Thursday, 22 September 2011

Debut at the Judge and Jury for Colchester 101 presents...

Colchester 101 - the town's must read monthly on all things music have continued their stalwart support of the incredible local music scene by launching 'Colchester101 presents' at brand spanking and shiney new music venue; the Judge and Jury in the heart of the cultural quarter.

However... The 633 drummer extraordinaire Mr Paul Ambrose, had a pre-arranged event earning brownie-points with his rather lovely wife, The 633 recruited Bryn Morgan to deputise. Bryn was the obvious choice, formally of Vellocetta an incredible band and raging bull favourite and now on guitar/vox duty in the eagerly anticipated Beard du Jour. Although Bryn hadn't been behind a kit for a while, he agreed to step in. First rehearsal at Pioneer, was going well. Bryn was rapidly becoming accustomed to the anarchic and surreal banter, and gave the drums a chuffing good whack; until he smashed his hand across the rim of the snare, repeatedly. Blood everywhere.  His hands also blistered from not having played drums since Vellocetta called it a day.

We all knew it was curtains for Bryn playing on the Saturday, however, he said it was a common injury, and that he would be ok for the weekend... Just give him a few days... Facebook updates later that week from fellow Beard du Jour band mate, Aaron (comedy genius) indicated that one rehearsal with the 633 had completely broke Bryn.... Ooooops, sorry Bryn. So it would be the four of us, or so we thought...

4pm Saturday (the day of the gig) Inika, Mike's better half, rings... 'Mike has had emergency root canal. He can't speak, let alone sing'... Ok. Mike, thankfully, is on the road to recovery, after a short spell in hospital. After a few rounds of tense phone calls, Dan steps up to do a set of his solo (Slowlife) material, and Mark fills lead vocal duties. Some random beer was purchased from the Aldi opposite Dan's house and the remaining few of the 633 got down to reworking the songs and the set 2 and 1/2 hours before we are expected at a brand new venue, where we'd never played for a sound check, when we have no clue what it should sound like!!! Fair to say it was a bit stressful. We agreed, early doors, that this was too good an opportunity not too play, and that as Colchester101, had not only supported the band, but also our night The Raging Bull that we weren't going to back out now. So there it was...

With trepidation, we walked from Dan's flat with the gear, to the newly refurbished Judge and Jury (formally Molly Malones) which new owner Jimmy proudly tells is a venue designed with fellow musicians in mind and modelled on the legendary LA venue, The Viper Room. Gilly cranked out the tunes, including one of my favourites of all time, The Sonics - Have love, will travel. Well the upshot of all this, nervously we gave a good account of ourselves to a warm music loving crowd and Colchester 101 firmly installs itself in to the already bulging calendar of must-see music events in the town. Then Surfquake take to the stage and smash it up in their own inimitable style, and involuntary hip-shaking and pulp fiction jiving begins. The 633 will return to the stage at the J&J, with a full compliment of players and please let's get the lasers on for that set. Get well soon Mike, without you, me and Mark have to talk to the general public and we are not good at this. Let's play to each others strengths, the good people of Colchester (or any other place for that matter) are not ready for mine and the boy wonder's 'unique' brand of psychedelic humour.

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