Burnley

The Circulation Club is for sale, it says so right here on the internet, the auction is next week. I’m printing off a map of Burnley having not been there for sometime, last gig if I recall was at The Mechanics with Nils Lofgren in the CMP Theatre support days; a lot of water under bridges since. I collect Spooner from Middleton; he’s lending me an amp, an old Fender Bassman which just about fits the back seat. Spoon is back home rebuilding his studio and recovering after five shows with Soundtrack of our Lives in the US, he’s bit knackered. We get to the club and arrive at precisely the same time as the others. We’re in central Burnley alongside a new estate and a carpet factory. We get met by a 10 year old boy in a cowboy hat who turns out to the drummer in one of the bands. And what an amazing drummer he was, like a mini Keith Moon. I didn’t get his name or the name of the band, which is typical of me and slightly annoying. Sorry about that. The club is all retro kitsch Phoenix Nights, there’s a mirror ball and bizarrely a snug. We know the sound guy John from the Witchwood [very good he is too] still we take forever to get a decent sound as the monitors seem to be wired all wonky. The new amp I’m borrowing is also not as expected so I end up fiddling around and around with the sound. I overdo the details and then I really can’t tell anymore. I make do. Pre gig we get to play darts and snooker. Mike and Ben are regular ocky jockeys. I’m not exactly a natural for the arrows, best leave it at that. The gig goes well despite the lack of people. January is difficult month…like it says so in the promoter’s bible. Mike ends up wearing a bin liner. End of the night and I get a migraine from hell, manage to drive home but only just. Then I’m as sick as a dog. This is a pattern with me and not a very nice one,I must drink more water in future, VPx