Dublin Castle, Camden, London, 20/05/09. Sid's Tour Diary

I like the ‘Dublin Castle’. I tell the rest of the band this over and over again on the way up there and when we first arrive. Countless stories of how I got my first review in the ‘NME’ there (when I threw up in the gutter outside) or the time the landlord relieved himself up the back of my old band’s van while we were loading up - and all he could say was ‘I’m the landlord here, I can do what I like” ! Happy days ! We also have bets on the way up as to whether we would arrive before the soundman or any of the other bands. I say yes to the soundman, but no to the bands. I was right. There’s already another band here when we roll up. In fact, Ben still hasn’t paid up the £100 he owes me for this fact.

‘The Lasting Days’ are the other said band and introduce themselves straight away as we’re heading for the bar. A band that’s here before us and a band that is nice with it, such a rarity on our gigging schedule.

Eventually the soundman arrives, but the headline band hasn’t. He decides to soundcheck ‘The Lasting Days’ instead. This takes ages, and then some. They have a multitude of different instruments and are a drummer down until later. This means differing band members are sounchecking differing instruments. It gets confusing. We get bored. After what seems like an eternity we do get to do our soundcheck though, it goes well. F***ing loud, but good. The first band on then soundcheck and we head out to the bar.

More drinks are bought and consumed as various fans and friends start to arrive to see us play (hello Sam, Rock ‘N’ Roll Steve, Depak et al). In fact, the whole place is starting to look lively and busy. We like this.

We amble in to watch the first band, they’re called ‘British Broken Class’. They have 2 guitars, 1 laptop and only 1 tune. They play it, they change the drum pattern, they play it again, they change the drum pattern, they start to play it again, they realise the drum pattern is wrong, they stop, they start again. To be honest I switch off.

Then, it’s us up. We rawk ! Quite literally. It’s f***ing loud. People are impressed. We get a queue going for our new free cd afterwards. Lots of people are joining the mailing list as well. We must be doing something right, our friends variously say we are improving so much and that the song’s are really catchy and well thought out. This is just what we want. We’re happy. The banter / vibe / piss-taking is great. ‘Brassneck’ really are on top form tonight.

Following us come ‘The Lasting Days’, they have fiddles, mandolin’s, harmonies, talent and energy in abundance. We’re impressed. Not only were they here before us, then they were nice to us and now they turn out to be a great band. What’s going on ? Well, before we get too carried away their set tails off a bit towards the end. We still like them though and despite their free cd not doing them justice (y’see they give away cd’s the same as us too !) they’re easily one of the better bands we’ve gigged with on the circuit for quite a while.

Last up are ‘Jive Stick’. They didn’t turn up for their soundcheck and now they’ve just plugged in to Neil’s bass amp without even asking if they can borrow it. I see red. I bound up to the stage just as they’re about to start. ‘Do you know who’s bass amp that is ?’ I ask the bassist. ‘Errr, no’ he says. ‘Don’t you think you should have asked someone before just assuming you can use it ?’ I say. ‘I thought it was an in-house one’ he replies. I’m not happy. If they’d been here for the soundcheck they would have known it was Neil’s amp and then they could have asked if they could borrow it like any decent human being would. I can’t be bothered to watch their set now, especially after 2 songs when Ben leans over to me and says “It looks like you’re not even the worst singer in the building tonight Sid”. I howl with laughter. He’s right. I could sing better than that. I leave to talk to Smith from ‘The Lasting Days’ in the bar.

All in all though, a good night. I must admit I’ve had a few to drink by the end of the evening (I’m not quite throwing up in the gutter outside though) and when we load up the band ask that usual question ‘Are you going to get us lost on the way home Sid ?’ ‘I’ll try not to’ I say but it really does look different going home. I can get us to the gigs in Camden blindfolded but sometimes getting out of Camden confuses me, must be the drinking that I do in the evening eh ! Anyway, today’s exit goes well and we’re out on the normal route home in no time. The banter’s good again. Ben liking boys (allegedly), Kat liking listening to people being killed (allegedly) and me liking watersports (allegedly) !! How come Neil and Mark never admit to anything dodgy on these journeys ? Oh yeah, Neil goes the other way on his own (so to speak !)………and Mark’s the drummer !

Sid.