2005 Gigs – an occasional trip down memory lane
25th August - Blueberry Inn,
Norwich
Main excitement was playing ‘Told
You So’ at the end of the second set, with such enthusiasm that the lights fell
off the PA speakers, fusing as they hit the stage, and managing to fuse
everything else. Quite dramatic really, and in the stunned silence afterwards,
a small voice from behind the drumkit said….’We’ve broken the pub’. I thought
the plug had been pulled by someone who didn’t like Undertones b-sides (or
possibly someone who did0. Anyway, we ended the evening with a folk version of
the New York Dolls doing Pills. Which was slightly strange.
27th August - Forum, Norwich
(afternoon)
In which
the crowd of Norwich shoppers were ‘entertained’ by a Leeds-based amateur
magician and juggler, to choruses of ‘Go back to Leeds’ and other helpful
comments. Anyway, having got past the warmup act, a certain amount of ‘rocking’
ensued, although slightly tempered by the number of small children in the
audience. Many of which were our own. Delightful to see Andy ‘Boy’ Swain in the
‘crowd’, eating a pasty and looking suitably bemused.
3rd September - Banningham Crown
In which we arrived to find a
VE-style stage in the pub garden, and a young man muscling his way onto our
first set. He turned out to be called Sonny Lee, and very good he was too.
Chaos ensues as the self-appointed MC decides to hold an impromptu talent
competition in the interval, so Dave and Robert are pressed into action to
either support local talent or vigorously protect their kit, depending on your
point of view.
17th September - Millstone,
Ipswich
High points – v posh (and slightly
drunk) ‘laydees’ dancing and cavorting, and generally entertaining the good folk
of Ipswich. Also Norwich won 1-0 vs them the next day. Low point - Dave driving
the van and getting flashed by a speed camera on the way home. Lively
discussion ensues on whether it was actually John’s fault (it being his van)
15th October - Wash & Tope Hotel,
Hunstanton
Well, truly one for the ‘please
let’s forget we were ever having that evening’ book. Turned up on time.
John-Boy announces a need to get diesel for the van for the way back. Find
Tesco’s petrol station. All lovely. Get asked by strange woman if we play ‘good
crap’. Play first set, also lovely, although slight altercation with ‘we can
never drink enough’ element of Hunstanton’s finest. Have break, have drink, go
on for second set. Hunstanton’s finest have been getting more ‘in the mood’, unfortunately
not the same mood as us. Interesting dancing ensues, led by 18+ stone grebo who
is, frankly, marching to a different drum. Grebo falls over monitor into band,
impales himself on mike stand,, appears dead. Unfortunately he recovers and
resumes dancing. We consider ourselves lucky to still have our health, and
close the set with a heartfelt ‘St James Infirmiary’. Pack up the van. Someone
takes the last half of my beer. We give our special wave goodbye to the good
folk of Hunstanton. Drive home. Nearly get as far as Fakenham. Van stops. John
mentions that he ‘might’ have put unleaded petrol in the tank, not diesel. We
are in the middle of nowhere and it is very dark. Eventually recovery truck
picks us up. Driver returns to Norwich at breakneck speed, providing his own
roadkill tally (1x rabbit, 2x owls). We are not keen to return to Hunstanton. A
few weeks later, Dave books a number of 2006 gigs there.
20th October - Walnut Tree Shades,
Norwich
Always a pleasure, seldom a chore.
Probably our last but one gig with Chris Gudgin ‘at the controls’. Gawd help us
if he ever flew a plane. We made a moderately listenable sound. Some misguided
fool asks for ‘the cowboy song’ towards the end, and we almost remembered ‘Long
Tall Texan’ all the way through. Also enjoyed the company of the charming
American/Canadian guy (whose name I’ve forgotten) who introduced us at the
Forum gig a few months before. Unfortunately he was convinced we were starting
at 7pm. Four hours is a long time to be spending in a pub.
18th November – Secret
Private Party
Which I can exclusively reveal was
in the Oulton Broad brewery, for A 1st wedding anniversary. Splendid
people, slightly bizarre venue – stuck in the middle of Oulton Broad’s less
salubrious industrial estate, complete with bouncer/security/sound man who had
spent ’15 years with the Buster James band’, making it sound like a
probationary sentence. Come to think of it… Chris & me got stopped by Mr
Babylon on the way home, fortunately before it got messy, Mr B was called away
to recover an OB resident who had ‘keeled over’ into the road.
24th November - Blueberry Inn,
Norwich
Very cold. It started snowing half
way through first set. Good opportunity to keep the crowd indoors. Must
remember to call for tempest conditions at future gigs.
1st December - Walnut Tree Shades,
Norwich
Aah, Chris Gudgin, will we ever
see your like again? Hopefully yes, as he has yet to find a buyer for what is
becoming one of the last decent pubs in the city. Let’s just hope when one does
come along, there’s a stipulation in the contract that stops it being turned
into a wine bar. Anyway, Chris tells me that he’s going to see the Ear Nose
& Throat specialist next week. I hope he’s got a triple appointment. Gig
enjoyable, not least because of the audience participation, particularly the
joke telling while guitars were being tuned.
3rd December – Railway
Tavern, Coltishall
The English country pub – log fire
(unfortunately, just behind the drumstool), large dogs, the sweet smell of St
Bruno, foaming pints…and some dodgy RnB band from ‘up the city’. A fine evening
all in all; particularly enjoyable first set in which John-Boy played an
absolute blinder. We really must do more of that actual music, as opposed to
the wild punk thrashings that we….er enjoy. Low point: a badly placed reference
to George Best; High point: meeting an ex-Norwich punk who remembered with
alarming clarity going to see Dave’s first ever gig (the Stoats, Woolpack Inn,
Norwich, around 1952, apparently). Most excited about the pub’s next gig ‘One
Legged Elvis’ next Saturday. We’ll try to get there, if only to see if he plays
‘Blue Suede Shoe’. See http://www.railwaycoltishall.co.uk/favorite.htm