Tynemouth Boat Club Review

Hi folks, apologies this review has taken so long to put together, couple of things, been waiting for some photos of the gig to go with it but just not recieved them yet, will post on here and Facebook when they arrive.

Well, where do I start? I guess with the pivotal moment of the gig, which was when we arrived at 6.30pm and the I felt the feel of tappy tappy rain on my arm, with clouds gathering down at the mouth of the river. So there was the decision right there...we play indoors. Quite a lot of gear to set up and no chance to get it all inside safely if the heaven's opened.

And a vintage 60s PA to look after.

I then realise it's an end of term primary school 'do' and not a drunken boat club members gig! I am sure I will have been told of this, but being stupid, I let it slip from my mind.

So the kids games and aforementioned ice-cream van and a suitable DJ were our support for the show. Millions of kids charging around while we sound-checked, wanting to have a go of the drums and perilously close to the instruments....agh

So we set up and come gig time (9.10pm, we were delayed by 10 minutes cos he ice-cream van was late!) wasn't it just a real pleasant evening outside? So all the adults that had come with their kids, around 100 of them, were all outside on the beach either chatting or sitting round a beach fire. And that's where they stayed for the duration of our set!

The line-up for the audience was as follows : Vicky my wife, Charlotte my daughter and her boyfriend Jordan, Jim's wife Ellen, a couple skulking in the shadows (i never saw their faces), Alan Eagan who was taking photos and one little girl who was particularly taken by our unfetered racket (One mans racket is another man's symphony)...and that was it.

I learned later that the folks outside really enjoyed the music from outside, which is fair enough really and I'm not going to criticise them because they weren't really gig going types, and I think a covers band outdoors doing Bryan Adams would have been more suitable. But my artistic demon comes out a touch when I say, there is a certain courtesy to such situations. Enough said I think. Having said that, if i'd been more adventurous we would have set up outside regardless of the weather and probably had a great night. So there we are, my fault!

Anyway the fish and chips were top and the beer was great also.

And we played a blinder, our audience of 8 concurred, so it's not just me saying it.

And here for the record is the set-list:

HATE THE MILKMAN
LEICESTER
STREET TALK
MY SO-CALLED LIFE
PICTURE YOU
PANIC NOW
BOB BIZARRE
YESTERDAY’S PAPERS
TONY
THE BIG HAIRY WHEEL
HIGHER THAN YOU

With big thanks to ex-Cheesemaker Hesh for his efforts bringing the drums over before the gig. Maybe one day he'll stay to watch us :O)

You may notice a few new song titles in there and a couple of older numbers. Some more new songs have been written since then and demos for a new album are forthcoming in the next few weeks. This next album will be quicker, shorter and simpler and will be made using a much more DIY ethic as no bastard bought the one we took 6 years to record and spent £1,000s on...so there!

Thanks though if you were one of the few who did buy Panic Now!, the very essence of the phrase 'lost' classic.

Photos of the gig to follow soon, (top photo is from SLF support gig) along with some autumn dates hopefully.

Anyone have any suggestions for venues we could play, I'd be massively grateful.

In fact anyone fancy managing the band for a few months and organise gigs and promotion etc we'd be very interested.

That's all for now folks

Andyx

p.s. anyone remember this gig? Vintage poster alert