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Ted Buckleys view - Glasgow

It was less than a month ago that about 8,000 Glaswegians descended on my adopted home town of Blackburn, determined to enjoy themselves, have a great evening, and return home with broad smiles on their faces. The occasion, for those in the dark, was a UEFA Cup football tie between Glasgow Celtic and Blackburn Rovers. Suffice it to say that they achieved what they set out to do!

So I thought I'd reciprocate. All one of me! With a superb concert at Sheffield last Monday still fresh in the memory, I set out for Edinburgh on Saturday morning, the car well stocked with concert CDs. I wondered how Sheffield could be bettered, as the Band had been on top form, the sound quality was exactly right, only the lighting could be improved upon. How could Glasgow be better? Well, it would be my 11th concert in the Bruce era (not many by some of your standards!) but my first ever in Scotland, so, in my mind, that was a definite plus. Nothing could have prepared me for 'The Barras'!!!

Having arrived at friends Malla & Scott in Edinburgh, there was time for tea, the odd CD or two, and change into the 'uniform', then it was off to Barrowlands to join the queue to ensure a good position. We decided to park away from the venue, having heard some tales, so we chose a car park up at Buchanan Street and walked. This car park was to close at 11.30pm, plenty of time, or so we thought.

The Barras is indeed in a somewhat less-than-salubrious area, maybe it's OK in daylight, or maybe it was all in my English mind, but I wouldn't have ventured into any of the adjacent hostelries. We duly took up positions centre stage in front of Bruce, about five rows off the front. My first thought in stepping into this 'hallowed place' was 'gosh, is this it?' Having seen it featured on one of Runrig's videos, I had pictured a huge concert hall, but in reality it was rather small, and very tatty looking. But nevertheless, there was a certain atmosphere about the place, and, as it began to fill, there developed a tangible mood of anticipation. So we waited. And we waited. 7.30 came and went. No Duncan. 8pm came and went. Still no Duncan. Maybe the support would be scrapped? No, at about 8.15 on came Duncan and "the bloke who isn't Ivan" and, with no word of explanation for the delay, off they started. Those of us in the audience listened best we could, but the sound system was awful, and there was a hell of a row from the bar down the left-hand side of the hall.

So they did their half-hour stint best they could amidst the din, and left. We gave them a good reception, I hope, but I felt sorry for them. So we waited for Runrig. And we waited. Oh God, thay bloody car park shuts at 11.30pm. The roadies came on and fiddled, and fiddled, and fiddled. They checked everything except Malc's electric bagpipes. Then on came blokes with cameras, and fussed about. At one stage they filmed us doing the Run! Rig! chant over and over. And still the PA blarted out some totally inappropriate and completely base-muffled dance music. And that bloody car park.....

Eventually, one hour late, the music from the Close to Home album started. AND THE PLACE ERUPTED!!! Amidst a complete cacophany of sound, Runrig came on stage accompanied by the intro to RTTL. Then they launched into Protect & Survive. The audience burst into song, screams, shouts,clapping,jumping, etc, my ears crackled from the noise, but, although only five deep from the front, I could hardly hear the Band at all!! This state of play continued throughout The Message, with Bruce stood on the front speakers egging us all on. Next came The Ship, and even then it was not easy to hear the Band. Bruce then told us that the cameras were there to record the Band's first-ever DVD, the Barras having been chosen deliberately for this venture on account of its unique atmosphere. Too right! This was like no other concert I have ever witnessed, Runrig or otherwise. In fact, it wasn't really a concert at all, it was one big party!!

It was only when Canada came on as the fourth song that the Band managed to take control of the audience, and, whilst we were singing our hearts out all the way through, at least we could from then on begin to hear the Band properly and appreciate what they were doing for us. The sound system was very poor, the lighting was average, but, in the tremendous party atmosphere, none of that mattered one jot!

The set-list was as already published (but see comments below). I agree with Iain on yesterday's List. Wrapping 'Every River' with 'In The Bleak Midwinter' was inspirational, and Malc at his best. Boy, does his guitar sing beautifully, sublimely!! I enjoyed Hearts too, but I'm not sure about the new 'Plink Plonk Plink' intro, much preferring Bruce's trad. guitar intro on the CCMM tour.

When A dh'innse started up, the Band were all stood up, hands above heads, clapping, including Brian, who of course is supposed to start this one off. "Had he forgotten and got carried away?" I thought. But then Rory started chanting the words, a different and exciting intro to the song, and I remembered then that this had happened at Sheffield too.

Towards the end of TSG, a piper came on stage in full regalia, but the sound balance, as I said, was terrible, and his pipes were barely audible. As was Duncan's fiddle in RTTL. As were Malc's pipes in The Message. But none of this mattered one bit. We partied noisily onwards. In Sabhal aig Neill, I noticed that Bruce, Iain, and Calum didn't start up their 'Shadows' dance routine at the usual spot. Friend Scott, who can lip read, picked up a conversation between Bruce and Iain something like this: Bruce - The cameras are here tonight, shall we do the dance?. Iain - Yeah, let's go for it! And so off they went in the second verse. So Scott told me later, anyhow.

Just one dampner on the night - I thought Rory looked under the weather, in fact positively drawn and tired towards the end. His wasn't in his usual fine voice, and we all three thought he was sickening for something. If we're right, then get better soon for Xmas, mate! And one other thing. When Bruce reeled off the list of countries represented, there were big cheers for Germany, Denmark, and Canada (lots of representation from all three in the audience, by the sounds of it) but when he shouted England, there was some booing from the back. I wasn't comfortable with that at all. At the end of the day we're all first and foremost Runrig fans, wherever we come from. Maybe it came from The Barras regular crowd, not from the fans. I hope that was the case anyhow.

And so we partied on and on, and eventually, after Skye, horror of horrors, it was 11.05, and the bloody car park, over a mile away, was closing in 25 minutes. And we had to get back to Edinburgh:-((( So for the first, only, and last time, I left a Runrig concert before the end. After two hours standing, two hours dancing, jumping and singing, it was time for sprinting! We exited the car park at 11.29pm!

Did I miss anything special at the end? Someone will doubtless tell (do I want to know?!). Anyway, I can hopefully see it all again on DVD sometime next year.

So, I reckon I beat those 8,000 Celtic fans into a cocked hat! Although their team won, I bet they can't say they had a stunning, fantastic, superb, brilliant night, one that ranks amongst the best of my life. Thank you Runrig, and Merry Xmas.