November
30/11/06 11:52
Friday
10th. November, Lyric Theatre,
Dinnington
Located about 14 miles south of Sheffield and 20 minutes drive from home, Dinnington is a former mining village which is now enjoying something of a reinvention and is becoming quite an industrious place. The Lyric is situated right in the middle of the village and the last time I was there was with Dave and The Cruisers way back in 1964. Also that year The Lyric experienced quite a tumultuous night when no less than Little Richard appeared there. The venue has also been one of included in Ken Dodd’s national theatre tour and has continued to host some other memorable nights. However, for Dave, one memorable night would be the night his Dad performed at the Lyric back in 1941 with the Mayfair Orchestra and was in fact the night before Dave was born. Over the years the place has been refurbished and is now a comfortable, spacious venue. The audience are now primed and ready to rock with us as they hop and bop around the dance floor. Unfortunately, I’ve got a stray bass-drum that just won’t stay in one place and as I give it what for the more it moves.
Putting various things in front just doesn’t seem to help and as Dave works up te crowd so I get worked up behind the kit. At the end I’m stood up rockin’ in true Gene Vincent & The Bluecaps style with Brian and Jason also helping me to keep that pesky bass-drum still. As we hit the final note, I’ve had enough and send the whole kit flying just like Keith Moon! My action seems to create further interest, although I don’t think I’ll keep this feature in the act, as I’m not in the market for buying a new drum kit for every show!. However the old kit is still in tact and I apologise to it afterwards before putting it away safe and sound and head for home.
Saturday 11th. November, Devonshire Arms, Baslow
It’s the second time this year we’ve played at this venue and is another ideal gig, located in the heart of the Peak District. Being another local giggette, I make my own way along the wife as we’ve also got a room for the night. Around 5 o’clock the rest of the gang turn up and set about getting all the equipment set up, etc. Support tonight is a local band . Thanks to a course of Bob Martins tablets and Love-hearts I’m all fired up and ready to rock like no man has ever rocked before! However, onstage I have to keep my exuberance down to a minimum and keep the set moving along. Once again it’s a great night with everybody enjoying the proceedings, proving once again, you can’t beat good old rock’n’roll. Johnny Marchetta thinks he’s got a hot date back in Chesterfield so with our blessing he makes a quick getaway whilst Brian, Jason and myself wallow in the joy of packing all the gear away. Finally done, I retire to the bar for the after-show soirée before the Bob Martins start to wear off and it’s time to hit the hay.
Friday 17th. November, Stockport
Although tonight’s gig is only about an hour and a quarter from home, it takes us much longer to find the place. With written instructions that only cause confusion we end up near the centre of Stockport then go to the other extreme and end up in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully we see a lady who puts us in the right direction and we eventually find the Golf Club where tonight’s gig is at. It’s actually a private party for a guy’s 60th. Setting up as quickly as we can on the floor down the side of the room we get everything about ready before all the guests arrive. The guy whose birthday it is informs us that we’re invited to have all our drinks on a tab which certainly makes us feel better after such an arduous journey. We also have a table reserved for us, although on the reservation it states ‘musicians and drummers’!!!. However I soon forgive their faux pas as we join the queue for the culinary delights on offer. Ads we tuck into the pie and peas I notice that one of the guests is that guy who plays the dopey son in TV’s Royle Family. However most of the crowd are obviously the golf-set and live in a different world to mine. After a lengthy and obviousy well-rehearsed speech from Birthday-boy, we get rockin and generally have a good time in the process. As the birthday boy is also a guitarist in a local band Dave invites him up to take over the rhythm guitar sot as we get down on some good old Chuck Berry tunes. Thoroughly enjoying himself our man is very appreciative afterwards and we thank him for his hospitality before we get the van loaded up and head off back home which, thankfully, a much easier journey than the one coming, now we’ve got our bearings.
Friday 24th. November, Vauxhall Holiday Park, Yarmouth
Back out on the road we’re heading east for about three and half hours to the outskirts of Yarmouth. The last time we were hear was around two years ago and we soon familiarize ourselves with the lay-out. Also on the show with us tonight are The Nashville Teens and our good buddies Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. As the Dozies have a gig in Germany the following day we provide the back-line so that they can get a quick getaway after their set. Locating our accommodation, it’s a spacious caravan with three bedrooms, a lounge and kitchen area, in fact so good you live in one of these things! After setting up our gear Brian gets busy preparing our evening meal of curry, rice, etc. Helped down with a glass of red wine, he’s come up with another culinary triumph as we all woof it down.
Afterwards I check the Nashville Teens who, as I remember are a bit on the heavy rock side but deliver a solid set that finds favour with the large crowd around the front of the stage. The large room looks pretty full as the audience get into a solid 60’s groove with D,B,M & T. as they romp through their selection of singalong hits. As this is a Christmas 60’s Weekend, albeit a bit premature, we get a visit from Santa who must be getting in a bit of pre-Christmas overtime?! After the Dozies are all packed away we bid them a fond farewell as we get ready to go on at, eventually around 11.40m. I must admit that at this time of night, my rockin’ mode is a bit on the sluggish side but after about four numbers into the set I’m firing on all cylinders and getting’ down on the wild beat just like a 61 year-old should. the audience enjoy the set.
Afterwards we retire to the bar for a late night-cap with our conversation ranging from gay truck-drivers to the effects of too much iron in your blood! Back in the caravan we discuss the night’s proceedings whilst watching some TV over a glass of red-wine and a potent combination of more curry and beans, which unfortunately have rather alarming repercussions the next morning on the way home!
Located about 14 miles south of Sheffield and 20 minutes drive from home, Dinnington is a former mining village which is now enjoying something of a reinvention and is becoming quite an industrious place. The Lyric is situated right in the middle of the village and the last time I was there was with Dave and The Cruisers way back in 1964. Also that year The Lyric experienced quite a tumultuous night when no less than Little Richard appeared there. The venue has also been one of included in Ken Dodd’s national theatre tour and has continued to host some other memorable nights. However, for Dave, one memorable night would be the night his Dad performed at the Lyric back in 1941 with the Mayfair Orchestra and was in fact the night before Dave was born. Over the years the place has been refurbished and is now a comfortable, spacious venue. The audience are now primed and ready to rock with us as they hop and bop around the dance floor. Unfortunately, I’ve got a stray bass-drum that just won’t stay in one place and as I give it what for the more it moves.
Putting various things in front just doesn’t seem to help and as Dave works up te crowd so I get worked up behind the kit. At the end I’m stood up rockin’ in true Gene Vincent & The Bluecaps style with Brian and Jason also helping me to keep that pesky bass-drum still. As we hit the final note, I’ve had enough and send the whole kit flying just like Keith Moon! My action seems to create further interest, although I don’t think I’ll keep this feature in the act, as I’m not in the market for buying a new drum kit for every show!. However the old kit is still in tact and I apologise to it afterwards before putting it away safe and sound and head for home.
Saturday 11th. November, Devonshire Arms, Baslow
It’s the second time this year we’ve played at this venue and is another ideal gig, located in the heart of the Peak District. Being another local giggette, I make my own way along the wife as we’ve also got a room for the night. Around 5 o’clock the rest of the gang turn up and set about getting all the equipment set up, etc. Support tonight is a local band . Thanks to a course of Bob Martins tablets and Love-hearts I’m all fired up and ready to rock like no man has ever rocked before! However, onstage I have to keep my exuberance down to a minimum and keep the set moving along. Once again it’s a great night with everybody enjoying the proceedings, proving once again, you can’t beat good old rock’n’roll. Johnny Marchetta thinks he’s got a hot date back in Chesterfield so with our blessing he makes a quick getaway whilst Brian, Jason and myself wallow in the joy of packing all the gear away. Finally done, I retire to the bar for the after-show soirée before the Bob Martins start to wear off and it’s time to hit the hay.
Friday 17th. November, Stockport
Although tonight’s gig is only about an hour and a quarter from home, it takes us much longer to find the place. With written instructions that only cause confusion we end up near the centre of Stockport then go to the other extreme and end up in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully we see a lady who puts us in the right direction and we eventually find the Golf Club where tonight’s gig is at. It’s actually a private party for a guy’s 60th. Setting up as quickly as we can on the floor down the side of the room we get everything about ready before all the guests arrive. The guy whose birthday it is informs us that we’re invited to have all our drinks on a tab which certainly makes us feel better after such an arduous journey. We also have a table reserved for us, although on the reservation it states ‘musicians and drummers’!!!. However I soon forgive their faux pas as we join the queue for the culinary delights on offer. Ads we tuck into the pie and peas I notice that one of the guests is that guy who plays the dopey son in TV’s Royle Family. However most of the crowd are obviously the golf-set and live in a different world to mine. After a lengthy and obviousy well-rehearsed speech from Birthday-boy, we get rockin and generally have a good time in the process. As the birthday boy is also a guitarist in a local band Dave invites him up to take over the rhythm guitar sot as we get down on some good old Chuck Berry tunes. Thoroughly enjoying himself our man is very appreciative afterwards and we thank him for his hospitality before we get the van loaded up and head off back home which, thankfully, a much easier journey than the one coming, now we’ve got our bearings.
Friday 24th. November, Vauxhall Holiday Park, Yarmouth
Back out on the road we’re heading east for about three and half hours to the outskirts of Yarmouth. The last time we were hear was around two years ago and we soon familiarize ourselves with the lay-out. Also on the show with us tonight are The Nashville Teens and our good buddies Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. As the Dozies have a gig in Germany the following day we provide the back-line so that they can get a quick getaway after their set. Locating our accommodation, it’s a spacious caravan with three bedrooms, a lounge and kitchen area, in fact so good you live in one of these things! After setting up our gear Brian gets busy preparing our evening meal of curry, rice, etc. Helped down with a glass of red wine, he’s come up with another culinary triumph as we all woof it down.
Afterwards I check the Nashville Teens who, as I remember are a bit on the heavy rock side but deliver a solid set that finds favour with the large crowd around the front of the stage. The large room looks pretty full as the audience get into a solid 60’s groove with D,B,M & T. as they romp through their selection of singalong hits. As this is a Christmas 60’s Weekend, albeit a bit premature, we get a visit from Santa who must be getting in a bit of pre-Christmas overtime?! After the Dozies are all packed away we bid them a fond farewell as we get ready to go on at, eventually around 11.40m. I must admit that at this time of night, my rockin’ mode is a bit on the sluggish side but after about four numbers into the set I’m firing on all cylinders and getting’ down on the wild beat just like a 61 year-old should. the audience enjoy the set.
Afterwards we retire to the bar for a late night-cap with our conversation ranging from gay truck-drivers to the effects of too much iron in your blood! Back in the caravan we discuss the night’s proceedings whilst watching some TV over a glass of red-wine and a potent combination of more curry and beans, which unfortunately have rather alarming repercussions the next morning on the way home!