Well here we go again, First of all – This week’s gigs
Saturday 10th May
The Hop pocket
Carr lane
Chorley
Sunday 11th May
The Old Market Tavern
Altrincham
Hopefully we will have the full band at the Hop Pocket this week as we had to use a last minute stand in on (electronic) drums last time due to Jim having a car breakdown. At least this week we are in a van so if one of us can’t make it none of us will. We will be there though. Too good a gig to miss and we will put on the full show.
The Old Market Tavern has long been a good venue for bands but Sunday is probably not the best night. Still you never know, people may stay at home on Saturday to watch Eurovision and come out on Sunday instead haha. Yeah right.
Ok that is this what is happening this week, what about last week? Well on Friday afternoon Dangerosu Dave and I filmed the latest in the line of my “gear” videos. This one covers how to use a high power amplifier in smaller venues where less volume is required but keeping the amp fully cranked in order to get the required tone is of benefit. The video is already now up and running on Youtube thnaks to Dave’s prompt efforts – Check it out here. It has had a few viewings and good responses already.
Friday night I popped along to the Swinging Arm in Birkenhead to see good friends Insanity Beach. Always a good show from them and nice to be on the other side of the stage for a change. I dd hustle for a gig there with the new booker but so far nothing forthcoming?? Our home town seems to be the only place where we are not appreciated but not going to lose sleep over it. Managed to catch up with a few other people there and bumped into a couple (Brian and Linda) I have not seen since my days in The SWITCH (Circa 1990). We had a chat about that and specifically gigs we played with Dumpys Rusty Nuts. Are they still playing, last references I can find are 2012?
Saturday was mainly a lazy day preparing for a late night as we were playing Marigolds in Darwen. An upstairs gig starting after midnight wasn’t really a thrilling prospect ut as it turned out it was probably the best gig we have played this year. We dispensed with the less essential parts of the show (lasers, smoke machines, backdrop etc) due to haviving to lug everything up the stairs but the gig was a stormer and everyone had a great time including us. Looking forward to returning again.
Prior to the doors opening at 10:30 we popped into the White Lion next door and spoke to the band there, – The Power 3. Nice blokes and from what we caught of their first set, good stuff. Must try and catch a full set by them at some point. White Lion is a potential venue for us as well so must follow that up.
By the time we got back home on Sunday morning (6am) it was time for me to catch a bus to London, first time travelling there by bus. Turned out to be a fairly pleasant experience actually, not bad at all. The main reason I went by bus rather than train being the amount of engineering work on the rail network over the bank holiday was making train journeys longer than the bus journey.
So having met the other half who had driven down previously we had a very pleasant afternoon by the river in Richmond , stayed overnight and enjoyed the Bank holiday Monday on a boat trip down the Thames in the sun. Drove home early evening. A nice little break.
That is all for last week really.
I bought Classic rock magazine to read on the bus (not bought it for a while) so I have been listening to the free CD they included – Black Stone Cherry. I have heard a few things by them and it is all good stuff. Nice to hear a new (only 13 years old) band doing well with original music.
Had a bit of a sort out recently, and despite disposing of quite a lot I still seem to be in possession of a lot of gear I currently don’t and probably never will use so maybe an Ebay posting in the offing. I will have a think about that.
So until next time that’s it from me,
Keep rockin’
Craig – The Clan