Sparkadia

Following Kyle's mid tour crisis (which i admit was completely induced and then encouraged by us) we were lucky to have a day off. A "day off" on tour can be much needed when you start to have groundhog day moments, dreams and then can't really work out what is going on...since we were beginning to finish each other's sentences we decided to have some time alone. As we woke up in Manchester, i was keen to walk the grey streets and check out the hacienda and all things related to tony wilson, martin hannet, joy division, new order and factory records. After downing a "full english" at the "Koffee Pot", which is the best breakfast joint in manchester, i was kindly informed that the hacienda is now converted apartments and that for a "cool million quid" i could own the penthouse. Um. no. So i found this incredible toy store and bought a jimmy page figurine as an end of tour present for kyle. This figurine was amazing! amazing. Thankfully it depicted the mid to late 70's period of led zep which jimmy was wearing a one piece suit with dragons on his legs. Apparently when led zep played in london this year, both plant and page looked like wizards out of lord of the rings...

After walking the streets and getting well depressed with the bleak skies and the concrete jungle that surrounded me, i phoned dave, nick and tiff and we decided to go to liverpool. Why not?

By the time we got organised and i got over my jimmy page, eddy from iron maiden and kurt cobain figurines, it was night time and we went to see Emmy the Great and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly at the liverpool carling academy (i think thats what it was called). We hung out with emmy and her band - who were lovely - and then nick made an inspired decision to check out this jazz club that was recommended by someone's friend's cousin's daughter's best mate. So we drove back to manchester. When we arrived at the door, there was no one policing the money, so we all snuck in and experienced jazz - howard moon style. After the show, Nick got talking to the drummer and found out that he used to play in Texas "I don't need a lover...i just need a friend" and now spend most summers playing to stadiums in spain. Awesome. More drinking and jazz followed and then the day was over.

Leeds was our final destination with J.E.W. and we nearly didn't make it. On route, a tyre of ours completely exploded and we spent a good few hours freezing on the highway until a roadside helper person arrived and sorted it all out.

Leeds was incredible. Beautiful city. We played at the leeds university (the same place as the who's "live at leeds" record. The crowd were wild and i ended up wearing some guys skiing hat. I hope that he got it back....

After the show we had too many drinks with jimmy band and the jimmy crew and ended up playing a ghetto dice game called see-low. Has anyone played this before? It's totally deadly. Dave and Tiff won many many pounds, i on the other hand, lost all my money and as a result had to beg for food for the next few days. Dave and Tiff were kind enough to give me their scraps after their meals.

tbc...