bloodbottom

It's Friday night, and since we're getting up at 3:30 in the morning I do the rock-star thing and go to bed!! Keith and Joe inform me that they've just gone to the pub!! So, on rolls the alarm clock and the cold shower. Rolling up the M1 to the airport at an ungodly hour as always, I suppose thats the penance for being in an ungodly band. The usual struggle to get onto the carpark bus ensues with 3 instruments and all the usual stuff.

A few hours later we're in Brussels. After waiting a bit, and a recon for funny little belgian men with funny little moustaches, we're picked up by Pat the promoter (also singer from Callendish Circle) and Gail the 'sound-man'. So, on we drive to Arnhem stopping at a petrol station for carrot balls, iced coffee and salty liquorice, dont ask! Finally we arrive at the venue, the Willemeen, which means "William the First", also known as the infamous "billy the bastard". After a stroll around Arnhem tis time for the sound check. All sounding fairly OK. Then a quick interview with a Dutch e-zine.

The supporting bands were rocking: Soul Reaver, Katafalk, friendly guys, Whispering Gallery gothish rock-metal and a deadly slayer cover band. The venue was at capacity with around 400-500. So, we start with crazy feedback from my banjo and bouzouki. After a while it all settles down into an excellent mix. The crowd were getting crazy by the time we started 'Rocky-road to Dublin', best jig-pit I've seen. A lone 50 year old air-guitarist gets on stage beside Keith and 'has the craic', nearly falling off. The gig had an excellent flow to it and with the crowd going crazy, it didn't matter if we played rubbish. Luckily we didn't. For the encore we played 'Ossians Return' and the macabre-esque 'Timmy' which drove the Arnhemians through the roof.

All in all an excellent gig. The best so far for me!