Wakefield Is Brill

Wakefield seems like it would make a great night out.

I've said this statement several times since we played there on Friday, the general response has been cynical. Well, look...



...bet you didn't expect that did you?

As Dan & Andy have already mentioned, we liked the place, it's got that Wigan-meets-Prague vibe that seems to set most folks in good spirits, and a good selection of bars, from the super-pleasant, to the super-neon, to the just plain strange. Admittedly we approached it from a good angle, it was a warms spring evening and we were about to play a gig, and yes, I've actually been out in Wakefield once before, but that night was darker, and I was more tired, but we liked it very much, and I hope we can return and take in a full night before the summer is out.

The Escobar is a great little venue too, and it don't matter so much how sparse the crowd might be if they're gonna give it the welly that we were lucky enough to see on Friday. Bands pulling out, drinks before gig, Jonny Swift on his knees; gig could have been a disaster, but the paying customers wouldn't let it be. Big big thanks to the guy who filled in last minute as opening act and managed to get his fans and friends to stick around for us too, sorry we(I) didn't get your name, if anybody knows him, do write in. Same thanks to the West Yorkshire contingent that came down as a result of Mr Dykes too, brilliant you were.

The Ferret? Oh how we love The Ferret. Opening band dropping out last minute, Duelling Pistols playing two gigs with five minutes in between to fill in, top travelling band and then we get to spend half an hour having an awful lot of fun. I think though, if we're ruling that Swifty only has a few drinks before the gig, we should rule that Russ (that's me, in the third person) only has a few after the gig.

No gigs now until May? It seems so long, who wants a One English Pound gig in their garden while the sun is out? Will play for burgers, so long as you've got decent relish.

Russ

Man walks into a pub....

.....asks what time One English Pound are on because he only saw a couple of songs last time and enjoyed them so wanted to see the full set.

There were many highlights this weekend. We were able to pretend we were on tour and played two different cities in two consecutive nights. If you keep up to date with our blogging you'll be already in the know that on Friday we played in Wakefield to a small but enthusiastic crowd. This was followed by our 4th appearance at the Mad Ferret to another enthusiastic crowd that was healthy in size. We were also delighted to make friends with a band called Where's Strutter who were very enjoyable.

So, a weekend filled with plenty of highlights however my favourite highlight had to be purchasing my first "Twister" Ice lolly of the year, adorning a pair of sunglasses and making my way to the park for a sit down.

Andy

Bars made from Palm Trees

Escobar in Wakefield last night. Headline band dropped out last minute (cheers to the several Preston bands and minor celebrities who jumped to Russ' aid when he was told to find a bass amp at a few hours notice), so modest crowd but great reaction. New song Cinderella Walls got people moving and Eldon Street turned a bit chaotic; people danced, people sang and I turned round at the end to find Jonny on the floor.

Preston tonight, so we had to shoot back, but Wakefield looks like a great night out, it's even got a Latin quarter, so hopefully we'll be back there before too long.

We're playing the Mad Ferret this evening, it all kicks off around 9.30pm and it's free entry, so you've no excuses not to be there. Also check out our good friends the Duelling Pistols at the Ship Inn at 9pm on your way down.

We're joined by Where's Strutter?, who were main support to Pete Doherty in Manchester on Monday and are looking to do big things. The show is opened by Chorley's The Dime Show, and it's Tom the drummer's birthday, so get down from the start to make sure he has a good one.

Dan

Good News Friday

So, it's Good Friday.. But what on earth is good about it? Well, we're most of us off work for a start. The sun's out (or at least it was) and Preston's newest hit makers One English Pound have a host of announcements to, er, announce.

Firstly, we have new recordings up on the myspace, click here to go have a listen.

Secondly, we have booked a new run of gigs as follows, get in touch for entry details;

April 9 (Escobar, Wakefield)
April 10 (Mad Ferret, Preston)
May 12 (Milo, Leeds)
May 14 (New Continental, Preston)
May 30 (The Well, Leeds)
June 5 (FAC251, Manchester - the new clubnight run by the team behind Factory Records.)

We've also had our first review, by a site called Mudkiss (www.mudkiss.com) and we're gradually getting our heads round a few new melodies and ideas, which will hopefully make an appearance at some of these forthcoming gigs.

I think that's all for now, keep checking back as we'll have another song up next week.

Enjoy your Good Friday, even if you have a headache or you have to work or you missed your train and had your card declined while trying to pay for a new ticket.

Dan

What kind of idiot runs out of petrol?

This kind of idiot.

I used to mock people who allowed such a foolish thing to happen on their watch, and mock with relish. You have a gauge, a warning light, and basic arithmetic, you'd have to be a major pleb to find yourself stuttering to a halt on a very inconvenient road through the centre of Leeds. Well, I take it back, mostly, it turns out all you have to be is a little overly frugal, to go with what's in your pocket and hope for the best. Well, we made it to the gig in the end, and while I was jogging across Leeds for fuel, Jonny Swift left me a nice note to read every time my windscreen steams up.

From where I sat the whole day was a bit like this, always on the edge of going the wrong way but never quite tipping. The ninety minutes it took us to get out of Preston thanks to the school run, the traffic that circled Manchester and the works in the road as we approached Leeds' city walls, the temporary breakdown and guesswork navigation, the lack of soundcheck and genuine fear that we may end up playing simply to some darkened pool tables and disinterested cuesmiths.

But at every turn things just worked out, we arrived, the venue was good, the crowd were excellent, really excellent, and the night out after, well, I'm missing some important keys, my legs are cut, I've dull aches everywhere and the bank manager wants to have a word with me, but I'd do it again tomorrow if I didn't think it would break me.

Russ, The Under Estimator

Ten English Pounds, One schoolboy error

I have often wondered exactly how much it costs to drive from Preston to Leeds in a 1990s Citroen Xantia. At 6pm on Friday, one hour before we had to be at the evening's gig venue, I found out.

We had bought what we thought was enough petrol and thought nothing more about it until we coughed and spluttered to an embarrassing halt on a busy slip road precisely 1.6 miles from our destination.

Having pushed the car to safety, Russ set off walking to the nearest petrol station, a 2-mile round trip that funnily enough meant he would have been quicker walking to the venue.

Left to make our own amusement, me and Jonny stuck to the basics: "I spy with my little eye, something beginning with P..."

Premier Inn. Yes. Oh, and a sign next to the car that reads "No parking at any time". So, whether we made the gig at all depended on who arrived at the car first, Russ or the wheel clamping company.

Russ arrived first. The gig went well. I'd recommend The Elbow Room both as gig a venue and as a drinking establishment. I'd also strongly recommend the Cockpit as somewhere to go afterwards.. despite what the rest of Leeds will tell you.

All's left is to say thanks to everyone who came, took notice, took a cd, said nice things, let us sleep at their houses, looked after our gear and gave us directions to the nearest petrol station.

Oh, incidentally, it costs about a tenner to drive from Preston to Leeds in a 1990s Citroen Xantia. Just over, to be precise.

Dan

Eh? Unending loops

The title of this blog has nothing to do with what I'm about to write about. I just wanted to share the fact I spent yesterday at the recording of TV show, Countdown. The title is an anagram, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to work it out.

I'll have a Consonant

G

Vowel

I

Consonant

G

It is time for another gig. This time we return to my hometown, Leeds. I like Leeds for a variety of reasons, one of them being the music it has on offer. It's great to be getting back involved in it and checking out the new places that have cropped up. Tomorrow, we'll be playing at the Elbow Rooms, a venue I have yet to play at. I have been before so know what to expect but always good to experience the other side. Why don't you come and share this experience?

Andy