Jul 2006
SOUTH SHIELDS FESTIVAL/MUNDSLEY HOLIDAY VILLAGE
09/07/06 09:05 |
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A hectic day in store as we had to cover two gigs in one day and a long way apart. At around 9.30am we loaded ourselves into the Berrymobile for a trip up to the north East and an open-air festival in South Shields. This was actually the final gig we did with the ‘Shot Of Rhythm & Blues’ tour along with our rockin’ pals The Troggs, The Animals and Zoot Money. Also on the bill was the all-star Class Of ’64 combo. We arrived at around 12.20 and found our way to the hospitality cabins and checked out the running orders, etc. We would be going on at 2.00pm so just enough time for a relaxing stroll through the park where this free event was being held. A couple of guys asked Jason and myself for our autographs and I wondered if they’d realized that we weren’t The Troggs! Thankfully, we’ve been enjoying some exceptionally good weather which is essential for events like this. For this tour The Cruisers were myself, Brian Wood and Jason Wood and we were joined by a legendary figure in British music, Zoot Money on keyboards and vocals. Showtime and as Zoot finished off his short solo set we assembled onstage. As I was wearing a jacket, Zoot made a special announcement of the fact that you don’t often see drummers in a jacket (well maybe a straight-jacket?)
We soon had the crowd of around 800 rockin’ along and the sound and the atmosphere both blended well.
I must say, the Shot Of R&B tour was, for us, most enjoyable and enabled us to see some most enjoyable parts of the country. Our travels took us as far south as Truro in Cornwall, right up to Aberdeen. Everybody on the tour , with the possible exception of one, was good to work with and we enjoyed some quality time with Pete, Maggsy and Chris of The Troggs.
Following our short 30 minute set we quickly got ready to hit the road to our second gig. Which, would you believe, what way down near Cromer in Norfolk! Although we try to plan our gigs out as geographically convenient as possible, sometimes, it just doesn’t work out that way and most of the time our travel is dictated by wherever the gigs are. Fortunately, as we were traveling with Dave, we had the luxury of an in-car DVD player so on our journey we had a programmed of Dead Man’s Shoes’ – a northern film with plenty of violence, and lighter fare with Mary Chapin Carpenter In Concert. After a fairly grueling five hour drive we arrived at last at Mundsley Holiday Village which is a most idyllic small holiday location situated about 7 miles from Cromer. Our second guitarist, Johnny Marchetta and sound engineer, Jamie Mallinder had drove down from Sheffield with all our gear which they had set up already for the evening’s gig. After a meal we found our apartments which were situated just 25 yards away from the cliff top and a stunning view out to sea.
Although on this occasion our audience was relatively small they gave us a good reception and a good night was had by all. After the show, and after all the gear was loaded up we all retired to the bar for some most welcome cocktails and friendly banter. As we returned back to our apartments I noticed the lights of a fleet of fishing boats out at sea and thought for a minute what it might be like out there on a warm summer’s night.
This summer has certainly provided us with some fantastic weather, that’s if you like it hot and sunny, and as I opened the curtains the next morning, around 8.45am, it was fantastic to look straight out over a clear blue sky and calm sea. As the rest of the guys had gone on home earlier, Dave and myself enjoyed a more leisurely trip back with a brief stop in Cromer, which is a lovely little seaside town and despite the emergence of rock’n’roll, space-travel, and other forms of modern technology, its one of those places that hasn’t changed that much in the last 50 years and most conducive to people like us. We finally arrived back in Sheffield around 2.40pm, having enjoyed the trip back from Norfolk much more than we did going and looked forward to our next trip there.
ABBEYDALE CINEMA
07/07/06 09:03 |
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The first gig after a 5-week break and it’s a nice easy local one. It’s a return to this old Sheffield Cinema for another fund-raising evening in order to return this old building back to it’s former glory. As we drove up Abbeydale road, the building remains something of a Sheffield landmark with it’s white, ornate façade and distinctive dome. A lot of work needs to be done although it looks as though some work has started on the roof . On the inside, the place is also still in a bit of dilapidated state although, as opposed to last year’s event, a proper full stage has been built. On the show with us is local rock’n’blues legend Frank White, who was a Cruiser himself back in the mid-60’s. His drummer John Riley was also in the same Cruisers line-up with Frank, whilst on bass and piano are Chris Firminger and Dale Storr, both of whom have played in more recent Cruisers line-ups. Also on the bill is another local band made up of veteran Sheffield rockers, including guitarist/singer Dave Robinson, who was a member of The Daizies who also backed Dave in the mid-;late 60’s, so a pretty close-knit show all-round. Special guest for the evening is another famous Sheffielder, Peter Stringfellow who will be acting as compere. After setting up and sound-checking Chris, Jason and myself head for the nearest hostelry which in this case in The Broadfield to enjoy a couple (?) of pints and a bar-meal. We’re joined by Dale and the topic of conversation ranged from gigs to a nearby couple virtually eating each other!
Showtime and as we headed back to The Abbeydale Frank and his band were blowin’ up quite a storm. Backstage we leisurely changed into our stage costumes, arranged our hair-pieces and applied a touch of make-up. Whilst ol’ Stringy rabbited on and on we assembled onstage and as his powers of recall didn’t seem to be on full power I wondered if he’d know who we all were! Thankfully he did and following his introduction we commenced to rock. Like last year, the set went although the dance area had been severely restricted by the new stage, which apparently didn’t go down too well with all the hep cats who took to the floor to cut a rug. Afterwards we bundle all our apparatus in the van and headed off and back home for around 1.00am. Chris and myself resisted the temptation to go out clubbing and anyway I couldn’t find a strong enough piece of wood(?)