It had been a loooong wait. Firstly, because it wasn’t easy to watch episodes of The Late Late Show when Craig was hosting it. Secondly, the only gig I had ever seen him do in the UK happened during the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 and it just wasn’t possible at that time to do that travelling required. We were in the midst of getting the OH’s parents house sorted to be put on the market. I naively thought that another opportunity to see Craig would avail itself soon enough. How wrong I was! Another SEVEN YEAR WAIT ensued.
The Late Late Show was not my first exposure to Craig Ferguson. I was an avid watcher of The Drew Carey Show back in the 90s but that is my earliest history. I didn’t know about the even earlier stuff, Bing Hitler, the Dream Boys and all of that – none of it.
Finally, even once the show came closer to the date of happening, there was one final delay. For reasons that weren’t really articulated, the show was postponed. It was originally meant to take place on 21 June last year. A rescheduling that added an extra 10 months wait was near torture! I kept worrying it would happen again the closer we got to the new date. But at last the day finally arrived.
The weather has been bloody glorious for almost a week now. Spring has finally arrived in Glasgow, and not before time. Of course that always has to be SOME kind of spanner in the works. As if it wasn’t bad enough how appalling Sunday transport services are in this part of Glasgow, Scotrail decided that THIS Sunday was the time to undertake engineering works on the Anniesland via Maryhill line so we had NO TRAINS running at all yesterday. Other than a taxi, the only other option was to take the 75 bus to the Citizens Theatre and walk across the 02 Academy from there. There are so many road closures in the city at the mo. Cathedral Street is out because of some sewage pipe or another sinkhole or something. Part of Union Street is a no-go because of the fire. This meant to route the 75 usually took was diverted in such a convoluted way that it took about 20 minutes to cut through the city. Instead of going down Cambridge Street, on to Renfrew Street, the down Renfield/Union Street and on along Stockwell Street and over the Clyde on Gorbals Street – it went, West Graham Street, onto the M8 slip road, off at Sauchiehall Street, then Blythswood Street, then I get lost as to how we went – it was either to a bit of Argyle, then maybe York Street? Then back onto Argyle, onto Ingram and then usual route from there. Passengers kept ringing the bell and the bus wasn’t stopping anywhere. When we finally got to Ingram Street, I have never seen so many people get off a bus! So many people when coming from upstairs it was as if they were getting off the bus and somehow doing a circuit and getting off the bus again. There seemed more passengers getting off than there is room to accommodate upstairs. Very odd.
Even once we got the 02, the wait STILL wasn’t over. Doors were due to open at 7pm but the staff opened the doors around 10 minutes early. Craig did not arrive on stage until 8.15pm. IT WAS A LONG WAIT!! But by God, it was worth it!
He was absolutely fucking hilarious. I thought my face was gonna break I was laughing my head off so much. And – the eye contact – THE EYE CONTACT! He was singling me out as one of the people in the crowd to feed off, to intake the reactions from. OH MY GOD – it was frigging delicious! It made me giggle and guffaw even more because it was just so … I kept thinking inwardly “He keeps looking at me, HE KEEPS LOOKING AT ME!” It’s stupid I know but seriously…
He talked about Cumbernauld, and moving to America, working in L.A., the Late Late Show, coming back to Scotland and living in some big old castle near Girvan in Ayrshire, being in Still Game, and about this being the first show he’d done in Glasgow SOBER – that he’d been sober for 34 years and this was his first show here sober. He was utterly, utterly brilliant and I was captivated from start til finish.
It was over all too soon. He was on stage around 75-80 minutes and it was over before I knew it. If I could, I would do it all over again. In a heartbeat! I’m going to assume though it’ll be my one and only time ever seeing him but I am SSSOOO glad it FINALLY happened. Craig Ferguson – you were SO worth the lifetime’s wait!
Hail to the Bing!
Next up is an Assai Glasgow instore album launch for Saint Sappho’s new album, Between the Lines, which is released on Friday 1 May (vinyl only). The instore is the following afternoon.