By 1980 I could do joined up writing they told me before taking me out on the Glasgow tour again.
We even had enough time to pass the traffic cone.
Choice pub on the way to the O2 had to be after we crossed the river. The Laurieston is absolutely superb.
They say everything is half price across the river and you'd think it was happy hour this Friday night. Getting change from £20 for four drinks is becoming unusually infrequent and more often embarrassing as you rummage for another £10 or your card.
Walking into the Laurieston was like a breath of fresh air and getting folding stuff back off a £20 is taking me back to the last time I saw the Revillos.
It was 1983, issue #21 when I was 21 too. It was the issue that would see us I to the new year of 1984 and all thoughts turned to the Orwellian nightmare being wrought upon Scotland by the Tories Thatcherite theft. The looting of the state by the state for those running it was never far from my mind and as I arrived at 60 last year I'm glad my mind wasn't as sharp as to think what has changed in my life.
Some things have stayed the same and it is for the better when it's the music of the Revillos and Undertones.
The only thing that has changed is the venue and drink prices.
They dance more than I do too, now that has changed. Back then we called it a "Glam 12 bar sound" and it still sounds great, you never forget a classic from when you were 14. The only thing I forgot is that I knew all the words. As a warm up act they're superb. It's a high energy gig and I'd recommend they drop to 6 songs as you've;
got to think about your hips and knees
In a different way these ......days.
The age of the audience was predictable but many fans brought their kids who are all 25-35 so a new generation to enjoy 'TOTP'.
I sing the Undertones songs all the time. When they came on they were brilliant. I love loads of the back catalogue and again I hear myself singing them and think, oh, maybe not all songs about chocolate and girls stand the test of time, but it's what I thought back then and who cares I'm glad I'm all grown up now.
Wednesday week never happened at all.....
I sing it on the Camino and she's usually left me for the church......that or some observations on how there are more cranes in Spain than churches.
Mickey likes a chat and so does the singer Paul. The O'Neill brothers like to power their rhythm guitar in different ways, blessedly complementary and I love the way Billy bashes them into shape.
The evening was transported to the next level for the encore with what would've been a magnificent 9minutes of love aid. 4 songs without drawing breath. Cousin Key-evan was there, they were all there.
I didn't want to take pics so apologies for so few as I was too busy watching, oh and stumbling towards the bar and toilets. Some things really haven't changed.
Thanks for a great night!
