A very exciting evening at the shep bush empire where we managed to get a photopass for... We were said that we could only take photos for 3 songs though, before hand, and we agreed to it.
Nobody bothered us as we had to go in the pit (not allowed to take the camera anywhere else but in the pit) and we practiced on the Elvis Blackout band, for a few photos. Then as the mighty Bluetones went on, we rushed there and got ready and started snapping away. Unfortunately there was a lot of red lighting, so many of hte photos won't be fantastic . A photographer joined us during teh second half of the first song, the poor think only had one song and a half to go!
As teh third song finished, a very keen bouncer told us we had to now stop and follow him. HE brought us backstage, and told us we had to leave the camera equipment there or get out of the venue.

Since we only had 2 passes with us, a photopass which allowed us to be in the building for the first 3 songs of the main act, and an aftershow party -guest ticket, it did mean we could not stay there and watch the show. After a few phonecalls, they said to us that we could go back at teh entrance and get some show ticket passes.
Not wanting to leave the cameras in a dodgy place without insurance, there was a little bit of tension and arguement going on with certian people and choosing between leaving the venue to put teh camera in the car was not an option, leaving the cameras with them definitely not, and pissing off home was the third option.

Waiting for my new coat which was upstais, the guy called and asked for someone to come down, and teh tour manager of the BLuetones, Andy, a great guy, arrived (I was expecting a bouncer who would start tlaing about the coat and what colour it was and bring more discussion) and Andy brightly propose to leave the camera equipment in the dressing room.
We accepted and the next solution was to agree with teh staff, stay to watch the show and get the tickets. SO they took us outside, and made us go back in by the front doors, back to the ticket office where we collected our "guest show" tickets. And tehn we were asked whether we wanted to stay upstairs or downstairs. We stayed downstairs, and I went off at teh front to groupie them (like a good groupie would do) and watched the marvellous bluetones doing their show. I suddenly noticed the "no diving allowed, anyone diving will be taken out of teh venue immediately" bright orange by teh side of the stage. I thought..>That's odd. But then the bluetones are not the kind of band one dives to.

During the last song, horror someone diving above the crowd! A blonde girls! The bouncers rush and rushed, as fast as lightning to take her away from the people's arms and to take her outside, I suppose. And again, one, 2 more surfers... I thought...This is rather sad...It feels like being back at school. The word "fascist" could be used in those circumnstances but I would rather use the word " extreme repression" which can swing both ways (why take a political side! extremes are both bad) and thought this venue was...Should I say it or is someone going to make me delete it... Sad.

It s like being in a totalitarian state (which I have never been in)

It was ridiculous. Really.
Anyway the Bluetones were fantastic and it was well worth coming, Mark was in top shape and their fans very loud and happy!
Corr, lets hope Green Drummers never have to play in that venue, ever. We were going to offer to support Europe during their gig next year...But now I dont think we will...

Thanks ! Vive les Bluetones!

Fantastic gig at Nottingham, the last one from the Bluetones Collections gigs!

This one wildblanket made!

Ah thank you PLakka for being who you are...A mad band full of mad people...