Sheffield

The last time I played Sheffield I was supporting Vonda Shepard at the City Hall, after the gig I got lost trying to get out of town and had a brush with the ladies of the night, stopping and asking for directions and getting offered business in return. I went into internal panic mode imagining all kinds when actually they were very sweet and gave me directions no problem. Named or shamed I was not. This time it’s The Boardwalk though for reasons I won’t go into we end up at The Leadmill which adds a few more miles in the cross town rush hour traffic. I’ve driven again and managed to find the longest route; Ben is already there. The Boardwalk does a good line in hospitality, the snacks and tea/coffee most welcome and there’s a flat behind the stage that looks like an Oxfam display window, all dray Lon kitsch and Formica . It sure beats preening in pub toilets. We go to Pizza Hut for conventional Italian food returning to the venue later than usual and missing most of the supports which is a shame, tiredness our poor but genuine excuse. The gig goes well and we end up signing everything in sight. The Smiths fan ratio seems especially high tonight. A woman talks me into parting with my tie though she would prefer my shirt. I explain it’s my funeral tie and the only one I’ve got but I give it to her anyway in a moment of weakness. She’s with a group of people best described as avid collectors and archivists who are apparently regulars at the venue and good friends of the promoter. Later on she has me signing the tie with a silver marker pen. Then it’s goodbye to Barney and we’re off over the Snake Pass with clean headlights and screen wash. Tomorrow we’re in the West Midlands for a couple of hometown gigs on my part, or as good as. When I told people at the Brum gig I was from Bromsgrove they couldn’t stop laughing, no idea why,hmmm VPx