Album Launch at The Betsey Trotwood

 From the first rehearsal next week, I had an inkling that this was going to be a particularly unique afternoon. The rehearsals were so good, in fact, that I became really anxious in case someone got ill and couldn't turn up, or something like that. Luckily, from the outset everything went really well; the Betsey Trotwood staff are incredible and the room was being set up when we got there at 12. Soon, we were sound checking, ready, and set to watch The Would-be-Goods Three. Upstairs, I'd cracked a joke that made Andy Warren (who plays bass for them as well as The Monochrome Set) laugh. I wish I could remember what I said. Famous for being non-expressive, he walked off down the room until the smile left his face. Result!

A queue was forming outside the door. 'Gideon Coe is here!' said someone. I went out to say a quick hello. I only saw two of The Would-be-Goods Three's songs, but they were absolutely on form, and did an excellent job according to the applause that reverberated up the stairwell. I sat upstairs to count my blessings, of which there are many.

The gig itself went by seemingly rapidly. I had to work hard to remember the words. One prompt I'd unwisely written on my left hand, which of course was pointing away from me playing guitar. I missed out that verse. For a band some of whom hadn't met each other before the day, things went remarkably smoothly. I could sense a feeling of pleasant surprise as people in the band heard songs that had been rehearsed on a different day- or even not at all. It was hard to remember to sing and not just listen to what was going on myself! What felt particularly good was the gentle gear-shifting of dynamics according to who was playing: Ruth and Karina's strong vocal harmonies bookending the line of musicians, Robert's powerful guitar parts and energy, Terry's sparkling trumpet style, and Jack's wonderful lap steel that completely transformed the sound. He seemed to be enjoying every minute and started playing on our final song, Three Cheers for Toytown, just for the joy of it. We did it twice at the end (we got an encore) and everyone in the audience roared along with it, which was perfect. It was just the atmosphere: the sun shone in through the windows, everyone seemed to be in a good mood, the audience smiled and nodded along to the music, laughed at my jokes (I wish I could remember what I said), and completely got into the whole thing. Caryne and Dave came up from Frome, there was a large Brighton contingent (Mark AsboDerek and Sarah, Steve and Anne, Simon from The Popguns/Perfect English Weather and more), family contingent (Offsprogs One and two plus friends, Little Bruv), band contingent (members of the aforementioned Asbo Derek, Perfect English Weather, The Loft, Papernut Cambridge, Drew from Drew Morrison and the Darkwood, and more), friends from long ago (Valerie!), and our own Instagram influencer who took a pic of me with Terry and Gideon. 

It was hard to go home at the end. I'm exhausted, but have already started doing backing vocals for an album that Robert has recorded with a bunch of friends, plus beginning to sort of a Bandcamp page for Big Bruv.

It was a perfect afternoon, all the more perfect for its imperfections. How brilliant to be back gigging again!