Cork

We get an early start and make good headway to Cork, there’s even some motorway which is nice. We arrive earlier than expected and settle into the venue to watch the Man U v Villa game, naturally the camp is divided, Andy and Ben are United fans, Mike is more than happy [being a city fan] to have allegiances with any team that plays United and that includes my team, so we’re kind of equal. The Landlord sensibly puts us in a bar of our own when he realises we don’t all support the reds as everyone in his packed bar do. Better safe than sorry. So here we are in a little bar of our own with the TV and the hospitality ale and some snacks. All in all a result I’d say. Then out of nowhere Tim and Ann appear. Tim’s a local writer and friend who’s been working on the Irish press angle, we immediately order more drinks and catch up on gossip. We were planning on staying over at Tim’s place after the show but it’s seventy miles away and going to be too much of a rush so we have to decline. We really must plan these things better in future. After the match [United win comfortably] we head off to do a radio interview and song which is a brief stroll through the town away. We chat about the single, the DJ plays it and we do a strictly Sunday school version of Jesus Stole my Girlfriend with Sally Army tambourine and shakers [Mike] and organic melodica [Ben]. Andy’s having a sulk because there’s no DI for the bass guitar [again!]. We head back to the venue to sound check,it's on the second floor and has recently been overhauled, posh PA and new seats, very nice it looks too. They even have some sandwiches for us, the mashed potato ones are surprisingly appealing. So far so good as we head off back to the hotel with Tim and Ann for an evening meal and a wash. We’re back in time to catch some of the support, the delightfully monikered ‘My Evil Ex’, and I’m thinking sure, I can relate to that. The singer sports a Mohican but they’re more interesting than punk, more like a folk metal band. I’m also borrowing their gear, an old Roland Combo, so thanks guys for that, much appreciated. Just as we’re about to go on and languishing on stage I realise Mike has disappeared into god knows where, word is he’s left sticks at the hotel so in the meantime Ben and I meet The Corks side stage where we end up taking pictures and generally behaving like the gig is over before its started. Nobody seemed unduly concerned that we are by now half an hour late starting. I love that about Ireland, no worries and no hurry. The gig flys by and for the main we’re happy with it, I think we played better in Galway but Mike disagrees. This is certainly a great way to end a mini tour, alongside some wonderful hospitality with friends. We say goodbye to Tim and Ann and by then times pushing on. I settle up and the venue is pretty much empty after an obligatory indie disco beer sliding Smith diving chest baring finale. I smoke a crafty cigarette on the street below and meet a woman who guesses my star sign as I guess hers too with surprising accuracy. Bizzare that. The Corks are also there and experimenting with alcohol. Lots and lots of it. As the venue closes we go downstairs to the pub expecting a lock in and finding a jam packed boozer, its 4am, amazing. The Corks are just about standing, they entertain us with their stories most of which are so unbelievable they have to be true. They are huge fans of the old Rock n Roll Weetabix, Andy has tried it and recommends, you just use baileys instead of milk for a perfect hair of the dog, apparently. Then we’re back to the hotel which we find with relative ease even without Ben who’s still out supping. In the morning we get food from a bar [so many bars here we could almost be anywhere in Europe as they are all starting to look the same] and head off north to Dublin stopping off for some of the slowest and the most tasteless fast food known to man. On the boat Mike loses the money he won on the way over to the same Japanese croupier. I’m just grateful that the crossing is calm, pleasant even, then we’re home and dry, VPx