GLASGOW
Friday 20th April
Pivo Pivo.
We
left London at 7-30pm on thursday evening heading for Stoke, and as
we stopped to get some fuel I saw a black Range Rover with tinted
windows and the number plate MI5 I SPY - it "must" have
been James Bond surely? Or a berk....?
We
stayed in a place called "StokeTalke" which
sounds like an "Olde Worlde Radio Showe" where everyone
phones in and talks about Manglewurzels and shrubs. The "Stoke
Talke Little Cheffe was Closde" Harpo
was delighted with his sofa-bed but as usual with Travelodge because
we had a dog with us were downgraded from 3rd class to "fucked
up shit class".Big hole in one wall, water stains on the
ceiling, bootmarks on the bed - the usual (before we arrived I hasten
to add).
Set
off about midday Friday and the weather was mental, sunshine, shower,
sunshine, shower....As we got up near Carlisle the scenery started to
get more impressive and the clouds were doing their best "biblical
sky" kind of thing. Stopped at a services surrounded by rolling
hills, sunshine in one direction, evil black clouds in another and
lots of mist. Harpo was heard to mumble "fuck me this is a BIG
park!"
We
arrived outside Pivo Pivo at 5-30 pm and I loaded in while Jacqui sat
like a spider waiting to pounce on the parking spot right outside the
venue. Pivo is situated right near Glasgow’s main station and the
area is how shall I put it “vibrant” at night time. Parking
space acquired, gear set up and sound engineer sorted THEN our mate
Meester Mainy arrived looking very dapper like a cross between
Clockwork Orange and a Parisian Beatnik all tooled up for the
Parisian riots in 1968. Mainy paid me upfront an example to all
and a feat shared by some of the bikers we have played for in the
past. I said hello to Kel and was introduced to Pauline & Claire.
Everything ran like Clockwork (Orange) and all the bands were on time
and there was no fucking about.
We
set up the merch and I have to say a special thanks to Lorna (who
arrived looking glam in leopard skin) who took over whilst we were
feeding Harpo and continued to do the merch’ during the night. Many
times in the course of the night she handed me money and said “CD &
T-shirt” in her cool Glaswegian accent. Thanks mate.
Melisa
Kelly & The Harmless Thieves were on first and were a really
pleasant surprise to me. Melisa has an amazing voice, Jacqui came up
to me and said “she sounds like Stevie - Stevie Vann Jac’s vocal
coach – who also has an amazing range and power. Melisa could
earn a fortune doing sessions but does her own songs which are great.
Mainy
was sitting out on the stairs for a great deal of the time (Pivo is a
basement) and I kept popping out to chat with him, on one of these
occasions I met Homesick Aldo (Alan Smith) who was the next on
the bill. Aldo was every bit as good as I was expecting blowing up a
one man storm on his harmonica, playing minimal drums and
blues-wailing. Unlike some wannabe blues guys Aldo opts for the
Johnny Thunders meets Slim Harpoimage and sound and was terrific.
More
folks were arriving all the time and I met long time fan and friend
Lisa M and had some photos taken with her and sister Pauline M &
their friend “DP first timer” Joanne who was a party on legs!!.
This is one of the perks of the job. Also caught up with
my mate Antony Crimson Black (who we stayed with in Whitby last year)
who made it to the gig after a very long drive from Sheffield!
And
then there were The Coffins fronted by the dude Joe Bone. Now I was
lucky enough to see Glasgow’s finest son Alex Harvey and I can
think of no higher praise than to say there were distinct echoes of
SAHB here, maybe it was the vocals & accent, maybe it was the
bank robbers balaclava or the excellent band (the bass player was
superb) but whatever I loved these guys. “Get into the Coffins
before you die” wise words indeed!
Then
we were on and it was a such great crowd. Fucking excellent gig.
Mainy did us proud at The Barfly in 2008 and he did it again, thank
you so much mate.
A
bit of a hectic rush to pack up and get out....Lisa M asked if she
could help me pack up because she quite rightly felt we should have
some roadies (so do I but I can’t afford them). Lisa I have to say
the next day when we went to set up the stand for the flag it
literally fell to pieces – no worries we sorted it out – and you
have got the job!!
A few more photos outside and it was
all over – apparently there had been mayhem earlier in the evening
around the venue – Jacqui saw a large group of people hitching a
ride on a garbage truck and a big fight – but we got some deep
fried pizza and wished we could rewind the night and do it all over
again. Maybe we will!!
Just
got a short and sweet review in from Mr Anarchoi aka Mysterious
Stranger (For 'Plastic Punks' Only)
DEVILISH
PRESLEY/THE COFFINS/HOMESICK ALDO/MELISSA KELLY... PIVO PIVO/ FRIDAY
20TH APRIL 2012.
Great
turnout for a Friday gig, and that was with a coupla other things
goin on in the city.
Sadly
I missed Melissa Kelly who was 1st on but I was reliably informed her
set went doon well wae the punters.
Next
up was Homesick Aldo who sported a 'Johnny Thunders' t shirt....top
marx straight away fae me!!!! He done a 1 man band playin some
drums,harmonica and anything else he could get his hands or teeth
into!!! Like a blues meets glam meets sleazy punk in cbgbs which
certainly messed up the rules of punk, he kept it going well and the
crowd were eatin outta his hands by the end of it!!
The
Coffins were up next and treated us to some Garage influenced rock
which was met with an equally frantic crowd, horror and murder the
order of the day...or night...crackin band live!!! Devilish Presley
ended proceedings and they've never disappointed at all, drum machine
and guitar and bassist all served up a tasty mix of 70s punk and Joan
Jett influenced attitude!!! Once again, a well promoted gig not
relying on big names just honesty and attitude.
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