Foxwood Night Out at the Malt Shovel, or Not

Well, after a long debate at Manchester Carnival, during which time, absoutely no night suited anybody at all, we agreed that we would meet at the Malt Shovel, Armley on September 1st. So this is how Charlotte came to be there from 8 till 9.30 [fortunately with Bridget and Holly] and Bex and me from 9 to whenever. Lizzie was there working and Georgia taking part in the Stars in Their Eyes Competition. Bex and Gig played Trini to the Bone on air pan.

So, not exactly a Foxwood Night Out.

For me, this was rather a bizarre day. Early afternoon found me meeting Bex, Katie, Vicky and co at Chapel Allerton festival, fifteen minutes later I am at Brudenell Social Club watching my favourite ever new band, Glassbody. Now I first saw and  heard Glassbody at an Allerton Grange Showcase , and was bowled over. They are definitely their own people but they had tints of Bloc Party, and now today I feel also tinged with The Cure, and maybe even Simple Minds. But not in a derivative way but a homage type of way.

After that I nipped up to Meanwood to give my mum a birthday cake which I baked the day before, and upon which I placed one representative candle. Then, after a few more domestic duties and it was over to the Malt Shovel for a few limes down the lagers.

Foxwood at the Malt Shovel Armley Leeds

Dear Debs

As you know I have three main bands [used to have four, but that nice Mr Edwards cancelled the Royal Park Steel Pandas when he cancelled Royal Park School], and each has their own strengths. Simplifying and summing it up, the Sparrows can take on a few really really hard tunes and practise them to death and to success; East Steel can cope successfully with a much bigger repertoire, and get all the nuances; Foxwood will sight-read their way through more or less anything.

They also each have failings, but none so much as Foxwood in a confined space. And yes, here we are at the Malt Shovel again. The volume is going from fff to ffff; not saying it's not good; it's exciting, but heavens it is loud. Phew, now it's Your Song. Only the Foxwood Doves, and those of us who are also pan teachers know this one. By virtue of it being only half the band playing, we can show the Malt Shovel that we can also do subtle.

Oh no we can't.   As Stewart said later, well I think I got that. And yes, Stewart, you did, and you and the rest of you played it at the same the same volume that you played the Trini roadsongs.

Yo!

We were me, Gig, Lizzie, Bex, Stewart, Diz, Varshika, Natalie, Amy, Joe, Vicky, Mig and Charlotte, and we played indoors on the one day in half-term that Jubilee week that it didn't rain. And Joanne definitely didn't want to be pictured!