Jean Genie
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Monument/Pitlochry - JG's Journal (27/28 June)About a month ago, I reviewed the finances and logistics, in view of making the trip north for this double header. I booked the coaches to and from Glasgow a week or so beforehand, later to learn of the Monument gig cancellation. However I was invited to Greenock to see them rehearse in preparation for the Edinburgh gig the following weekend. After rehearsals, a posse of us went back to Tommy's (Monument's drummer) for some food, drink and general mayhem (jalapeno peppers and green olives comes to mind!!)
The following morning I got a taxi to Greenock West train station and made my way to Glasgow. I had a few hours' break in the city centre as the next coach to Pitlochry (changing at Perth) was at 1pm. After a delay at Perth, the connecting coach arrived at Pitlochry some time after 4pm. Thankfully it was just a short walk along Atholl Road to the venue and to my b&b which was next door. I checked in, washed and went to McKays where I watched Wimbledon over a couple of bottles of cider. James and the band arrived while I was drinking my first one, and I had a brief chat with James, Malky, Smiley and Ian. It wasn't long after this when I met up with Keef and his friends, who were great company. We shared a meal and a bottle of wine before sitting outside to watch the world go by, while changing various Simple Minds tracks to include food and drink (eg Buckfast Child, The Cake Inside Of Me, All The Things In Bread) It was great to see Craig and Annette from Glasgow there, and a real godsend when they offered me a lift back there the following morning (after the delays of getting to Pitlochry).
The gig started late in the evening. We got in the room around 10pm, the band being due onstage at 11pm. The place filled up after looking a little sparse when Fourgoodmen first hit the stage. The band were on their usual top form and the crowd were well up for it. To say it was intimate was a bit of an understatement. There was no raised level for the stage, so we shared the dance floor with the band. It was encouraging to see the crowd lapping up the music, and great to see that some have made their way to the Fourgoodmen forum. Hopefully some might venture to Glasgow for the usual post-Christmas gig.
The following morning I travelled back to Glasgow with Craig and Annette. It meant a couple of hours break in the city, but I much preferred that than the prospect of sweating over making (or not) the only coach back to Liverpool that afternoon! All in all, a great weekend, and here's to the next time..
(James/Keef... can you post the setlist? Mine is in the proverbial safe place in our household!)
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