I sit here in slightly humid Shepreth fairly late on a Sunday evening (it's 11.30pm), a little skint (understatement) but generally optimistic after a good weekend. Friday I left work early to play with The Lunar Pilots in Colchester at the Twist. The last time I played there was with Dear Old Blighty several years ago and I still remember the vocalist Kerry (yep, the chap I'm working with again now after a couple years off) standing outside the venue as I arrived visibly nervous of the clientele and generally, Colchester. But whilst the outside was still as horrible as it was on my previous visit (I'm too tired to think of a better word to describe Colchester than 'horrible' right now but you get the gist) I found the Twist a thoroughly enjoyable little venue, very clean, a remarkably good sound guy and generally a nice vibe. I've done the right thing in leaving The Lunar Pilots though I think, my heart is leaning towards jazzy funky artiness, but I am still happy to put my all in to my remaining couple of gigs with them, it's the least I can do after leaving them without a drummer. Saturday I had another gig with them - this time at The Dirty South in Lewisham, London. Realising it's a bugger to get to by train, I opted to drive, and searched long and hard for somebody to join me on the trip because let's face it - me, driving to London, not going to work. I just needed somebody to scream at me when I'm in the wrong lane/bus lane/one-way street, that kind of thing. My karma was pretty bad for most of Saturday morning during this finding somebody process...and then my good old mucker Steve not only agrees to join me, but he also drove! Partly because he's got a new car, but mainly I think it's because Steven Megson is a very good friend. The same for Matt, who joined us on the trip, and we generally had a lovely time. Drank some beer, went to Nandos, watched the Spurs match on TV, that kind of thing. Ah yes, and played a gig too. Much better than the Colchester show - oddly the same songs and we didn't play them any different, but a much nicer audience, it was almost like they wanted to hear us or something. The headliner was Mark Morriss from The Bluetones...an odd one really, a remarkable voice, and the man behind many a classic tune, but chose instead to play a good few covers, only with a handful of Bluetones songs thrown in. "We're working on a new album," he told the audience, "I mean, what else can we do? It's all we know. We're too old to train as plumbers." Which I think may have been my issue with his set, this is his 'job', not his passion. That's not to say I didn't enjoy his set though, and I arrived back home slightly merry at 3am thinking it was a good evening.
Today I went to see Cambridge United play with my Dad; they needed to win by 4 goals to be promoted to the league. They didn't - they drew 0-0, but there's something about a football match, no matter how frustrating (and let's be honest, they were rubbish today) that is therapeutic, everything is on hold for 90 minutes. I may need to go to a few more matches, I come out relaxed, cleansed, and yes, still angry with that idiot who claims to be a referee. In the evening I went to a comedy night at the Boat House - okay, so I didn't appreciate being dragged on stage by the unfunny opening act, a woman covered in lipstick who evidently thought I would be good as an awkward person to 'flirt' with a little, and even make me do the song with her, but it's her act at the end of the day and if that's the best she can do then so be it. And the Dutch bloke was just weird - I'm not sure if humour translates across the pond. Or he's just unfunny. But 'Steve and Henry The Hoover' was nothing short of genius, as much as I need to stop using that word so much unless really necessary. Pappy's Fun Club - they are the definition of the word GENIUS. Second time this year I've seen them, third time ever, and I still get to the point where I geniuenly struggle to breathe as I'm laughing so much. It's intellectual stuff, but fashionably hidden in a fine array of very light giggly smut, childishness and most of all an energy which is just tiring to watch - in a good way. I love Pappy's Fun Club, I want to somehow be the equivalent of them in whatever field I end up in. For now, I'm just a happy audience member, grateful I stumbled into their show at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, they are a gift to comedy. I walk away, inspired...
And all of that after a week in which I went to the best gig I've been to in years - Chris Difford at the Portland Arms in Cambridge. Never before have I seen such a naturally comfortable performer, wise, witty and capable of pure musical gold all in such a tiny, intimate and sweaty venue. 'Cool For Cats', 'Up The Junction', 'Tempted', 'Labelled With Love' - you know the drill, great songs, great performer - but Chris Difford is more than that. He's an honest, dignified performer who wants to be there, he believes in what he's doing, and it shows - whether he's playing Maddison Square Gardens with his band Squeeze or The Portland Arms in front of a heaving back room of a pub, Chris Difford is a singer-songwriter who hasn't forgotten the value of entertainment. That's probably why I came away with such reservations about Mark Morriss.
It's all roughly in shape, you know. The Brighton Show is in rehearsals and looking good - I'm forever amazed by actors, one day they don't know their lines and worry me, the next day they are close to perfection, brilliant stuff. Pam, our Edinburgh director is very much in control of all things production for Edinburgh which takes it nicely out of my hands. Ah yes, so we've only got less than 7 weeks to put this show together for the Cambridge Comedy Festival, but we've got a poster, at least, which is a start. Now just need a script, cast and director. Not entirely sure how we'll get there but Alan (co-writer) sent me an encouraging email 2 nights ago with enough mindless blind optimism to suggest he's as mad as I am, and that somehow we'll have a show by the performance date of 13th June.
Next week I have 2 gigs with 2 different bands, and I plan to start growing a beard, my 4th attempt this year.
Picture is of Chris Difford, taken by Chris Boland.
And sleep, next week things are a little calmer (apart from the gigs and beardage), no excuses, Richards, for not getting things done.
