Monmouth, Blake Theatre

Arrived pretty early as it wasn't really that far and we set off at usual time. Monmouth is a nice town, there is a private school attached to the theatre, so lots of posh looking boys in blazers walking around.

here is a pic from the stage, the seats are flippy back up ones as you can see.


During set up there was quite a lot of nonsense.. Jeff for some reason asked me to take pics of his cymbals???? but it has made for a good spot the difference game...





(if you can't see it, it's Steve L head under the cymbal!!)

Here is Lee, our monitor man for the two shows, We have met him before and i've not seen him in anything other than shorts, even in the really cold spell!!! He has a good pair of calves though!


Heres is a box of mic's and stuff during set up and shadow puppet courtesy of Jason.


Steve re stringing again...



Chris complained that he's never on here, but he hates posing for camera so I never get any interesting shots of him, but here I caught a nice moment of 'pointing'....



Trying to get Arty with the Hammond setting keys





We went for a little jaunt around Monmouth while the lighting boys (Jon (oscope) and Jason today) did their thing..
Popped into a music shop where I saw this ... very tasteful ornament


I got a telling off for taking the picture...oops. 'we're very protective over our stock. blah blah blah'.... I then thought if I was gong to buy something I now wouldn't on principle..

I tried to do a soduko puzzle in set up but my brain wasn't engaging very well and it was a 1 star easy one! Luckily Jon (oscope) has some brains and pointed out some obvious things i'd missed.. I also learnt that our lighting boys are both musicians as well. Jon (sax) and Jase (keys)

Ok so Jeff started this off, ......the gaffa tape facial decoration competition..

I do apologise for the pictures of the following idiots, but just in case anyone thinks the band take themselves seriously, this is proof that they do not..





This was the outtake where they couldn't keep a straight face.


See what I have to put up with folks!!!

I was moved to the front line this evening, I have been promoted!! ha ha, it felt a bit different as I couldn't look around at the other band members as much..


Show went fairly well, few gremlins but that's a live show for you. It's not the same everytime!

After the show we went out front and met Craig and his son. Craig has been following the band since we were playing around Torbay only, so he's our biggest fan ever!! He came to Glasgow and everything, haven't seen him in a while so really good to see his smiling face and hear his dulcet tones!!


We also met this lovely young lady Emma!


We were very popular with the photos this evening, they were all getting their cameras out and taking our pic and jumping in to have a picture. It is very strange...

Here's a nice lady who really enjoyed the show! what is Jeff doing with his arm band?



And remember gary and Anna who I mentioned a while back, where here they are... with daughter and a friend this time. Second time we've seen them since I started the blog!! Hello guys!!! See you again soon.


I think thats enough blogging for now...

Next installment will be Wolverhampton..

The Grove, Dunstable

1 hour drive to next venue. Breakfasted in Wetherspoons next door.. good value, has to be said! We've had many a breakfast in many a cafe, so we're getting quite professional now at breakfasting..

The Grove Dunstable is ace as you can drive the vans on to the side stage bit, so unloading in rain..no problem..
This is from the back and the silver doors are the doors you drive in.

Popped to the Asda over the road and got biscuits for the band. Somethings are just necessary!

Huge Green room, but up many many stairs (why do they do this??


They put the rugby on, not much was happening in the game so I went for a sleep in the van for an hour. Heard Jeff bashing his drums (from outside) and thought ooh blimey, it's sound check time, ahhh, get up, found Fredi asleep in green room.

More food from spoons, here we met Jon who is lighting guy for some of ours shows, so he came to familiarise himself..


Testing out some lights, this is my fav moment, when the lights hit the glitter ball.. the side lights in fours are called the fingers of rock apparently.. well Paul G called them that I like it.

(note Steve L, standing like a pregnant person on the BV rostra.)


nice and purpley ..hmmm


Dunstable retains the award for best crowd! So loud and appreciative! We had a blast! Here's a pic i took from side stage during One of these days



We met some fun people after the show. Heres a few pics of them.

Stuart (who plays the drums!)..


Mick who we spotted in crowd wearing the t shirt so i grabbed him!


And some lads, didn't ask their names! Sorry


A funny little thing was that 'somebody' attacked Jeff with a marker pen (in the band, not someone from the crowd!!) . He was left with a black beardy thing.. normally it's a bit ginge as you can see! Ha ha!

Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury

Have been super busy so his is a bit delayed, I got a hard time from the band at rehearsal too for being slack!!! I've been soooo busy!!

Arrived in Newbury, Arlington arts centre. 2nd visit and really good to hear that we were nearly sold out this time!! I couldn;t remember the dressing rooms situ and then got there and was like. 'ahhh yeah!'

View from the stage at Newbury


Steve and Chris Stringing guitars. Steve does his before EVERY SHOW!! Chris refused to look at camera!



Random - but Fredi painted my nails in red!! here I am displaying them over the arlington arts mag!!



Jason on his lights



The new sound desk - oooh!!



Steve wanted a feature on his equpment so here it is...
I call these the guitar boomers.. amps to the rest of you..


Pedals and things.. how very confusing!


Lap steels...make nice sounds



We ate school dinner at the school opposite with all the kids and everything!
here we are in queue



here is the others on the other table. felt like I was back at school as I had to sit on separate table with Fredi and Steve. we were the outcasts!! ..


My sis has enquired as to the food we ate.. I was hoping for pink custard but alas no. I has mushroom ravioli covered in a cheese sauce, (not ideal before you sing!) and salad, which was conveniently chopped up (quite small) already and thrown together in massive dish , so you just had a big scoop...
Pudding, hmm Fredi had a toffee yoghurt, but can't remember what I had!

We met loads of super people after the show... so many young people there!

Hi to young Reece who bought our t shirt!!

We had a nice Green Room at Newbury, supplied with tea and coffee...but the walls were concrete blocks, we looked up why it is called a green room...

From Wikipedia!
Green room is a room in a theatre, studio, or other public venue for the accommodation of performers or speakers when not required on the stage. Its function is as a break/touch-up lounge so that performers do not have to go back to wardrobe/dressing rooms and are still easily accessible for their call. The term is often attributed to the area historically being painted green [1][2] however in modern use the area may or may not include any green in its color scheme.[3] [4]

The specific origin of the term is lost to history which has led to many imaginative theories and claims. One story is that London's Blackfriars Theatre (1599) included a room behind the scenes, this room happened to be painted green, here the actors waited to go on stage and it was called the "green room". In some English theatres there were several green rooms, ranked in use according to the status and salary of the actor, and an actor could be fined for using a green room above his/her station [5] [6].

Ooh, well I never!

Over and out!

Chesterfield 13th March 2010

Back to feeling fairly normal today! YAY! Thats the medicine of the Floyd! 2 and a half hour drive up to Chesterfield. We didn't stop for breakfast and by the time we got there there was some very hungry people. Steve L was feeling giddy! Jeff doesn't speak when hungry. So we arrived and as soon as poss popped into town for breakfast hunt. Found a little van in the centre by the market. The woman behind counter upon hearing we were playing at the Winding wheel regaled us with a story of how she was in a band way back and went professiona!, the boys were muttering under their breath, 'less talking more frying that bacon!

Lovely blue sky day! Heres couple travel type pics of Lovely Chesterfield!

Here's their crooked spire!


Heres just nice houses..


Heres the Winding Wheel from front.. google again!


Here's inside before we set anything up..


Here's my room which was up many stairs...again!! note sparkly dress which i got in town! Fredi and I will be sparkletastic next week!



Rare shot of mrs L on projector! I think she looks beautiful in this!


Boys in dressing room. Last of Theo's shows, He had lots of friends watching this evening, all musicians! no pressure huh? Hopefully he will be back and I know he expressed an interest to play with us again (cos we're a friendly bunch as musicians go!)


A funny pic from backstage! Trust Paul to get himself in it! At such an angle too!


Jeff a happy chap as always!


Show time! The crowd tonight were really enthusiastic! Think my best solo yet! I spotted one bloke standing up after my solo which made me very pleased! A nice vibe were coming off them if that makes sense!!
Pics taken with my camera by Mrs L who was at the back doing projection for a change.



After show, lovely atmosphere!


Bow Time! Bye bye Theo... for now..



Special mention to Superman Hoody wearing TOM who was 13 and loved the show. He got our autographs! He plays guitar, says mostly Floyd too! Look forward to seeing you guys another time (you must wear the superman hoody again and we'll recognise you straight away!)

Thats all folks, til next week after Newbury and Dunstable!