The Seven Seas of Rye

A different and more surreal view than Dave's epic prose:

After a sunny drive, taking in the countryside I came up to Rye thinking that, in a place like this, at least parking and access will be easy...... Nooooo! The pub was smack bang in the middle of Jacob's Ladder (no, not the Rush song Colin). By the time I had got mine, Colin's and Lee's gear in I was wasted. Each time we brought in a new speaker the landlord seemed to think we had enough as any more would make it too loud. I diplomatically reminded him that everything electric comes with a volume knob - leaving out the fact that this rule doesn't apply to drummers! By the way, Colin set up his drums and started to do his warm up thing - a table full of people almost spat out their soup in shock.

We somehow got everything in and I noted that I would have to play slightly diagonal with about 1 foot square to stand in. Any sudden moves with my guitar would take out Dave with a head-shot.

The audience were great which made up for everything. The people were good to talk to as well which is a surprise to me after playing in a Yes covers band for 10 years (Yes fans are anoraks and would talk at you for ever) - I am missing posh dressing rooms less and less. Got the best reception for 'Sandman' (which was my song choice).

After the gig we did the impossible job of packing up, carrying heavy speakers and negotiating uneven stone steps where the bannisters were sometimes attached and sometimes not. Got home at 2am after a pleasant journey cross country. My special going-home-from-gigs CD track I normally play is 'Octavarium' by 'Dream Theater' - a 24 minute epic which is a bit like a cross between Pink Floyd and Sepultura.

Music is a funny thing that makes you do these things and enjoy them. Never mind, maybe next year a headline at the O2.