for another great Saturday night......
Me n IainRkid n StuartRkid'skid arrived about eight oclock to a pretty empty Tavern, but early days and all that.
So first pint of the night was Drunken Duck - light with a citrusy(?) after taste and very nice too.
Said hello to all the boys in the band: Steve (singer), Steve (drummer), Steve (John), Steve (Llloyd) and not forgetting Steve (Sam).
Just having a chat with Jimmy when Dave who works with Stuart turns up and we get into a lively discussion about punk and new wave and vinyl and mp3's. Then it's another pint - this time Thin Ice, an even lighter bitter and absolutely delicious, so me n Rkid decide to stick on that for the night. 'Mind you, they'll probably run out' jokes Rkid....
Now Steve Blease appears and has us in stitches because some guy at the bar has been bending his ear about whether or not swearing should get you in trouble - only it turns out he was swearing at coppers in the early hours of the morning whilst completely w***ered and ended up in court for it!
Steve also tells us that the OMT has been not so busy the last few weeks and it's looking ominously like he's right.....
Then Andy from Jump The Shark walks in and we've got a proper little NWBers party going, along with members of the band drifting in and out of the conversation.
9.45 Phoenix go on, and about 2 songs in the place is rammed! I kid you not. The usual excellent song selection, and equally excellent playing, including 'Synchronicity' by The Police, has the drowd singing along from the off.
Half time brings LittleMinxDi and Guitarman (whom I hadn't met before - always a pleasure), plus an old friend of mine from work who is trying the Lemon and Ginger bitter (not bad - bit odd, couldn't drink a full pint).
I also ended up having along chat with a really nice guy called Patrick from (wait for it) Lymm (but originally from Ireland!) and his partner Karen, both lovely people and then one of those 'it's a small world' moment happens. Patrick is telling me that his lad sing with the Halle choir and that they were on stage with Elbow at the MEN last night, and I'm thinking 'someone told me they'd been to Elbow last night.....' And then I remembered it was Andy, so I get him over and introductions etcetc and then the bombshell!
They've run out of Thin Ice! So it's a pint of Northern Lights, which was a very acceptable alternative.
Phoenix back on for second spot, more of the same with even more singing, dancing and barracking of Alyerpal by Steve the singer. It was one of those evenings that seems to be over before you've really got into it, and we had to slip out at 12.20 with the band still in full swing to cab share with Steve Blease (lots of Steve's last night!)
It's honestly getting to the point where I'm not sure if I prefer playing in the band or watching the band!
Here's a couple of pics to prove I didn't dream it:
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And I've just noticed that Steve was wearing the same T shirt as last time they gigged there!!
Love to all
Alyerpal