The Fleagle's Have Landed
My first memories of the gig are meeting the Fleagle's at the station.
I brought them home for a hot cup of coffee. They were a brilliant couple
who had flown all the way from South of London, it was great to meet them both
as we had been m8's through TV Smiths website for so long. I took them down
to the Calais Hotel to drop off theirs bag, An hour or so later the phone rings,
it's TV calling asking how to get to my place from the tyre services on
the prom, it was weird knowing TV would be coming to our house within minutes IF
our directions are OK! When Tj and TV arrived it was GREAT! "TV's
here!" I shouted to Carol, then it was off out to meet TV and
TJ (the original TUT and poster extraordinaire). It was a pleasure to meet
Tj & TV at the same time as they got out the car. TV was COLD and TJ
was tired, but I knew from then on that it was going to be a great night.
I was worried in case TV was a very concerned about the gig. The fact
that it was changed from the Calais to the Blazers Fun Pub was enough to put
some people of making the trip to Leven. I knew this was NOT good, but as old
Leo once said 'the show must go on.'
TV had a bath to chill and get warm!!!! TJ told me that he had been discussing
the possibility of TV finally recording the 80's Demo's with TV on the journey
from the Apocalypse in Edinburgh. TV was apparently interested in working on
some of the demos at some time in the future. Tj said that he and TV had also
talked about marketing and TV was interested in the packaging and marketing
that Mike Peter's was using for his latest series of CD's called In The Poppy
Fields, which Tj had copies of in his car.
TJ went to the Calais where he met the Fleagle's and exchanged some Damned
gifts. Tj says he received the perfect life when he bumped into his old m8's!
Back at My Place we shared a bottle of wine and chatted with one of my heroes
in OUR Living room... WOW! TV Smith is sitting on our settee having a glass
of red wine! He had enjoyed his bath and was re-stringing his guitar before
the walk to the Fun Pub.
My nerves are shot to bits by this time. I'm worried 'cos its the Fun pub and
not the Calais Hotel. I later find out that my fears were right, as the Calais
decided NOT to let people know the gig was moved to the Fun Pub. This included
a photographer that I'd booked to take some PRO pics of T V! Grrrrr! Our posters,
that we had put so much work into, that let people know the gig had changed,
were pulled down by kid's (so were told) BUT the WILL go on!
We met up again with Tj and The Fleagle's and introduced them to some of our
m8's.
TV hit the stage and announced "I knew this was going to be an interesting
gig when a bloke I had never met before stuck his tongue in my ear as soon as
I walked in. One down only seven million to go!
Not A Bad Day
I noticed Tj writing his review as soon as TV hits the first note.
Has anyone a birthday tonight? Two shout out "YES!"
No Time To be 21
Tears of joy all round!
The Future Used To Be Better
As TV started his barrage of songs it seemed that everyone in the pub knew
me! I got handed beer after beer. TV is singing his songs in LEVEN!! Here's
a guy I've admired since 1977! A guy I'd never seen live 'till 1996! And he's
right here in my hometown!!
What IF?
As TV ripped into his set, it was great to look over at our new friends from
England enjoying the gig the Fleagle's and Tj all here to see there favourite
artist live - all those miles that's dedication!
"Another ambition fulfilled - to play in a fun pub!!" quipped TV.
The Immortal Rich
"You can have so much money that you will live forever - it is only logical,"
explained TV.
This Year Next Year
I hear Tj shout to Fleagle "What If and This Year are great live songs,"
Fleagle nodded his head positively in agreement.
"The Fun Pub" exclaimed TV as he raised his glass, "Aptly named.
I'm having the time of my life. I've never been so warmly welcomed."
One Million Pounds
"Can someone turn that TV off?" pleaded TV. "Get rid of TV!"
joked Tj.
Swimming In The Flood
GAWD Yes! A round of applause as the TV goes off.
Television's Over
"Great British Mistake" shouts a fan. "I've already played GB
Mistake in a punk horror shop in Edinburgh a few hours ago." TV. Oh well!
Great British Mistake
"The most difficult Adverts song to play on acoustic guitar ever! It's
the first time I've played it twice in a day since 1977!" TV.
"They try to oppose their Values on you..." introduces TV.
Soon As I Found It I Lost It
"Leevern? Leaven? Levern? Leven? - You don't even know how to pronounce
your own town. I come from LONDON! Seeing as though this is my farthest gig
North for ages, why don't I do a song slagging off London?" TV.
Looking Down On London
"This is about crooks who disappear into a foreign country and live in
luxury." TV. "I bet it's for you CHEAP JOCK," jokes Tj in my
ear.
Luxury In Exile
"The best place to escape to is where you already are!" TV.
Your Ticket Out Of Here
"This is a new song about how you are affected by trivia so much lately
and you don't need to be," TV.
Earthbound
"When everything gets too sweet I get suspicious!" TV
Sugar Crash
"How are the cheapskates at the back?" TV
Tomahawk Cruise
"Brilliant!" I shout out. "All thanks to you Jock," replies
TV. "You can't stop having fun in the fun pub now! Or can you.."
The Day We Caught The Big Fish
"How can the Police in Leven resist this magnificent grin? C'mon!"
TV.
We Know What You Want
The front of the gig is really buzzing now!
Only One Flavour
"I'm really hearing every single separate note of the Guvner," I
tell Tj.
A full moon rises at TV (_!_). "There's nothing like an arse to start
a poem with!!" TV
Punk Rock Poem ->Gary Gilmore's Eyes
"Is that THE (_!_) END?" TV...
NO!
Bored Teenagers
I sink beer after beer in a nervous rush, although I want to stay kind
of sober so I can remember the gig. BUT its apparent that tonight I'm getting
out of it!
Generation Y
TV rips through his set, singing classic after classic. But, I get a little
upset at the amount of people who are chatting in the background, this annoys
me and I just want to tell 'em all to shut the fuck up!! Grr, TV Smith
is playing his set, and some people are NOT listening, obviously some people
are not there for the gig.
Lion And The Lamb
I'm still upset at the amount of people who are chatting, and I feel
bad when some folks try to chat to me while TV is playing, its apparent too
that I'm NOT going to get any peace, as I'm hassled by people, some who thank
me for managing to get TV to play, and some who want to buy me a beer, it can't
be bad really!! BUT I want to listen to TV.
It's Expensive Being Poor
TV Plays well into his two hour set, and Tj is still writing in his book.
The Fleagle's appear happy too, they are right into TV's set, they sink
a few beers and then a few more for luck! Fife, Yorkshire and Surrey the TV
United Tour Supporters together...
The World Just Got Smaller Again
It's 10:50 pm and the Leven Police are stood with arms crossed at the back of
the gig. TV talks about freedom and liberty and refers to the Police forcing
all local gigs to finish early. A major front-page issue in Leven.
The Statute Of Liberty
There's just five minutes to go and TV still hasn't played Runaway Train Driver.
Fleagle bellows "More!" But it's too late 11:00 pm is fast approaching
and it's time to make like Cinderella. The Police move in to clear the crowd.
The management usher Tj out of the gig, he manages to fit in a quick apology
that due to an early start tomorrow morning he can't come round for pizza and
beers at My Place.
After the gig we go home for Carol's home made pizza. TV seam's to enjoy it
a lot, and gives Carol a load of compliments. Bedtime is roughly 3.30am. A great
night is almost over.
Tj came up from Yorkshire for the gig. Alex came from Glasgow. He's another
major TV fan who got a £60 taxi ride from his lodgings to the gig! He
eventually got a taxi and train home at 5.30am from our house. Then there's
the Fleagle's who flew all the way from Surrey - that's South of London!! That's
dedication folks!
Overall the gig was a success. Although if TV ever came back to Leven I think
a better venue would be more suited.
On the way to Newcastle next day TV said that he found that free gigs
usually end up that way, with 'Talkers' all over the place, mainly 'cos there
not interested in the music. I've learned a lesson and would never organise
a free gig like that again for anyone.
My feelings on the gig you ask? Over all a success!! I really enjoyed
TV's two-hour set, and I loved having my hero of the music business
in our hometown, and our very own home. As a bonus I've met three TUTS I'd never
met before, so that cant be bad either.
Jock
A TUTS Production (Written by Jock with additional material by Tj)
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