Events

Barnardo’s Battle of the Bands - Brought to you by Gazz Wood -

Now then, you may already have read the review of this gig by one Nathan Camponi, and you might be sceptical that this is just the same frigging thing all over again. Well it's bloody not. If you want to read the review, go and fucking read it, it's very good, but if you want to know what WE did that night then by all means, continue with me.


We got invited to this gig by proxy really, since Nathan and myself have been working with the band on a documentary and what not, we go to a lot of their gigs. We shot some footage at their last two gigs no less, which is where they mentioned the Battle of the Bands at the Faversham. I wish we'd been able to film this, because they frigging won and how ace would that be on a documentary, but they go through to the next heat so we can always pootle there and get the cameras on the go.


The gig was in aid of Barnardo’s, an extremely worthy charity devoted to giving children back their lives, which is their slogan in fact. Ticket proceeds went to Barnardo’s, as well as the tickets themselves doubling up as voting slips. Five bands played, beginning with The Volatares who were just kicking off as I arrived with Nathan and Gemma. Already inside were James and Jordan, who were going to watch the football but the match had been cancelled so they joined us in our jiggery... jiggery pokery.


Yes well...


They weren't bad as it goes, they played the Grain Division last month and apparently got a good reaction. I honestly wasn't paying them too much attention because I was getting some drinks. Gem is all poored up with no moneys, so I offered to get her a drink because I had to pay on my card anyway, and there's a £5 minimum. I got myself a pint of the lovely bitter and she had an Archers and Lemonade... bitch is that only comes to £4.80 in the Faversham so I thought I'd give Gem a treat and get her a double. Oddly enough an extra shot of Archers knocked my charges up to £7. Bastards.


Got a cigar off Nathan, a Savannah Jewel [chocolate flavoured no less], and had some words with the band. The Gary Stewart Band that is. See I've met Gary himself and his lady drummist Ruth several times. I once had a very long conversation with Gary and his brother, who were both dressed as hobbits I remember, at a party. Ruth was an Oxo cube. Unfortunately I've never got chance to speak to the others, Jordan, Becky and India, because they usually have to jet off right after gigs. Gary and Ruth are the loveliest people I've ever met, so I was a bit sceptical of the others because no one can be as nice, but they only bloody are.


The entire band are so lovely. I spoke to Jordan [Harmonica and vocals] for about five minutes, just general introduction stuff like you do, and then I went and got a drink and he went and played a set. He did leave right after they played but he came over to where I was sitting and shook my hand and said goodbye and thanks for coming. Through the crowd and everything, clearly in a hurry to get home or work or where ever, but he fought through just to shake my hand and say goodbye. I was having a lovely chat to Becky during the whole rest of the night, during the other bands which is a bit rude, but she's lovely too. She gave me a bobble. I didn't get to speak to India much, because she was there with her fella I think and he's pretty big... so you know... don't wanna be going over to her and saying 'Hi, I'm Gazz, we've been filming you' just in case he takes it the same way you just did and then fills me in. Although I did introduce myself to her and she was very sweet, openly admitting that she would forget my name. Which is fair enough.


I'm racing ahead a bit though, because the second band were called Morning Thieves and I really liked them, as did Gem. They were flogging their EP at the end of the gig but by the time I got round to getting one they'd gone, so I shit out. I do suggest you check them out if you hear of a gig. Then get the EP, then send it to me. This will be the arrangement.


I agreed to sit out during some of the GSB gig, because Jord was there and he'd never seen them live. They are a truly cracking band, something which is said on this site a lot, and to see them live is to really get a feel for the music and their relationship as a group. Why would I deprive Jord of that aye? Right, I wouldn't. Not then...


Of course now I would, because I'm told that just after a song ended Jordan leaned over to Nathan and said, rather loudly, 'That India's well fit... I'd do her'.


I'm sure saying that to her massive boyfriend wouldn't go down too well either, less so I'd think. Something learned, keep Jordan away from pretty girls. He's weird.


I feel really bad now because I can't remember the names of the final two bands, which is so rubbish because I know the lead singer of one of them. Rob, the man behind Grain Division at Carpe Diem. They were a good band, but I was really anxious that GSB would win and there was some confusion about the betting system.


We figured that you write the name of the band you want on the back of the ticket and sling it one of the buckets front stage. No. You just put your ticket in the bucket allocated to your chosen band, unfortunately that wasn't particularly clear and we put loads of GSB votes into all sorts of buckets, to try and spread them out.


James got his shit together and sorted the whole mess out with ease, ensuring that a combination of our voting and the phenomenal audience response garnered the required result. Gary Stewart Band won the bloody thing.


After the gig there was much hugging, Becky pinched my arse, and we sheened on home, without James and Jordan. Jordan lives elsewhere in posh 'hotel' style halls, so James had to walk home on his own, which he was less than happy about. We got a lovely big kebab and a warm, which were very happy with.

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