‘Ey up lads n lasses, guess who’s got a day off…..needed after this weekends antics I assure you, booze booze and ………yes…more booze…phew! Hard work with me not being a big, or regular drinker. Had no gigs this weekend so I made a decision to have a weekend on the lash, round Spenny….where else?

Last gig we did have was excellent, our first time playing in Leadgate Cricket Club. Set up was a bit random, but worked out ok…oddly, everyone said the sound was very nice and clear…hopefully the people sat really really close to the speakers can live ok with their new case of tinnitus ….just kidding, we’re never THAT loud…cough! The audience were fantastic, made our first time there really memorable, so we’re keen to return. I’m very grateful also to the gents who booked us and organizers for their very flattering comments, especially the high marks they gave me on my figure skating outside in the snow and ice whilst carrying ‘cilla crackingly’ heavy bits of band gear. A talent I wasn’t aware I possessed ! I now need to develop the skill to hold a door open whilst carrying both of my guitars, I believe I compared this action to trying to eat water with chopsticks…..much to Waynes amusement. Half way through the first set he was still reciting those words to me under his breath whilst trying to play and laugh…..NOT during the killers track…for obvious reasons. (Bet Wayne is now contemplating ‘shoeing’ me on our next meeting, usually this wouldn’t induce any fear, but since discovering, on our last rehearsal that he carries a pair of high heeled pixie boots in his band equipment bag…his ESSENTIAL band equipment bag, I am now filled with a sense of dread, I can’t even begin to imagine the damage it would cause if he round housed me in one), so sorry Wayne !!?

As Malcolm already commented, Edgey was his usual crazy self. Bastardizing the bingo.(this was both hilarious and cringe worthy), paying a girl ten quid to play pool with him!!!, Christ on a bike!!!!!, he also told her that he was a band ‘stand in’, meaning that if any of us incurred an accident whilst gigging he would take over on any given instrument and save our arses…..can’t wait to put that to the test! He also bombarded me with the usual obsessive comments on my attire and hair etc. thus proving my recent theory. Speaking of which, loads of people were wanting to buy my tee shirt for obscene prices, they wouldn’t have been offering such sums had they known how much I paid for it, I didn’t sell it anyway, but I was glad it made such an impression. I may see if Wayne can upload a picture of it some time. Oh…before I forget, did anyone get Pauline Quirk’s autograph?

On the subject of look-alikes, Paul and I were watching a band in The Crown (my local) on Saturday gone called ‘On The Rocks’, as their name suggests they played ….erm….rock. Songs by Sabbath, led Zep, Neil Young etc. Any way, as they were setting up, we were watching the drummer clatter around on his kit and (being we’re both drummers) discussed how you can tell if drummers are self taught or not, we were in no way pulling him to bits or nowt. Never the less, not long before they went on he approached us, bearing in mind he was Andre the giant’s clone, and said, in a strong Czech accent (as he was from Prague)” I over heard you two talking earlier”, God knows how considering how much noise there was and how far away from him we were….another room to be precise..hahahahah, “and I wish to apologise that I’m such a bad drummer, I’ve only just mastered the eight beat”. At this point, Paul and myself had shaken the fizz out of our pints in fear of being torn limb from limb by this wild eyed, drumstick wielding ogre. I was praying he wouldn’t use Paul to hit me with. I then explained that he had obviously misunderstood, whilst trying to find some tranquilizer darts in my pocket, then proceeding to give him great compliments on his choice of equipment…anything to pacify this ………man. They were actually good, Great vocals from the love child of Keith Chegwin and Pauline Fowler. Our lass said, at the end of every song, it looked like he was headbutting a dwarf ha ha ha. I had no intention of staying for the whole gig….but did. Paul left soon after to honour a pre arranged appointment and I continued to consume beverages into the early hours.

So, back to Leadgate and it has to be said that it was up there with the best of our gigs. I’m sure I heard someone say they would be organizing a summer bar - b - q for our next visit which sounds good.

Two good gigs coming up next, Redcar then Bishop Auckland…be sure to check one out if you’re local and we’ll try not to disappoint .

For now…..I bid thee farewell

Gibbeaux