After a few stops we get to the town of St Ives and go to Terry's old local. He then takes me on a little tour of the town round by the 14th Century bridge over the river and tells me old stories of him growing up. It's quite a nice moment actually, being away from the music and the showmanship ..... Just two blokes talking about being a boy. There's still a fondness for the place in his heart and I like and identify with that feeling every time I go back to Havant, I have the same thing. It reminds me of Havant actually round by langstone in particular.
Steve Pitt joins us for soundcheck but in true town hall style we had to wait for some Fete thing to pack up before we could get in. The people that run it are all very sweet but couldn't be any further away from rock & roll if they tried, any urgency was lost on them so Steve and I help move things along by helping them with the big stage blocks and gear. Soundcheck proves tricky what what the boxy room and some frequencies causing problems but we get there in the end.
Legendary BJ Cole on Pedal Steel, I'm wearing his hat behind the camera it's quality! Like Dick Tracy!
So...the gig itself was a tricky one, I had less of a vibe to go on tonight so I found it quite isolating up there. I was in a weird headspace before I went on but after playing Memory Maze I felt a little better as it went down so well. I sold out of the last Russell's Teapot EP's afterwards and a few New Criterions. It goes to show that the older crowd prefer Teapot and the younger crowd like Criterion. Be interesting how people engage with the album when it comes out.
Terry had a difficult time tonight as he had sound problems with an acoustic, and a monitor mix that for an unknown reason that was booming and feed backing everywhere. Steve Pitt came running out and said "can he use your guitar!?"... So when he finished a track I ran out, nicked his Gibson, tuned my guitar to his...and put mine in its place! So he used my guitar for the rest of the acoustic tracks in the set. The crowd were happy though despite the sound issues and they were a nice bunch, including Terry's Mum who is very sweet!
Terry with my guitar
On the way back Steve and I listen to an old bootleg of Terry Reid from the early seventies given to him by a fan in Winchester. It's like opening a time capsule....
I have this headline show in June at the Havant Spring Arts Centre with guest support Rowan Bastable from Kassassin Street, my favourite band and a good chum. Tickets can be bought from this link
Hope you can make it it's going to be a special night as it has been the last few years. Rowan has also produced two tracks on the forthcoming album....but I'll talk more about that later.
Couple of days off then back on it with the Half Moon in Putney. I have fond memories of that venue doing my launch for my second album "The Garden" there with support from Chris Helm from the Seahorses. I'm looking forward to it. I also hear that it may be recorded....that'll be great if it is :-)
NEW TRACK
Personal Legend
Mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Beady Eye)
Stay Safe
Andy x
Nice to read your tour diary. Sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteCheers Clym it's been brilliant :-)
ReplyDeleteLoving the running commentary and photo updates. Keep em coming.x
ReplyDeleteThanks Tam Tam
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