Friday
We started with a gig at the Green Dragon in Coombe St Nicholas, a friendly little pub who don't half like their music. There were a couple of familiar faces and a good few Stiff Little Finger tshirts. We did an extra long set (2.5 hours) because we wanted to do the whole Butlins set, plus half a dozen more like Toxic and Balloons to make it a more general set.Hot went straight home after the gig but Tosh and Indesit came back to chez Morphenhoov for a winding down beer and then as much sleep as we could get.
Saturday
Saturday was an early start, we had to be away by 9.00am - a time that I'm not very familiar with on a Saturday morning. I was a tad anxious cos I had developed the most god awful cold during the night and as well as a sore throat, my nose was dripping like a tap. Great news for a singer!Halfway up the motorway, I got a text message from Stevie Boy from Punk'd. We'd commented him on Myspace the night before to tell him we were doing Skeggy and would you believe it, he was playing Skeggy with his other band. So we swapped venues and times and got a bit excited at the prospect of meeting one of the Punk'd boys.
Marnie and I went foraging for food for everyone while the musicians got their kit miked up. Butlins is absolutely insane! Loads of people in fancy dress (my favourite being the lion, tin man, dorothy and scarecrow from wizard of oz). We spotted Stevie Boy getting set up on a stage which appeared to be in the middle of a shopping mall. Skyline is an indoor arena with takeaways, cafe's, shops and bars around the outside and a stage in the middle.
Back at Jaks, we met Howie, our soundman who talked us through options for monitors, etc. We had our pizza, which we shared with Howie much to his delight, then we set off back to Skyline to see Stevie's band.
It was a shame to stop for a break because the audience were dancing around like nutters to Should I Stay of Should I Go. Marnie said she'd seen Stevie in the audience so we went off to find him and drag him backstage for a chat. It was great to finally meet him.
Sunday
We made it to bed by 3 and met for breakfast at 8. Alvin was just finishing up and Slade followed us in to the restaurant. How surreal.We were back on the road at 9.00 and apart from two quick stops, we made good time to get back to Topsham, pick up the PA and then off to the Phoenix in Exmouth to do it all again. I was feeling very lurgyish by this point but once it was time to start, I was fine (with the exception of a few off mic coughs).
So... a bloody good weekend. Thanks to the Phoenix for giving us such a great reception last night. That was our first Sunday afternoon gig and it was such good fun.
Also big thanks for Marnie for being beer/pizza roadie, blowing up balloons, restringing guitars, etc. Cheers, it helped us alot.
Thanks also to the rest of the band. I know how much hard work and pressure has been attached to the Butlins gig. WE DID IT!
Heather
2 Comments:
And, eight hundred miles later, breath out.
By Justin Hotpoint, at 5:48 pm, November 14, 2006
Bloody hell I actually talked for 800 miles.... Thats a new record!
By Tracy Toshiba, at 8:47 pm, November 14, 2006