Personal - Michael Day's e-diary and notebook
Christmas and the New Year largely revolved around family and there was a full house at Integra Towers for Christmas Day as 4 generations enjoyed the festivities.
Between Christmas and the New Year the Finance Director and I ventured into central London and the Borderline Club to see Geno Washington and his band deliver a splendid, high octane, foot tapping set of soul and R & B. Perhaps more famous for a song about him (Geno by Dexy’s Midnight Runners) than for any of his own, the 68 year old defied time and was highly entertaining. If you get the chance, a must see!
On tour with Wishbone Ash (the edited version) - photos by Alan Fretten (www.i4apicture.com)
Muddy Manninen & Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash (Joe Crabtree in background on tubs)
January saw my annual pilgrimage to mainland Europe to spend time following my friends in Wishbone Ash.
With the impending birth of gorgeous granddaughter number three (more later), I set off without the FD but with friends Alan and Andy to enjoy five gigs in five nights in Belgium and Holland. Now, what happens on tour, stays on tour but I can report that a fabulous time was had and we enjoyed some tremendous music, friendship and laughter.
Our tour started in Verviers and proceeded through Ulft, Zoetermeer and Uden before finishing in Bergen op Zoom.
We set off early on Wednesday 11th, had breakfast at Folkestone and stopped for lunch in the beautiful medieval city of Bruges. By late afternoon we had arrived in Verviers, staying at the Hotel Du Midi (which is also a tennis centre). The gig was at one of my favourite venues – the Spirit of 66 Club – busy and highly atmospheric.
Within minutes I had been approached by a very nice German lady and I started to do my bit for European relations. The fact that she looked a little like Tutankhamuns’s mother, and that my compatriots could hardly contain their sniggers, did nothing to deter me.
Fabian Anderhub
I was “rescued” by the arrival of the support act, a Swiss blues rocker called Fabian Anderhub and his band. An expensive array of amplification (Divided by 13 for those who know about such things) and guitars (Nic Huber) was put to good use in a powerful 45 minute set.
It was then time for the main attraction. Wishbone Ash hit the stage and delivered a two hour set of classic numbers plus some tracks from their new CD Elegant Stealth. For those of us that have seen the band on more than 150 occasions, the performance was slightly ragged, this being the first night of the tour and after many weeks of not having played together (no rehearsals except for the sound check). For anyone less well versed with the band, it was perfect!
Bassist Bob Skeat who is never normally seen without a baseball cap, appeared wearing a flat hat, waistcoat and collarless shirt. We couldn’t decide whether he was providing a tribute to “old man Steptoe” or Gilbert O’Sullivan. This was to prove the source of much merriment during the rest of the tour.
Aachen - can anybody spare me a Euro?
The next day we stopped off in Aachen in Germany before blasting up the motorway to Ulft. Being “gentlemen of a certain age”, the need to stop at regular intervals was key and at one such “comfort break”, we caused something of a commotion.
Pulling in at some services, I tried the door only to find it closed. Undeterred, I waved the guys around the back. Alan and I were suitably discreet and found a bush. Andy simply found a gap. Suddenly, a window at the back of the service station opened and a large German lady started shouting! We have no idea what she was saying except we all recognised the word “pissen!” Andy looked to Alan and me for support but we’d gone, legging it back to the car. Andy, faced with a choice of wetting himself or finishing what he had started, followed a few moments behind.
Much squealing of tyres and laughter saw us back on the motorway heading for Holland and hoping that we didn’t get pulled over by the police a few kilometres up the road!
The gig that night was in Ulft. We were staying a couple of miles away in Terborg. This somewhat tired hotel had a dining room with an eclectic mix of furnishings and décor and it was set for about two hundred people. I admired their optimism as there were no more than twenty guests! I half expected Miss Havisham from Great Expectations to enter at any minute.
We found a nice local bar for e few pre gig drinks but met with the first of several situations where the bar did not have sufficient pint glasses for the three of us. Unbelievable!
The gig that night took place at an arts centre that had been created from an old industrial unit. Alan persuaded the staff to let him have a large poster on the basis that he had taken the photo. I told Alan that I would get one too (more later). This is the black and white photo of the band that appears in my e-newsletter Communique.
We had dinner in the excellent restaurant on site before entering the auditorium. Within seconds I was chatting to an attractive German lady whilst my colleagues looked on dumbfounded and, it must be said, with some admiration!
The lady in question was Monica, wife of good German friend Peter who was at the bar. A fantastic gig was enjoyed by all. Andy Powell’s playing on Persephone was perhaps the best I have ever heard in all of the Wishbone Ash live performances that I have attended. The band were much “tighter” than the previous evening and we retired to our hotel (after a revisit to the bar with only two glasses) for the night.
The Warrior - Wijk Bij Duurstede
The next day we broke our journey to Zoetermeer by stopping off in beautiful Wijk Bij Duurstede. We wandered around the quaint streets, saw the Warrior statue and castle before taking lunch in a bar with, guess what, not enough pint glasses!
Wijk Bij Duurstede
Zoetermeer was the scene of that night’s gig and we’d arranged to meet friends Chris and Carolyn who’d come over from England and go for a pre gig drink and meal. We found our way to a small friendly “locals” bar and had a few beers. Amazingly, the owner came over to me having remembered me from last year. Either we’d spent a few Euros or caused a nuisance but he was certainly friendly enough (they also had enough pint glasses!). A pizza in a jam packed Italian followed where, yet again, I was remembered from last year.
I managed to park within 5 metres of the entrance to the venue despite a crowd in excess of five hundred being in attendance. It was great to meet up with Dutch friends Willem, Big Harry, Nick, Debs and Vis and we enjoyed another excellent gig. During the gig, Andy Powell recounted a story involving Bob’s “invisible friend” when announcing the song Invisible Thread. We had, of course, been discussing Bob’s new wardrobe with everyone in the band (except Bob) and had been on the internet and found an old picture of Gilbert O’Sullivan wearing the same attire some thirty years earlier. Bob used to play bass with Gilbert and so the theory was developing that he had, in fact, stolen Gilbert’s clothes and had waited until now for them to resurface!
A bootleg recording of the gig now exists with the title “Invisible Friend!”
On leaving the venue I managed to get hold of the same poster that Alan had been given the night before. Mine is a little more “battle scarred” than his but is so much better having been purloined rather than acquired.
Culemborg
Vis, Big Harry, Debs, Andy and myself in Culemborg
The next day we had arranged to meet up with Dutch friends Debs, Vis and Big Harry and, having met at Vis and Debs' lovely home in Eck en Wiel, we did a little sightseeing in Buren before lunching in Culemborg.
That afternoon we checked into my favourite hotel of the trip in Uden. The Hotel T’Klooster is a former convent and has some great quirky rooms and décor. Bob Skeat’s room had a huge crucifix overhanging the bed and a picture of the Mother Superior. Guaranteed to ward off any improper thoughts, words or deeds!
A pre gig Tex Mex meal was enjoyed and, with the venue only 100 metres from the hotel, I was able to enjoy a few more beers than usual as the car wasn’t needed.
The Du Pul venue is one of my favourites and we were, once again, joined by Peter and Monica, Big Harry, Debs and Vis. Another top gig with Fabian’s band and Wishbone Ash rocking the rafters.
Breda
Our last full day in Holland saw us travel to the brilliantly named Bergen op Zoom having first stopped off in Breda for lunch where we enjoyed a couple of beers in the very picturesque Grote Markt.
Bergen op Zoom is another pretty city with a medieval core and we enjoyed and excellent dinner overlooking the square before meeting up with Hairy Colin (from Kent) for a few pre gig beers (in a bar which managed to find 4 pint glasses - just!). Again, the hotel was walking distance and so, as driver, I was able to enjoy a night off.
Another arts centre – the Centrum de Kunst – (it means art apparently!) was the venue for our last gig and Andy Powell amused us by coming on stage wearing Bob’s flat cap. A fab night was topped off by an invite to join the boys backstage for a post gig drink and a chat.
Lier
The next day we headed back home, stopping off in Lier for a break. Breakfast in Holland, lunch in Belgium and dinner in Gerrards Cross!
All in all a fabulous time was enjoyed and we are all still talking. Of course, Andy, Muddy, Bob and Joe together with crew Danny and Little Harry still had another 35 nights to do and, as I write are somewhere in Germany. Thanks guys!
More gigs
Since returning, I have had the pleasure of seeing another of my favourite bands, the Hamsters, who are nearing the end of their farewell tour after 27 years of gigging the highways and byways of Britain. I shall miss them but I wouldn’t rule out a comeback tour from Slim, Zsa Zsa and Otis at some future date.
In February I am scheduled to see Bad Influence (twice), the Good Old Boys , Carron Wright and James Noon.
I can also confirm that Wishclone Ish will be appearing at the County Bar in Chesterfield on November 2nd and that I have started rehearsing a new set for what is likely to be my only live appearance of 2012 (thank God I hear you cry!)
Family
February will be a very special month, as my daughter is due to give birth to our third granddaughter on the 15th. The new arrival is eagerly awaited by all (not least my daughter) and, of course, her two older sisters are getting very excited at the prospect.
