More Rebellion and a few more photos

Saturday was a very good day for me. I got up late yet again but this time there was no alarm call from the rambler. I texted one of the Doncaster punks to find out where they were and he replied pretty quickly by saying that they were going to the Pleasure Beach to go on the Big One. I’m a big fan of Punk and Oi but I’m also a huge fan of Roller Coasters, the bigger the better, so I asked them to count me in. At first, they were going to go straight there but I assume they were sidetracked into a pub, Churchills, so I met them there. I had a pint of Spitfire and then we went to the Pleasure Beach.

We didn’t bother with a wristband. We had come for the Big One only so we went straight in and made straight for the Big One and bought tickets in a nearby kiosk. We queued for ages and then finally it was our turn. This was the fourth time I’ve been on this ride and I can honestly say, it is every bit as enjoyable as the first time. I love it when you reach the top and I like to look down the track just before we tip over the edge. I also love looking down when we’re at the peaks of the ride and I don’t scream; I shout with exhiliration. I have this unfortunate problem, though; everytime my photo is taken on one of these rides, I tend to be grimacing and it’s not a pleasant sight.

After that, and as is often the case when you get a bunch of people out enjoying themselves and determined to act their shoe size, we took each other’s photos in a variety of amusing settings, including the one on the right, where Pete (or is he Dave? I never did work it out) and I groped a couple of plastic people. I hate acting my age and was completely in my element. After that, we must have headed back to the pub because the first band I saw that day were Sick 56 at 2.45pm.

I first met Sick 56 and their greatest fan, Louie, when I went to Amsterdam with my great friend Sammy the Shark (see Tulips from Amsterdam – Friday, Saturday and Sunday). I had determined after meeting them that I would see them play. This was my first opportunity so I made sure I didn’t miss them. I was right not to. I really enjoyed their set. They were followed by The East End Badoes, another band I had not seen before and again I was highly impressed. I loved Terry Hayes, the lead singer. A good word to describe him is charismatic. I tried to capture his charisma when I took this photograph. I think I managed to get about half of it. I’m sorry about the eyes, Terry, but you had a bad case of red eye and my computer replaced it with white eye. Not good.

After East End Badoes, there was a short break and then I went to watch 999. 999 is one of my favourite bands, although I only have 999 and Separates by them. They played some old favourites like Emergency, Titanic Reaction, Homicide, Nasty Nasty and one I really love, Feelin Alright with the Crew. Brilliant. Somebody pointed out to me later on that Nick Cash is beginning to look more and more like Bob Hoskins as he gets older. I can’t really disagree. I wasn’t close enough to the stage to get a decent picture of the band and I’ve cropped this one because it may give an idea of what my friend meant. I think you will have to decide for yourselves. What I can say is the band is still great, the songs sound fantastic live and it’s heartening to see that the band still has 3 of the original members still playing. 

After 999, I went to Sammy’s house for tea. Sammy had suggested I take a break from the boozing and the self-inflicted deterioration in my hearing and go and have something to eat with her, our great friend, Foxy and her lovely son, Max. I decided it would be a good idea, so I caught the bus to St Annes and she sent Max to collect me when I got off. When I got to her flat, I removed my Docs, which were giving me major gip. Sammy poured me a glass of wine, which mixed nicely with the beers I had consumed that day, and a little later brought some garlic bread in. I tucked in heartily because Max was tucking in and I thought he needed some company. I also tucked into Olives and various other nibbles until Sammy brought in the main course. It was chicken schnitzel, rice and something with mushrooms. It was very good indeed. Then Sammy very kindly ran me back to Blackpool so I wouldn’t miss the Beat.

I didn’t really enjoy the Beat, which was a shame because I really liked them first time round. Never mind, it was probably the effects of beer, wine and a square meal. I decided to return to the bar. I had a drink with Jock and Dave from the Straps and Jock’s wife, Kate. Jock had lost his voice, which was looking like being a disaster, although I later saw Dave looking for Jock carrying a jar of honey. 

The rambling man was there too and also a very pleasant young Sid Vicious lookalike, called James. While we were all chatting, Jock and Dave introduced me to another Straps fan (I very amusingly refer to him as the other Straps fan). He has the distinction of being on the front cover of their Punk Collection CD, although I wouldn’t know it was him, seeing as I can’t see all his face and he was about 18 at the time (and a little older now). It’s a bit like knowing someone famous.

The Straps were on at 12.10 and the rambler, Chris (the other Straps fan) and I all made our way to the Pavilion, where they were playing. The crowd was reprehensibly small and I texted some friends suggesting that they come along. They didn’t (says she through gritted teeth). The Straps played well. Well, Chris and I thought they did but the Straps themselves were not happy with the performance. Fortunately, Jock didn’t sound too much like Bonnie Tyler; maybe the honey had worked. They played a lot of their new songs, which are on the new CD (soon to be available from their MySpace profile or Website) and a couple of old ones, including my favourite, Pox Kid.

After that and moaning some more about the disgraceful behaviour of people who come to punk festivals and then don’t watch the bands, Chris and I made our way over to the Empress Ballroom to watch the Cockney Rejects. The Rejects were brilliant, as always. I really don’t remember too well what they played now. I was pretty drunk by then and very tired. I do know they didn’t play Someone Like You, probably my favourite song by them, but I know they did play East End, which I love.

After that, I had another drink with Chris and then off to bed. All in all a very good day.

~ by Jester on August 22, 2007.