Another Slimmed Down Practice

Present:
Ad, Eg, Fea

Well, what's going on? This week it was Tom's turn to join Gi on the list of absentees. This time we were in the old recording studio. Ben had his son, Arlo, last week and is currently enjoying that glazed look that new fathers seem to get soon after child arrival.

Fea discovered he had lost some metal thing that goes under his strings off his guitar. The very moment he noticed it, Ben said that he had found it last week. A successful impromptu attempt at covering 'I Can See Clearly Now' [after Eg had picked up the words and music off the floor from another band's rehearsal] went rather well. Easier to learn than the newly attempted loopy classic-to-be 'Gallery of You'. Progress made on 'Sparkle' and another great 'Someone' into 'Startin' Out'. More accurate remembering of '24 Hours' too.

Panic ensued as our attempt to find that End of Night Pint was thwarted by the early closing of the three nearest pubs. What's going on? So we ended up sitting by the river, on a bench enjoying the Emergency Beer Supply that Ad keeps in the boot of his car. The teenagers skateboarding over on the other bank looked awfully envious.

Topics of Conversation: The gig that will clear our debt to the North Moreton auction that Eg committed us to. How many GCSEs is a degree worth? Religious schools advertising for teachers with their specific faith: is it legal? Having a beer with your daughter. The naivety of new cooing new fathers and the smugness of the listening older fathers.

Slimmed Down Band Practice

Present:
Fea, Ad, Tom

Location:
Valley Studios

Newer songs practised. Enjoyed reviving 'Someone' and 'Starting Out', plus we tried to remember '24 Hours'. And failed. Ben [Mr Valley Studios] was practising with one of his bands, passing the time while he was waiting for his girlfriend to give birth. Indeed, her waters had broken at 2pm. But no contractions. By tomorrow he should be a father. Bless him. Paid him for both the night's practice plus the short notice cancellation of last week. D'Oh!

Finished off with the usual pint at our new favourite local. Topics of conversation: Loopy blog, an inability to cope with technology, being on a stag weekend, an over-sensitivity to narrow-minded people.

Band Practice Cancelled: Bloody Rayners

We are family. And indeed we are. We haven't seen the absent Rayners Bruce and Tobin for ages. Tobin's still banging on about a certain bass player needing a new bass and a certain bass player looking more rotund than when he last saw this certain bass player. But there he was looking as emaciated as ever. Exactly.

We all met up in the Queen's Head in Newbury Market Square. Talked about names for babies, ebay, the girl who kept trying to take our empties, Bruce's partner's dressing gown [Where did it go?] and mobile phones making that annoying shutter noise for when they take pictures ['it's The Law' according to Eg] ['Really?' gasps everyone else]['No it's not, you plonkers' according to Ad].

First time in quite a while that all Rayner brothers were in one place at one time. Yawn. Must be nice for one family to share such a responsibility for the World's overcrowding. There's always Tom and I to keep it real. As ever. Though we clearly missed the opportunity to reduce the Rayner genetic footprint that evening.

Anyway, all this meant Ben at Valley Studios had to go without our rehearsal noise. So at least someone's happy.

Present:
Ad, Eg, Fea, Gi, Tom,
Luisa, Bruce and Tobin

The Hobbit, Southampton

Fruitbat screeching behind the bar, the awkward parking, the paddling pool to get through to the urinals in the gents, the late night three setter. No changes back at The Hobbit then.

This time we had Oxford's very own Shirley to kill off the first set for us.

And how good were they? Tight, poppy quality songs. We loved them. With our old pal Alan on guitar. I think this was when Eg decided we were going to get Alan to do a turn on stage with us. Teenage Kicks would do.

So our 2 set performance was the usual mélange of Loopy old and new with plenty of covers thrown in. And whilst Shirley were clearly the 'musicians' of the night, loopy - as headliners - were always going to enjoy the audience at their drunkest. Though I have to say, after we had called Alan from the audience for his Teenage Kicks stint, thereafter the audience shouted 'We Want Alan' after nearly every song. Very funny. Perhaps.

Quote of the evening:
"I've just worked out why we're all acting so happy: it's the band" girl at the bar, heard by Tom during the break after the first set.

Support:
Shirley

Set:
Mixture of classics ... and other [popular] classics.

The Railway, Winchester

"This is our last gig, cos in a few months time we're all going our separate ways to University" was what the fresh-faced lead singer proclaimed before launching into the last number. I'm Widely Spread. That was their band name. There were a lot of them on stage too. They were indeed widely spread. And they were supporting us. Though to be honest, we should have supported them. Good songs, a good feel and, most importantly of all for these small venues, a good following.

It was Fea who was the first to break his silence. How he longed for that youth again. And, to be honest, they were a seemingly good advert for it. Bastards. And let's face it. Fea is getting on a bit.

When I'm Widely Spread left the stage, so did their fans abandon the floor. Leaving seven of ours old faithfuls looking somewhat embarrassed at their shoes. We've had lower attendances but the years have made them seem few and far between, and this was one of the funniest. So we treated it as a band practice with friends. Which is always nice.

Sound Engineer:

• Isaac - often seen at Valley Studios.

Support Acts:

• I'm Widely Spread
• Parcel Force

Set:

• Hearts Pumping
• The Smile
• Ordinary Life
• Wish I Was Someone Else
• Wonderful
• You Are The One

Photos:
Catrine Barry