Roadmungerers

From Cambridge to London and the hamlet of Archway to stay with Helene still no amount of local knowledge can prevent us from getting totally lost on the way to the Spitz and we're 2 hours late for the soundcheck. The Australian sound guy lets us off, just, then its quality pasta all round. Ian eats for two and I am becoming obsessed with the giant seagulls of his dreams. Helene go on first to deliver another quality show. I take some photos from the gallery and meet up with Simon, Amos and Katie from tompaulin [the group not the guy] here to see the gig. It's been some considerable time since I co-produced their debut album [The Town and the City] and we don't get to see each other as much as we'd like [they're in London...I'm in Mancunium] so there's plenty to catch up on. They have a new compilation odds and ends album out on Track and Field very soon called Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt and a new record in progress with Simon at the controls. They promise to send a copy of the work in progress which I've now received and very fine it is too. After the gig, which goes wellish, give or take the odd pedal cutting out problem, oh yeah and that feedback didn't help...Still alls well at the CD stall where I meet scouse mates I never knew I had in the first place, and give away stuff I never meant to. Then its back to Helenes for the Graham and Helene show where I'm sleeping with Charlie the fat cat. Sunday morning and we're off to Leicester after huge veggie bargain breakfast not 20 yards from the flat. Late afternoon we're all soundchecked and ready to go at The Musician, a beautifully formed little venue that becomes a favourite of mine no soon as I walk in. Here I spend ages talking to locals about Family, surely Leicesters finest band ever, and the sheer wondrous joy that is My Friend the Sun, which I mean to cover in my set but forget all about it no soon as I have started the gig. As attendances go this gig is no record breaker..we'll leave it at that and with those who were there. Aftershow I drive to Bromsgrove where I'm staying with my parents, there's an ominous flash from the speed cameras as I leave; subsequently confirmed [just yesterday] to the tune of 3 points on my driving license and a ?60 fine. 38 mph in a 30 zone. Arrgggh. VPx