Monday, March 17, 2008

Manchester

Jabez Clegg

March 16th, 2008

The Final show of this UK tour. We had a local band on tonight. Manchester's own Sandbox. Followed by the final performance of Fatally Yours then FSM. It always is a little emotional on the final night of the tour. Everyone usually gives a little extra as this is the last show for a while. Fatally Yours didn't disappoint. We have really seen these guys grow as a band over the last 2 weeks. We've always said that it's better to play 6 live shows than to rehearse for 6 months. Live shows always make you get better as a band while you could sit in a rehearsal room for ages and just argue about how to make the songs better. For Fatally Yours this tour has really seen them grow musically and we can't wait to see what they come up with next.

The last show of the tour for FSM is always bittersweet as well. We have to say goodbye to all of our old friends as well as the goodbye to our new friends. It was a great end to a great tour. We hope to see this side of the pond sooner than later. so until then..........




London

The Bull and Gate

March 15th, 2008

Hot... So hot... I think I lost a stone during the set. My shirt is still dripping wet!!! Awesome venue and my favorite show of the tour. The room sounded great, the crowd was on top of it and the the boys from Fatally Yours got into the rock shape act. Well kinda...

There was a surprise appearance form our old tour manager Kumar. He was in stealth mode in a hat and beard. Always good to see old friends and catch up after the show.

At the end of the night the Fatally boys took Derrick and a few of the fans out for a night in London... One that didn't end, to the dismay of Gaz, until 7am the next morning. They surely earned their rock star wings tonight!

Via Con Rock Mia Amigos!!!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Wolverhampton

The Little Civic

March 14th, 2008

Traffic again on the M6 is making our travel miserable. We again had to divert on to country roads all of the way up to Wolverhampton. We turned up late again and had the worlds quickest sound check. Another great turnout tonight at the Little Civic. It’s always one of our favorite stops while in the UK. Curfew was at 10:30 so we had to get started a little early. A great sounding room as well. It seemed like Kim bought one of everything at the Merch stall and we signed every last bit of it as well. An uneventful night as far as equipment failure and the like so nothing to report. It was a bit hot and sweaty but it made for a great gig.

Oxford

The Jericho Tavern

March 13th, 2008

This is pretty much a home town gig for us. Not only is Fatally Yours from Oxford but we feel Oxford is our home away from home when we are in the UK. Tonight the place was filled with everyone’s mum as it was a local gig for the Fatally Yours boys. Andy our soundman did a terrific job getting the room sounding as good as it could. Our dear friend Matt Culpepper and his lovely Sarah were on hand to record the live show. Maybe one of those tracks may make it on to our myspace page or something. Things were going well when we must have passed the threshold of too much rock as the entire electrical system in the club failed. We were in the middle of playing Hello It’s Me and half way through the entire PA went down. At this same moment Rich had put his bass drum mallet all the way through his bass drum head. The power came back on in short order but now we had no bass drum. While Matt was helping Rich put gaffer tape all over his bass drum head we decided to play a semi acoustic version of Little Too Late to fill time while surgery was performed on the drum. All was sorted in quick time and we were able to finish the set.

For our last song we invited our friends from Fatally Yours onstage to help us sing Sway. We all had a blast. I don’t know if the stage could have handled anymore people on it as we all sang the chorus but it was a great way to end the set.

Liverpool

The Carling Academy

March 12th, 2008

The Gales caused a great deal of problems today. They closed part of the M6 today which made us have to take country roads most of the way to Liverpool. We had the chance to see lots of cows, sheep and country cottages but the diversion took us pretty far out of the way so we a little late getting to the club. Had another quick soundcheck and then off to supper. The local opening act forgot to bring a drum set so they had to scratch. The is always great here and today is no exception. Just by chance our mates in Supergrass were playing upstairs on the same night. They went on at 9:00 so we were able to catch a few songs of their set before we headed down to play our set.

We saw a bunch of familiar faces in the crowd tonight. Sweet J who runs our myspace site for us made it up from Wales with his girl. Mad was there along with our good friend Anne. It had been a while since we were up in Liverpool so a it was great to see all of our old friends.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Birmingham

Ceol Castle

March 10th, 2008

We turned up in Brimingham with a little extra time for ZU, Franko, and Derrick to hit the local curry shop. Veggie samosa and chicken korma Yum!!!!!

An acoustic set for tonight. A little different vibe for the tour, the only acoustic show on this tour and a good venue for an intimate show with all of our friends.

We had a small reunion of the original FSM caravaners. Tony, Cobby, Leo, (sorry that Lin was too sick to attend) We had mad and Simon turn up as well. It was Suzanne's birthday as well. A fine group of people that we have know for so long.

Cambridge

March 9th, 2008

The Man on The Moon, Cambridge

Got to sound check a little late so we had to jam all of our equipment onto the stage quickly. 4 Bands tonight so time is a bit short. A acoustic band played before us (unfortunately their names escapes me at the moment) then is was Solstice. A local band from the Cambridge area. Nice bunch of lads. Then Fatally Yours Followed by FSM. The sound was a bit better tonight and the vocals were really punchy. We had a group of Austrians crash the show. It was a lot of fun learning the German version of “Der Kommisar” after the show with our new fans. They said we needed to tour in Austria the informed us that “Four Star Mary would be huge in Austria” Guess where we are going next time?????

Almost forgot. We were messing about in the car park next door from the venue having fun taking pictures ect. We just remarking that we hadn’t scene any police coming around to inquire as to what a bunch of guys were doing hanging out in a car park. No sooner had the words left our lips that the police show up and wonder what we were up to. They soon discerned that we weren’t causing trouble so they were heading on their way when Derrick ask the officers that since they had came all of the way from the station house would they mind taking a quick photo with us. We asked them pose in the main part of the garage and look really serious. They were happy to oblige and even seemed to get into it a little. Have a look for yourself……………………


Royal Holloway University

March 8th 2008

Royal Holloway University

The first show of the UK tour was a smashing success. It was really great to see a lot of faces that we hadn’t see in a long time. A lot of old friends plus a whole bunch of new fans as well.

We turned up for sound check at 5:00 and got to work. We had a few problems with the PA but got it sorted in the end. Fatally Yours who is our support for this tour had a great set. The crowd really seemed to enjoy them. Derrick and Tad were on the side of the stage cheering them on. Tad’s favorite song is “The Tragic Way you Look at the Mundane” and the “Consequence of Greed”. A really good start for the boys from Oxford.

We hit the stage @ 10:45 and started things off with some FSM classics “She Knows” and “Dilate” Then we added “Won’t Stop” from the new record “Hello It’s Me”

In the middle of the set we played “Stars Come Down” with just Tad, Derrick and Zu semi acoustic like the version on the “Welcome Home” a really nice quiet moment in a set loaded with crowd jumping favorites. For a little surprise we added “Just What I Needed” by the Cars to mix things up. Most probably weren’t familiar with the original but they seemed to get into the Four Star Mary version just as well.


Thursday, March 6, 2008

We've Landed

Hola Peeps,


We have arrived. After a 10 hour flight FSM is in the country.

We are staying in Whitney at a lovely Bed and Breakfast. Der and I got up early today and went to the gym, had a swim and sat in the steam room. It was like going to the spa.

We are busy with rehearsals at the moment and getting ready for the start of the tour. First show at Holloway Uni has been sorted so anyone can get in. Make sure you check the message boards for the Hollway show and there is a link to send your name to the venue to put you on a guest to get in for 6 pounds.

Rich is yelling at me to get back to rehearsal so I have to run.

See you soon.


XOXO

Z
U