I've been a bit lax recently in keeping this blog up to date - lots of stuff going on in the real world as opposed to the virtual one I guess.
Anyway, its Wednesday evening, 6th April - I'm stuck at a client's house on the wrong side of Nottingham so the trip to Wolverhampton / Bilston is a bit of a tricky one, done at some pace down the M1 / M42 / M6. Lizzy is working in Birmingham that day so she's making her own way to the venue, then coming back to Nottingham with me before travelling to London by train the following day.
I finally arrive at about 7.30pm, go into the venue which has been smartened up considerably since my last visit, and immediately run into David (The Castle) Housden and his wife Chrissie. They think I'm Lizzy (common mistake) but have seen the real Lizzy in the bar. I head upstairs to Noddy's Bar (named after local lad made good Mr Holder) - no Lizzy, but the entire band and crew (exc Arthur and Johnny) tucking into a meal. A quick hello and they tell me Lizzy is downstairs - which she is, sitting in Woody's Bar (named after that other local lad made good, Roy Wood). A solitary beer and a plate of chips, and we're ready for the fray. We make our way to the gig room and take up position down at the front by the stage with David and Chrissie. A chap called Ben introduces himself, he knows our faces from the pics on Torben's site.
Primary 5 are very good again - and the lead singer, Paul Quinn, dedicates a song to me!
Then Love are on and its another cracking show. I'm beginning to wish I'd written this earlier as the details are quite vague now after a couple of weeks, but it was a good show for sure. The Robin is one of my all time favourite venues, its just about the perfect size for a Love gig IMHO - probably about 500 capacity. Too big and its very impersonal, too small and the sound isn't as good. This one's just right, as Goldilocks said about baby bear's porridge.
At the end we see North London Hilary - she's driven all the way from - you guessed it - North London - the 60 miles or so I've driven seem paltry in comparison. She tells us that this was the first venue she ever saw Love perform in, so its bit of a sentimental journey for her. Mike comes out for a chat, you really can't fault the man for his PR skills. He always seems to have loads of time to spend with the fans.
Lizzy and I don't hang around because its a 60 mile drive back as well, and its work tomorrow. My petrol light is on and the little computer thingy that tells you how many more miles you can go before you run out completely gets down to about 4 miles before we hit a service station at Tamworth -fortunate really, the M42 at midnight is not an ideal place to run out of petrol. Back home, Keith has left us some cooked pizza in the fridge to assuage the late night after gig munchies.
The next day I'm rung on my mobile phone by my bank's anti-fraud squad - "Your credit card was used to purchase petrol on the M42 after midnight last night, not one of your typical transactions, can you confirm it was you?" - I can and no, it wasn't typical, it was f***ing fantastic!!
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Thursday, April 07, 2005
No 19: Sheffield Leadmill, 3rd April 2005
I stayed in Leeds overnight on Saturday 2nd April - Keith was away in Dublin watching Leicester Tigers play Rugby and Jim wanted to have a party, i.e. he wanted me out of the way, so I booked myself into a hotel. Good time shopping on Saturday pm and Sunday am - Leeds is a good shopping town!! You can even buy Burt's Bees Foot Cream, previously only spotted in the US of A.
I set off for Sheffield early Sunday afternoon - and what a difference from Leeds. Even the weather is a lot colder, and the whole place has an air of decrepitude (sorry any of you out there who live in Sheffield - but you must know it's true). Lizzy and Chris were arriving from Newcastle at about 5pm, so I did a quick tour of the city centre - the Millennium Gallery and Winter Gardens weren't bad I must admit - and they did a nice afternoon tea in the cafe there.
Lizzy and Chris arrived at the station car park at about 5pm - after giving Lizzy a gift of the aforesaid BBFC, we set off to try and find somewhere open to get some food / drink - and after about 5 minutes we ran into Scottish Keith and Caryne, near the Leadmill where the Love tour bus was already parked. Time for a quick drink with them, then Lizzy, Chris and I headed off to Pizza Hut for some nourishment.
We had arranged to meet various folks at a pub called the Rutland Arms, and when we arrived there at about 7pm, we were greeted by Old Man and his daughter Lorna in addition to SK and Caryne, closely followed by Gill and Colin. Lovely pub, lots of artefacts from around the world and some unusual music - something like the Shadows play Queen's greatest hits. I had a call from Chris Jones, who then arrived at the Rutland just as the rest were about to leave to pick up the support band, Primary 5. We hung around with him for a drink then we were all off to the venue, calling back at the carpark first to pick up our old vinyl album sleeves as we had heard that Arthur and Johnny had been coming out after performances on this tour and signing autographs.
Into the Leadmill and Primary 5 were already playing their set - and very good they were too. Shades of Neil Young IMHO. Kose and Troels then came out and set up for Love - we managed to attract Troels' attention, which is pretty difficult when he's focussed on getting the stage ready for the band, and we said hello to him and Kose.
During the interval our party all got into position at the front - there were quite a lot of us so we could fend off all comers. I was feeling no little apprehension by this stage - remember that my last gig had been Liverpool, which was not one of Arthur's best performances. Out came the band, smiles and waves from Mike and Rusty... and then there was Johhny Echols, looking cool in leather trousers and what looked like two pairs of specs (prescription glasses then shades over the top)...followed by Arthur, in baggy T shirt, bandanna and some sort of army cap -looking a bit tired but pretty alert.
And I was not disappointed - the band were great, Dave Nolte fitting in really well, covering Dave Chapple's paternity leave. Arthur's voice started off a bit weak, but he got into his stride and gave a really fine performance, with no funny business whatsoever. A fantastic relief - here was the band I'd come to know and love, back on form again. Johnny looked like he was really enjoying himself, and appeared to be a man without an ego - and he played his guitar behind his head at one stage, note perfect.
After the performance, both Arthur and Johnny came out to the merch stand to sign autographs - and I had my Da Capo vinyl sleeve signed by both of them, and made out to me, not some friend or the other (see previous gigs passim). Great. I drove the 40 plus miles back to Nottingham still buzzing, looking forward to the week ahead and four more gigs to follow.
I set off for Sheffield early Sunday afternoon - and what a difference from Leeds. Even the weather is a lot colder, and the whole place has an air of decrepitude (sorry any of you out there who live in Sheffield - but you must know it's true). Lizzy and Chris were arriving from Newcastle at about 5pm, so I did a quick tour of the city centre - the Millennium Gallery and Winter Gardens weren't bad I must admit - and they did a nice afternoon tea in the cafe there.
Lizzy and Chris arrived at the station car park at about 5pm - after giving Lizzy a gift of the aforesaid BBFC, we set off to try and find somewhere open to get some food / drink - and after about 5 minutes we ran into Scottish Keith and Caryne, near the Leadmill where the Love tour bus was already parked. Time for a quick drink with them, then Lizzy, Chris and I headed off to Pizza Hut for some nourishment.
We had arranged to meet various folks at a pub called the Rutland Arms, and when we arrived there at about 7pm, we were greeted by Old Man and his daughter Lorna in addition to SK and Caryne, closely followed by Gill and Colin. Lovely pub, lots of artefacts from around the world and some unusual music - something like the Shadows play Queen's greatest hits. I had a call from Chris Jones, who then arrived at the Rutland just as the rest were about to leave to pick up the support band, Primary 5. We hung around with him for a drink then we were all off to the venue, calling back at the carpark first to pick up our old vinyl album sleeves as we had heard that Arthur and Johnny had been coming out after performances on this tour and signing autographs.
Into the Leadmill and Primary 5 were already playing their set - and very good they were too. Shades of Neil Young IMHO. Kose and Troels then came out and set up for Love - we managed to attract Troels' attention, which is pretty difficult when he's focussed on getting the stage ready for the band, and we said hello to him and Kose.
During the interval our party all got into position at the front - there were quite a lot of us so we could fend off all comers. I was feeling no little apprehension by this stage - remember that my last gig had been Liverpool, which was not one of Arthur's best performances. Out came the band, smiles and waves from Mike and Rusty... and then there was Johhny Echols, looking cool in leather trousers and what looked like two pairs of specs (prescription glasses then shades over the top)...followed by Arthur, in baggy T shirt, bandanna and some sort of army cap -looking a bit tired but pretty alert.
And I was not disappointed - the band were great, Dave Nolte fitting in really well, covering Dave Chapple's paternity leave. Arthur's voice started off a bit weak, but he got into his stride and gave a really fine performance, with no funny business whatsoever. A fantastic relief - here was the band I'd come to know and love, back on form again. Johnny looked like he was really enjoying himself, and appeared to be a man without an ego - and he played his guitar behind his head at one stage, note perfect.
After the performance, both Arthur and Johnny came out to the merch stand to sign autographs - and I had my Da Capo vinyl sleeve signed by both of them, and made out to me, not some friend or the other (see previous gigs passim). Great. I drove the 40 plus miles back to Nottingham still buzzing, looking forward to the week ahead and four more gigs to follow.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Our Californian trip - 5th - 12th February 2005
More details to follow - but for the time being here are some photos
Monday, March 21, 2005
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Mike Randle's solo gig, Fibbers, York, 18th March 2005
Hooray - they're back in the UK!!
Lizzy and I both have offspring who are students in York, and today fortuitously happens to be the last day of term for both of them - so we can combine clearing out student room trips with going to see Mike's gig as support for Chris Helmes at Fibbers. Neither offspring is coming to the gig however, but then they have their own mates to go out with.
I arrive in York mid-afternoon and spend some quality time with Jim, wandering round ancient York. Lizzy arrives at about 6pm and we meet up at our hotel, the Ramada Encore where we stayed last time. Hotel reception is full of ladies on a hen weekend with pink furry things sticking out of their heads.
We do a bit of catching up and then head into downtown York, first to a pub called the Last Drop (we had a drink in one of them in Edinburgh) which has a definite hanging theme, and sells great beer and cider, Lizzy's favoured tipple. Then on to Fibbers - and as soon as we get in the door, there's Mike and Rusty with their respective ladies, Hannah and Lucy. Its great to see them, and they're pleased to see us. Hannah is actually manning a table near the door selling Mike's CDs. with some success. Ringo and his wife are also there, as well as a number of the crew we met on the previous visit to Fibbers. Also Chris Jones arrives, the guy who took the brilliant pictures currently being used to publicise the new tour.
Mike is on at about 8.45 - he's very relaxed on stage, and a lot less hesitant then he was when we saw him in London last year. He does a brilliant version of Madonna's "Borderline", which is one of my favourite songs, and also an acoustic "Aloneagainor" , alternating between Arthur's and his own vocal lines, which shows off his amazing guitar skills. He's not on for long but then he is the support act.
Chris Helmes of the Yards comes on at about 9.30pm - now a number of folks will have seen Chris when the Yards toured as support to Love, but this guy is just amazing. He has a brilliant voice and I don't know why he's not a big star - I talk to Ringo later, who manages him, and he reckons its because he's not fashionable/new (he was a member of the Seahorses that were a fairly successful band some years ago).
The venue has a club night from 10.30 so Chris is off stage by then. A few drinks and chats with Mike and Rusty and Chris Jones, then we head down the road with Mike and Hannah, who are staying with Ringo. They stop at the nearest kebab van for a death-doner - I taste a bit and it is not nice at all. Lizzy and I decide to go to the decent kebab house on Micklegate near our hotel instead for fresh cooked kebabs, which we take back to our room and consume with a bit of a night cap.
Next stop Sheffield a week on Sunday!
Lizzy and I both have offspring who are students in York, and today fortuitously happens to be the last day of term for both of them - so we can combine clearing out student room trips with going to see Mike's gig as support for Chris Helmes at Fibbers. Neither offspring is coming to the gig however, but then they have their own mates to go out with.
I arrive in York mid-afternoon and spend some quality time with Jim, wandering round ancient York. Lizzy arrives at about 6pm and we meet up at our hotel, the Ramada Encore where we stayed last time. Hotel reception is full of ladies on a hen weekend with pink furry things sticking out of their heads.
We do a bit of catching up and then head into downtown York, first to a pub called the Last Drop (we had a drink in one of them in Edinburgh) which has a definite hanging theme, and sells great beer and cider, Lizzy's favoured tipple. Then on to Fibbers - and as soon as we get in the door, there's Mike and Rusty with their respective ladies, Hannah and Lucy. Its great to see them, and they're pleased to see us. Hannah is actually manning a table near the door selling Mike's CDs. with some success. Ringo and his wife are also there, as well as a number of the crew we met on the previous visit to Fibbers. Also Chris Jones arrives, the guy who took the brilliant pictures currently being used to publicise the new tour.
Mike is on at about 8.45 - he's very relaxed on stage, and a lot less hesitant then he was when we saw him in London last year. He does a brilliant version of Madonna's "Borderline", which is one of my favourite songs, and also an acoustic "Aloneagainor" , alternating between Arthur's and his own vocal lines, which shows off his amazing guitar skills. He's not on for long but then he is the support act.
Chris Helmes of the Yards comes on at about 9.30pm - now a number of folks will have seen Chris when the Yards toured as support to Love, but this guy is just amazing. He has a brilliant voice and I don't know why he's not a big star - I talk to Ringo later, who manages him, and he reckons its because he's not fashionable/new (he was a member of the Seahorses that were a fairly successful band some years ago).
The venue has a club night from 10.30 so Chris is off stage by then. A few drinks and chats with Mike and Rusty and Chris Jones, then we head down the road with Mike and Hannah, who are staying with Ringo. They stop at the nearest kebab van for a death-doner - I taste a bit and it is not nice at all. Lizzy and I decide to go to the decent kebab house on Micklegate near our hotel instead for fresh cooked kebabs, which we take back to our room and consume with a bit of a night cap.
Next stop Sheffield a week on Sunday!
Friday, March 18, 2005
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