| The Minehead Marvels |
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| Sunday, 03 February 2008 | |
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Minehead is some drive and parts are stunningly beautiful but we had a job to do...
and the Sixties Weekenders are extremely well attended, and the people are really up for a great time, but if you can't cut it? then you would definately be up the swanny. It was very very cold, and the gritters were on the Motorway, but I really look forward to performing at these venues, as they have really got there act spot on. No expense is spared regarding the equipment which is state of the art, and bang up to date. The crews are totally professional, and led by Jim who pulls it together lika a well rehearsed drill sergeant, but he knows his stuff and is widely respected by all who play at Minehead. A guy who's attention to detail, and his own levels of acceptance match my own, and I quietly admire him. The Sound man and monitor guys follow his every call, and even though we had to wait for Dave Berry and the Cruisers, we were done in under 15 minutes and ready to go...even had a couple of run throughs. The Mods try and mix up the songs and keep new and dangerous songs in to make it different but at Butlins it was decided to go for the tried and tested songs and it really worked out well. We had just under an hour after we had sound checked before performance, and I was really up for this gig, as I have a huge stage to work, and an even bigger audience. Apparently I surprised Mickey, who had never seen me do my stuff like that, and perched up on his riser he looked in his element. All on stage, and looks and nods at each other, and this is why we do it....you can feel the anticipation and atmosphere build as we are announced, and the curtain goes back and Byrdy launches us into All Day and all of the night. The Band feels like a well oiled engine and there are going to be no misfires tonight. They are my body as I prance up and down the stage, and I hear it all and as usual they are playing brilliantly and we can all hear everything. Harmonies...spot on, and the crowd are eased onto their feet by me and the dancers build at the front. A bit of banter to wind them up and again it builds. More Girls and guys at the front now, they want to get closer to the band, and they are all into what we are doing and some totally mesmerised. Loads of smiling faces waving arms clapping and flashing lights. There are people dressed as policemen and women on stag parties and every phase of the Sixties wardrobe is catered for here and all ages. Half way, and we are into Lola, and I spot a woman at the front in her wheelchair, and she is dancing in her own way, and the smile on her face was just beautiful, as she was having such a great time, and despite being on her own. I blew her kisses, and smiled at her many times during the performance, as she really touched me, in the fact that this woman was determined to really enjoy herself, despite her predicament, and I will not forget her smile for a long long time. Now the Small Faces combination of Itchycoo Park and Lazy Sunday, turn it into a riot ,and this crowd is now roaring especially as I goad them into more and more efforts to increase their response and applause. Serious now, as the individual performance of the guys reaches levels that just make your jaw drop. Byrd Blistering, Barny blinding bass runs, Marter the Marvel, and Mickey was awesome on keys !!! Me? I love fronting The Mods as we are a truly brilliant band and I mean that with utter conviction and no arrogance. I say my thanks to the brilliant crowd, and Mickey starts Wont Get Fooled Again with the entire front filled with people air guitaring and jumping screaming and clapping in all the right places. Then it is done, and the applause at the end turned into a roar, as we trooped off stage deleriously happy. More, More, More, and of couse we are happy to go back on and we leave them with All or Nothing, whch is one of my favourite Small Faces songs and dear Steve would have just turned 61, if he was still around. Fantastic, and unforgettable night, and if you were there? thank you, for making it so memorable for us. So then we go back to our dressing room, and it is a very personal and important time, just after you come off, as we go over what we have done, achieved, and tell each other what we thought of the show, and where maybe small things went wrong, that no one except us, would know about...how to stop it happening again. We are like a little club of which there are only 5 members, and we go on stage and do incredible things together, because we love doing it and most of all, because the quality of performance that we achieve is sometimes utterly breathtaking, and people love to watch it as it is so entertaining. Just as we are finishing Dave Berry walked into our dressing room and said what a great Show we had done. He looked fantastic, and when I remember watching him as a Kid, I thank him inwardly as he, and the Stones Beatles Who Small Faces Kinks etc are all responsible for giving us as kids the push to do what they did and become successful musicians. Love Johnny |
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