Day 6: The Mental Health Heckler

Day 6? Day 7? Day 2027?. Time's a blur now.

I wake up and just count down how many steps until I'm back in that basement again.

Only one RSVP yesterday. Just the one. I keep a list so I know who might show up and, more importantly, so I don’t have to hand out flyers like a desperate magician outside Waverley Station. The banners outside the venue are doing the heavy lifting now. That’s my PR team: a mesh banner

I figured it’d be a quiet one. Took a wee breather outside before the show, came back in and the place was packed. Proper packed. Full room. Ezra and Remco had a few mates coming, maybe five, but clearly the word’s spreading. We had to turn folk away again. It’s happening more and more — and it’s always a weird mix of satisfaction and guilt. Like, great, they want in… but also, sorry, it’s a fire hazard if I let you sit on that step.

Bob Graham killing it!

The crowd though — they were loud. Not aggressive, just… messy. All over the place. There was a crew of Americans at the back — San Francisco, I think — and they were buzzing. The kind of buzz that turns every punchline into a group celebration. One of them did a full “WOOOOO!” mid-set like Ric Flair had been summoned. Felt like I was in the ring at WWE. not on stage.

Then you had this bunch in the middle — locals. Edinburgh heads. And one woman in particular… I don’t even know how to describe her. Loud. Unfiltered. Interrupting every second bit. Without even blinking, she announces she’s a mental health nurse. Just blurts it out into the room like it's part of the act. So I looked at her and asked:

“Is this your patients you’vegot withyou..?”

Got a big laugh. Even she smirked. Then went right back to shouting. There’s always one.

Bob Graham opened the night, had to wrangle the energy a bit, but got them onside. George Anderson followed and kept the pace up. The Dutch Brothers — Ezra and Remco — came in like absolute chaos incarnate. Slapstick, surreal, just joyfully weird. They’re like Laurel and Hardy if they’d taken acid in Rotterdam.

Kurt Sterling closed the night strong. Clean, tight, proper closer. I like having someone who can pull it all together after the madness.

My partner came along last night. We had a pint after, quick McDonald’s, and were in bed by 10. No chaos. No carnage. It’s not rock ‘n’ roll, but it’s sustainable.

The bus into town is turning into its own little Fringe show. Every junkie in Edinburgh seems to be on my route now. Proper characters. Full conversations with themselves, shouting at invisible enemies, one lad arguing with his reflection like it owed him money. I’d love to blame the Fringe for it, but this is just Edinburgh. The Fringe just gives them a louder audience.

No gigs lined up for today, as far as I know. Maybe something will land. Maybe not. Energy’s still good. Morale’s better than expected. I’m mentally prepping for the solo show on Saturday. Reviews are starting to come in and they’re not awful, so that’s a bonus.

Oasis are on in town too, so that’s bringing another layer of madness. A load of fellas in bucket hats wandering around shouting “mad fer it” at fire exits.

That’s it for today. Good vibes, good Company & lovrky crowds See you tomorrowfor day 7? or Day 2028?