The Dawn Chorus / The Retrospective Soundtrack Players - Blogging all over the World

Friday 16th June 2006
Messclean @ Frog on the Front, Portsmouth

The Dawn Chorus (didn't play)
Wills and the Willing
Counterfeit
Dali's Cat (didn't play)

What a fucking shambles from start to finish. We turned up at half 5 and were about to set up our kit since we were told we were headlining, but then Wills and the Willing turned up in an enormous van filled with everything but the kitchen sink, so it was decided that they would soundcheck first. It was agreed at this point that all bands would use their drumkit. So all the other bands sat about in the sun outside the frog all afternoon, having a few beers and playing about with stupid hats etc. A few hours later W & the W were still soundchecking, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there were three other bands playing on the bill. Personally, if I turned up at a venue like the frog on the front intending to use a projector, i wouldn't set the fucking thing up for the risk of coming across as an arrogant twat, but there you go.

So at about 8 o'clock, when doors are supposed to be open, we are asked to soundcheck. At this point the bouncer asks for ID from us, but Matt doesnt have it, and all of a sudden a huge barney starts up between Joel and the meathead bouncers! Then when the lead singer from Dali's Cat walks into the venue to go for a piss, another bouncer has a go at her and makes her cry. At this point we were seriously considering walking, but we decided to play so as not to spoil Nikolai's night. So Counterfeit played to an almost empty room since we were the only local band that played and we only got 10 or so people down. Also it seems that Joel has started giving up on Messclean since he's leaving soon, which is a real shame. Counterfeit are from Bath and had travelled from Plymouth for the gig. Then Will and the Willing came back to do their set to an almost empty room, which was also a shame since they had travelled from London - a lot less distance than Counterfeit had travelled but still quite a trip.

After this we geared up to play, but Wills and the Willing decided they were leaving and would take their drum kit, which we had been told we could use approximately 5 hours earlier, and that we would have to set up our kit in order to play. Obviously they are much too bigtime to kitshare if they decide the room isn't full enough for their liking. At this point Neil decided that he'd had enough and walked - which I can't really blame him for - so we didn't play.

A few things really annoy me about this. Firstly, it all could have been avoided if the bands were told their stage times and soundcheck times in advance. I also feel really bad for the people who came down to see us. Thankfully most of them didn't pay, but those who did I had to reimburse, and i dont expect to see any of the money back. The bouncers at the frog are grade A jobsworth wankers and caused one band to pull out so well done to them. The thing that annoys me most though, is that the tossers in W and the W (no offense to any of you who are nice people, but your drummer and guitarist are absolute cocks) are the only people who probably got paid out of the whole evening, and they were the ones who deserved it the least. We have really enjoyed playing Messclean in the past, and coming down to see other bands, but tossers like this spoil the whole thing.

Other than that, a smashing evening all round x