We kicked off the tour in the historical town of Winchester on Halloween at The Railway. Now we’ve played here a few times before so we all laugh as we go through our usual routines. Of course dinner and drinks with friends in the Black Boy pub is crucial after the sound check. Dan even goes for an identical beer to what he had last time and we sit in the same table and probably eat the same food. Creatures of habit. Only there is one difference. We have an additional member. Dave is our new drummer and I think we’re all feeling more than a little bit excited to get back on stage and see what it sounds like with the drums.
More to the point we’re really wondering how Dan is going to move around the stage now that he’s not anchored to his beaten up stomp box. He’s not much of a dancer so this is going to be funny.
Back at the venue I fill the flagon, get on my red shoes and get into the spooky spirit of Halloween with a black dress. We’re playing lots of new stuff and as soon as we get on the stage I’m starting to feel very conscious that a) I might not remember all the words, b) that its been a month or so, so need to warm up and c) we’re playing with a drummer – shaking it up is always a little nerve wracking but as soon as we kick in it feels as natural as anything else. Great. People get drunk, people dance and people sing. We all have a good time – though can’t hang around as it’s a 3 hour drive up to Leicester. A long haul.
Friday we spend rehearsing and drinking and then I realize I left my case in Winchester. No dancing shoes. Argh! New shoes required! Max finds his bellows snap – off he goes to fix them and then Slim forgets his amp so all in all things start to fall apart but typical of us Skinnies, everything gets sorted just in the nick of time! It’s a bit of a rush to get to the Donkey on Saturday but we get there in the end with everything we need to make a party happen. It’s always good to see the Landlord Warren, especially when pouring his donkey juice and especially when he’s holding mole spades. Yep. Best not to ask.
Party George and Roger get on stage and do a great set together before we get on. We have new merch all sorted and up on display. The rum flows and we have a cracking night. A bit too good as I barely remember making it to the homemade pub The Forge and Flagon for more drinks before crashing.
Roll on next weekend. I like this new set and I want to play it again!
Was a fun gig to mix, probably one of my fave of the year, still have ” Colours” ringing in my head, man is that chorus a damn catchy refrain. Will see you again hopefully, take care, Alan.
Was a fun gig to mix, probably one of my fave of the year, still have ” Colours” ringing in my head, man is that chorus a damn catchy refrain. Will see you again hopefully, take care, Alan.
There’s something slightly Spinal Tap about Slim forgetting his amp.
Hmm, a Skinnies cover of Stonehenge? Max would absolutely nail that mandolin solo.
There’s something slightly Spinal Tap about Slim forgetting his amp.
Hmm, a Skinnies cover of Stonehenge? Max would absolutely nail that mandolin solo.