My first ever trip to Todmorden tonight. @Jon 's like a puppet master sat there on the other side of the pond dictating what gigs I go to. I'm so glad he gave me the nod about this one though.

Had a drive over early? Wandered around the town a bit and got some scran. There's a little area of decent looking bars, music venues, record and book shops, cafes etc. As I was walking there these two kids stopped me - a girl about 15 and she was with a younger lad, maybe 12 or so. She said do me a favour and go into the pub and ask for his shoe back. I looked down and the kid only had one trainer on and he was hobbling around on his socked foot. I asked them what happened and she said that the manager of the place had nicked his trainer and taken it into the pub and as they weren't old enough in they couldn't get it back. Well that was their story. Went in and asked the bloke behind the bar. He said he'd thrown it in the bushes outside. I beckoned the kids over and we went to look in the bushes where we found the missing trainer so everyone was happy and that's that. Christ knows what had happened.

It's a cracking venue with a good selection of beers and a chilled vibe downstairs, good tunes being played. There was a support band on before but I didn't see them. The room where they were playing upstairs is probably the size of two average sized living rooms put together and the stage about 12 inches high. I first got into this lot about 10 years ago or something and started banging on about them on here a little bit or maybe Twitter, I can't remember which.

They should be a lot bigger but I honestly don't think they want to be any because venues like this suit them really well, they're a great bar band. They like the audience up close and at times the lead singer was strolling into the 100 or so crowd still playing his guitar. He did all the talking, a laid back and zen type but funny with it.

It was a fucking great gig. They were way louder and more raw than on record. They opened up with Let Me Dream of You from the last album and the drummer was smashing the fuck out of his kit.

Their sound has nods to The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, The Monkees, Teenage Fanclub, late 60s Stones, The Coral etc. He was chatting a bit about TFC or Jerry Love At least, I think they're friends. He mentioned that they're supporting Edwyn Collins on his forthcoming tour. They played an ace set and after the last last track just walked through the audience, stopped for about 30 seconds and then came back on for an encore which was Hollow Heart. They completely wigged out on this one sending it all over, a brilliant racket.

They left everyone smiling. So glad I went. They're at the Brudenell in September so might go for a wander over.

👍

[URL=https://i.imgur.com/231BaxW.jpeg]

[/URL]