STACKRIDGE LIVE!

Stoneleigh Village Hall, November 8th

They say " you couldn't make it up "....and they're probably right, so
here's my version of the evening at Stonleigh. Others may mock and differ
but I'm convinced that this is one of the best gigs that I've seen EVER.

Sonia, Katrina and I arrived at  the village hall car park at a quarter to
eight and pulled up alongside the bands van (you could tell by the Frome
address), a couple of cars and a horse transporter. We disembarked, hearing
the sound of the new Stackridge song ( I Could be Happy ? ), thinking " S**t
! we're late " and hurried into the hall. We then ran smack into Frankie,
Ade, Alan (Marzo) and ..er, .....that was it, just us. Incredibly the gig
was due to start at eight and, by that time, the figures were band members
6, audience 6, a score draw by anyone's reckoning. What we heard was the
sound check, running late because, as Jennie explained,  "The van broke down - not once .... but TWICE! ". Well, we ardent Thrashers don't expect things to go smoothly
anyway so we just ordered a round of drinks via the back door of the bar and
talked amongst ourselves 'til kick-off. After ten minutes or so, another
couple arrived ( Hooray !!, we outnumbered the band). They had seen the lads
at Cropredy, liked what they saw and came back for another dose. That's the
way to do it !!. It transpired that the female of said couple remembered
"The Stanley "  from the seventies - but didn't, at the time of Cropredy,
realise that it was Stackridge that were responsible for it and,
subsequently finding out via (the web site ?) that it was, indeed, them.

By the time Jennie officially opened the doors the audience had swelled to
an accountants dream of ten. The hall was very tidy and neatly laid out and,
not surprisingly, seated everybody comfortably. "Merry Christmas Mr
Lawrence" by Ryochi Sakamoto (or whatever) was playing in the background
when Johnny introduced our heroes on to the stage. By that time the audience
numbered fourteen, count 'em FOURTEEN !!.
Now, If I were an artiste, musician or whatever in those circumstances I
would've said bollocks to it, got drunk and made my way back home pretty
darned quick, but hey this is STACKRIDGE. What did they do ??.....Well they
dusted down their boots, rolled up their sleeves and played their socks off.
In a sentence they were bloody brilliant !!

Frankie and Ade will, no doubt furnish you all with the set list in their
usual librarianly fashion, but there was one surprise number, which I think
should form yet another quiz subject. Clearly those present are barred from
entry but the question is......" What  song did Stackridge do for the first
encore ?? "........a definite pint for the first correct guess, so get
typing everyone.

I said earlier that this was one of the best gigs ever. Well, I'll now put
that into pounds and ounces. As per usual the " Naughty Corner " set up
stall and, alongside was our nine year old daughter,Katrina, who brought
along various activities to keep herself amused. Throughout the set the
various members of the band, particularly Mike, kept looking down at her and
winking and smiling and, making her feel somewhat special. She loved every
minute of it. During the first half she drew up a colourful ad-hoc poster
type thing proclaiming " Stackridge are the best ", with their names around
the outside. During the interval, Frankie took it backstage to show the band
and they all signed and put comments to it. All this attention made her
evening. There she sat with her newly acquired " small " Stackridge T shirt,
beaming back at Mike every time he pulled a face at her....well !! she was
full of it. After the gig, she was made more than welcome backstage  . I
stood back in awe as they remembered her name and complimenting her for her
colouring efforts. .

Jim Timothy 

(Not a good move, Stoneleigh..... The band were VERY VERY gentlemanly about it....  Didn't they play well! However.... If I book anything remotely like it again, they will certainly lynch me! ... Jennie)

The Y Theatre, Leicester, October 26th

Firstly, thanks to Jennie and the lads.  It was great.
I shut my eyes and was transported back 25 years. THEY HAVE NOT LOST
AN IOTA OF WHAT THEY HAD (sorry about the shouting), even she who
must be obeyed was ecstatic by the end of the gig (she had gone with
an open mind and expected to be slightly disappointed, she wasn't).
Great to meet all you fellow thrashers in person, and not by email.
Great to see all the thrashettes were there and totally immersed in
what was going on. Theres a chance for the kids of today yet.
One criticism: MARZO, THAT IS NOT A KAZOO (again, sorry for the
shouting). Hope to see you all again at either Derby or Ashton

regards

Mick Booy

PS: Marzo, I still can't figure out the clues to 39 and 56,  you devious
swine!

Aston Court Festival, Bristol, July 16th

Helping the lads along with the lyrics is a favourite pastime of mine which I
normally do at a great volume (apologies to anyone standing near me). When
not singing I am generally playing Kazoo or in a deep trance when Mike or
Richard are in solo mode. Incidentally I thought flute and violin solos/duets
were amazing during the four days, Teatime/Fish/Venezuela/Syracuse especially.
The Stackettes made their welcome appearance at Bristol. They are Ruth
(Mike's daughter), and friend Nina. I totally agree with you about their
welcome addition to the band. I have now realised that glamour has always
been missing from the band in the past.  (But you should have been at the
Trowbridge festival last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).  I'll tell you about it when we
meet at a future gig. I'll be the one in the light blue or dark blue or white
Stackridge T-shirt holding a strange shaped Kazoo.

Marzo (aka Alan)

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, July 14th

Having last seen the band over a year ago in the same venue, I was plenty
impressed at how they've become a sleeker, mightier beast in the interim. It
brought home how much I was prepared to overlook a few shortcomings last
time round, just because of the sheer joy of seeing them back together
again. They are now, as I believe the modern vernacular has it, one tight
mother of an outfit, and the addition of Ian Towers has brought them a whole new
dimension in the vocalising department.
It's odd, because there's something very laid-back and American about his
phrasing, which you'd think would sit uncomfortably with such a very English
band. Yet (whisper it) I think I already prefer his version of Fish In a
Glass to the original.

Great gig lads. Even the new missus loved it, and until now she's
never quite understood my enthusiasm for the band. I always put this down to
her being French, but now I know there is no cultural barrier that a good
Stackridge concert cannot overcome.
Let no man surprise your behind.

Chris Evans

The Torrington, July 9th

The now well-established Thrasher 'Naughty Corner' was in fine fettle and
Ed even wore a T-shirt, admitting to his membership (Oh, brave fellow!) The
Kazzoo Orchestra was as lively and full-throated as ever, giving the usual
truncated Slark bit and joining in enthusiastically on several songs.

On kazoos, Alan came with something that looked like a failed school
science project but which (he claimed) originated in the depths of his
Mother's cupboard in Bristol. Likely story...still, it worked as a kazoo,
whatever it really was.

Special mentions again to Sandra and Frankie, whose dancing made these rest
of us look like sad, maddle-aged gits. Come to think of it...

Great to meet Thrashers old and new, including Chris Fribbins, Steve, Nick
(St. Albans) and others. Apologies to those I've forgotten to name but the
Trashers included: Kelvin, Sandra, Marzo, Mrs. Marzo, Ed, Jim, Frankie, Ade
plus a new 'Grasser' and the very strange M's Dad.

Best call-and-response? Mike's becoming-hackneyed "you're the best audience
we've played to...tonight" to which Kelvin replied "you're the best band
we've seen...tonight".

Naughty corner chants from The Rhubarbarians (sic) included the traditional
"There's only one Richard Stubbings", "Where's Richard Stubbings?"   ... after
he was late returning to the stage for the second half (probably scoring
some illicit rhubarb!) and, "One pint of Guinness".

Speaking of which, for those that like to keep track of these things (Hello,
Andy L!)  Riccardo was back on the black stuff, after his brief dalliance
with the amber fluid. In fact, he returned with two pints of it.

Ade (& Frankie) Macrow

The Dreamy Night at The Borderline, Friday May 19th

I'm a guy who went to The Borderline to see Stackridge's live concert
from Japan. I was glad and happy so much to see all of you there! I've
finally known how to join this chat-room and here am I  (I've made a study of
it for long!).  Over two week has past since I saw their concerts.  (Yes, two times!), but the
excitation is still lingering in my heart.  It was really exciting and
fantastic show. About three years ago when I collected Stackridge's albums,
I didn't expect at all that it would be realized I could see them playing in
front of me (I just thought Stackridge was a "legendary" band). So I was
awfully amazed when I learned the information of the concert, and that night
was a exactly like a "dream" to me. If possible I would like to go to
England again to see Stackridge's concert within this year  (I will have to
earn money by then!)

Kosuke Sakurai

Quiz time at The Riverside, Saturday May 13th

As Andy hasn't said anything about it, I think I should own up to being the
one that got Crun's Quiz question right on Saturday.  He looked a bit
crestfallen that someone got it  and I apologise unreservedly to Crun
for me being such a smart arse.
I know Ade will want to record the question which was, "What was the name of
the assassin who shot Archduke Ferdinand (and also, incidentally, his wife)
in Sarajevo in 1914?"
Answers on a twenty pound note to Stackridge Ltd C/O Crun!

Cheers,

Kelvin Dunn

Set list for Fiddler's, Bristol on Friday 5th May was as follows:-

1   Lummy Days
2  Fundamentally Yours
3  Grooving...
4  Road To Venezuela
5  32 West Mall
6  It's A Fascinating World
7  February In Shropshire
8  Something About The Beatles/Old Brown Shoe
9  Keep On Clucking
10 Last Plimsoll
11 Ruth, Did You Read My Mind?
12 5 Poster Bedlam
13 Youth Of Today
14 Teatime
15 After The Tetracycline
16 Fish In A Glass (The Roger Rowe 'Most Highly Favoured' Song)
17 Help Under Doors

(Encores)

18 Kilkenny Races/Mason's Apron
19 Help Me Rhonda
20 Dora, The Female Explorer

Intriguingly, the set list also has 'The Young Ones' at the end of the
encores, with several question marks after it. A future treat later in this
tour, mayhaps?


Crunny was almost garrulous: at least three comments,
including the defiant statement that "There is no defence for
vegetarianism". (Make of that what you will). His other remarks were of a
piscine nature.

The Great Riccardo was reluctantly forced to say something by Jim,
eventually asking, "What's the next song?". Not earth-shattering but we can
forgive this genius anything. Timbo was suitably manic and Ian now looks
like he's been there for years, although concern was expressed at his
wearing an awful shirt - clearly influenced by the sartorial 'heights'
(AHEM!) of Mike & Co.

Real trainspotterly note: The Legendary Stubbings was drinking lager - at
Exeter the previous night, it was apparently Guinness. Mike's tipple still
appears to be suspiciously like lager and blackcurrant or something equally
foul...

A special mention must go to Andy ( a Rhubarb Thrasher), who made a supreme effort to look as
'trendy' as the band, in a Hawaiian shirt that Mr. Evans would have been
proud of...

That's about it. Hope to see a few of you at The Borderline...

Ade  Macrow

Additional note from A.J. Lamkowski:-

Frankie / Ade: Correct me if I'm wrong,  but didn't Mike at Fiddlers introduce the first encore as the South Park mix - Kill Kenny Races?

(Quick note from the band:  Any chance of keeping the set list to end of gig....?!!   Jen)

Stubbings for England!  Is there anything this man can't do?