Right l’m off to Ardrossan, Scotland which l know is near Glasgow It’s close to the sea , lt’s the sort of place that when there’s a storm coming to Britain, the news stations send out reporters to experience strong gales and the plan is, they try not to get blown away while delivering the state of the weather. Lucky for us the weather is behaving, in fact at times it’s rather splendid.
The reason l’m here, is to play with Darrell Bath who has arranged with Davey for us to play at the Ardrossan Bowling club. I’ve been to Ardrossan before, with Darrell, we came up by national express last time and we brought Pumpy a drummer with us, to be honest the journey was a bit grim travelling by bus for up to 12 hours each way, this time its just Darrell and l and we got smart and took the train up, which was most pleasing, we’re gonna use a local drummer who as it turns out is fantastic.
What’s also great about coming up here, is the guy we are staying with, Davey is his mantle, he his very hospitable, he’s also got impeccable music tastes, this trip we get an eclectic choice we have Frances Beby, then Alan Vega and Gemma Ray, and Marriot and Lane, and Panda Bear so its a good mix.
Darrell Bath and l have been playing for a few years now, l first got together with him when l joined the Dave Kusworth Band, although we did meet many years previously, well Darrell’s a major talent and a nice geezer which is always a plus. Another plus is, he’s a walking crawling musical encyclopedia he could earn millions on the pub quiz circuit, but would rather pass on his knowledge through his musical abilities. He writes his own songs, sings well and can throw in covers of the cuff. Me l find myself thrown into this melee, the songs he covers are a pastiche of well known stuff like Debris by the Faces maybe get a bit of The Stones Honky Tonk Woman to flight 505 we even get the Themes from Minder and Auf weidersehen Pet, blimey.
In the band tonight we have Gordon another major talent, not only on the drums for us but he’s even made it in the support band which he fronts, playing guitar and singing. Darrell tells Davey and l later that Gordons the kind of guy you want in your trench we all agree. Gordons band Sonny Daze and The Restless Knights are great and lovely peops as well.
The gig goes well, and we get em up on the dance floor, many generations have turned up from grandparents, parents, and offspring, so its a varied crowd and we are well received, So we are all happy it’s been such a blast. The next day l get to see my cousins, Carolyne and Julia, I don’t get to see them enough, l have seen them twice in the last 400 years, so its great to meet and catch-up, we go to the local pub and hang out there with big Ian and later on after my cousins have left, we end the evening with a meal and going to some bars and having a top night. The next day, we go and see Sonny Daze and Darrell has a go, and jams well, with the gang of Gordon McNeil on vocals and mouth organ and guitar, and Will Harvey on guitar or is it bass, Louis Kolodziej on bass or is that guitar, John Blair on guitar and Gordons daughter Ash McNeil on drums and they are all fantastic musicians and they play lovely music, fantastic.
Of course l drink far to much Gin and the next day l don’t enjoy the train ride back but l have to say we had a brilliant time and l hope we can return very soon.
Chris McDougall
Photo by Big Ian