Some times the band strike out into pastures new. Other times they return to old favourite venues. This is definitely one of the latter. But how did the gig compare? Over to you.
Some times the band strike out into pastures new. Other times they return to old favourite venues. This is definitely one of the latter. But how did the gig compare? Over to you.
SIMON P
Opening music: Killing Joke “Requiem”. Love it.
2 February 2017
SIMON P
Followed by “we’ll let the song finish, it’s all downhill from here”
2 February 2017
SIMON P
Korfball
Bob Wilson
Shit Arm
Fear my Wraith
Totnes
Teenage Bride
Pancake Day
Gubba
Evening Sun
Fred Titmus
Clichéd at Xmas (“forgot to play it at Cov”)
Tommy Walsh
Bad Wools
27 yards
King of Hi Vis
Constance
Lilac
DPAK
Vatican
NSD
Lark Descending segued into the Cresta! bit of Gwatkin
Chatteris
JDOG
AOR
——-
Restless Legs
Final Solution (Pere Ubu)
Light/Tunnel
2 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Neil and Ron-seal.
content://media/external/file/28948
3 February 2017
SIMON P
Is that a first outing for “King of Hi-Vis”, incidentally?
3 February 2017
BOBBY Svarc
Great night. The M6 was a mare but we were saved by the toll road which left us a nice bit of time for a natter with Geoff (in good form) Neil and Nigel. They played my song as well. No crowd trouble to report, quite a few “No pornography allowed in the concert room at all tonight” announcements over the PM, a shame but rules are not to be broken. Nice to meet Mr Green at last and I observed a few more “legends” from the margins. Departed Bilston as TLATEOTT fired up and was back in the badlands of Earl Shilton by half eleven.
3 February 2017
knackered man
This site’s ‘King of hi vis’ was particularly pleased to hear his tune.
Pub quiz segue half-way through concerning the 1923 Cup final.
Name the horse? “Billie” – correct.
Name the copper? “George Scorey” – correct.
Name the copper’s fiancee who got stood up that night as he was waylaid at Wembley – silence……
I think the answer was ‘Kitty’.
Wiki fact: George Scorey, was rewarded by the Football Association with free tickets to subsequent finals, but he had no interest in football and chose not to attend.
3 February 2017
STEVE
So it’s Neil that plays the killer riff on King Of Hi-vis. Really good to hear Cynical at Christmas played in a post-modern way. Great gig. Not such a great location.
3 February 2017
Dazza
Great night, I’m sure they played Trumpton riots too?
3 February 2017
Brumbiscuit
A very good gig by any standards. The build up was good too and it was great to meet up with some old faces and to meet some new folk.
Jivans’ quality lived up to expectations, but we really must pre-order for the next time. The Great Western was also excellent and the Bathams was as good as ever.
Staying at the venue was handy. And we actually arrived 10 minutes early for the gig. Unheard of.
NB10 was in fine form; animated in both words and actions as he bounded around the stage and regaled us with various tales that others more lucid will be able to recount. The mosh pit never got a critical mass, sadly, but I was able to have a little fun at the front. Harry Quinn got an outing, but not my bike. I think Oxford may see it make an appearance.
Bilston on the other hand never fails to disappoint. We wandered up the High St looking for a pub. Even the ‘Spoonies shut at 11. We went into the Trumpet just after 11 and were able to light-heartedly cajole the barmaid (is there a better term?) into serving us a pint after closing time.
On an unrelated note, I often wondered what happened to the league chart of contributors & I’ve only just found the Thank You page. I am sitting in 7th place, but only 2 messages above Dickhead in Quicksand. I really must try harder.
3 February 2017
queen of quick wit
“We’re now officially ‘The Grumbleweeds’, aren’t we?”
Highly enjoyable outing for all the usual reasons with all the usual faces in attendance. It was salutary to note that it was over thirty years ago that I first heard “The Trumpton Riots” played live.
3 February 2017
EXXO
I assume that was said in response to some sort of one-seal protest from Tony?
(Tony your photo link didn’t work – gizz another one)
3 February 2017
dr desperate
Bostin’, Bilston! An excellent but not-quite-early-enough tea at Jivan’s (Canadian Alice among the congregation) left us only enough time for one small pint of slimline Batham’s at The Great Western before entramming to Robin 2, arriving just in time for the main event. Sorry, Sonnenberg.
Walk-on music was Killing Joke’s ‘Requiem’, for which Prisoner Tim rightly pointed out to Nigel that the band had come on too early, so they’d now have to listen to the whole 3:45. I suggested we’d also have to hear the next track (‘Wardance’), but he reassured us it was from a compilation CD, not the original album.
Far from downhill from there, the set turned out to be a cornucopia of highlights, culminating with yes, the first-ever outing for ‘King Of Hi-Vis’! For completeness, ‘Trumpton Riots’ should be added to the above setlist between ‘NSD’ and ‘Lark Descending’, and for those interested in that sort of thing, ‘Vitas’ and ‘Village’ were dropped. ‘Shit Arm’ was promoted from 8th to 3rd, much to the delight of Tim, who had his own Bad Tattoo on display, entitling him to free entry to British Sea Power gigs for as long as they both shall live.
Route information was supplied (“A41 all the way”), and we got both the Odeon manager’s funeral (“2.15, 4.30 and 7.45”) and the bird impression (“Swallow”) jokes. Ken was the first man in Wallasey to try Yakult, and Nigel the first man on the Wirral to go in a submarine with Libby Purves and Roy North (not as interesting as it sounds, apparently). Mention of the latter brought back memories of ‘Get It Together’, in which Mister Roy wasted no opportunity to mention that he supported Hull City. Ken informed Nigel of yet another celebrity who’d fallen off the perch (Desmond Carrington, possibly), and several of the crowd added Welsh rocker Deke Leonard to that depressing list.
The 1923 Cup Final Quiz mentioned above started off innocently enough with a question about the first man to score a goal at Wembley (David Jack) but quickly escalated into an episode of Pointless, which Nigel won by naming the fiancée (Kitty) of the white horse policeman.
He also announced, in reply to a question from the House, that he intended to visit Rhyl the following day, and entered into a long discussion with a bloke from Bodelwyddan about favourite cycling routes in the area. My request for ‘Sosban Fach’ was met with “No, that’s South Walian”.
A similar fate befell Postman Tony’s call for ‘Sealclubbing’, ingeniously expressed by chucking onstage an inflatable seal. His name, Ron, was supplied from the crowd by m’ladyfriend Elizabeth, and later autographed by all the band, he became a signed seal delivered. (I don’t just throw this stuff together, you know.)
In guitar news, Neil and Ken’s axeswap lasted several songs past its usual ‘Bane Of Constance’, and Nigel’s strap once again came adrift before the encores, becoming re-affixed the wrong way up (that is, with the word ‘Fender’ the right way up).
In sock news, we were informed that his duck-egg blue pair were a first toe in the water of colour-coördination (possibly because Denise was back-stage.)
The cover of Pere Ubu’s ‘Final Solution’ was stunning, and a raucous TLATEOTT (ITLOAOT) finished off the night in fine style.
On to Cork!
3 February 2017
dr desperate
Incidentally, I’ve noticed that the last few dates have been accompanied by YouTube posts promising live streaming of the whole gig (here’s the one for last night).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SInS-WJQ_g
WTF? Could this have something to do with the mysterious bloke in the trilby who stood at my shoulder, recording every minute of the performance on an iPad?
3 February 2017
CHARLES EXFORD
That’s not good. They’ve killed music sales and now they want to kill gig sales too.
3 February 2017
dr desperate
And since I mentioned completeness, at one point ‘Busy Little Market Town’ made a rare appearance in its full form, because Nigel fancied playing one of the old ones.
His claim that they’d just learnt it in the dressing room may have been more than just whimsy.
3 February 2017
CHARLES EXFORD
I was trying to remember which gig it was where Mr. B was inspired by some buzzing from the monitors and threatened to play ‘Final Solution.’ Turns out it was probably the last time I wrote a full review – extremely full in fact – so that’s lucky.
Leicester, 2011:
Nigel points out that now that the PA has been turned up, there’s a buzzing noise. He warns that if it’s left on he’ll have to try playing ‘Final Solution’ by Pere Ubu, and nobody would want that, so Neil immediately fixes it by turning the buzzing noise off at amp level. Somebody says it sounded like a bee, and Nigel tells us “I got stung by a bee yesterday. £3 for a jar of honey.”
Search this site for speculations on the influence of Pere Ubu on a couple of HMHB songs and it’s mostly me but it does include the other track on the ‘Final Solution’ single.
3 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Another brilliant night had by all.
A big hello and thanks to Mr.Ed and his Uber App for sorting out taxi’s.
A big hello to the Brumbi brothers, Dr.Des. And the lovely Liz(Excellent review John)also the lovely Alice a lucky owner of a autographed Stevie Wonder song.[And the funny looks I was getting from people while walking the streets with a inflatable seal] My*failed*Neil and Ron-seal photo shows the Kid Creole look-a-like trying to film the whole gig. During Vitas being played Liz,Graham,Andy and myself in turns kept tipping his hat over his face revealing his bubble-perm.
The mosh never really got going it missed Exxo’s energy even though the Brumbi bros,John,Dougie,Mr.Ed and Jay whooped it up.
Also hello to Karen and Alf who I seem to meet at railway stations.
Maybe I will meet Bobby one day.
3 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Correction A.O.R not Vitas.
3 February 2017
BOBBY SVARC
@HENDRIX-TATTOO – I was right of the stage, next to the speakers, about 5 yards from you.
3 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
You will be on my failed photo then Bobby.
3 February 2017
BOBBY SVARC
Possibly so.
3 February 2017
Phyllis Triggs
@Hendrix-Tattoo, sooo relieved to hear it was an inflatable seal and not some moth-eaten example of taxidermy. Does your supplier sell inflatable dictators too?
3 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Phyllis, Hopefully, My next prop is going to be a lifesize cardboard cut out of Len Ganley.
4 February 2017
Phyllis Triggs
@H-T, Superb!
4 February 2017
The Gig – Winter 2017: ON THE ROAD
“…Ron’s rightful owner, much to my embarrassment, gave me the seal and asked Neil to sign it for me (somehow I’d always thought he’s Ken… lol). Then the lady whom I got to know quite well over the night (I believe – it could be someone else) asked a staff to take it to the backstage and have it autographed by the whole band, claiming that I’m brand new and from Canada…”
The Gig – Winter 2017: ON THE ROAD
4 February 2017
JITSU_G
Great gig, my 5th time seeing them in Bilston. Seemed to spend more time pre gig on or waiting for trams than in the pub, but good to get up to the GW for our annual visit.
I would agree with others that watching the gig through an ipad isn’t probably the best. Very strange.
I am not normally one for getting autographs but I did manage to get one of the venue posters signed by all 4 of the lads. I did make the mistake of using a poster that was 4 bits of a3 (is that A1? 25%as good as the A1111) so far too big to hang up anywhere at home
4 February 2017
JITSU_G
There are a couple of pics of the poster currently on the HMHBIS Facebook page, not sure if CtSO could post a link as it is a bit beyond me
4 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
https://plus.google.com/112359501740660669540/posts/en2bxE7znxa?_utm_source=1-2-2
Hope this works….
4 February 2017
JITSU_G
and 75% of the people in that shot not looking at the band (or ron)
4 February 2017
dr desperate
Including Mysterious Trilby Bloke (with iPad).
4 February 2017
JITSU_G
I think my Facebook pic has solved the mystery Dr D
4 February 2017
Idiots and pigeons
@DR_D the short man with the trilby/iPad combination was in the Dougie bar next door. I was informed that he was the support so I asked him.. He told me he was going to ask Geoff if he was “allowed to go up”. I replied that’ll be nice he then went on to ask me if I’d “convinced Geoff to let him go up”. I was concerned when I spotted him just behind us without his miniature guitar in tow.
4 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
This is Brilliant….
Injured Buzzard I owe you a pint….
https://youtu.be/0Ovh2Rk4Ibg
Hope you don’t mind CtsO.
4 February 2017
BOBBY SVARC
Trilby Man was waiting at the door when I got there, 6.15ish, He Held the door so I could get into the concert room, He tried a few times to get in but Mrs Holder cleared him off.
4 February 2017
dr desperate
The live stream, which came under 40 slightly different titles on YouTube, was posted by someone whose name appears to be Nazir Ammer.
The comments attached to it include:
“Simply download our app. Connect to over 30 locations worldwide with Total Premium. Start enjoying an unrestricted secure and anonymous internet.
Support the artists – your proceeds go to the creates of the content you love.”
If this person turns up at our gigs in future, I intend to report him to Security, and/or stand in front of his iPad. (I would never suggest anyone try to knock it to the floor accidentally while moshing. iPads could easily end up broken that way.)
4 February 2017
BOBBY Svarc
I might shit in his hat.
4 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
To be honest with you I-pad man got on my nerves a bit.
So if he turns up at anymore gigs, Let’s just say he won’t be filming any other gigs.
Canadian Alice’s review has just made me weep.
4 February 2017
Mr ed
I agree about the man filming the entire gig, he should be reported to security. A really enjoyable gig with great people. I managed to get a set list signed by all four which was great, and a nice chat with three of them after the gig. Hopefully see you all in Worthing.
5 February 2017
CARRIE ANNE
The guy with the trilby and i-pad was hanging around earlier, and tried to sneak into the sound check. He was swiftly led out by one of the techs, though, so he may be a serial offender at this venue.
5 February 2017
CARRIE ANNE
Lovely Roger Green’s review, also available on Gez’s website.
Roger Green:
Plenty of goings-on in the weeks before this show. The day after the Coventry gig we were in the middle of Birmingham along with Daz, Jordan, Sally and my mate Dick to see Tony’s side, Beorma Morris, perform in the middle of the city along with many others. It was, as I’m sure you are aware, the Blessing Of The Plough, which I took to be the beginning of the process which ends with the Harvest Festival. We thought it counted as a gig. There was music and dancing after all. Doesn’t that make it valid? Even though it was in the middle of the precinct on New Street.
The week after that, we were at Leeds Town Hall to see another “gig”, this time by The Halle Orchestra. Mozart Symphony Number 41, Strauss (Richard) Horn Concerto Number 1 and Schumann Symphony Number 4 in D Minor, if you’re taking notes. We went along with it all, but we would struggle to hum any of it to you.
After that there were a couple of trips to Sheffield. First off was to catch Shatner who were playing in town to an empty room except for Karen, me and the brother of one of the guys in the band. A week later we saw Trainspotting 2. Much hyped, and rightly so. Well, we thought it was good. Decent soundtrack as well.
I also found time to attend an event featuring Simon Wolstencroft, aka Funky Si. He’s been on a bit of a musical journey. He was a schoolmate of John Squire and Ian Brown and drummed with them in the embryonic days of The Stone Roses, but left them behind before they went onto major stardom. Similarly with another band from round that way. He drummed with Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke before they drafted in a singer who was a bit too maudlin for Simon. Enter Mike Joyce and The Smiths were on their way. Meanwhile Simon headed off to join The Fall for a decade. The event I attended was plugging his book, You Can Drum But You Can’t Hide. Looking forward to reading it, but for now it is in a massive backlog piling up on my stairs.
We didn’t realise this until afterwards, but Karen and I may not have taken the most logical route to Bilston. We each got trains to New Street, and then got on one to Wolverhampton before getting the tram to Bilston. We lack the local knowledge, but perhaps it would make more sense to get the tram direct from Birmingham to Bilston. Not sure where the tram stop is in the big city though. Will have to consult with Tony or somebody who knows, for next time.
Alighting in Wolverhampton, we bumped into Postman Tony on the platform. He was stopping in town and had arranged to meet up with other fans for a pre-gig curry. That was a tempter, but we had other plans. We were stopping at the excellent and (it must be said) cosy hotel next door to the venue. After checking in, we headed back into town, with Jay who was also stopping there. He was looking for mid-afternoon pub action. We were more interested in the exceptional offerings at The Major. We are both open to suggestions, but I in particular need to be told if there are better fish and chips on offer anywhere on the planet.
During a spot of wandering we were pipped by John and Elizabeth arriving in their car. We also spotted a poster advertising An Evening With Jelle Klaasen in the town. And Hazel O’Connor is playing at the Robin 2, in amongst all the tribute acts that they have lined up. I bought a copy of The Express And Star. No mention at all about the HMHB show. So, in the absence of a media blitz, we had only two sources of information for the show. It featured in the glossy Wolverhampton What’s On with a prominent place for a photo of Ken and Nigel doing the Parfitt/Rossi routine. And there was also this from The Robin’s own Club Magazine And Gig Guide… “Famed for making ill-tempered music with a social conscience, Birkenhead band Half Man Half Biscuit formed in the early eighties, ‘merely as a way of getting through the day’. Quickly picked up by the angst-ridden youth of the eighties, their punk-driven, lyrical rants and protests against all things celebrity and fake, became the unofficial anthems of the underground.” And there was even a bit about Sonnenberg, tonight’s support… “Indie folk with a twist… it’s all intimate without being cloying, pleasurably nocturnal and more than a little bit wonderful.” That set us up nicely.
With only stopping next door, we were able to witness the soundcheck, along with Jay. Carl’s testing of the drums was a bit like fifteen minutes of mantra filled oompah. But these things have to be done. Neil tested his bass out with Dead Souls and Ceremony. I don’t claim to understand the technical side , which explains why Neil and Nigel appeared to be signalling no balls and four byes at various points during the soundcheck and the actual performance later on.
For the record, HMHB played three tunes while checking. Joy In Leeuwarden, A Lilac Harry Quinn and Old Age Killed My Teenage Bride. After they had finished, I asked Nigel for the logistics of who picks up whom when they make their way to their shows. It seems that Neil liaises with the van hire company. He drives to Little Sutton near Ellesmere Port where they are based and collects the van. He then picks Nigel up. After that it depends whether they are travelling north or south, as to whether they get Carl or Ken first. On the way back, usually in the wee small hours, there is the tricky (and presumably, quiet) manoeuvre for Neil as he leaves his gear at his Mum’s before heading back to Nigel’s and returning the van later in the morning. More importantly I asked Nigel what he thought about Tranmere’s chances of promotion. “Lincoln look good,” was his response.
I also asked a favour. This show was thirty-one years to the day since I first saw HMHB play live. 2nd February 1986 at The Leadmill in Sheffield. I told him that the very first tune that they played that night was Busy Little Market Town. I wondered if there was any chance they could play it tonight. Sure enough, they did. Just for a couple of minutes I was that angst-ridden youth once again. Thanks, Nigel.
Later on, we were back downstairs queuing up waiting for the doors to be opened for the evening’s entertainment. I made a note of the sign outside. “Please respect the artist on stage and the customers around you that have come to listen to live music. Loud chatting is not permitted whilst the artists are on stage.” Same problem the world over. I wish Sonnenberg could have been afforded some of that respect when they were on.
When we were allowed in, I said Hello to Mick. We were both featured in Peter’s article in The Big Issue the previous year. Mick told me the tale about his story there, where he was driving along and heard HMHB for the first time, putting his arm out of the window to act as an aerial so that he could listen to the song. I told him similar tales – that first gig in Sheffield, the early days of hearing them on the John Peel programme etc. etc.
Pausing to catch up with Lee, spotting a guy wearing a Crispy Ambulance t-shirt, wishing Jordan a Happy Birthday and getting a second opinion from Andrew, who confirmed the quality of the chips at The Major, I returned to my usual place at the front, ready to see Sonnenberg. There were just the two of them tonight, Zinny and Saul. Tony pointed out that Zinny was playing a twelve-string guitar, but only had six strings. It must mean something. I didn’t recognise any oldies among the songs that they played. They could all be from their new CD, due out around March. I had heard We Don’t Need Another War previously, and possibly one called Better Together. “This is all very positive stuff, given the way world politics are,” said Zinny. Hear, hear.
More Hellos to Pete, Daz, Gomez and Howie, and HMHB were ready to go. Start times vary. Tonight’s was 8.45. Normally if HMHB are on before 9 o’clock it’s because the venue has a club night lined up afterwards. It wasn’t obvious, if this was the case. The band walked onto stage to the sound of Requiem by Killing Joke. Unusual choice? Well, there was an explanation. “The CD player in the van wasn’t working, and that was on it,” Nigel pointed out, before continuing, “it’s all downhill from here.”
He said the journey to the gig had been “A41. Door to door.” They had stopped off for kettle crisp sandwiches and he had read the previous day’s Metro. Unfortunately I didn’t catch the location of this quality stop-off point.
“Anybody here from Ballymena?” asked Nigel. When there was no reply, he turned to Ken and said “Told you.” There was a question from the audience, asking Nigel why he wasn’t wearing a jumper, as he had apparently worn one at the previous show here. Nigel replied that if so, he wouldn’t have been wearing it for long. The conversation turned to the 1923 FA Cup Final. “David Jack got two medals at that match. One for being on the winning side and one for scoring the first goal at the new Wembley Stadium. This then evolved into a quickfire quiz round with Nigel asking away. “What was the name of the white horse at that game?” (Billie. Note the spelling according to the FA site.) “What was the name of the police officer riding the horse?” (George Scorey.) And then the killer question. “George Scorey was supposed to be taking his fiancée out that night. But he was waylaid at the match. What was the name of his fiancée?” (Kitty.)
Ken was the first man in Wallasey to eat Yakult. Nigel claimed to be the only man to be stuck in a submarine with Libby Purves and Roy North. We’ll have to take his word for that. He also explained that he hadn’t written Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus on the set list, but they played it anyway (“it’s where it all started for me and Neil”).
When we saw Postman Tony at Wolverhampton station earlier, he had told us that he was taking an inflatable seal to the gig. In due course, that found its way onto the stage, and Neil put it on top of his amp. When told that its name was Ron (Ron Seal), Nigel said “This is now officially The Grumbleweeds show.”
“This is a curveball,” he announced before the band played It’s Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas. “We forgot to play it at the Christmas gig.” This was described as “post modern” by a voice in the crowd. He also changed the line towards the end of the song. “I saw Kate Bush with the ICF.” He also fitted in the joke about the cinema manager dying, and his funeral being at 1.30, 4.30 and quarter to eight. The cabaret continued when he said “This is a bird impression” when taking a swig of water. “Swallow.”
There was the usual talk about Nigel’s shoes. He said it was the first time that he had colour co-ordinated his shoes and socks. Before 27 Yards Of Dental Floss he said “We wrote this years ago in Ullapool.” And Ken and Neil swapped instruments for three songs: 27 Yards Of Dental Floss, The King Of Hi Vis and Bane Of Constance. Needless to say, the playing of The King Of Hi Vis met with the approval of John. “Who needs T Rex when I’ve got TV,” said Nigel. There was some talk about recent deaths. Ken mentioned Maggie Roche. The guy from Can was referred to. And Kevin Ravenscroft’s grandad. Must be one of Nigel’s mates. After A Lilac Harry Quinn, Tony leaned over and said that when he was studying for a degree in Theology he would never have thought that one day he would be joining in with a chorus about Sturmey Archer and Campognolo.
There was a lengthy chat about walking in Wales. Sorry, I couldn’t keep up with that. There was an extended pause during Lark Descending while Nigel stuck a plectrum to his forehead. And at the end of that song, they burst into the “Cresta” chorus from The Unfortunate Gwatkin. During Joy Division Oven Gloves he pointed in the general direction of the Quantocks when mentioning them.
When the band came back for the encore, Nigel struggled with his guitar strap. So what’s new? He said they had just learnt Busy Little Market Town in the dressing room. The cover was a Pere Ubu song. I don’t have a great knowledge of their work, but must put that right soon. Here is the gig in total.
Joy In Leeuwarden
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Shit Arm Bad Tattoo
Fear My Wraith
Totnes Bickering Fair
Old Age Killed My Teenage Bride
If I Had Possession Over Pancake Day
Gubba Lookalikes
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
It’s Clichéd To Be Cynical At Christmas
Tommy Walsh’s Eco House
Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
Twenty-Seven Yards Of Dental Floss
The King Of Hi Vis
The Bane Of Constance
A Lilac Harry Quinn
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Vatican Broadside
National Shite Day
Trumpton Riots
Lark Descending
For What Is Chatteris?
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Everything’s AOR
And in the encore
Restless Legs
Busy Little Market Town
Final Solution
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Afterwards I chatted briefly with Graham and the other Graham, as well as meeting two members of Beorma Morris (Tom and Kiera) who were at their first HMHB gig. Then in the morning we were having breakfast with Ian from Lichfield. We reflected on the current state of live music. About how audiences favour covers bands above people who perform their own songs. And I was sorry to hear from him that JDs in Dudley had closed down many years ago. We’ll continue that discussion sometime in the future, Ian. In the meantime I am delighted to report that Karen has sourced a bargain ticket for the journey in a southerly direction in the middle of March. Worthing here we come.
5 February 2017
Brumbiscuit
Brilliant review, as ever. However, the pedant in me needs to point out that the wonderful Dudley club was in fact JB’s, not JD’s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JB's_Dudley
5 February 2017
CARRIE ANNE
Mr Green will be chastised appropriately.
5 February 2017
Mr ed
Fantastic review. I was the one in the Crispy Ambulance t-shirt. I was stood at the front with Jordan and Sally.
5 February 2017
dr desperate
Kevin Ravenscroft’s grandad was apparently unfortunate in meeting his end six days after Bowie, so slipped under the radar.
5 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Brilliant stuff Roger.
5 February 2017
Injured buzzard
Brilliant stuff Roger. Belated thanks to Brumbiscuit for organising the pre-gig Jivens/GW double header. Great balti and great company. Loved the Bathams in the Great Western, shame we didn’t have more time. Look forward to the March double header.
Roger’s song on here during the encore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ovh2Rk4Ibg
7 February 2017
Glynos73
Dr Desperate the bloke was from Bagillt not Bodelwydden, I should know as I am the bloke and from what I remember cycling routes were not mentioned. The Bluebell pub in Pentre Halkyn and the Green lane that leads you from Northop to Rhosesmor was. I was chuffed when Nigel asked if I knew that lane as I grew up in Northop and used to play in the fields up the Green!!!
7 February 2017
Glynos73
Also it was me that asked him about Rhyl ( I seen him in a pub called The Bodfor there a few years back and I was asking him if he still got in there!!! ).
7 February 2017
dr desperate
Diolch yn fawr, @Glyn – drink may have been taken by that stage.
7 February 2017
Glynos73
No worries@DrD, I’d had a few myself!!!
7 February 2017
themidlandsrocks.com
MR’s review: http://www.themidlandsrocks.com/half-man-half-biscuit-sonnenberg-the-robin-2-bilston-thursday-2-february-2017/
9 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
And ruins everything?
9 February 2017
Brumbiscuit
Helped make it for me, H-T!
9 February 2017
Glynos73
Nothing wrong with a bit of audience participation in my eyes too Brumbiscuit!!
9 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Thank you kind Sir’s!
And here was I, Ready to walk into the courtyard to be shot.
Mr.Brum, May I add what a charming host you are.
Nigel, See you in Cork, Lar.
9 February 2017
CHARLES EXFORD
I thought he just meant that the seal finally made Mr. B say something that sounded like a rock star cliché. Even though it didn’t, and he didn’t.
Yep Tony look forward to seeing you in Fred Zep’s, I’m literally off the plane, onto the bus and straight into the gig, maybe via a chippy.
9 February 2017
BOBBY SVARC
Stage all finished, Then came the lights……
https://postimg.org/image/jfpa9ivc7/
10 February 2017
Brumbiscuit
From the sublime to the, err, sublime; 40 years ago tonight I saw ABBA’s first ever British concert at the Birmingham Odeon.
Now, the Dean Friedman moment at Bilston comes very close, but that just shades it. I will admit that my tastes have changed somewhat over the subsequent years.
Actually, the best ever gig I saw at the Odeon (now a cinema) was Gary Glitter. There was a stage invasion and everyone was thrown back off stage except me and Gary put his arm round me and sang a bit before security decided that was enough. I hasten to add I was 26 at the time.
10 February 2017
CHARLES EXFORD
Wunderbar Mick, concerto di miniatura, edizione Europea with the floodlights, magnifico. I dread to think what accessories there’s gonna be in there for that big gig atmosphere, but I’m sure you’ll have some moshers on subbuteo bases and I’ve already written some rules for subbuteo moshing, which will combine flick-to-mosh action with the sort of random card-play that came into subbuteo angling. The object of the game will be to have no crash barrier hoggers by the middle song of the encores.
10 February 2017
0902FriendS
Tony – Ron’s sitting quite comfortably on my shelf… Don’t plan to sell it and open up a stall any time soon!
12 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
You had a lucky escape there Mr. Brum.
12 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
You take good care of him Alice.
And don’t feed him too many dumpling’s.
13 February 2017
BOBBY SVARC
Update on the Bilston model. Neil, complete with Ruts T-Shirt during the soundcheck.
https://postimg.org/image/7f0ps0hln/
15 February 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Bobby, I like it.
I like it.
15 February 2017
BOBBY SVARC
Latest on the ‘Robin 2’ build. At the front of the stage, you can see The King of Hi-Vis, to his left, Tony Roberts, Mrs Roger and Roger Green. The Barnstoneworth Three are in there as well.
https://postimg.org/image/4iq45k7kr/
28 February 2017
CARRIE ANNE
That’s fantastic @Bobby!
28 February 2017
bobbysvarc
Bilston Robin 2, Latest
https://postimg.org/image/muk5cbd4j/
20 March 2017
WARDEN HODGES
Had a view from a room (twice) from them windows.
20 March 2017
Bobby svarc
Good News. It’s received the official nod of approval.
22 March 2017
dr desperate
Excellent work, Micky! Will we get a chance to catch it on tour?
22 March 2017
Peter Mcornithologist
Seconded.You are a very talented fellow , Bobby Svarc .
22 March 2017
bobbysvarc
@DD: I would like to think so, although Sheffield is the nearest to me at the moment so maybe not this year. Got about a month before it’s all finished. A mate of a mate has offered to make me a professional video of it in action, perhaps the next best thing.
@Peter: Thank you
22 March 2017
dr desperate
Is that a Dirk Hofman Motorhomes placard in midfield?
22 March 2017
Bobby svarc
Not telling.
22 March 2017
hendrix-tattoo
‘Bob the model builder’
‘He’s from Leicester’
‘He makes models’
‘And they’re great’
23 March 2017
bobbysvarc
Kinell, Zappa lives!.
23 March 2017
Bobby svarc
Robin 2 Model is now finished, thank God.
12 April 2017
Arm Breaking SWan
Where’s the proof? You going to post some photos?
12 April 2017
bobbysvarc
No mate. No Need
12 April 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Dear Ron-seal
Happy Birthday to you…
2 February 2018