BRAMPTON MANOR HOGROAST - 13th July
Well, well, well, the Casualties do a festival.
After just notching up two years together, doing 25 or so gigs, we were asked to do our first fest, and what a great time we all had. The sun shined all day, there was free beer and food for the bands and there was the largest crowd we had ever played in front of.
We were second band on, after legendary local band The Pitz. I have to be honest, I for one was quite nervous about playing in front of 250 - 300 people.
We started with a safe one first to calm the nerves, Summer of 69, then rattled through a 45 min set containing a selection of songs we all feel we play the best, Feeder, Green Day, Ash and Bowie etc.
Although I could not hear Fingers or James at all, we were told we sounded really good and the crowd were tapping there feet. Sadly the set flew by and we had to make way for the next band.
I know all the Casualties would like to thank the organisers for letting us take part in such a great fest, the crowd, who made us feel welcome, the family and friends who came to support us. I would personally like to thank my wife for all the running about and support she has given me over the last two years or so.
Nothing more to say for this blog, apart from the autumn/ winter campaign starts Fri September 5th at The Grouse, Brampton.
Hope to see you all soon.
SIMON.
SOMERSET HOUSE – 12th July
A good gig with an appreciative audience at the Somerset.
All band were really looking forward to playing here again, with memories of our last gig at this venue in January.
We kicked off with the ever popular Summer of '69 followed by The Beatles – Back in the USSR . We also included in the set the largely unknown but foot tapping Stranglers track Go Buddy Go – that always goes down well everywhere.
Thanks to all who travelled to see us and especially to Pete who never seems to miss a gig. If there was a record in the Guinness Book of records for attendance at 39 Caz gigs then he would be in there.
James
THE COUNTY HOTEL - 6th July
A fairly low-key gig which almost didn't happen. However, the County
is open for business again and the Casualties were there. It wasn't
a big crowd but those that were there were appreciative - thanks to
the usual suspects for coming along - you know who you are! A great
first set, apart from a dodgy version of Foo Fighters "Long Road To Ruin"
which is a newie for us.
Next month on to the Somerset House @ Calow. See you there!
Jon
DI RECORDING STUDIOS, 26th June 2008
Finally got around to laying down some tracks in a recording studio. The
tracks are for promotional purposes so we can break into some of those
places that 'always require you to have a disc first'.
We wanted to sound as live as possible, hence there are no overlays of
extra instruments that find there way onto other promotional records that
I've heard. - 'This is us' is the message we were trying to give.
With no reocording experience myself I was quite dauted about this one -
what if I play a bum note, what if I sing flat?
What was really strange was adding the vocal in without playing my guitar -
I can tell you during that session there was some wicked air guitar taking
place. I think Sticks, who had recored a couple of albums in the '80s on
analogue equipment, was quite amazed how quick digital recording techniques
were.
Although the studio is small the skill of the engineer is what counts, I
think you will agree that Glenn has mixed the tracks very well and
hopefully they represent the kind of sound that we have live.
See you all at the Wellington
James
THE BUTCHERS ARMS – Sat 12th April
A Brand new venue for the Caz but we were all looking forward to this one
given the excellent reputation the Butchers has for live music.
After a friendly reception from the Landlord we were soon set up and ready
to go for a 9:30 start. Kicking off with a brand new song for us, ‘Back in
the USSR’, we soon had a very appreciative audience rockin’ along to our
usual mix of music from Free to The Killers.
Second half was the most enjoyable set I have played with the Caz, the pub
was rammed from start to finish, with three encores to boot. – No wonder
the Landlady looked happy.
Thank you to an excellent audience, with particular thanks to all those who
travelled to see us.
Next stop back to the Wellington on the 10th May.
In the meantime those of you who can’t get enough of us, maybe interested
to know that we are putting in some studio time so hopefully we shall soon
have some music freely available on this site - watch this space.
See you all soon.
James
The Victoria - Sat 8th March
Well the casualties road show played another town and another pub, without
the regular fan base, The Victoria was going to be our hardest yet.
The sound check done, we waited to start, opening up with Ash, Girl from
Mars and Thin Lizzy's Rosalie, a very good opening for most pubs, but this
time not very sure, it was the type of pub that was busy one moment then
quiet the next.
The band, James, Simon, Jon and myself wasn't put off, in fact I would say
that it was one of our best performances. By the end of the night the band
had them dancing, or was that the drink haha.
So roll on the Butchers arms, hope to see you all there.
Sticks
The Sun – Sat 16th Feb
An enjoyable gig where I think we got the sound about right for a difficult
pub to play (sound wise) particularly when you don't play at a volume level
that makes your ears bleed.
Seemed to have an early start and with all the encores a late finish,
surely we are Chesterfields hardest working band?
We had a couple of mis-haps during the gig, Fingers keyboard seemed to take
a dive half way through Dakota and one of our top CABs took on a more
muffled tone (yep its knackered). All of this was unseen/ unheard by the
audience who all cheered, clapped, demanded encores and asked when we were
playing next.
Thanks to all who came and supported.
Next gig at The Victoria, Stavely 8th March. See you all then.
James
Somerset House - Sat 19th Jan
Well it was raining, as it does in Jan, when we got there to set up.
Thankfully there is a back door to the gigging area, so didn't get
too wet getting the gear from the cars.
To be honest, we were all unsure just how many people would turn up
on a night like that. We needn't have worried. With family, friends
and regulars the pub was full at start time.
9.30 on the dot we started with Bryan Adams, then some Killers to get
the pub rockin'. John was doing his usual expansive drumming, sticks
flying everywhere and Jon was hitting those keys like his life depended on it!!!
The new stuff seemed to go down well, especially Blur's Song 2,
with the entire pub helping with the ‘WOO-HOO’ bit.
My mic packed in half way through the 2nd set (a blessing for all),
but James managed to fix it for the 3rd set and the all important
‘more more more’ in Rebel Yell.
We finished with an encore request for Green Day's ‘Basket Case’.
All in all a great place to gig and we all really enjoyed it, I think the pub did too.
Hopefully we will be back there in July.
The Casualties hope to be fighting fit as we make our way to the Sun,
West Bars, on the 16th of Feb.
Again, thanks to all who came, cheered and danced.
See you all soon
SIMON
The County Hotel – Sat 29th Dec
A successful return to the County Hotel for the 39 Caz. I was somewhat
pensive when we booked the gig being a Saturday between Crimbo and New
Year. However I need not have worried, we had a great crowd in to listen
including our usual posse and many new faces as well.
We started the night with Billy Idols’ anthemic song Rebel Yell, followed
by our usual mix of songs old and new from Greenday to Whitesnake. We were
supposed to finish the night with U2’s New Years Day (what else) but were
called back for two more encores.
Sticks was in his element with a new drum kit that he bought himself for
Christmas and Fingers put in some of his best keys to-date – where does
that man get some of those notes from??
Many Many thanks to all those who turned out and made the night what it
was, especially to the posse including Mark, Claire, Rob H, Rob C, Fleur
and of course Shaun and Pete - sorry if I have missed anyone.
The Caz move onto a new location for next month’s musical extravaganza @
Somerset House, Calow. See you all then.
James
MOONRAKERS, NEWBOLD - Sat 1st DEC
This was a new gig for the casualties, one where Jonny Fingers really
shone.
James was suffering a sore throat, so with the play list jiggled and the
sound check done, the night started,
an intimate and friendly atmosphere with the usual crowd of loyal fans, a
big thanks.
Some of our old songs were brought back in, Whiskey in a jar, went down a
storm,
Even Simon got into the groove as the newest backing singer, not sure if he
was la la ing or oo oo ing at some point.
Overall the band had a fantastic balance of sound and music, there wasn't a
hint of Simon your to loud.
I was back to my old self, the grinning drummer at the back.
well it's on wards and up wards to the next gig.
Have a happy xmas and see you at The County on 29th Dec
Sticks
THE WELLINGTON - Sat 3rd NOV
Another great gig for the Casualties at the Wellington, a small but friendly and welcoming venue.
We kicked off with a rocker, Summer of '69 this song setting the tone for the evening.
The crowd was 8 to 80 but with a definite emphasis on the rock element. Once again our usual legion of fans came to support us - Pete still hasn't missed one - an impressive record!
We did 3 sets, not finishing until well after midnight after being called on for 3 encores (on the grounds that it was "Chris's" birthday - although we later discovered it wasn't!).
The landlady was not too happy about the late finish but they at least asked us back for a gig in May ’08.
Thanks to all who supported us and in particular to fellow muso's the Guilty Men.
The "ambulance" now continues on to the Moonrakers at Newbold on 1st December, hope to see you all there.
FINGERS
THE SUN INN - SAT 6th OCT
I was looking forward to writing our inaugural blog , but now i am in
front of our keyboard , i'm not so sure , but here goes .
The Sun is a great place to gig , but it's hard to get a fantastic
sound , due to the numerous pillers and the wooden floor . The sound
seems to bounce around abit .
Anyway we got set up in good time for a sound check and a beer before
starting at 8.45 . We started the first of 3 sets with Blink 182 , the
second time we have done this as it seemed to go down well the last
time . We followed that with some Free and U2 .
The new stuff seemed to go down well , the U2 and Steriophonics .
The biggest laugh of the night was when Gary , the landlord , told us
"some old goat" had come up to the front and told us we were too loud .
Gary could not believe his ears when we told him it was mine and
James's dad !!!
The night seemed to go very quick and we finished at about 11.30 after
a mammoth 50 min last set ending in a request for "All Right Now".
The whole band would like to thank all of the family and friends who
came to see us . A special mention to Pete , who has yet to miss a
single gig we have ever done .
The wagon now moves on to the Welly , New Whit . It's a great pub with
great beer and friendly atmosphere .
Hope to see you all soon .
SIMON