure they performed the same set they did in Aberdeen. I didn’t take any photos or get any footage of their set. Last night I just wanted to soak up the atmosphere and just live in the moment and enjoy the whole show. A few brief snaps of second support, Withered Hand, and just a few quick snaps of HH and that was it.
I didn’t know what to make of Withered Hand. They were good. I was transfixed by their drummer. I loved the way he was performing. The singer of the band seemed strangely uncomfortable up on stage, certainly when it came to banter with the crowd. It didn’t seem in any way natural to him. I enjoyed their set but they’re not really my thing. A little “safe” and “pedestrian” for me, really.
The crowd reactions for the arrival on stage of Hamish and his band went up several notches last night. The Usher Hall crowd were really up for being wowed by their local boy done good. They weren’t disappointed. The acoustics in Usher Hall are wonderful and right from the instrumental intro of ‘Vivian Comma’ the whole show was incredible.
The crowd made such a racket. Hamish and the band were just floored by the reaction. I can’t even begin to express how absolutely fooking AMAZING the show was. Everything was just ramped up a gear. Even from Aberdeen, to Newcastle, to this final show of the A Firmer Hand tour …. It just went up and up and up. A full – FULL set last night. No couple of song swapsies as there had been between Aberdeen and Newcastle: ‘Calls To Tiree’ was performed, ‘Elvis Look-alike Shadows’ was performed, ‘Desperately’ was performed, ‘Questionable Hit’ was performed. It was an absolute masterclass!
After the encore of ‘Satisfaction,’ the band gathered for a trio of bows. Hamish was the last to exit the stage, waving and thanking the crowd as he made his way towards the stage exit. Andy had left his guitar lying on the stage floor. Hamish hadn’t seen it and tripped over it. Just a wee trip. He didn’t land on his arse or anything. But, the timing of it, the trip itself was comical, and then his recovery of a little skip off the stage was just the most perfect quirky end. He is just sssoooo bloody endearing and lovable! I mean….he’s fantastic and the band are incredible and he’s a lyrical genius, but he’s also just so humble and warm and just FUCKING ADORABLE!
It really was incredible. Everything was just bang on the mark. As I had predicted, it is going to feel like an awful long wait until Bellahouston Park on 27 June. I said to Sue only half jokingly that I have a mind to post on SMOG and say “Dear Mr Kerr, Could you please consider swapping around the bill of acts for Bellahouston? Perhaps Simple Minds could swap with Hamish Hawk? You guys can play first and have Hamish play last? Yes?” Lol. That would go down well, I’m sure!
I did a quick tally earlier and including support slots, the total number of times I have seen HH already totals 15! Bellahouston will make it 16. Out of that total, 11 have been headline shows. Pretty amazing tally, really. Eleven headline shows in just on 2 years. Incredible! I look forward to many, many more!
A wee break with gigs now until Juanita Stein on 18 March.
Michelle filmed ‘Bridget St John’ from last night. Enjoy!
I do admire how early you get in. I’m one of those twats that gets in 15 minutes before the start.