There is a standing joke about Manchester that says it’s always raining, hence it’s alternative CB Radio monicker of “The Rainy City”. The natives would have you believe that this is not the case, and that it is often sunny. Well, all I can say is that the word often, must mean something completely different on this, the wrong side of the Pennines, as here we are again, and again, as every other time I have been here, it is pissing it down. So, Manchester, birthplace of Oasis, home of (arguably) the most famous football team in the world, and Coronation St, of which I am a lifelong fan, being probably the only person on the tour old enough to remember it starting way back before colour TV was available in this country, and nobody had computers or Gameboys or Playstations or mobile phones etc etc etc......... Kids today, don’t know they’re bloody well born etc etc.......... and so on and so forth.
Today we have a comedy load in, and stacking the PA sends us and all the local crew into fits of uncontrollable laughter, because after the exceptionally long day at Brixton we all wake having had too little sleep and feel somewhat punch drunk and dysfunctional. Cabinets end up back to front, upside down and inside out and only after about 5 attempts do we finally get it right.
HHJJ is a bit sad, as it is the day after an “M Day” and he is always sad on these days. Otherwise he is in fine form, and has his monitor desk set up within 3 minutes of the truck doors opening and then sits around for the rest of the day complaining that he is bored and asking when the rest of us are going to be ready.
Little Gor does not make an appearance during the show this evening because it is rumoured he had a few too many cans of Boddingtons finest during the afternoon and toppled drunk from his perch on the In Fill speakers and fell asleep behind them. Only being discovered afterwards by Big Gor who had to put him to bed and read him a bedtime tour story to stop him singing bawdy stuffed doll songs and trying to shag the pillow.
We are all now feeling very tired and the thought of a 7am get in tomorrow does not appeal to any one of us. Also, our thoughts are turning towards our own beds at home and for those of us that have them, being reunited with our loved ones and pets. We also fear that we have broken poor Magic who starting his first Rock and Roll tour as a fresh faced teenager now shuffles around the stage supported by a Zimmer Frame mumbling to himself. Just another Rock and Roll casualty! |
