
Tomorrow (Friday 24th) at 8pm, I’m doing a rare solo gig at The Plough And Harrow in Welling! Unbelievably this is the THIRD full-length solo gig I’ve ever done in the history of ever. The first was ten years ago, the 2nd four, and the 3rd in a few hours.
Let’s talk about pubs and the covers circuit.
Instead of college or university, I studied music at pubs. Guinness is much cheaper than tuition fees, a morning headache hurts less than half a lifetime of debt in an industry where you have to work ten times as hard for a tenth of the dosh, equally life-changing links can be made in beer gardens to seminars, and afterwards I’d likely have ended up back at square one – just with a five-year delay (and into the cusp of a pandemic).
Once I got a driving licence, I had a very intensive stint on the pub circuit, specifically the classic rock covers band circuit. The experience in doing so was invaluable at the time, especially in expanding my sonic palette to recreate sounds I’d hear and admire in famous records, and learning not just to play but to perform.
You can only learn so much playing to your bedroom walls, where you can grow as a musician but not a performer. In my late teens and early twenties my skin was a lot tougher than it is now, and I would plunge myself into the most rowdy and rough locals I could find – with the belief that with the inevitable trial and error, if I could get them on my side, I could do so anywhere. And so far, it seemed to work.
But at 21, I decided to retire from that circuit. It served its purpose for me personally by then. In a few years time I’d rather be known as “that guy who makes songs I like” rather than “that kid who does a mean rendition of a famous song that came out 30 years before he was born”.
And a partial factor was the intrusiveness and the ageism in certain places that became tiresome. "Can I get up with you and sing Sweet Caroline with my daughter?" "Is that your dad?" pointing to bandmates in their early 30's. And more bafflingly, things like "you're FAR too young to know who David Bowie is!" Just because I was born in the 1990's it doesn't mean it was in a cave! But yeah that became a bit too much to regularly endure, and I truly admire anyone who can.
That said, when circumstances align, when I vibe with somewhere, and when it’s sporadic enough to be a special occasion, I’d never say never. For instance The Iron Horse and Pelton Arms I still consider to be my musical homes, full of music lovers and appreciators rather than hooligans.
And tomorrow, The Plough And Harrow is a place I reckon I can vibe with, and a rare occasion at a time where I feel I have enough creative ventures on the side and in the pipeline for the ratio of my identity to not be substantially outweighed.
Every time I’ve done a full show in a pub, it’s always been behind the comfort and security of at least a duo, trio, or band, and aside from the odd featured number I’d be granted, I’d always be a sideman. I think it was a mixture of insecurity, protection from anxieties, and the thrill and learning curves of playing with others.
So doing this on my own is a big step for me, one that seems a plunge in the deep end, but I think I can. And if I’m cut out for it, I might do more – there’s one way to find out.
So please come down, bring a friend or four, sing, dance, clap on 2 and 4 rather than 1 and 3, and let’s make it very fun x