No Sugarcoating & No Bullshit: January
Written by Jo Hayes
Saturday, 24 January 2015 04:00
Hello and Happy New Year Uber Rockers. The last time I wrote a blog, everyone was pulling their hair out with the stress that is Christmas/Yule/Hanukkah/Corporate Santa Day. Now it’s a new year and everyone is miserable from looking at their credit card bills, from going back to work, and, of course, the horrendous cold weather that we’ve had which, year on year, seems to surprise everyone – well, it is winter, and we live in the UK.
So to cheer you all up (unless you’re content being miserable), I’ll be writing my usual lot of nonsense, in some way music related of course; this may end up being a rant, who knows.
I’ve caught myself daydreaming a lot lately, most often when I’m trying to study or write an essay on something boring, and of course I think of going somewhere warm and/or more interesting. So money and health allowing, I want to go away on holiday, but make it a trip to see a band.
The last time I did this was back in September 2011, when I flew three thousand miles to see D Generation at their homecoming show in New York City. As soon as the tickets went on sale, I booked my flight, and my friend stateside got the tickets. I was so happy that I was finally getting to see ‘D Gen’ play, that I didn’t pay attention to their other shows, as naturally I assumed that they wouldn’t play the UK.
I was at Irving Plaza in NYC, and talking to a friend of mine by the bar. I saw they were wearing a D Generation tour t-shirt, and of course, there was a London date on there. They asked if I didn’t know, and I felt stupid not knowing that ‘D Gen’ played around only fifty miles from where I lived, and I flew three thousand miles. Still, I’d choose New York City over London any day! So I wasn’t that disappointed (I just felt like a bit of an idiot).
The time before that I went to a garage festival in Rotterdam – called ‘The Rotterdam Rumble’ – which was awesome. Radio Birdman and The Peawees were the highlights for me, plus this was the only place I could see these bands at the time, and it wasn’t THAT far from home (so I therefore wasn’t an idiot).
This time around, I’m thinking of making a trip to Europe to see The Lovesores (with members of The Humpers if you’re not sure who they are). It might seem crazy going far to see a band, but to be honest, it’s a good excuse to get away. Also with no bands that I want to see playing nearby (that I know of anyway), then why not?
I’ve been a fan of The Humpers for a while now (it helps having younger parents with great music taste), and my old band covered ‘Up Your Heart’ by them – which was a fun song to cover. The Lovesores are equally as good, and with no UK shows on the tour schedule, a gigging holiday it is.
For me it beats going to a festival and paying extortionate prices to maybe see only one or two great bands, a couple of okay bands, then a load of bands I might not even remember. Then of course there’s the overinflated cost of beer, food and water, and the annoying people. Don’t get me wrong, I have had some great fun at festivals when I was in my late teens, it was one big party. However my last festival (Download 2010 with AC/DC headlining), wasn’t great in comparison. There were some people my friends decided to camp with, who were a juvenile pain in the arse, and I’d get woken up when I’d decided to go to bed at 5am by someone shouting “IT’S A FESTIVAAAAL, YOU CAN’T SLEEP!” and shaking the tent. I decided to pack up my stuff early and leave, after watching Motörhead, then attempting to watch Aerosmith for kicks.
Aside from that, I did have some fun, but as with anything, the negatives can stand out from the positives! Watching Motörhead from the side of the stage, whilst it was pissing it down with rain, was a highlight, as well as, of course, watching the almighty AC/DC with my friends.
Anyway, until next time…
Jo