Gotcha!

Last night saw the only Chicago Blues Brothers gig for this month (June is normally a quiet time for us, 'though I'm not sure that it's always this quiet?) and it was a good one- The Summer Wishes Ball is part-organised by trumpet maestro Dave Land and took place this year in the Barford Suite at The Barnham Broom Hotel near Norwich. It's an annual show for us which helps to raise funds for the local Quidenham Children's Hospice (the table had balloons in aid of E.A.C.H.) and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Tracy's away and with Richard off gigging in the West End Ian's on saxophone but aside from that it's the A-Team all the way, 'though it's got more than a slight air of relief about it- Ian Gibbons was taken ill on tour in Germany with Roger Chapman a couple of weeks ago with appendicitis and it's the first time we've all seen him since his emergency operation. Pete and Mike are running the charity auction, and we're playing a half-Blues Brothers/half-party music set; as has happened a few times lately there's subterfuge in the air, and for once it's close to home as it's the long-suffering Shirley's birthday next week...
With the band all set up (there's no stage but they've put one of those temporary dancefloors down so we set up next to that) and soundchecked everyone gets changed- it's a black tie event 'though after my misadventures with a bow tie last year I decided to opt out and wear a standard tie instead; I don't think I looked too untidy (others may disagree!) and I wasn't the only non-conformist so didn't feel too bad. There's maybe 100 people in and with Mike's iPod providing background music and Pete on M.C. duties the meal begins uneventfully enough. Just as the auction is about to start Pete mentions a bit about the band and how there's something of a family atmosphere at most gigs as wives and partners often help out in various capacities, he mentions his wife Jayne, Ian's wife Nadia... Shirley rather bravely says something like 'what about me?' and in doing so plays right into Pete's hands, he gets her up and with everyone singing 'Happy Birthday' he presents her with a bag of presents and cards. She comes back to the table smiling and a little shell-shocked, says that she can't believe that she didn't suspect anything, Pete looks pleased with himself and I'm thinking that it's my birthday next month and we've got a gig that night... hmm...
Talking of gigs our one goes very well indeed- Matt and Mike deliver the Blues Brothers songs to a full dancefloor with Mike introducing Pete as 'our very own queen of soul' (he sang the 'Think'/'Respect' medley normally performed by Tracy) and Matt's scary splits manoeuvre somehow seeming even scarier when performed on the same level as the audience as opposed to on a stage. The 'party music' set included 'Mustang Sally' (we hardly ever play it!) along with other dimly-remembered pieces from our Commitments days and with plenty of money raised for the charities the evening's a success on pretty much every level.

So- no more gigs for 3 weeks. I'm telling myself that it'll be nice to have a bit of a rest- let's hope I'm right...