Ok it’s been a while, I am having trouble keeping up.
It’s our final gig of 2018 this Sunday and to me at least it is a great way to finish the year.
Supporting The Sweet- yes The actual Sweet at Buckley Tivoli on Sunday 2nd December. Hard to believe I used to watch them on Top Of The Pops over 45 years ago. I remember buying Blockbuster and being very surprised at how good/Rocky the B-side was (need a Lot of Lovin’). Probably the first time I heard anyone really use a Tremolo arm (as whammy bars were called back then). That started something off, you really can’t get that sound on an acoustic. Later of course I moved on to enjoy Blackmore, Uli Jon Roth and Bernie Tormé all of whom use the said device extensively but it was probably Andy Scott who sparked my interest. The whammy bar is why I always preferred Fender Stratocasters to Gibson Les Pauls.
The Clan have a had a good year really, less gigs than previously but we have supported Hand of Dimes, Blaze Bayley, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash and we had a great time last week with top tribute DIIO (A tribute to the music of Ronnie James Dio) and also our good friends “The Darker my Horizon”. Why TDmH are not higher profile in the UK (or in Europe) I really do not know, they have brilliant melodies, great vocals and certainly know how to rock. There are far worse bands being hyped and pushed by the media although I suppose it has always been that way.
We have also played a few Pub type gigs throughout the year including a return to local venue The Swinging Arm after a five-year absence. We are booked there twice next year.
Last Saturday we played a short set exclusively for a group of Photography students which was good fun. We should be provided with most of the output so that will be interesting. Can’t vouch for the content but the photo quality should be good haha.
If you want to catch us at our last gig this year or you just fancy seeing the Sweet and why wouldn’t you, then we still have a few tickets available at a discounted price from www.clan-rock.com/shop-downloads
Probably too late to post out now but we can leave them on the door for you no problem.
The Sweet are well worth seeing, Jim and I saw them earlier this year and they were awesome, totally professional and great fun. All the hits plus some choice album tracks and by the way in a live environment they really rock. As for us, I think at this one we will be doing a 50/50 mix of Clan originals and some well-known covers in order to get everyone warmed up and in a good mood for the main event. As far as I know we are the only support (although these things often throw up surprises) so we may possibly get an hour?
If we don’t see you on Sunday then hopefully we will see you somewhere next year, a few things already lined up and incidentally, 2019 will be 40 years since my first ever gig (Sinner) and it is also the 40th anniversary of the New Wave of British heavy Metal (NWOBHM) so expect various events based around that which we may be involved in.
Until then, keep rockin’
Craig