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OTHER NEWS!
Ocean Colour Scene/Smashing Time/Geno Washington - August 13th 2005 Blackpool.
By Jim Guynan...
A big thanks to everyone who saw us play over the weekend in Keighley and Blackpool with OCS especially the die hards who travelled up from London.
Friday began with a flat tyre for Paul Freeman outside my house. Bob got delayed in Rainham. Paul Mc, Alvin and Smiler travelled up from Walthamstow and made the most of Toddington Services.After an eight hour journey blighted by 80 miles of traffic jams on th M1 The New variety Club, Keighley(Guinness £2.20 a pint) lived up to its promise of being like Phoenix Nights (lager £2.10 a pint!). There was a small but attentive crowd in attendance. We played with local band Operator Six who were tight and tuneful. A great bunch of lads who unfortunately fell at the last hurdle when they refused to play their version of Billie Jean! Paul Mc had some throat problems so took it down a gear to preserve his voice for Blackpool. Steve the sound guy did a great job especially as the traffic had made us all late.
After a couple of beers (bitter £2.00 a pint!) We journied on to Blackpool straight after the gig and guided by Alvin's compass and homing bird instinct arrived at The Sandringham Court Hotel at about 1am. After drawing straws as to who would end up in a room with Smiler (bad luck Paul) it was six tickets to Dreamland.
The following morning kicked off with the obligatory full English and a walk round Blackpool which we filmed. A couple of liveners on the pier a quick game of air hockey and then back to get the gear to the venue.
And what a venue!!! The Empress Ballroom has got to be one of the best music venues in the country. Chandeliers! Our dressing room was sandwiched between OCS's and Geno Washington's. Geno was a regular visitor to our room asking for a corkscrew and to give advice and eventually praise (see the video clip).Smiler and Geno were like old buddies by the end of the night.
We played straight off the back of a rudimentary soundcheck, so thanks to all the OCS crowd that came in early doors and caught our set. We wanted to film the show but didn't get a chance to set up any cameras in front of the band so if there's anyone out there that took some shots please send them in.
We kept the gaps between songs short so we could fit in as many as possible. There was a lot of debate as to what songs should stay or go.
We were joined by the bald monkey spanking Paul Bennett (Trumpet), spiky Ben Whyntie (Trombone) and the gorgeous Tamar (Sax and Flute) who played straight from Nicki Hutchins' scores - and a top job they did too.
Thirty sweaty minutes later it was all over. Time to polish off the rider! Funnily enough the only thing left was a couple of pears.
We met loads of great people at the merchandise stand after the show. Loads of you signed upfor the mailing list so we'll keep you informed of all our news. It would be great to play up north again. We'll be planning our next run of gigs right away. Any suggestions for suitably venues gratefully received.
A highlight was meeting founder and resident DJ at the legendary Wigan Casino, Russ Winstanley. We chatted about our favourite northern soul tunes and Russ let on that his tiny 7" single box contained in excess of £20,000 worth of tunes. I'm surprised he doesn't get followed round by Group 4 or something.
Following the gig Paul Freeman drove straight back to London. The rest of us made our way to the ale houses of Blackpool. What an eye opener! We ended up in the 80s in a place called The Tower Lounge which bizarrely had no chairs. I can honestly say I have never seen such short skirts in my life! ...and they all go commando! Rah! Rah! for that! There's only so much Human League a band can take so we did the offski. A stagger back to the hotel chips in hand was marred only by the Blackpool police singling out Alvin for some thinly veiled suss.
Next morning another full English and some more beers (Fosters £2.20 a pint) on the front and back to the smoke only to find the gary Crowley had plugged the album on his BBC Radio London show (you can hear it until Friday on the BBC website). Overall a top weekend. Let's do it again!
Finally a big thanks to Roger Nowell for the Keighley gig and OCS and 3A for putting us on the bill. We had a smashing time.
01/07/05 - Smashing time play with the Yardbirds, 100 Club, Oxford Street
What a night - one of our best ever gigs. Smiler was just smoking on the drums and the Hornaphonics provided the biggest brass sound you have ever heard - how can three people sound so big! Alvin had the opportunity of a lifetime to jam with the Yardbirds for a couple of numbers during soundcheck, a fact he will be telling everyone over the coming months! Thanks to the Yardbirds, especially Jerry Donahue, their latest guitarist, an a very nice man.,
09/03/05 - Smashing Time play with Chas & Dave on 18th March at the 100 club.
Another fantastic gig at the 100 club, Oxford Street, with the legendary Chas & Dave, following on from our debut with the Sex Pistol's Glen Matlock, it just gets better..
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09/03/05 - Smiler returns to Smashing Time.
Steve 'Smiler' Besemer has spent the past 18 months playing drums for top tribute band The Jamm ( a tribute to Kajagoogoo). He is now back in the fold sporting the dandiest of feathered hairdos. Nice!