Review by Mrs Fleagle:
See also set of photos taken by Mrs Fleagle!
PUNK AID 2003
Finding ourselves sitting outside
Hoseasons Holiday Camp in Brixham we come to the conclusion we should have printed
out the how to find us map on the Pontins website because quite frankly we hadn’t
got a clue where we were going. It
seems to becoming a tradition to get lost on the way to see TV.
We decide to use our initiative and ring the site, a very helpful receptionist
gives us the most in-depth directions but they are so complicated the only thing
I remember is the word hospital, so we decide just to drive and see if we can
find signs for the hospital. We start driving around the windy roads of Brixham
and there are no signs for the hospital then by chance we happen upon the road
in which Pontins is located, hurrah we’re there.
We book in, get issued with our shocking
pink hospital style wristbands and set off in search of out chalet. It’s only a small site so were not to far from the amenities.
The chalets are basic but clean and incredibly cold.
We dump our stuff off go and check out the bar.
We spot a familiar face there, now where do we know that bloke from?
It’s Storky who organised the Ipswich Beer Festival gig minus his tiger
stripe hair do, so we go and so hello.
After a pint and a bite to eat we get ready for the evenings music.
We don’t stay too late because we are all tired after the long journey.
It’s Saturday and we head off to Brixham
for lunch and find a very nice Bistro and have a good lunch because of the timings
of the bands we want to see we know we won’t eat later.
We head back to Pontins pull into the carpark and see a familiar figure
unloading his car, Fleagle can’t resist using the local Devonian colloquialism
TV had used in an email to him so bellowed out of the car window ‘oi get orf
moi land’. TV’s chalet is a couple
of rows down from ours the posh row of concrete chalets not the flimsy wood
panel ones that we were in we just hoped it was warmer than ours.
TV’s set is scheduled for 6.30 so we say we will see him over there.
We were watching the Parkinsons and Teev
comes in he’s next on the venue isn’t that busy and he is a little concerned
that his slot is a bit early, but it’s coming up to his slot so he heads backstage.
TV’s on stage and it’s sound check time
it shouldn’t take too long as there is only TV’s guitar to worry about but oh
no finally 10 minutes into TV’s slot he’s ready to play.
TV opens with Only One
Flavour.
He then say’s how good it is to
have the barriers in front of the stage so he won’t get rushed, then second
thoughts he decides having just turned 47 it might be fun and it’s into No
Time to be 21.
Then an excellent passionate performance
of Not In My Name, the sound here is excellent and this is the
best performance of this song I have heard yet.
Then on a theme it’s The Great British
Mistake.
TV tells us he is going to do some songs
about money and religion, yeah right, no chance because an endless stream of
requests start coming from the swelling crowd.
There is a shout for On Wheels,
why not says Teev I’ll give it a go it turns out to be the shortened version
as TV seems to get a flat tyre half way through, despite the abrupt stop Teev
pull it off and the requests are still coming.
Next up Tomahawk Cruise excellent
one of my favourites and none of TJ’s
backing vocals, not that you would have heard him it was so loud.
Next is We Want the Road followed
by Expensive Being Poor.
TV looks down at Fleagle says I
haven’t forgotten and honours his request for Lion and The Lamb.
Then Teev says he will do a song that is appropriate
to the Punk Aid theme – An alternative to television and it’s Televisions
Over.
Then Safety in Numbers, Generation
Y and yes someone actually shouted for it The Day We Caught the
Big Fish.
TV says he is going to play his hit sing
GGE, oh no he isn’t he is going to play Thin Green Line.
Towards the end of the song I catch the soundman out of the corner of my eye
running his finger across his neck. Nooooooo it can’t be the end, but yes it
is you can’t go over time even if the soundman buggered up the sound check.
TV laments that he’s only just warmed up and couldn’t even play his hit single.
It was a superb performance and I am pleased
to say the applause, whistles etc.. that TV received was the most enthusiastic
we had heard so far, not the polite clapping we had heard for many artists.
THE END |