BAR KEEP...!

The British Oak is our local pub. If you do the maths it’s not quite the closest pub to our house but the other pub involves a prohibitively steep hill on the way back home - yes I do mean STEEP! After a couple of (overpriced) pints it looks like the Matterhorn, consequently The British Oak is our local. It also benefits from being home to The Blackheath Folk Club, which is a favorite Tuesday night kicking back opportunity for us. Last Saturday night at 8.45 there were a few faces there: Pat + 2 and Woodsy. Jim was deep in conversation with some Prog-Rock fans who had to leave imminently and I was wondering if all this time on tour meant the discerning local music audience had found another band to get behind. But in the next 15 minutes, all the tables filled up. We started big with The Game and Coldburn , then sucked it in a bit with some downbeat numbers, a slightly wobbly version of Silvertown and came back up for a trad folk/folk revival medley of Erin-Go-Bragh-Hal&Tow-Painting Box, this is a new bit of folk indulgence in our set we played it a few times in Guernsey and I love the energy. I get great pleasure from Jim’s lead vocal on Hal&Tow and Painting Box is a beautiful song that gets all The Incredible String Band fans out of the woodwork – and I like that! The audience was amazing throughout this gig. The attentive atmosphere and the huge cheers after each song, I was massively moved and rather humbled. Jim was on excellent talkative form and the whole night was a welcome celebration of original music. Thank you all, special mention to Felix, The Manilows and the Prog fans who stayed all night and stumbled home.

If you’ve been following us on Twitter you’ll know that we didn’t tweet once while we were on our Guernsey tour. I’m somewhat ashamed but you’ll understand I hope when I tell you our days were full of cliff-top walks, catching up with friends and our nights were full of music. Just a few hours on a ferry and I felt like I was on holiday. The fact that we were playing 2 electric gigs, 2 acoustic gigs and a live radio session on BBC Radio only contributed to my holiday spirit. Jenny Kendall-Tobias was presenting The Late Show, on BBC South West, it was a news heavy night as the riots had kicked off so we talked about difficult social subjects interspersed with live acoustic songs and tracks from the album. We had a great evening with Jenny, a great personality, and I was delighted she did dig what we do. OhYeah!

JIM TAKES OVER…
Gigs one, two and three were at the Doghouse. The Doghouse was the first venue I played on my initial trip to Guernsey about ten years ago, brought over by Dave Fuller; a wonderful musician and songwriter and great friend to us down the years. Wednesday was acoustic night and we had a great one. We opened up to the late diners. Heads were chomping and nodding in time. Second set, we’d gathered the drinkers who’d wandered up the hill from town. A nice bunch so, all good, and the boss plied us (well, me) with scotch. Thursday night off (to wine and to dine – thanks Andie) then back on Friday to rock it up a wee bit. Toj the sound (that’s his name) worked well with us to get the sound we wanted and it was showtime. It was a good night. We had, maybe not a mosh pit but, a gang of twenty somethings groovin’ about up front from about the second song and that set the tone for the show. Saturday was even better, with Isobel and I locking right in with both grooves and dynamics and Toj getting jiggy with the effects to expand the soundscape. We blew a few minds that night, I can tell you. Thanks to Nick Windsor and brother Mark for walking out on The Hamsters to come and see us. Sunday, we filled up on Champagne and Ribs at a dogs birthday party (island life, innit) and headed for the Cobo Beach Hotel. Acoustic again and this time we couldn’t help throwing in a folk song or two – well it was Sunday afternoon. We played outside on the terrace and the view there is sublime. The sky was ablaze as it set into the sea, framed by Napoleonic remains and tiny little boats, and the crowd gathered under heaters and wrapped themselves in blankets provided by the hotel – we froze our arses off but played on regardless. Professionals, see? A few friends had left the dog party to come and catch our second set so when our blueing fingers began to frighten the children we knocked it off and drank tea with them til the gas gave out. There was just time for another evenings wining and dining (thanks Louisa) and we’re back on the ferry. Big thanks and love to Andie Fuller for putting us up. We had a wonderful time.

We squeezed a quick one in at the Wickham before we left town. I’m starting to struggle a little with ways to describe Bruise gigs at the Wickham. They are fantastic musical experiences for us and they seem to get better and better. A properly attentive and responsive crowd who are really into the music and are very happy to fill the jug before they go home. It really doesn’t get better than that. Brilliant!

Back in July we had a gig here (Sidcup, Seven Stars – rowdy, and a laugh) and a gig there (The Neptune, Whitstable – pretty special with Bob on Bass and quite a posse come to see us) but we were very much looking forward to playing the Latest Music Bar in Brighton where we’d stuck our necks out and curated the night. It was a slightly odd one, to be honest. Everything was fine: the numbers, the support we’d booked (thanks Cate) the soundcheck. But, disappointingly, we didn’t quite take off. I think we’d let the sense of occasion get to us a bit. Next time I’m going to insist on Jäger shots all round. Sometimes it’s just gotta be done. BAR KEEP...!