An afternoon session at Ighten Leigh Social Club - one of our favourite gigs. A good crowd in good voice and a great mood after Burnley's 4-1 win in the football. The band are going to enjoy a little well-earned time off, for the next two weeks or so, as one of our number buzzes off to Spain for a short while.
October 7th:
The BAD HABITS gig at The Farmers Arms, Bolton booked for tonight won't be going ahead. The booking was taken a while ago from a guy called John, who said he was moving from his (then) current pub to take over the Farmers. The Farmers Arms were, however, unaware of the booking when approached earlier today. So Ian E managed to go out on the pop with some friends for a rare change and had a great time!! John can be contacted on 07973 154560, if anyone else is having trouble with bookings made with him.
October 10th:
The diary filling for 2007 starts in earnest this week. So far we have bookings in at a couple of regular venues, who wanted to be sure they got us, up to July 2008. There are a number of venues that we are NOT intending to going back to next year. A couple of places that we have rung up today are already booked up to June next year, so we have missed out on early gigs in those cases, but we will fill up the band diary anyway. We usually have more venues than dates and our agent is looking to keep us busy in the clubs. Next weekend is another weekend off and we look forward to significant alcoholic excess within the band.
October 12th:
We took a load of gigs last night over the phone and 4 shows were added today for The Bike and Hound, Hyde for 2007. Colin and Ian E went out gig hunting this evening, so a number of further new venues will be on the list shortly. We currently have a few gigs in for every month of next year, which is good, in the October of the year before. This is without going back to all of our regular venues.
October 13th:
Ian E went to watch The Nick Bold Band at the New Inn, Walkden. Their drummer, Rick, is a great friend of Ian's - It works out to be going back at least 1983 that they have been playing togther on and off in bands - and Rick has been known to dep with the band when Colin has been unavailable. A very enjoyable evening indeed, with Rick on top form, playing really well on only his 5th gig with the NB band. Nick himself is an awesome guitarist and writes some great songs.
Most of the material is original stuff (with a couple of really well-chosen covers thrown in) and despite that, being an obstacle sometimes, the band went down really well. They are all excellent musicians and their bassist Linda just charmed the trousers off us all. They are really worth catching if you can. Dates are on their website.
Special marks for inventiveness for using 'the obelisk' from the cover of the Presence' album by Led Zeppelin as their PA stack.
October 14th:
Our show at The Spread Eagle, Kearsley on November 17th is off, as the venue has changed hands and the current landpersons have decided not to have bands. No-one has decided to tell any of the bands, so they will be turning up each week and all getting the MU involved. Lovely. It just isn't good enough to grin feebly at the bands when they turn up and hope they will meekly go away. They need to be told in advance. We have a replacement venue or two in mind for that date, as a few venues have been trying to get us on since our 2006 diary was declared full. Details will be on here as soon as we have confirmed the new venue.
Things are 'interesting' with a few venues at the moment - The Three Pigeons, Astley Bridge, Bolton is apparently up for sale - so anything booked there for anyone next year may not happen - we'll have to wait and see what's going on when we next play there.
October 17th:
After a short surge of phone calls, the band is looking very busy for next year. We are putting in a little time off here and there. Col and Steve are going round a couple of places in Wigan during Friday afternoon to ensure that we get at least three gigs in at each of them.
October 22:
Col and Steve got us a couple of gigs at Sam's Bar, Appley Bridge for next year. Gems is changing hands again. A couple of other places will get back to us shortly. Friday night was The Bike and Hound Hyde. We always have agood crowd there. A new venue for us is The Cherry Gardens, Wigan (run by Russell who used to have Gems). We had a really great night there too. This is going to be one cracking venue - go there if you can! We are back there four times next year. Thanks to the delightful folks in Rent-a-crowd and to our roadie Howie (whose life has been badly disrupted by shifts - sounds painful) who came out especially to see us. It's really very much appreciated. We are doing a big push on getting gigs in Wigan this next year.
Tonight's gig was the last of this weekend's three on the trot at The Crown, Hyde. It went very well and the crowd enjoyed us. We are back there a number of times throughout next year.
Two more gigs after this weekend, then the band has another break, while Ian E goes Pyramid-spotting. The guys will be beavering away at putting together some new songs for the set during the break, though!
October 23rd:
A chance trip out to Chorley to buy a coffee machine (don't ask!!) produced four gigs for next year at The Queens, Chorley, an old favourite venue in the town centre. We are looking almost full up for 2007, which is a ridiculous state of affairs this far in advance, but it shows that the band is popular!!
October 25th:
We have sadly had to turn away the Southport Cruisers bike club who wanted us to do their Christmas bash this year on December 9th. All of our Saturdays have been spoken for for most of the year. A shame as it was one of the best gigs we have played so far. A great crowd. Hopefully next year, if they want to sort it in the next week or two....
The group now has over 50 shows in for next year. We are trying to get our last couple of favourite venues lined up to fil the last gaps. There are a fair number of Sundays left untouched, but the band don't want to play three nights in succession unless it's something that we can't refuse. As stated, there are a number of venues that we just don't want to go back to next year.
Our limited edition CD EP cover is done.
It will be available during December at gigs and via this website.
October 27th:
The Royal Oak, Wigan. Ian E felt decidedly tired and unwell for an amount of the time and felt mainly like lying down. A lot of people came in specially to see the band, so the show had to go on. It was, on the whole a good gig though, and the crowd seemed to love it. No doubt we will be back there next year.
October 28th:
The tiredness has caught Ian E up at last and it appears a blood vessel has burst, making his right eyelid look like he's wearing eye liner. Cue series of makeup jokes at last gig before our two week break.
Ian took a photo of 'the family', down at his lockup this morning, as he had a camera with him:
STOP PRESS: Our WHITE HORSE KEARSLEY show tonight was cancelled on our arrival as venue has changed hands and no-one told us. This was beyond our control. We apologise to anyone who may have turned up to see us. Steve has got his fondest wish granted - which was not to ever go back there. Two weeks off to recover from this severe blow....
Colin is in charge of the band's diary while Ian E is away.
We'll see you in November!!
