Posted: 23 November 2010 at 9:04pm | IP Logged

Thanks very much, Michael, for a great evening, and to ATF and the crew for a grand gig.  I'm glad you got to see it, Michael.  Welcome to the Forum by the way!  Keep posting and join the madness!!!

It was great to see old ATF friends and to meet you, Seagull, Leo and dominion.  Our son's girlfriend's parents from nearby came too: hello, Paul and Joy!  They bought a CD, so I think it went down well.

I like your post, Seagull ,  Rod you'd better watch out!  

Posted: 23 November 2010 at 10:55pm | IP Logged

I can't compete wit Rod... anyway his style is quite different.

Yes, thanks, Michael - you were unassuming, but played such an important role!

I've had to boost the font size - it seems to have gone tiny, or is it just me?

Posted: 24 November 2010 at 2:03pm | IP Logged

Anyone know where I can acquire/purchase the photo we all were in at the end?

Mark  

Posted: 24 November 2010 at 4:12pm | IP Logged

Thanks Ian!

The other photos of the band playing can be found via this link:

http://radfoto.co.uk/html/atf_kingston.html

Was a great gig, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Posted: 24 November 2010 at 9:15pm | IP Logged

Seagull’s Countdown to a Gig

Leo Baan and I arrived at Kingsmead Stadium at around four o’clock, squeezed into Tim Turner’s Ford Galaxy, with his drum kit. Zippy had plied us with good fare at home, whilst the roadies had been waiting to get in to the venue, and now it was looking rather like The Great Egg Race. Most of the P.A and lighting bits were scattered around the floor, like a scene from my daughter’s bedroom on a bad day. The stage looked rather too small, and the ceiling worryingly low, but Paul, Martin and JP were all a bustle, looking confident of turning chaos into harmony, and stretching space to fit all necessary kit and personnel.

A few plates of sandwiches, witness to an earlier function were still up for grabs, so Leo moved in purposefully, evidently anticipating a long wait until his next meal. Meanwhile, I had spotted Rob Halligan, squatting by his pedal board, surrounded by screwdrivers, and gazing hopefully at the naked end of his guitar cable, as if awaiting inspiration. “It’ll happen,“ he was heard to mutter, as I went to introduce myself. Son of Halligan was also present, for moral support, but also on the look-out for material for his documentary-in-the-making on After The Fire. Every so often he would seize a likely victim, and armed with video camera and tripod, he would march him or her off to be interviewed.

A flurry of silver curls and smiles, and a waft of salt air announced the arrival of Ian Niblo and his two ladies (only one of which was in a hard case.) “You’re Seagull,” he beamed, as he shook my hand, and for a brief second I tasted the fickle knowledge of fame… but in the ATF camp there is no place for such vanities. John Russell walked in a little later, with the calm confidence of the elder statesman, name printed in white on his guitar case (lest he should forget who he was) as befits an old prö. Having set up his gear, and been shooed from the stage by the roadies, he was sitting at the back observing the field, when I took the chance to say hello. While we chatted, Martin came up carrying a monitor. “Do you really want a words prompt?” he asked. The old pro swept the matter to one side, to the relief of all, and I took the opportunity to introduce him to Leo; thus “Soap Box” met “Swazi Vision”, and maybe an idea was born?

The first sound check consisted of JP standing on stage, reciting “The Gas Man Cometh”,  by Flanders & Swan in its entirety, whilst the wizard of the sound desk tweaked buttons in an effort to eliminate unwanted sound effects. The stage was beginning to look something like, and the lighting rigs in position, by the time Wendy arrived to organise the merchandise table, with Richard the Camera, and his wife, Bryony.  Shortly after, Peter (Memory) Banks arrived, and the band was complete. In a blink of an eye his Tyros keyboard was up – I didn’t even see them inflate it - and the stage, even with its front extension (cunningly 2cm higher than the rest) was decidedly full. The band assembled, and after a few twiddles, launched into a cracking run through of “High Fashion”, which, I believe was the opening number. Snatches of other familiar favourites followed, interspersed with the kind of chat familiar to anyone who has ever played in any kind of band (“…I just forgot the chorus, that’s all…). I had to smile.

David Halligan kidnapped me for an interview at this point, and by the time I returned, the merchandise table was resplendent, draped in black cloth, and covered in CDs, T shirts and lavender-scented Dalit candles of various shapes and sizes. The backing display of Richard’s photos set the whole thing off wonderfully. And Lo, who should be sitting behind this boutique, but Sharpies herself, of the Jennie variety, ready for the first hard sell! In fact, rather than sell me anything, she handed me what appeared to be a tin of Spam – the significance of which will not be lost to any regular ATF Forum members! (It turned out to be a jigsaw.)

And suddenly all was cleared away and everything was ready. The stage glowed over the central open parquet-floor which was lined by a few circular tables for those who wished to sit. The bar finally opened, and the band disappeared for a meal. Some of the rest of us made an excursion to the fish n chip shop, and shared our spoils with whoever wasn’t on a diet.  And then it was time to clear the decks of greasy paper, and assume positions to welcome the (numerous) remaining guests, who were beginning to arrive. The evening was about to begin.