Blog

Bootleg Beatles, Brighton Centre

23rd December 2005

Tonight was the last night of the first leg of the Bootleg Beatles' winter tour so after a morning at work (why?) I drove down. Brighton seems to have the most expensive car parks in the entire world but it's one of my favourite places. I love the beach and the feel of the town and the piers and the friendliness of everybody there. I spent an hour or so standing on the beach, picking up stones and listening to the sea until I was so cold that I couldn't feel my toes any more, so I figured it was time to move on. A couple of my friends called to say they were on their way so I started wandering up the hill to meet them at the station and ran into Neil on his way to the theatre for the sound-check. We stood nattering for ages and I gave him my presents for the band in case I didn't get a chance to catch up with them after the show.

After a sit down (food and a little liquid refreshment and now able to feel my toes again), the three of us went for a wander along the prom and the beach to see the East Pier (it was too dark to see the West Pier any more) and then it was gig time. The Brighton gig is always a riot; I'm not sure if it's because it's always the last one before Christmas or just because Brighton is full of party people, but tonight there were people in 60s get-up and children dressed in Sgt. Pepper costumes or as Christmas fairies. This year however, the venue security were stopping people from dancing in front of the stage in the first half -- apparently last year the audience had got a bit too excitable, with people trying to mount the (very high) stage and nearly knocking some of the dear little old ladies flying (such is the risk of having such a wide ranging fan-base, I suppose). In the second half everyone was up though -- a proper party atmosphere.

Some of our other friends were there too, for one of whom the venue was her local, so she'd brought friends and family along. At the end of the gig we all waited by the stage door. I found a poster on the wall advertising the tour and asked the site security if I could take it and he agreed, so I gave it to one of the youngsters -- I already have one from this tour but figured that it would have only been thrown away and I didn't want to see it go to waste. The girl was really chuffed and managed to get the band to sign it.

Got home late but happy, having made a big detour to drop friends off on the way. Christmas starts here -- have a good one, everybody!

[Brighton Centre]
The Brighton Centre
[Seaguls]
Seaguls flocking around the West Pier
[East Pier]
Brighton's East Pier

Photos © urban-spaceman.org