Date: 29th September 2006

Venue: Barrowlands

A couple of months back I got a surprise for my Bud Skiv, “What you doing on September 29th” he asked, and as I am unble to say what I am doing in 10 minutes time let alone 2 months time, I replied “Nought”. “Well he said, you are now going to see TFC perform Bandwagonesque at Barrowlands on that date”. “YA DANCA!” was my reply.

The first time I consciously witnessed the talents of the TFC boys was back when I was at school and on Friday night i used to watch the trash TV show know as “The Word”. One night a bunch of hairy Scottish guys Norman, Gerry, Raymond and Brendon appeared on it and played “What you do to me” straight into “Satan” on the show, and I have been a fan ever since.

Unfortunately Skiv was doubled booked and had a more important event to attend which was a pity for a number of reasons 1) He is a huge TFC fan and wold have loved the night 2) He is my “regular lets go see TFC” gig buddy cause when I first knew him at college he had a great T-shirt collection including TFC, Senseless things and Mega City Four T-shirts, all bands that i liked and I thought to myself, I should really get to know that guy!

Instead I went with Ajay, again this was cool as the first EVER time I saw the Fannies was at The Volcano Nightclub in Partick in 1995. I worked for the company that owned the club so got me +1 free guesties to go see um. Now Ajay has a job that allows him to know most people in the Scottish music scene (and other scenes over the world) and it’s kinda of weird standing next to the guy that like me loved the band from a young age, but now he playes football with Gerry, and also knows Norman and Brendan!!

Anyway enough of the back story, we were there to here good music and that what we got. First big surprise of the gig Brendon was back!!!! Brendon played drums for the Fannies for the first three albums and was the later replaced. But as the band were remaining true to the Bandwagonesque line up, the wise cracking beatmaker was back to play drums, sing Sidewinder and keep the crowd amused with his impressions and jokes.

The band rattled through the album in sequential order first up “The Concept” as soon as “She wears denim wherever she goes ” was sung, the crowd cheered and the mood was set!. In fact after “Star Sign” was played, Brendan told us that if this was the LP or tape, we would have to turn it over before the band launched into Metal baby.

After Bandwagonesque was completed, the band went off for a brief respite before returning to the stage. Francis took up the drum duties and the band then played for another hour giving us songs from the back cat. All me favourites were there “It’s all in my mind” from the last album “About You” from Grand Prix, stuff from Howdy and Thriteen. Was a bit worried that “Mellow Doubt” and “Sparky’s Dream” were not being played but then at 10:40 Norman sings “It gives me pain” and I breathed a sigh of relief, then Gerry took the lead vocals and sung “If she lived in Space, man” and my fears were laid to rest. Saw song folk pogoing about to the ol’ Sparky’s Dream.

It was a great night, I really enjoyed it, quite a lot of movers and shakers from the Scottish music scene there to, I saw Douglas from the BMX Bandits, but I am not really a fan so that doesn’t count and at the end of the Gig Ajay went to talk to Brian Livingstone, a friend of his that was doing the lighting for the night. Whilst down talking to him I got to meet Richard and Chris from Belle and Sebastian and the than man, the legened, the dapper Gentleman himself, Eugene Kelly came over to talk to the Belle & Seb boys, lucky I managed to not act like a star struck idiot , so I don’t think Ajay was embarrassed by me!

Kaz the Kat was there, but as she had early made a death threat to yours truly I thought I better stay out of her way, but got a text saying that it was “The best ever”.

Great night, great band, the Scots really love their Fannies!!!!