Day 11 - This Could Be The Last Time

Day 10 was a day off spent at home in front of the log burner with a takeaway curry.

So just after 11.30am on Day 11, I set off in the car destined for Manchester for the last date of New Model Army’s UK Tour. The weather was atrocious causing major delays and I didn’t arrive at my town centre Holiday Inn Express hotel until 4.50pm.

I was more than a little frustrated, because I anticipated that I would have been there in plenty of time to watch the Liverpool v Man United match that had kicked off at 4.30pm. The only slight consolation was that United were already one nil up. At halftime time I popped next door to grab a sandwich and a couple of cans of beer then returned to my room to enjoy the 2nd half. It was a fantastic start to the evening with Man Utd winning 2-1.

At 7.50pm, I hurried around the corner in the rain to the O2 Ritz venue for the final UK gig of the tour. By the time I got in, The Autumn Saints were just taking to the stage for another good set of songs that I was by now quite familiar with.

In the interval, I caught up with a lot of the usual faces I have previously mentioned, but also including Stuart and Jo Newton from the Magic Bus and a married couple, Dave and his wife, who’s name I embarrassingly keep forgetting, despite chatting to them probably more than anyone else.

The final gig was another belter. I was stood a couple of rows back from the mosh pit, particularly because some half-wit had spilt a whole pint on the wooden floor turning it effectively into a slippery ice rink.

When the band returned for the encore, they started with a cover of The Rolling Stones song - The Last Time acknowledging the circulating rumours that the band were splitting up next year. Justin didn’t quash the rumours and in fact earlier in the set at the beginning of ‘Before I Get Old’ he said, “Who knows what any of us will be doing this time next year”.

Having said all this, I have a ticket to see them in December at Rock City in Nottingham and they have already been booked for several music festivals in Europe next year.

At the end of the gig the usual ‘Family’ photo was taken and then we all headed to the Grand Central pub for an aftershow party. The pub was too busy, too hot and although the music was a lot of my favourite songs, it was way too loud. Maybe I’m getting too old for all of this!

I spent the next hour supping a couple of beers, having a shouted conversation with my new found German friends, Marco, Alex and Monika, before I called it a night at midnight.

As I left, I saw Ceri Monger having a crafty smoke outside and chatting to a girl, presumably his girlfriend, who had been in the thick of it at several shows.

NMA Song of the Day - Family by New Model Army.

Non NMA Song of the Day - The Last Time by The Rolling Stones.Читать далее