The band’s first visit to the county town of Shropshire since March 2010, perhaps passing on the way Wem, Chirk or Bangor-on-Dee, or if coming from the south, Hilton Park motorway services. It does mean that the band have at least had as many gigs in 2021 as they did in 2020, despite that being the tiniest of bars to reach. So… how was it for you?
EXXO
What. A. Gig. Although I can’t remember much right now.
Just glad to be on way to Crewe as most trains well f*cked up.
Shot (shot). By both sides.
Plenty points scored by plenty of predictors.
10 December 2021
Hendrix-tattoo
Simply Superb Gig, The band were so close to the audience. You could not but notice and appreciate what great musicians they all are, Absolutely brilliant….
11 December 2021
Chris Heskey
Well…..
The last time I saw HMHB was Leamington Spa Assembly rooms…
I try to seem the every year & only a marriage breakdown & Covid has curtailed that.
Wow…
What a fantastic gig.
Lovely to see so many people there.
I thoroughly loved the gig.
I can’t hear & my voice is done,from singing.
Fun Fact…
There is a house, up the road from the venue that is filled with expanding foam, to stop it collapsing & taking the terrace with it…
Shot by both sides… utterly sublime.
the wisecrack about Mike Nesmith & I’m a Bereaver… So HMHB.
So good to back home again…
Peace & love Biscuiteers xxx
11 December 2021
Chris The Siteowner
Handwritten setlist (via @samphlett1 on Twitter)
11 December 2021
floreat ultonia
Floreat Salopia!
11 December 2021
Bad loser
Have to echo Hendrix (no. 2). Was right at the front and with the well lit stage, I really appreciated the sheer effort they put into their playing. Should all be fit as butcher’s dogs. Great set list too.
Managed to get Neil’s list. Told him the wife wanted it but he saw through that one. Had ‘Merry Christmas to whoever gets this set list’ written on the bottom.
11 December 2021
Bob middleton
Havent seen Half man Half biscuit for years went last night and they were brilliant they have become really accomplished musicians with some of the best lyrics.Great stuff.
11 December 2021
warden Hodges
No Sade and Whitney, Vandross and T’Pau?
11 December 2021
EXXO
No indeed not. After 44 consecutive appearances, AOR was rested for the first time in 6½ years. It has never looked tired to us over all its seasons at the business end, but who knows what the analysts are picking up with its data vest and all the biometrics.
I got back to Leeds at 5am drinking Old Crafty Hen all the way back, so the events of the night are vague but I hope nobody in the Fantasy Biscuitball League is relying on the setlist posted above, cos I know that isn’t entirely how things unfolded.. Didn’t they open with Broadstairs? And did something else replace Paintball? Again.
Interesting venue(it used to be a butter market, you know) and being so close to the band has advantages and disadvantages for both parties though personally I prefer being a few feet lower than the talent. As a tall chap who bounces at the front, trying to set an example for other would-be bouncers at the front, I haven’t felt so much in the bloody way of everyone’s view since Kendal (2011?) – that one really was a shit venue though, this one was OK as there are plenty of balconies etc.
I also suffer when pissed from a tendency to mither the front man too much, so sorry about that. I really do try not to but must try harder. Mithered him about the Wurlitzer that was just next to the stage (blocked off to protect it as it’s the focus of an entire subculture and has its own charity), and was surprised they didn’t know about it. The fella who runs the charity told me he’d be happy for “someone like Bill Bailey” to use it in a performance. Hmm…
One of those gigs were the crowd only came to life for the last five songs but was a great night. As others have said the musical tightness is stunning and Karl’s guitar reveals new delights every time.
11 December 2021
warden Hodges
Yes Kendal 1/7/2011. The smallest stage I’ve ever seen the band on but we still had a crowd surfer but no way there’d be a moshpit active at that place.
Nigel’s entrance even passed us 25 or so standing at the front. Good natured pats on back for the great man. 10 years ago?! Oooh eck!!
11 December 2021
Phyllis Triggs
With such a low ceiling at Kendal I’m surprised anyone managed to crowdsurf there without knocking themselves out! I reckon its the low ceiling that dictates the height of the stage. I went to see Sleaford Mods there and it was only the roar from the crowd that told us Jason and Andy were on stage. While it was a shame to miss out on the spectacle of Jason in full throttle, the explosive sweatbursts evaporating in the stagelights above his head made for an impressive indicator of his physical presence…
11 December 2021
INJURED BUZZARD
Mandatory preservation recording of the encore vid. . https://youtu.be/Ee16h8ERQWM
11 December 2021
dr desperate
Excellent, @IB!
(Nice hoopy gold earrings, there.)
12 December 2021
dr desperate
Always hard to tell where “good-natured stage/crowd interaction” ends and “mithering the front man” begins. Similarly refreshed, I got in remarks about the absent Duesenberg (“Left in a hurry, forgot to pack it”) and Vijay Amritraj, and was asked to give a medical opinion on the dangers of squid allergy. On the negative side, my insertion of a superfluous “Oh…” into Exxo’s Carl Henry chant brought a withering putdown from The Man.
12 December 2021
Hendrix-tattoo
“Are you knackered, man?”
12 December 2021
Ferencváros fan
Felt pretty cooked yesterday but fine today. All worthwhile. Had a smashing time. Gig was awesome, and huge thanks to everyone for their company. Hope you got back OK @Parsfan. It’s Sheffield next up for me. Hope to see lots of you there.
12 December 2021
carrie anne
Review by the lovely Roger, copied from Gez’s webite https://www.hmhb.co.uk/guest/index.htm
BUTTERMARKET, SHREWSBURY – FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER 2021
Roger Green:
Still catching up here with lockdown stuff. Bear with me. Another link in the HMHB chain was completed when Albert Hammond was seen on the Now 70s TV channel. He was singing It Never Rains In Southern California. I had heard him on the radio before, but this was the first time I had seen him, as it were, in the flesh. Although it was from the best part of half a century ago. There was no sign of Stanley Rous in the crowd. He must have got the bootleg some other time.
I was told about Stevie Nicks’ seventy-second birthday. I wonder if she has still got that pile of books, as mentioned in Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus? Colin Murray appeared on an episode of Countdown. I don’t think they had been able to record editions of the programme, so they had to replay shows from way back when. At one point, Colin was unable to improve on the word score of the two contestants. He admitted, “I was in the boondocks with that one.” Borrowing a line from Depressed Beyond Tablets, perhaps?
Idling her way through the independent charts of January 1986, Karen noted that that was when HMHB’s Back In The DHSS dislodged The Dead Kennedys’ Frankenchrist from the top spot. Ee, them were the days. I heard a jingle on Absolute 80s where the announcer said that the station was keeping two chevrons apart during the lockdown. Aye, OK.
When wandering around the TV channels, I was hooked by a programme on the Smithsonian Channel, called Mystic Britain. Here, Clive Anderson wandered around the Rollright Stones. So that’s what they look like. Very interesting, but there was no word as to whether or not he found his shed on fire when he got home.
Eno Collaboration news came when Emily Cross from the band Loma appeared on Cerys Matthews’ show on 6 Music. Emily has collaborated. Nothing more. Nothing less. I saw an article about Stroud, as mentioned in Bad Review. It has been named “the best place to live in the UK as experts praised its ‘glorious green space’ and ‘impressive local food scene’. Geoff Dreadnought still needs to stay away though.
Pauline Vallance has posted several songs on the web. Cover versions, just her voice and her harp. Joy Division Oven Gloves is part of her collection. To the tune of William Tell. Interesting concept, and her version of Jilted John is worth a look. The cover of Joy Division Oven Gloves was aided, abetted and facilitated by Atilla The Stockbroker, by all accounts. Frank Worthington’s death prompted the appearance of his question and answer session for Shoot! Magazine. Frank put one of his Likes as “browsing hardware stores”. Spotted at some point when HMHB were putting Our Tune together?
Radio Four’s early morning Tweet Of The Day featured Sir David Attenborough talking about the sanderling. I’ve also heard the linnet featured on that slot. And I’m sure there will be a lark descending, sooner or later. On the Monday after the Frome gig, one of the contestants on Mastermind chose Sylvia Plath as her specialist subject. No questions on Matlock Bath though.
Everything was OK with the first half of our journey to Shrewsbury. The bus into Wakefield was a touch tardy but there was still time for a Greggs chocolate doughnut from their shop at Westgate station before getting the train to Birmingham New Street (calling at Sheffield, Chesterfield and Derby). All was well up to the point where we arrived at New Street and checked out the screens for the connection to Shrewsbury. Train cancelled. There had been “an incident” at Sandwell And Dudley. We were reminded of the final lines in The Coroner’s Footnote when we found out the reason. A swift change of plans led us to take a train to Wolverhampton, change there and get the next one to Shrewsbury (via Bilbrook, Codsall, Albrighton, Cosford, Shifnal, Telford Central, Oakengates and Wellington).
Big ups to Andrew who had arrived at New Street just before us. He helped us with sorting out the alternative route. Andrew also told us that his uncle had done his wartime army training in Shrewsbury. My mate Richard used to live there. And John Peel went to school there. All of that is about as much as I know about Shrewsbury. Grand town though, by the looks of it. With a bit more time, we would have had a look at the castle. Instead we got some grub for tea, and had a chat with John who was going out for some pre-gig socialising.
Thanks to Karen for the paper review. Both The Shropshire Star (which carried articles about gigs by Madness and The Australian Pink Floyd) and The Shrewsbury Chronicle were silent about HMHB’s gig. That is fairly standard coverage of these shows.
When venue doors open at 7.00, we are generally queuing outside at 6.30. This was the case tonight. Tony, Phill, Andrew and one or two others had the same plan. But with it being our first visit to this place, we could not be sure that we were at the right door. Would we still be there looking at our watches at 7.15, wondering why it was so quiet? Well, no, we got it right. The door was opened and in we went. I had a chat with Miles at the merch stall, including speculation about new HMHB product. It’s hard to put an exact date on it, and the best stab is to say it will be released somewhere in the first half of 2022.
Folk were starting to mill around, including Chris and Ian from Cardiff. Thanks to them for the kind comments. It’s always good to know that someone actually reads these things. I then got talking to another Ian, the one also known as The Humdrum Express. He was there with his mate. There is new material available and I wonder if HMHB might be able to let him have a support billing in the not too distant?
For the second time on the bounce, West Wickhams had the privilege tonight. A duo featuring guitar/vocals and keyboard/drum machine. Nice co-ordination with the polka dot shirt and the pattern on the guitar. Their set list was on display on the stage floor before they appeared. I made a note.
Every Move
Kick
Creatures
Death
Goathland
Nothings
He’s Acquired
We’ll be catching them again in Leeds in March at a Carpe Noctum evening. If not before then. Not sure who is lined up with HMHB in the new year.
More Hellos were extended and exchanged with the usual posse, John, Andy, Brian (with another report of a nightmare train journey), Postman Tony (who pointed out that The Buttermarket was directly next door to the Sorting Office), Graham, Paul, Steve, Nigel/Charles, Graham Le Taxi and one or two others on nodding terms but I’m afraid I have forgotten names or I have never known them in the first place. And there was George who ended up with The Bollocking Of The Evening award after making it as far as the edge of the stage with his enthusiastic moves. Some particularly athletic manoeuvres from the security staff in that incident, according to witnesses.
I didn’t take note of all of the music coming out of the PA, but heard Pulp, REM, Franz Ferdinand and Elbow. I thought you’d be interested to know. You know that the band is due on stage when Howie turns up with Daz. And soon enough, the walk-on track Comin’ Down by The View was played, and the band appeared.
Nigel had forgotten to pack his new guitar, so instead it was his old one with him tonight. Although the caravan one came out for the encore. “Good evening. Nice and cold out there,” he said, before the band struck up with She’s In Broadstairs. No mention of the big screen behind the band, although Nigel did note the digital reader which was directly in his eye-line. Karl suggested that it was measuring decibels and sought to prove this by tuning up. A note on tonight’s dress policy. Nigel was in his Ubik t-shirt, not seen in public for a while. Karl was in a Crapsons number which made me wonder when they also might be the support at one of these evenings. Neil and Carl were in plain tops. Carl kept picking up his reading glasses when referring to his set list. He should try reading my notes.
Nigel spotted Heike Drechsler in the crowd. And later on he saw Ellen McArthur. Forever linked to the words “From landlocked Derbyshire.” Apparently, Bob Wilson Anchorman was written by William Morris. On the bat walk, recommendations were a torch, a waterproof jacket and “even some chestnuts”.
“Anyone here from Kilmarnock?” asked Nigel. No answer. In Petty Sessions we were invited to sing Hymn Number 242, being slightly different to the recorded version. “That’s one of ours. Uncanny,” Nigel answered to a request. In reply to a shout for M6ster, we got the opening “K-R-O-K-U-S” line, and a promise that they would learn the song again. And they will also rehearse The Len Ganley Stance for next time. During a spot of tuning up, the opening bars of Pretty Vacant were played. “This is one we wrote in the van on the way down,” said Nigel before Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus.
Nigel/Exford engaged Nigel in a conversation about the Wurlitzer organ which was on display. “If we’d thought on, then we would have booked it,” explained Nigel. I’ll probably get this wrong but I think it was said that the Wurlitzer was invented by a guy called Robert Hope Jones, who used to live close to where Nigel now lives. And Jones’s brother invented the time signal. “Robert Hope Jones And His Brother,” pondered Nigel, “That would be a good name for a band.”
After more larking around while tuning up, Nigel suggested “It’s like The Grumbleweeds, isn’t it? But without the fun.” And he did the old trick during Lark Descending where he sticks his plectrum to his forehead. “What did this place used to be, by the way?” he asked. “A butter market” was the collective reply to that one. “This is about our bicycles,” he announced, ahead of A Lilac Harry Quinn. (During this song, I noticed that Nigel’s guitar lead is lilac. Someone out there will be interested in that.)
There was talk about football chants. I was mid-conversation with Tony at the time, so thanks to Andrew and Karen for filling in the gaps here. There was a chorus of “We love Carl Henry, we do” etc etc with the final line of “Oh, Carl Henry, we love you.” I’m sure you know the tune. Nigel’s response was “Very good. But it would have been better without the “Oh” at the beginning of the last line. It annoys him when fans do that. He wondered why they don’t just leave it out – just sing “United we love you.” All it needs is for the hardest lad in, for example. The Stretford End, to go round correcting everyone. Nigel has sent emails…
The last line in Lock Up Your Mountain Bikes was “That’s when I first said that Hedgehog flavoured crisps just won’t work.” He suggested that crisp manufacturers had been trying too hard and that maybe they should stick to the more traditional stuff. And there was a Happy Birthday greeting to Steve in the crowd who was heading to Spennymoor the following day. Ever the pop star, Nigel stopped to tie his shoelace after National Shite Day. He then berated situation comedies where characters are seen rushing around with a piece of toast. “I’ve never done that. Why don’t they just get up half an hour earlier, sit down and have the toast with a cup of tea?”
Nigel related the tale from Durham where the band were having a meal. He chose squid and was half way through his food when Neil asked “You don’t have any allergies, do you?” (Eating squid makes your head grow large, folks. Confirmed by John the retired GP.) This tale had stemmed from a request from someone whose brother, by the name of Fraser, had an octopus tattoo. She wanted the band to play “the one with Squid Yes, Not So Octopus”. Nigel’s initial response was “Just tell him that we played it.” But the reply came back that Fraser was actually in the crowd. So Nigel said that if he was a real man, Fraser would get up on stage and show everyone the octopus tattoo.
After Outbreak Of Vitas Gerulaitis, Nigel mentioned that his favourite tennis player was always Wojciech Fibak, mainly because his surname sounded like “feedback”. Well, that’s as good a reason as any for liking someone. Someone shouted out, possibly, Daniil Medvedev. And John shouted Vijay Amritraj – who became an actor after finishing with the tennis. He appeared in a James Bond film. Nigel stated that he has never flown in a plane and has never seen a Bond all the way through.
Nigel spoke about inappropriate Christmas presents. He said he had bought his Nan some CD or other. Sorry, didn’t catch the title. His timing was just right, taking a snort of his nasal inhaler in the middle of What Made Colombia Famous. He said “In the spirit of things…” as an introduction to It’s Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas, just as Carl hung a bauble at the front of his drum kit. The replacement lyric at the end of the song may have been “I saw Kate Bush with the ICF at Mile End tube in the morning”.
When the band came back for the encore, there was chanting of “Get Your Fuckin’ Hedge Cut”, so it was appropriate that Every Time A Bell Rings was played. And at the very end of the show, Nigel’s farewell was “Have a good weekend. Weatherwise or otherwise”. This is how the evening went, according to my notes…
She’s In Broadstairs
Running Order Squabble Fest
Bob Wilson – Anchorman
Renfield’s Afoot
Terminus
Petty Sessions
Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
Vatican Broadside
Lark Descending
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
A Lilac Harry Quinn
Lock Up Your Mountain Bikes
Look Dad No Tunes
Ninety-Nine Per Cent Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd
National Shite Day
I’m Getting Buried In The Morning
Harsh Times In Umberstone Covert
Outbreak Of Vitas Gerulaitis
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Black Night / What Made Colombia Famous
Surging Out Of Convalescence
It’s Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas
The Trumpton Riots
Joy Division Oven Gloves
And these were in the encore
Every Time A Bell Rings
Shot By Both Sides
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Thanks to Karl for the written set list – possibly in his own handwriting, it certainly wasn’t in Nigel’s. “Harry Quinn” was originally going to be played second, after She’s In Broadstairs. But a change of mind put it further down the list. And “Paintball” was crossed out and replaced by “Buried”.
And that was it for the evening. And for the year. Only three gigs in 2021 and it was good to see the band back in the groove and showing this kind of form. It wasn’t the easiest of places to get out of. We had to make our way through a club night which was happening downstairs. We got outside eventually, compared notes with a few others who had similarly managed to negotiate their exit. And from there, we were back to the Premier Inn. There was still train disruption on the Saturday morning so we were off and away as soon as poss. We saw Postman Tony and Brian, who had the same idea. And Andrew had gone before sun-up. Only a few weeks to the Manchester show at the end of January. It didn’t feel as bad as the situation at Bristol in March 2020, but it was clear that the virus was not going away any time soon.
I lifted this from the BBC site where they had questions and answers about how things were evolving at the time of this show in Shrewsbury. All sounds a bit ominous, unwieldy and possibly not all that easy to manage…
The dummy question was asked. “I’m going to a music venue with a bar and a capacity of about 200 people. Do audience members need to wear masks?”
Part of the answer was “Concert Halls are included in new rules for England which mean visitors to most public indoor venues must wear a face covering. So, audience members at a gig need to wear masks. As do staff… Proof of your Covid status – via the NHS Covid Pass or proof of a negative Covid test – will be required at some venues from 15 December… Unseated indoor events with more than 500 people are included, but a gig for about 200 people would not be. You could double-check how many people are going by checking with the venue.”
12 December 2021
deacon in misguided trousers
It was, indeed, marvellous fun. First time I’ve seen them in since Leamington Spa a few years back. This time I brought the other half, who enjoyed it thoroughly. Review is spot on. A snippet of “The Kids” by Lou Reed was played at some point but I forget in what context, can anyone enlighten me?
13 December 2021
Phyllis Triggs
I’ve just realised that Shrewsbury is the first new place I’ve visited since Before Covid. Having live music denied us was bad enough but I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed the whole package of gig-going – the travelling, seeing new places, meeting people. It felt good to be back on a train heading somewhere new. Changing at Crewe, as chance would have it, we got into the same carriage as postman Tony. Nice one! And that wouldn’t be the only chance meeting of the day. Perhaps I should have bought a lottery ticket…
Walking from the station to the hotel we were all struck by the sheer number of barbers shops. Like in Ireland where it seems every other building is a pub, only here, instead of pubs, it was barbers. Presumably the townsmen are particularly smartly coiffed and shaven but given the weather, hoods and scarfs were very much the order of the day so I really couldn’t tell. ( Did see one interestingly-whiskered gent at the gig later – he was wearing a bowler-type hat and sporting impressively mad sideys. A proper AmDram Demon Barber!)
After checking into the hotel we made our way to Loggerheads where a group of familiar faces were already ensconced. Nice to catch up with fellow biscuiteers and compare t shirts. John was wearing his Sturmey Archer one, boldly accessorized with pizza socks and Lovely Eggs ‘Fuck it’ scarf (Festive Edition A/W20). Enjoyed a couple of convivial beers here before moving on in search of pizza.
We met some others outside the restaurant. The group was now about 10 strong and couldn’t be accommodated straight away so they asked us to wait outside. I started getting edgy – the waiting was cutting into drinking time – so decided to split off from the group and find somewhere else to eat. We found another Italian restaurant, just down the road. It was virtually empty, just one small group of diners already in there, great! Let’s go in here. The waiter ushers us in saying sit anywhere you like. For some reason I choose the table next to the one that’s already occupied.
Now, I can’t be the only one who’s ever wondered what they would do if they found themselves face to face with Nigel Blackwell. Like, if I ever bumped into Nigel Blackwell would I greet him with a comedy double-take and a “Fucking Hell! It’s Fred Titmuss”? Or, if I ever met Nigel Blackwell would I shake him by the hand and buy him a beer? Or even, if I ever spoke with Nigel Blackwell would I calmly express my appreciation of his song-writing and thank him for just being him and doing what he does?
When I did meet Nigel Blackwell he was sitting in an Italian restaurant in Shrewsbury with wife Denise and bandmate Neil. They clocked us before we clocked them. It was the Achtung Bono hoodie and the motorway tshirt wot gave us away. Immediately they took charge of the situation in the nicest possible way, greeting us and striking up easy conversation. Thank God! Cos my brain was exploding with “OMG!! It’s them! It’s them! It’s the band!” They must have played out such encounters a thousand times but they were so genuine and down to earth that I was soon put at ease – what lovely, lovely people. Denise was asking the waiter for a pair of scissors – Nigel had fastened her stage pass wrist-band like a tourniquet, “I told you not to put it on too tight!” We spoke about Ulverston being cancelled and the possibility of other venues – Morecambe Winter Gardens could be on the list but not next year as its too close to Blackpool. Nigel mentioned how he gets anxious before gigs and ordered a small glass of red. The food was good. Enjoyed my pizza. Shout out for the Bella Napoli, Shrewsbury!
While I was eating, it did fleetingly occur to me that this encounter could have provided a person more wily than myself with the perfect opportunity to try and swing the Fantasy Biscuitball League… However, like I say, the thought was only fleeting and no way did I act on it yer ‘onour and anyway I’d forgotten what my choices were. As we rose to leave, Nigel with his poet’s eye for detail, remarked on my companion Eric’s jacket – a Paramo. Which was in no way intended to influence the set list of course, and in fact, didn’t. Thankfully.
At the gig, got talking to a couple who could have stepped out of Bladderwrack Allowance. He was a big fan; she was bemused but trying to enter into the spirit. There would be a lot he needed to explain to her after the show. This was her second time at a HMHB gig so at least she hadn’t been put off completely. Good on you girl! And thanks for the bottle of water. It was probably necessary. Had meant to pace myself this time, what with my foot having barely recovered from excessive pogoing at the Levellers gig a couple of weeks ago, but given that I was still bubbling with excitement from the previous encounter, not a chance!
Not a great deal to add about the gig other than – Fabulous! Losing myself entirely to dancing and bouncing and singing for the whole of the gig is wonderful but it does mean missing out on detail and nuances, however, I think its safe to say a good time was had by all although some seem to have had an even better time of it than others! What on Earth was George up to that necessitated bouncers getting involved? I missed all that entirely. And Exxo, being a bit overly sensitive about blocking people’s view – was that the reason you kept crouching down? I did wonder if you were feeling ok.! At one point, Nigel lay down on his back while playing his guitar but which song were they playing at the time? I have no idea.
Despite not stooping to subterfuge it looks like I’ve managed to pick up a few points in Fantasy Biscuitball anyway. I’d tussled with the tricky conundrum of It’s Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas – ‘tis the Season afterall, but would it be cliched for them to play it? Or would it be cynical not to? Gave up on the philosophy and decided to include it in my choices on defensive grounds. It was likely to be a popular pick which meant that if it was played, others would be ahead of me on points. Turns out I made the right decision. They played it uncynical and glorious! A highlight of the gig. And John’s Fuck It scarf held aloft as a banner was the perfect visual accompaniment to the song.
Had a bit of a wander round town on Saturday. The river had burst its banks: brown water swirling around rubbish bins and benches on its way to the play park. By the afternoon I reckon it would have claimed the swings. Lots of interesting shops to look in. Quirky. Niche. Pricey but Quality. Sunday Supplement stuff. Which brings me back to a conversation I was having with George in the pub about cultural diversity or rather the lack of it in places like Shrewsbury. Found it somewhat ironic that the shops were stuffed to bursting with artifacts from around the world – Indian, African, Mexican cultures displayed enticingly, all priced and packaged for the consumption of the white middle class. Hey ho.
Sounds like we were lucky with the trains both on the way there and back – everything running more or less on time. We did set off a bit late from Shrewsbury on Saturday as our platform was occupied by a steam train – wonderful to see it pulling into the station – a real icon from another age – but a bit incongruous watching its 21st Century-clad passengers disembark.
On the train home, tired and staring vacantly out the window – the view of waterlogged fields through condensation provided little to hold the gaze until I fixed upon a heap of packages at the side of the tracks beneath a tree. All of a regular size, wrapped in black plastic and sealed with tape just like you see on the telly when there’s been a big drugs bust. The band didn’t play it last night but it had me thinking “Steaming out of Shrewsbury with a cargo of cocaine…” (or Manchester more likely but that doesn’t scan)
Get your gigs in while you can people. You never know when the next one’s gonna be pulled. Fingers crossed for Manchester going ahead, masked or not, here we come! If I meet Nigel Blackwell and the rest of the band again, having pre gig pizza, this time I’ll be able to smile and say hello. And, Covid (and wrist-bands) permitting, I’d still like to shake them by the hand and buy them a beer, or a small glass of red. Cheers guys!
13 December 2021
EXXO
Rich entertainment from Roger & Phyllis T. Thanks for the reassurance Lou that I wasn’t too much in the way. And many thanks Roger for being the 4th official of the Fantasy Biscuitball League, the game we all love to play so much.
13 December 2021
Hendrix-tattoo
Great Review Lou.
Nice to see you and Eric too.
Roll on Manchester, Hopefully….
13 December 2021
Brumbiscuit
I’ve just done a LF Covid test and it’s positive! I’ve lived like a hermit recently, so I caught it on Friday or on the journeys to and fro. Just be aware…
14 December 2021
EXXO
Thanks Andy, very responsible. Hope you stay safe and asymptomatic. All big events are spreader events at the mo and I’m guesstimating that this week’s stats (out later this week, for last week’s infection rates) will indicate that somewhere well into double figures of people in that room were unknowingly carrying the virus. Keep testing, folks.
14 December 2021
parsfan
I was clear on Friday morning and again on Sunday. Have just done another LFT and there’s the faintest of lines by the T. Inconclusive, but will do another later or might just go for the other kind.
Sorry, been meaning to write a bit about Friday but hate doing more than a couple of lines on my phone and haven’t been at the PC other than work.
Another great night, apart from the terrible journeys there and back and getting lost both ways between station and hotel.
14 December 2021
Ferencváros fan
@BB & PF. Thanks for your posts. If you do experience any symptoms, I hope that they are mild. I appreciate that the company I kept on Friday and Saturday puts me right in the firing line, but I’ve tested myself twice since, including this morning, and I’m negative at the moment. I will now conduct daily tests ofc, and will report any positive result here, but I am hoping that my 3 jabs, plus the dose of the original strain that I had last year, will be enough to ward it off.
On a lighter note, I will offer a full and frank no comment re my brief encounter with the steward…until Sheffield, if we ever get there. I appreciate that this is the stuff of which legends are created, so I’ll let it run.
And finally, the the Iron Curtain tennis player who I namechecked to NB in response to his Wojciech Fibak was actually Alex Metreveli, who the bard agreed was a good shout. AM was the beaten Wimbledon men’s finalist in 1973, the year of the boycott, with Jan Kodeš of Czechoslovakia taking the title. I happened to meet AM in the 1980s and he had the decency to give me a warm handshake to thank me for knowing who he was. A truly charming person.
Keep safe all.
14 December 2021
Brumbiscuit
My LFT yesterday was negative, so today’s positive was surprising. Mild symptoms right now and tiredness, and I’m hoping that’s the worst of it. The PCR kit should arrive tomorrow to settle the result.
14 December 2021
ALICE van der meer
I guess if there’s a song called Superspreader Event on the next album…
Seriously, hope you stay OK, Brumbiscuit, and look after yourself. Hope everyone else is fine too.
14 December 2021
Lord leominster
It was Covid anxiety that kept me away from a gig on my doorstep. Take care, BB & PF.
14 December 2021
Eric t’viking (your jacket – Paramo, is it?)
‘Fraid I’m another LFT positive, though it only feels like a cold. Best wishes to everyone else – hope you’re all ok.
Thoroughly enjoyed the gig and the trip – and it put a few faces to familiar names on this site. The one moment that will live with me forever though, was the sheer giddy excitement of Phyllis Triggs when she realised the band were sat across the aisle in the pizza place. Beautiful to behold.
First trip into Shrewsbury – from the small area experienced, reckon it’s retained its quirkiness and character, making the high street brands adapt to it rather than allowing identikit mall-land (still shudder at the memory of a trip into Scunthorpe… bloody ‘ell).
Only odds and sods to add to the excellent reviews already posted are: saw a single pair of oven gloves waved (individual mitts, mind); the shape, barriers, balconies, tables and chairs of the venue – and the background lighting remaining on curiously – definitely giving it a different feel; and the number of younger people in the audience, all quite enthusiastic. Well, not quite all… the male of one young couple I ended up standing nearby was well into it, but the girlfriend less so. She seemed a little bemused, and was giving him a look I was reading as a “this isn’t my thing, but I’m here because of my feelings for you (and you had better notice and appreciate that or there’ll be trouble later)”.
15 December 2021
Brumbiscuit
Sympathies, Eric. Although not too badly afflicted, I’ve got a really sore throat today. Still, looking on the bright side, I can catch up on some reading for my History degree. And my 11 days of self-isolation end on 24/12, when my 2 weeks off for the festivities begin.
15 December 2021
Parsfan
“And that bad cold you’ve got, that’s the flu”
PCR result just in. That’s me positive.
I woke up sure it was all a false alarm. A good night’s sleep, plenty lemsip and strepsils yesterday and I felt nothing worse than the onset of a mild cold. Feel better today than yesterday so hopefully that’s a good sign.
As things stand it’s the inconvenience more than ill effects that’ll be the problem.
I hope Brum & Eric have it easy or, better still, false positives and no one else has it.
I was supposed to go for my booster on Sunday. I guess not anymore.
15 December 2021
Quickben
With the council closing one of the main car parks due to flood risk (though someone said one car was parked there when they looked out of the window in Premier Inn), traffic funnelled to the multi-storey car park in Raven Meadows. No prices shown on entry and final amount paid was over £12. At least I was able to escape.
Met a number of folk for first time in Loggerheads though a number recognised from previous gigs at York, Holmfirth and Devil’s Arse. Achtung Bono seemed to be the principal t-shirt on display in the pub and I confess to adding to that number. Enjoyed the pizza (eventually) with those that stayed in the queue especially with the smoked venison pepperoni topping (not discernibly Bambi TBH).
Opted for a position on the side next to a barrier which seemed to be used by support act to get on/off stage. Good sound and view, especially of the mosh pit, which also made it the position of choice for a supervisory staff member who adjudicated on proceedings from time to time. She did say that the Butter Market used to be a Butter Factory. Cannot add to the extensive report on the gig, though I can agree with observations that it is a difficult place to escape from, starting with the dungeon and ending with 4 circuits of the town centre before the journey north past the many Lib Dem signs that had sprouted.
A couple of days of post-gig sniffles but negative LFTs spoiled by this morning’s positive test. Now awaiting PCR result but not expecting a reprieve. Is this maybe the first HMHB super spreader event?
Look forward to Manchester, Brum and return to Devil’s Arse – look forward to seeing the parishioners once again.
16 December 2021
EXXO
Listening to I’m Getting Buried in the Morning just now reminded me of the exchange I had with Mr B after they did that one last Friday. If any of the audience heard him ask “Who’s going to buy Adele at Skellies anyway?” it will have seemed pretty random as they couldn’t hear my own mithersome comments.
Prompted by that song, I had asked if there was any news on when the forthcoming album was due out. He replied that they didn’t know. It was in the pipeline, but manufacture was going to take longer than usual.
I said (in jest) “it’s all Adele’s fault.”
Then I said (in even more jest). “And Skellies. The bastards.” Skeleton records in Birkenhead made it into the national press a couple of months back for their refusal to stock Adele ‘cos she had booked out all the vinyl manufacturing capacity in the entire world up to Christmas, or something. They enjoyed the publicity boost, and some people, especially Adele’s massive mobs on social media, thought it was a cynical ploy. But they certainly aren’t bastards. When I was at school Skeleton was an Aladdin’s cave which supplied most of us with most of our early record collections. I was just taking the piss.
He said “I saw that. Who’s going to buy Adele from Skellies anyway?”
So now you know.
17 December 2021
Hendrix-tattoo
This time last week I was just finishing off my smoked venison pepperoni pizza.
It was very nice but I thought it was dead deer.
I’ll get my coat….
17 December 2021
BOBBY SVARC
@H-T Suprised you didn’t go to the Ramna Indian Restaurant, they do pelican tandoori
17 December 2021
dr desperate
OK, if nobody else is going to bite: How big’s the bill?
17 December 2021
INJURED BUZZARD
Drum-roll for Dr. D.
I’d reserved a table at ‘The Curry House’ pre-gig, but upon arriving was informed it had been cancelled as they were fully booked and they’d sent a message informing me. They hadn’t. There wasn’t a soul in the place. Disgruntled, I retreated a few doors down the street to the ‘Avatar’ where an excellent meal was enjoyed. Karma (not Korma).
17 December 2021
INJURED BUZZARD
Lateral flow tests done up to and including today: All negative.
17 December 2021
dr desperate
Me too.
18 December 2021
Brumbiscuit
I’m officially positive. I’m now being bugged by NHS Track & Trace for all my contacts. As if I know everyone who was at the gig. In the meantime, however, I’ve done the right thing and told everyone I was in close contact with to get themselves tested. So far no other positives
18 December 2021
EXXO
I think it’s now 4-4 for Buttermarketees who have stated their test results on here. I keep testing negative at least once a day. In a way it would have been not such a bad time to test positive for me a few days ago, cos my post-Xmas trip to see the old folks in one of littlest of the large Hamptons is due to be 27th Dec-5th Jan.
18 December 2021
dr desperate
On the plus (that is, negative) side, both Injured Buzzard and I have had clear LFTs, mine again this morning. Another Biscuiteer who joined us at the Premier Inn on the Saturday morning is also negative, suggesting that our breakfast was not a super-spreader event (except for the Flora, he says).
18 December 2021
Ferencváros fan
Given the identities of those testing positive, I was right in the thick of it, but 5 daily negative LFD tests on the spin, including today. Hope there are no further positive results on here, and best wishes for a fast recovery to those who do have symptoms.
18 December 2021
Brumbiscuit
Them’s the vagaries…
My mate in the CCCP shirt was in the thick of things with me and shared a hotel room and the outward journey & he’s negative, thankfully. I’m over the worst of it now and my incarceration ends at midnight on 24/12.
18 December 2021
Phyllis Triggs
Tests all negative for me too. Bit disappointed actually. Don’t want to make light of the situation or be really ill, but was quite prepared to trade mild symptoms for a 10 day Christmas hunkered down at home and no work til 4th Jan. Ah well, reckon it means the booster jab is doing its job. Which is a good thing. Hope everyone else is doing ok.
18 December 2021
CARRIE ANNE
Both myself and Mr Green have had several negative LFTs since the Shrewsbury gig.
Get well soon, folks.
19 December 2021
EXXO
So it’s 7-4 to the Shrewsbury negatives, and I noticed Karl’s gig with the Jalapeños went ahead last night (at Wirral Ladies GC) so presumably that means it’s at least 11-4. I hope whatever bug(s) Mrs Exford (negative) has got now is the one(s) I’ve just recovered from, or else it’ll be just an endless stream of one non-Covid bug after another for me.
19 December 2021
EXXO
Forgot to count Andy’s Soviet Socialist Unionist Republican. 8-4.
19 December 2021
Hendrix-tattoo
I have to do LFT’s everyday because I work with lot’s of people.
I was negative on the day of the gig and tested negative ever since.
Get well soon Andy, Paul, Steve and Eric Boy….
19 December 2021
JITSU_G
I was the mystery 3rd at breakfast with IB and Dr D. Having sat next to BrumB in the pub post gig for about an hour I can also confim a negative LFT 2 days ago. Hope everyone positive is doing OK
19 December 2021
Brumbiscuit
I hope all the other positives are bearing up well. I’m over it now and basking in the knowledge that I am off in self-isolation for the rest of the week in good health, save a bit of cabin fever.
I’ve been bored, so swapped the wrappers on the box of Celebrations I’ve got for my mum. Being highly strung, she’s going to ger her Snickers in a Twix…
19 December 2021
dr desperate
Nice one, @BB!
Since we’re on that ‘RSVP’-referenced subject, I once won a Christmas prize in the Azed crossword cryptic clue-writing competition with:
“Mars bar selection?” (12)
20 December 2021
brumbiscuit
I didn’t test negative with LF tests until 24/12! A repeat test on 25th confirmed things, so I was able to go to my sister’s place and stuff my face there. I hope everyone else recovered well…
5 January 2022
Fullpelt
Loved the gig, great to see the band on such good form. Second the appreciation of younger, enthusiastic fans, great to see. Nice to meet Roger and have a chat ( I am one half of Ian and Chris from Cardiff ). My total of four gigs was soundly thrashed by the hardcore Tony at the front. Unfortunately I was one of the Covid casualties which messed up our plans for a big family Christmas when my wife got it off mea few days later. Nice week of isolation though and no real symptoms to speak of. She couldn’t taste her Christmas dinner though, which may have been a bonus. Looking forward to the Cardiff gig and the release of the new album
15 January 2022
Telford Biccy
I also caught Covid at this gig!
Precious memories eh?
19 June 2022