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

Saturday 23rd September 2006
The Oyster House, Portsmouth

Well this one was a bit different it's safe to say. We got moving at about half five, Keef and Matt riding up front in the van with Soundman/general dogsbody Big Al, and me in the back with the gear. There's no other way of putting it – I was bricking it when I saw the place and its clientele. For a posh sod with plums in his mouth like me it was like stepping into an episode of Shameless. None of us got knifed or anything though so that was a bonus. Compared to what I had envisaged, the night actually went really well. Although the place was – no offence – a bit scabby, we managed to fluke a half-decent sound, plus we got to play almost all of the material we have written and didn't make too many mistakes. Comedy sidepoints of the day were: Chris Psaila and Soundman Big Al having a 'who's the most pissed?' competition (Psaila's tripping-over-a-1-inch-step-and-dropping-full-pint-on-floor act marginally beating Al's attempt to crush his own head with a speaker), and Keef going 100% mental at Neil for spilling Chinese take-away on his jeans. Compared to Neil's usual moderate existence this came as quite a shock.

Setlist:

The Town and The City / Blood in the Bath / The Man…. / Everest / All of this for You / Footprints / It's Alright

Michael / A Drop in the Ocean / Something's Changed / Escape / Everest / Act of God / Stay Sober / Little Pinpricks

Rally