Tuesday 27th April 2010

Last Saturday we played a gig that I for one shan’t forget in a hurry. About four weeks ago I had a phone call from the promoter who deals with the Cheese and Grain in Frome, where we’ve played a few support gigs in the past.

‘Hi Colin, it’s Paul. Would you like to support Wishbone Ash on the 24th?’

Now, I’m a big Wishbone Ash fan; got the CDs, seen them live a few times, so it took me a few seconds to get a grip before I stammered a very loud ‘Yes please’. And lo! It came to pass that at 6.30 on Saturday the 24th I was carrying my drums into the Cheese and Grain whilst Wishbone Ash were soundchecking! I tried to act cool, but inside I was screaming ‘How cool is this!?!’ I sat and waited whilst they ran through ‘The King Will Come’ and ‘Jailbait’; it was like I had my own private gig!

Well, the rest of our band arrived and we set up and sound checked (I must confess that I checked out their drummer’s kit... very nice!). Then we tried to relax as the doors opened and the Wishbone fans came in – about 450 of them. At 8.30 we stepped out into the lights and after an introduction from Leander Morales (another great musician) we launched into ‘Where Are My People.’ What a buzz! The audience lifted us higher with every song, the applause and cheering growing louder, especially after ‘Wolf River’. That one seems to go down well wherever we play it. We ended with ‘Not Only Gold’ and they shouted for more, but we know the rules of being a support band, so with a bow we cleared our kit off the stage, each of us with the biggest grins you have ever seen.

The rest of the night was fabulous; Wishbone Ash are consummate professionals, wonderful musicians and a great act to see live. I’ve even got their autographs on OUR set list!

I can’t wait to do it all again.

Colin