The Final Part of the Trilogy: The Return Of The Johns

I drove down to London and parked up at the house of my friend Jules where I was crashing for the night. Getting the tube into London meant I was going to be able to do this gig assisted by alcohol! (Stone cold sober at Manchester and Leeds, I wasn't about to get obliterated and nearly ruin it like the guy at Leeds, but I was sure going to have a few!)

Jules was working in London, so I met her in a bar for a drink before she went home. Only she didn't go home... SBOrinoco kept his promise and joined us shortly after and between the two of us, we managed to persuade Jules not to go home, but come to the gig with us instead! Before that we went to a really nice theatre bar which set the mood quite nicely.

Weirdness took hold as we left the bar to go to the gig. We could see Police and Firemen taping off an area, blue lights flashing and I said "I think we've got a jumper." I was right - a guy perched on a third storey window ledge. Luckily, he didn't jump, although that did cost me a pound in a side bet with SBO... (I know we shouldn't have, but it seemed like a good idea at the time!)

Got to the venue and exchanged my camera for a little yellow ticket (so no photos of the gig ). SBO bought a No! t-shirt and we went and stood awaiting Mo. We were about 25-30 feet from the stage. What can I say? The guy is pure genius! SBO and Jules absolutely loved him - Jules said even if the Giants weren't any goo (like that was ever going to be true...) it had been worth it for the CM experience!

Anyway, the Johns didn't disappoint. A real fun set, they were obviously having a great time, as were we! he venue was by far the biggest of the three and although not sold out, there was a very good crowd.

1. Experimental Film
We're really glad to be here. We're just really glad to be out of Leeds!
2. The Spine
3. Memo to HR
4. Older
5. Damn Good Times
6. I Palindrome I
7. Twisting
8. Bastard Wants To Hit Me
9. Astor-i-ay
(They had real trouble remembering how this one started - a country rock song rhyming As-tor-i-ay with "it isn't gay")
10. Dr Worm
11. Drink!
12. Dallas Particle Mo
13. Fingertips
14. Wearing A Raincoat
15. Cyclops Rock
16. Violin with the best wave ever! and both cussed it was so good!
17. Ana Ng
18. NYC
19. She's An Angel
20. Polk
21. It's Kickin' In
22. Stalk Of Wheat
23. Waltz in C
24. Birdhouse In Your Soul

Encore 1

25. Alphabet Of Nations (Uruguay West Xylophone, Zimbabwe...)
26. Clap Your Hands
27. End Of The Tour

Encore 2

28. Robot Parade
29. Guitar Intro/Istanbul

And it was all over. Went and shook Corn Mo's hand (he had sold all his merch!) and he gave me one of his pamphlets with stories in. (Has anyone seen them? They're brilliant! Maybe another thread soon...) Back to the theatre bar (which we had to bluff our way into as it's members only after 8pm) and a couple of pics as a memento.


SBOrinoco


me and Jules 9slightly the worse for wear!)

Please come back soon, Johns...

Think I actually saw you in the queue to get into the Academy in Manchester....

I think I saw you, too... did you mean the queue to get into the room, or the queue to get into that queue?!?

Wow, I'm exhausted just having read your posts. 3 concerts that soon apart - it must be like living on the east coast. I can only imagine.

Thanks for the updates and bringing another convert (Jules) into the fold. Her indoctrination begins forthwith.

BigJohn

i love how you met up with SBO, converted Jules, & saw Simon, but didn't know it. that is sooo cool!

i'm delighted, chuckie. just simply delighted.

Nice write-up and pix, chuckie!

That is so cool that you and SBO got to meet up.

Thanks so much guys. I'm flattered, but feel I must point out that my adventures were all secondary to the fact that TMBG ROCKED!!!

they wouldn't have rocked half as much if you hadn't of been there, chuckie. it's the people who create the vibe.

I don't recall exactly where, but your face looks familiar - - great shows, great times!

Simon

My first thought was you were just ahead of me in the queue, but on reflection, I think you were about next to me in the audience. I was slightly to the left about 3 rows from the front... was it you i was pogoing into?

Looking from the back of the venue towards the stage we were on the right about.....errr 8 from the front I suppose.

It was a great gig. They played all the songs I was looking forward to. Including Constantinopel....Constantinople??? Oh Istanbul at the end (that'll be why they changed it), which they hadn't played at the previous two apparently so it was a nice surprise.

Jason, sorry Chuckie and Jules were great. Wasn't quite sure how a blind meet up for a gig would be but I really enjoyed it. Jules introducing us to the cool Bohemian bar for befores/afters was great too. Though I was well the worse for wear afterwards and felt a little below par in the morning too .

Corn Mo was really excellent, Chuckies description of Meatloaf with an accordion was pretty on target.

And yes the bet on the man who was, or more wasn't, jumping was a little tasteless on my part....I was more trying to make a statement that I was sure he wouldn't rather than make a quick quid from Chuckie or try to trivialise it. It just didn't look right to me, he just looked like he wanted attention. Not that I'm an expert of how it should look or anything you understand. Most important thing of course that he didn't.

Anyway I digress. Excellent gig, great people to meet, wonderful night. Look forward to when they come again.

that's wonderful, SBO. i think it's really cool how you guys all took a chance on eachother.