The Wedding Present's Bizarro Barmy Army 2010 US tour. (Part One.)

There was good news and bad news as the second "official" barmy army tour kicked off as usual in San Diego.
The bad news was that the usual suspects weren't around for the launch party.
The good news was that most of them would be there for dates on the east coast instead, exciting times indeed.
But I'm sure their hearts were with us on the west coast and the start of The Wedding Present's "historical" Bizarro 21 tour.
New barmy army recruits Fergal, Mark and Kia were along for the ride and we were also due to meet up with friends Lori, Dolly and Paul, so there would be a few familiar faces in the crowd.


NOW I KNOW HOW MPS FEELS.
SHE WASN'T WEARING ANY BY THE WAY.



FERGAL & MARK IN THEIR "COZY" ROOM.

Kellie, Fergal, Mark and I arrived at about noon in San Diego, we couldn't check into the hotel until 3pm so we wandered around and explored our surroundings.
This included walking around the gaslight district for a curry and avoiding eye contact with the massive homeless population as this encourages panhandling.
We also walked around the wharf, checked out a few boats (as you do) took a few pictures and then cut things short as it was getting a bit chilly.
We checked in at the "plush" Motel 6, and it actually wasn't that bad.
The downside was we didn't realise until we got there that all the rooms were single with only one double bed. Fine for me and Kellie, but a bit of a nightmare for Mark and Fergal.
Not sure how they handled their sleeping arrangements, but they looked very cozy.
The colour scheme in the rooms was orange, brown and white which reminded me of the buses back in Manchester during the 70's & 80's.
We settled in and had a few beers, Kia arrived at about 7pm and we left for the gig shortly after that.




THE VENUE.

We arrived at the Casbah, parked up and headed for our traditional Subway sarnie across the street.
Dolly and Paul joined our group, we ate and chatted while waiting for the venue to open.
The band joined us a bit later, we talked for a bit and then headed off, leaving them to eat while we went to the Casbah in search of something stronger to drink.
I love the Casbah, it's a tiny and scruffy venue situated at the end of the runway at San Diego airport.
A plane flies overhead literally every five minutes just a couple of hundred feet above the venue, it sounds bad, but it's fucking ace.
Fergal and I attempted to have a game or two of pool, but the table would not comply and decided to keep taking our money and not dispense all the balls, so despite help from the beautiful barmaid, we gave up.
I tried to buy a Casbah t-shirt but all they have were shirts for little women.
Clearly this wouldn't do, I have been called a big woman on many occasions, but never a little one. And even though I probably could have used the shirt as a bandana, I passed.



"D'YA WANNA BUY A T-SHIRT MATE?"

Speaking to Jessica in the weeks leading up to the gig, ticket sales had been really weak and they were worried about the gig and if anyone would turn up.
In the end San Diego came through and we ended up with a bigger crowd than on the "El Rey" tour.
This time around we obviously had Bizarro t-shirts, El Rey vinyl, Wedding Present bags and other stuff.
The merchandise sold very well, they sold out of Sheperds Bush dvd's and David regretted his decision to only bring 4 copies, doh!!!!!!
Bearing in mind that last time I only sold 12 t-shirts and 9 of them were to the barmy army (including Kellie), I was quite shocked at how much we sold.
My "helper" this time around was drummer Charlie's girlfriend the very lovely Sarah, who I managed to insult by saying she didn't sound German enough.
My excuse was that the gig was very loud so I couldn't hear properly, plus I had a bit to drink, a shabby excuse, I know, but I'm sticking with it.




FERGAL and TERRY DECASTRO AFTER THE GIG AT THE CASBAH.

Despite one or two gaffs by the "band" (By band I mean DLG), the gig was very enjoyable. The small crowd while not jumping about much was very enthusiastic and very appreciative.
The setlist was great, we had three (yes three) new songs and a few older classics such as Corduroy before the band launched into Bizarro.
With the three new songs David hadn't quite learned all the lyrics yet so he kept glancing at notes on the stage floor. After each song he would hand them back to Jessica for safe keeping as they were the only copies.
LOL, I guess they couldn't find a Kinko's before the gig to make a few copies.
A good time was had by all.
After another chat with the band we eventually got back to the hotel at 1.30am. Kellie went to bed while me, Kia, Mark and Fergal headed to the lads room for a few more drinks and to listen to the gig again recorded by Mark.
It sounded great and we must have been a bit too enthusiastic as security showed up and told us to turn things down.
I eventually called it a night at 2.30am and everyone agreed to get up and have breakfast in Old Town the next morning, or should I say, a few hours later?





THE BEST BREAKFAST EVER IN OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO.

After a couple of attempts to rally the troops, Kellie and me headed off the Old Town at 9am and the little Mexican restaurant Jessica had recommended.
A good call Miss MacMillan because it was delicious.
They make their own tortillas on the premises and they are wonderful. Still warm and fresh when they arrive at your table and really thick and chewy.
I had huevos rancheros and it was the best Mexican breakfast I have ever had.
On the drive back to L.A. we stopped in Carlsbad for gas, after filling up I pulled the car over to the front of the gas station and almost immediately a massive swarm of bee's took over the premises. There were thousands of the pesky blighters and the car was covered in them, luckily I had the AC on and all the windows in the car were firmly closed.
We escaped onto Interstate 5 still covered in bee's, they may have been killer bee's for all I know, but I didn't ask.
Anyway some clung to the wing mirrors and windscreen for dear life, I think the last one stayed on us for about 8 miles.
Yellow and black striped, stinging bastards, God I f**king hate bee's man!!!!




PRE-GIG CURRY at THE GATE OF INDIA on SUNSET BLVD.

For the Troubadour gig, my old friend Brett drove out from Nevada to re-live our 1990 experience, we were also joined by my mate Neil from Blackburn and my 13 year old son Liam.
Another pre-gig curry was the order of the night.
No Keanu Reeves this time around but Langley/Middleton legend Mark Burgess of The Chameleons was in attendance which was far more exciting than Keanu for me.
I chatted with Mark about City, David chucked in a couple of light hearted comments regarding his love of the shite from Salford.
These came back to haunt him the next day as Chelsea beat them at the swamp and we stuffed Burnley at Turf Moor............ brilliant.
We saw quite a few familiar faces at the venue and not to say the San Diego performance was poor, but the L.A. gig blew it out of the water.
I managed to grab a Troubadour venue t-shirt and very snazzy it was as well. Ha, in your face Casbah!!!!!!





MIDDLETON LEGENDS DLG, MARK BURGESS AND ERRR...... ME AT THE TROUBADOUR.

After another few hours sleep everyone was up by 9am the next morning, I played the "Hostess with the mostess" and made our group breakfast burrito's. They were delicious even if I do say so myself. We watched City v Burnley and before you knew it the time had come for our guests to bugger off home.
Brett drove back to Nevada and Liam and me took Fergal for a short trip to Hollywood where we did a bit of shopping at Amoeba and had lunch and a pint at the Cat and Fiddle.
A great weekend in all, here's to the east coast.

To be continued.......