Blog
The Bootleg Beatles, Hawth Theatre, Crawley
21st February 2005
Tonight was final night of the Bootleg Beatles' 25th Anniversary tour -- and so of course I was there.
The drive down to Crawley was cool. The weather was clear and bright and it was approaching dusk, which seemed to arrive in an instant. I drove under a looming cloud and the light levels went really odd -- dark blue --- then flurries of huge white snowflakes came furling in all around me. I've never driven through snow before and it was an awesome experience; one of those moments when you realise what an amazing world we live in.
I arrived at the theatre with plenty of time and sat with a beer and a sandwich, people-watching. I was, as I so often am, surprised that people do not go to gigs on their own as a rule. There was nobody else there who was identifiable as being on their own. Why not? I don't get it at all. And why would people rather stand than sit at an otherwise empty table with someone else? Felt a bit potty for a moment or two but soon decided that society is to blame and that I'm probably the only sane person in the world -- it's everyone else who's crazy.
The gig was, as always, completely wonderful. I felt a little less hyper than usual and didn't manage to dance as much as I would have liked -- mainly because of the weather causing jip in my dodgy bones -- but I still couldn't sit still in my seat for much of it. The band were on top form with lots of extra wit, banter and ad-libing going on.
After the show I spotted a couple of familiar faces milling around so I went to sit in the bar with them and we had a good chat. Then Andre, Hugo and Neil came over to see us and natter. I got hugs and thanks and hair-ruffles and got my programme signed by all four (mini-essays!) and had a nice chat to Dave before he had to get home to see his kitties and I had to get home to see mine -- back through the snow and back to the real world with work tomorrow morning.