A Night with The Crocketts
I've met The Crocketts a few times now and everytime they have treated me like one of their friends, not just some girl fan that hangs around a lot (which is good because I don't want to be seen as a "hang-arounder"). Anyway, a while back I was told that if I could make it to any of the gigs with the Supernaturals or The Levellers I should let them, or to be precise let Martin know, and he will see about putting me on the guestlist. Unfortunately I couldn't get to any of the Supernaturals gigs mainly because they were so far away, but I was able to get to Doncaster to see them with the Levellers. Thankfully I know where Doncaster is, unlike Hanley or Kings Lynn, I mean where the fuck are they?
The Day.
Okay, so now my plus 1 can't come. I am plus 1less... I'm going to drive roughly 200 miles on my own to see a band with the possibility of spending the night in my car with the spiders. Not very appealling really is it? No not in the least. What do I do? I drive up there anyway!!
My main job of the night is to hand out flyers advertising the official website. I knew it was going to be one of those evenings, when my false purple nail flicked off as I took the flyers out of my bag... oh dear. After hassling all the (already overloaded with flyers) Levellers fans for 15 minutes I spotted the lufferly Martin wandering towards the merchandise stall. Perched on some cases there was the rather nutty yet sweet frontman Davey Crockett. How is it that Davey recognises me from miles off? Especially since the last time he saw me I was blonde and now I'm kinda purple... Well at least Dan didn't recognise me! After a few minutes of general chat, the lights went down hinting that the first band (The Fish Brothers) were about to go on stage. "Have you ever seen The Fish Brothers before?" asks Dan, no I reply, "Well they are kinda like Chaz and Dave" he says; which worries me. So what is my first impression? A louder, funnier Chaz and Dave... of course the constant burping into the microphone and the wonderful display of guts during a rendition of "You Fat Bastard" just added to the splitting of my already aching sides. Truly an act to see!
As the first act came to an end Dan rushes off to get ready to go on stage and once again I am left on my own. Finally the lights go down again and I find myself positioned infront of Dan. Davey (bless him) is looking madder than usual, his eyes darting over the audience as he calmly speaks the first few words of Tennesse.
HOUSTON? I THINK WE HAVE LIFT OFF... (The Crocketts are about to ROCK)
As usual you have the wonderfully stage mad Davey doing his manic jumping about the stage routine. The audience look bewildered. They don't know what to think, I just wish I could show you some of the expressions, you could tell they were Crock virgins. Dan and Rich are doing their evil glare routine. Dan almost pulling it off until Davey says something about tits in the tabloid papers. Rich is being the bass player... think back to Mark Ash in the Trailer days. "Will You Still Care?" gets a few more bewildered possibly even amused looks from the crowd. What is different about this set? Well, apart from the very rock lighting and Davey looking exceptionally mad, they play a couple of new songs. I (being crap) don't know their names but they are brilliant. Rhinestone Cowboy gets peoples attention, the 2 lads infront of me turning around to tell me that I was right and that this band do rock, Strong Guy, Bluster Boy, Flower Girl, Loved Ya Once and Explain all played, all great. Then after the best set i have seen them do, they come to an end and... the South Park theme tune... WHAT THE ...??? Dan and Rich actually sound like the freaky little cartoon characters. Now I am scared.
For the next 2 hours I'm stuck watching the Levellers (did I mention I was alone?..once or twice? oops sorry) I must admit, I think they are, errrmmm, okay. Good live, but it's not really my thing. I think though, that if the crowd is big and they are all having a blast I can't say it was a crap gig. Just because I'm not overly keen on something doesn't make it shit. The crowd there to see The Levellers was big, and everyone else was dancing and singing along; especially a group of about 5 big, hairy and sweaty men who were throwing eachother around for the duration of the show. If that many people were enjoying themselves, and a varied selection of people too, it must have been a good gig. I was however, after 2 hours and 2 encores, happy to fight my way through the leaving crowd to the stage area, to wait to go to the aftershow - oh yeah!!
Free booze - and I'm driving, this is going to take will power. How PANTS is that? Owen wanders over to say hello and chats for a bit. I continue to stay sober while chatting to Erin and Becky. I met Erin on The Crocketts website guestbook thing, she hurls cows. Owen vanishes off but is quickly replaced by Dan. So Dan, this is what happens after every show then yeah? "yeah" he says with (out) too much enthusiasm. Only one more night though and then its back to London, "except we only have one day off, Monday. We have to finish writing the songs for the album". When is the album going to be finished? "Well, we should start recording at the beginning of January and hopefully finish it by the end of January". Cool. I'm still sober, I'm doing well! Dan also tells me how they tried to clear out one of the hotel rooms they stayed in on the tour, you know, the usual bathrobe, towel, mini bar job.. naughty!! Eventually Dan is replaced by Rich, who says he will lend me one of his text books from uni - good, I need lots of text books - although he said he'd give me bass lessons too and haven't had any of them yet!! (hint hint) By this point Erin has got a lovely collection of aftershow goodies, flyers for the website, Crocketts playing cards, and booze - of which I've had none (no I'm not bitter, its the first time I've been to a gig and stayed sober!). It is decided that everyone will go onto a club in Doncaster, thats right you read correctly, a club in Doncaster. Davey asks me what I thought of the show and I tell him that I think it was the best I've seen, and that he looked scarier than usual. Actually you scared me the first time I saw you live. "Well thats my job" he replies, "Sometimes people won't look you in the eye, they're not sure whether you are looking at them or not. It's fun." of course he has a mad twinkle in his eye as he is saying this. You don't scare me anymore Davey. We never do make it to the club, Dan, Rich and myself end up on the tour bus (by this time I've been told I can stay there). We had lost Owen and Davey somewhere - heh heh - we end up watching Casino and dreaming of alcohol (cuz I'm still sober). Davey and Owen finally return after not getting in anywhere and we all find ourselves sitting in the "living room" area while Davey plays an acousitic session for us. This is nice. I only met them a few times yet I am sitting with them while Davey sings, as if I am part of the Crocketts tour party family. I watched Davey while he played each song - it seems that he transforms when he gets his guitar and starts to sing, that he feels what he is singing. There is almost a child-like quality about him. The rest of the band join in, their own fine qualities showing through.
Eventually, everyone trails off to their bunks and I'm left to sleep and try not to think about the long drive home!!!