I was about to say that I’d been to see the Hillbilly Moon Explosion last night at the Cluny.
But, since it’s now nearly three in the morning, it was the night before last (today, or yesterday, was a very long day).
Anyway, I did see the band at the Cluny. and they were pretty good.
My dog loves me and I love my dog.
I don’t listen to the radio enough. Last week, Radio 5 Live were in the bar for a live broadcast. It was a two hour politics programme, with a focus on next month’s local elections.
This was one of four programmes, from Cardiff, Birmingham, Gateshead and Edinburgh. I didn’t think in advance to ask why Gateshead was included. There was something of a transport theme, so I could understand why they were interested in the bar. But Gateshead.
I was impressed with how well run the programme was. Yes, I know that the BBC’s been doing this a while, but there was a lot going on and it somehow fitted together seamlessly.
The dog made her radio debut too. It wasn’t planned, but we did learn that she either likes or dislikes tap dancing. Her reaction to this was very much the same as to cocktail shakers. She was pretty loud.
Matt Chorley, the presenter, proved to be a genuinely nice guy, as was Ian, the sound engineer. They stood out, but everyone was great.
Yesterday, a week later, a couple from Barnsley came in the bar. They stayed a while, longer than their one planned drink. They’re in the area for the beer scene; it happens regularly.
Weirdly, one does work for a beer related radio station. I’d never heard of it, and need to look it up, but she records short sections in bars and asked if it’d be ok to this.
They were really nice people too. Maybe the radio attracts nice people.
The bar’s birthday party actually took place a couple of days early. Because bars can’t have a birthday on a weekday.
While a silly amount of planning was involved, the day was pretty special. People are still talking about it.
Some pretty cool people were there on the day too.
I’ve never really been into birthdays. Maybe I’ve had a lot of disappointments; I don’t know. But, since my late 20s (which was a long time ago), I just haven’t bothered.
But, four years ago, with three partners, I opened a bar. Because I wasn’t into birthdays, the bar opened on my birthday. I did say that I wasn’t bothered but, after weeks of hard work, I probably needed a night off.
The thing about a night (or day) off, it’s sort of expected that you have one on your birthday. Of course, that’s not always possible. I had a ‘proper’ job for a long time and having a birthday free was never an issue. Although I wasn’t too bothered back then.
Well, there was always the ability to get time off when you needed (or wanted) it.
It’s not quite so simple when you run a bar.
I don’t want to turn this into a moan about getting time off when running a bar. It’s not.
I think I’d have liked a day off on my birthday this year (it was a big one). I should probably have conveyed that to my colleagues. Things have been busy.
That’s four birthdays in the bar that I’ve worked. The last couple were start to finish.
Going forward, I probably just need to say I’m having a day off. Or maybe I should retire.
So, I went to see the Hold Steady at the Electric Ballroom the other day. I saw them play there a couple of years ago, but had to leave before the end because I had to work at the bar the next day. They were silly good and, not having to rush away, I enjoyed it more than the last time.
With some time off work, and a dog sitter, there was an opportunity to visit a couple of beer ‘miles’.
First was Bermondsey.
There were more taprooms, but I didn’t take pictures of all of them.
And then there was Blackhorse Road.
Hackney Church aren’t opening until next month, with a trade night, so they’re still at the arch in Hackney (there wasn’t enough time to go there).
I had a pretty good time, but missed the dog badly.
It’s shocking that this pub, in which I’ve spent a considerable amount of time, is being left closed.
I don’t need to repeat what many others have said about this pub chain, but it’s such a shame too see it still closed.
Its future doesn’t look too great now that the windows have been boarded up.
I’m not sure why, but I’d never seen the Quireboys before last night.
To be honest, they were way better than I’d expected; I’d even go as far as saying I quite enjoyed the gig. At Digital.
For me, early retirement happened six and a bit years ago. It lasted just a few months.
Getting involved in a pub was an accident, one of those random things you do after a drink, in the heat of the moment, or in a moment of insanity.
But that pub led to a little cooperative opening a little bar in a sorely neglected part of Gateshead.
It’s hard work and my retirement went out the window (because, if you run a bar, you should be there – in my opinion, that is).
We’re a partnership. We agree mostly, but sometimes we don’t. And somehow it works.
It’s not the best paid job, sometimes it’s not paid at all. But we have a bar. In Gateshead. And it’s the best bar in Gateshead.
And the bestest ever moment, is sitting with a beer, waiting for the next bus after the bar’s closed for the day.
The bestest.
Something I’ve not done in a while; three gigs in just over a week.
Generally, I’ve not looked forward to a gig at Digital. It’s not the best venue and the beer’s awful. But, last night, they actually had semi decent beer, albeit in cans. There was no draught beer at all, since the bar with taps was closed. But, looking at that bar, that was probably a good thing.
Nouvelle Vague were very, very good last night. Only a French band could pull off covers of mostly British classics songs in their unique style. I’d only seen them once before, with a slightly different lineup. There should have been another occasion, but Covid got in the way of that.
Just over a week before, there was CMAT at the City Hall. This was the third time I’d seen her in three years. She just keeps getting better, although I think I more enjoyed the first time I saw her in Nottingham, before she became so well known. But she’s still great.
Sadly, the choice of beer at the City Hall is terrible.
The day before, The Offspring played at the arena. It’s an awful venue, but the band were on great form. I’d only seen them once previously, 14 or 15 years ago at Lowlands festival, in Holland.
This time, it was more than a gig, though, it was a show.
I won’t mention the quality, or choice, of beer at the arena. I gave up on that years ago.
But it’s been a good couple of weeks.