Breaking through a life over-rehearsed

Last night was another Frank Turner gig.

I was supposed to getting a lift there and back. Then the person said they couldn’t commit to going because of family issues. So, I booked a hotel instead.

Got the train through and listened to a couple of episodes of Dolly Partons America. (I highly recommend this podcast, it’s great). Then i booked into the hotel. Eventually. I wasn’t paying by card and don’t have a passport or driving license. We got it sorted, I paid one pound on my card and the rest in cash.

Up to my room, have a shower and head out to the venue.

I bought a t shirt an then I had a couple of drinks in the bar while I finished reading Private Eye and read some more of Girl Woman Other. Went back upstairs, talked to the folks from Safe Gigs for Women, bought a couple of badges and picked up some stickers. Outside for a smoke then realised I could take drinks into the hall.

So, back to the bar, got a two pint glass (well, plastic glass) of lager and into the hall.

Unusually for a Frank gig, this was all seater. which worked for the type of gig it was.

First up was Emily Barker, a singer/songwriter from Australia. She featured on the episode of Franks podcast about Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Her set was excellent. I got a surprise when she mentioned Dolly Partons America. She apologised for not having merchandise on sale, but the venue was looking for a 25% cut, plus VAT, which would have wiped out her profits from the sales.

Went outside for a smoke, then signed up for Emily’s mailing list and talked to her about the podcast. Back inside for the second set.

This was Frank solo. He performed songs from No Mans Land and talked about the women the songs are about and why he chose to write about those women. It was interesting and the songs are brilliant.

Back outside for another smoke, back to the bar for more lager then the final set. This was Frank and the Sleeping Souls playing rearrangements of some of their songs.

One in particular I was looking forward to. A couple of years ago, Frank released an album called Songbook. some of the songs were rearrangements. One of those was I Am Disappeared, and the Songbook version is one of my favourite Frank songs. I never thought I would get to hear it live, then people who went to the earlier gigs on this tour confirmed that the Songbook version of I Am Disappeared was one of the ones they did.

Here it is from another date on the tour:

I’m not sure what it was, but it was the most spiritual moment of my year. It absolutely moved me.

The last two songs, we were on our feet for I Still Believe and Be More Kind (which was dedicated to Clive James, who Frank got the title from and who died yesterday). And they were the most communal moments of the year for me.

I left, went o have a couple of pints, finished reading Girl Woman Other (fantastic book, highly recommended and I’m now pissed off it shared this years Booker Prize because it deserved to win on its own) and started reading I Heard You Paint Houses.

Back to the hotel, slept, train back today and listen to another couple of episodes of Dolly Partons America.

And now I have to get my tattoo updated.

Pics!