A bunch of us went up to Edinburgh to help Roger celebrate his 50th birthday and what a fab week-end it turned out to be. Cocktails on the train up there from Leeds at 10am (cheers Jez) City centre Hotel just minutes walk from the station (Cheers Roger) then a walk to the Scotch pie shop before hitting our first pub where a kitty was started (Thanks Dave – 15 drinks per round – what a star!). Rugby was on and everyone was getting on. In the afternoon we all went our different ways (John Jez and I had some posh whiskey at ‘The Scotch Malt Whisky Society‘ before getting totally Christmassed up at the Dome – amazing decorations with the scent of cinnamon being pumped out everywhere….
We were booked into the Voodoo Lounge for an evening meal and John came in very excited “I’ve just been talking to Vic Goddard outside whilst he had a fag!”. Turns out he was playing there that night so off we went after dinner to see the worlds most talented Postie do his stuff.
There was a lot of love for him in the room and he and the Subway Sect were obviously enjoying it. Oldies and newies were greated with the same enthusiasm – ‘Ambition’ did it for me…..
After that I was in the mood to dance so got Graeme and Big Phil up for a boogie in the Voodoo lounge bar (much to the shock of the locals and non-locals a-like). Simon, thanks to his trusty iPhone, found us an indie disco to go to called ‘The Twisted Circus’. It was in a club that was only a short walk away, but no one else was up for it……too tired…..so it was just the two of us.
We found the Mash House after 11.00 and at first thought we’d made a big mistake because it was £8 in (“There’s 4 bands playing”) and the bar was empty – we then realised that there was another room and in there, Sea Bass Kid were just finishing their set. We caught the last 2 numbers which were great – very ‘Gogol Bordello’ – as were the other bands…..and the DJ music in the bar inbetween.
Alba Roma were on next and got everyone in the place – and I mean everyone – jumping like a bunch of mad things – fantastic stuff! Everyone else in there seemed in their early 20’s but we were dancing as much as anyone!
We were flagging a bit by the time Mad Dog McRea came on who were a bit more sea shanty like but again had every one jumping around – reminded me of a Pogues concert.
By now it was 2am and we just couldn’t stay awake much longer (I’d been up 19 hours straight and ‘enjoying myself’ for 16 of those) so missed out on Yoko Pwno (who look like they’d have been really good!) and instead went to the chippy for some local culture before heading home “What’s a ‘Kingrib’?” I asked the guy infront of us who’d just ordered a massive £21.30 worth of food for himself, topped off with a ‘Kingrib’. ‘A Kingrib….?!” he says like I’d just asked the most stupid question in the world “….it’s a Fackin’ Kingrib innat!”………………. I do love Edinburgh!
Bob the Chiropodist
