Saturday saw the PunchBag Crew roll north to play at the legendary Bannermans Bar in Edinburgh. We were well made up to be back playing in Scotland, this time for Gibby's Birthday. We left brum early beans and picked Craig up on route. It werent long until the band picked up all the canned cocktails that the services had (OOH look! PENIS COLLIDERS!) and then they proceeded to talk shite for five hours while Neil drove the van, trying to catch up with the Face Up Mobile so we could moonie them on the motorway. We never did catch them up as Bez was in turbo mode and they were nowhere to be seen, except the millions of messages from Gav who was excited to be back in the land of his fathers.
We arrived in Edinburgh about an hour and half before the gig started and by the time we had loaded in and and pissed about parking and finding digs, we just about made it back to the venue to set the merch up and catch CUTTING EDGE open the gig. They were ace man, that Gibson SG guitar sound gets me every time and they blasted through their set. Once they had finished, they had to peg it to Glasgae for another show. Fucking fair play!
Next up was your friendly neighbourhood SUCKERPUNCH. Once Neil's family had finished pissing about and paid in, the room was packed. I know we always say it, but fuck me, Clobberin Time was here again on Saturday! We had a proper doss, Tartan Heather was down the front and out moshed some massive dudes all the way through the set. The sound was incredible as THE EXPLOITED's Irish Rob was on the sound desk so we were in good hands. Honestly, that was one of the best shows we've done so we all had big daft grins after. Mostly Rob did, but that's because he was mash up as usual.
Next up where our tour buddies FACE UP! playing Scotland for the first time. They ripped in to their set and made a load of new friends. Bez kicked fuck out the drums and it looked like it was on roller skates as it bounced around the stage. At no point did anyone from the SP rhythm section stand there and piss themselves when they should have been holding a crash cymbal upright! A wicked scottish Debut, even Gav wore his Hamish shirt again!
Bristol superheroes CRIMINAL MIND then proceeded to re-arrange the space time continuum. DAYUM this band are fucking ace live. They were on a mini tour beyond the wall and for the second time in a week we were all stood there open mouthed at how fucking brill they where, Singer Josh battled through the gig with a massive abscess that must have been agony. Get well soon Josh!
Closing out the festivities were the one and only HAPPY SPASTICS who destroyed the place as usual. Edinburgh fucking loves this band and they showed it. My personal favourite was FUCK THE POLIS! and the crowd loved it. Once the gig had finished, we all went for a quiet diet coke and a chat in the flat above the venue where Rox took this wicked picture of us all. Sunday morning led to breakfast in the City Cafe where hangovers were compared and horror stories shared of Gav's weird toilet habits, and then we bummed off down the road home, knackered but happy. Another wicked weekend of gigs done!
Massive thanks to everyone we talked to and bought loads of merch and for the pictures and good times!!
