A “Let’s Try And Catch-Up” Post!
All budding bloggers please feel free to help out, I’m snowed-under with work!
Guy Fawkes Night saw the return of The Backstreet Blues Band who always give a fabulous performance but even more so this time during the second set with some of the best guitarmanship at The Kings in a long, long time. Saturday 12th November and The What…just What can I write about them that’s not been written before? Yet another great night from them and enjoyed by all their supporters.
Children In Need Night with Balding Bloke was a fun night again and as of today, 6th January 2012, so far £26,332,334 has been raised and that includes a few hundred from The Kings’ regulars, thank you. Stolen Fridays appeared on Saturday 19th November. I didn’t make the gig however I am reliably informed by ALL the bar staff that they were up on the counter dancing the night away.
26th November and one of Lincolnshire’s gems, The Zimmer Band. If you’ve never seen them before then they are a “must see” band, they are simply superb and in 2012 The Kings has them appearing TWICE! The Xmas month of December arrived on Friday 2nd featuring local classic blues maestros Stunz and Harpman who seem to be appearing at venues all over the place, although it’s hardly surprising such is the quality of their musicianship, yet another superb night.
On the Saturday night we had the loadsa energy band, The Influential Factor, with all kinds of thoroughly entertaining music, enough genres for everyone! The following Sunday afternoon was the Xmas shopping and market in town and for a very busy bar The What performed three very varied sets over nearly four hours. I have a feeling we can expect more Sundays like this in 2012…yay:-)
Circa made a return visit on December 10th, their first in more than a couple of years and I’d forgotten just how good they are, please don’t forget where we are again:-) A week to go before Xmas and Witt-Less made a return but this time for their first-ever gig on a Friday night. Unfortunately they had some sound engineering issues in the first set with some of their kit conflicting with BB’s however by the time I got there it had mostly been resolved which just goes to show that when using a sound engineer don’t go around plugging stuff in willy nilly.
I missed The Soul Solution on Saturday 17th and by all reports their non-regular sound engineer struggled all night to “push” the vocals more than halfway down the bar which is a great pity since they normally give an all-round good performance. Xmas Eve Eve with Dave and Co from Rough Trade complete with new drummer up on a podium! Of course we had all their usual stuff and some new…Blues Brothers…however, being honest, the unexpected surprise of the night was the new drummer. Obviously a pro and obviously thoroughly enjoying himself with hardly any effort.
Xmas Eve and who else but The What and an absolutely heaving bar. As always a solid performance from them plus one or two not-so-surprising guests these days especially John’s rendition of The Manics “Design For Life”. Strangely the bar closed extremely early for a Saturday night whilst it was still very busy and the band willing to go on for another hour or more…ah well, at least I didn’t have a hangover on Xmas Day.
And finally to New Year’s Eve and a new band to The Kings, Funk’Defino. Say it quickly and I think you’ll probably get the gist that this was a very newly-formed band with vocals and instrumentals all over the place leaving Balding Bloke with the almost impossible task of rescuing the night…and he successfully did so once they completed their last set!
The idiom “Practice makes perfect” comes to mind here.
So what did I make of 2011’s performances?
Constantly reliable plus ready to step in for an emergency - The What
My favourite performance of the year - The Steve Fulsham Band
Surprise bands of the year - Mr Stiff and The League of Mentlemen
Disappointed they’ve split-up band - Joker
Most improved band - Trip to the Roses
Constant favourites - Starvin’ Sid, Stunz and Harpman, The Legendary Night Owls
Bring on 2012, some fresh bands already booked and ready for the slaughter:-)
Folks, I know we are all entitled to our own opinion, freedom of speach and all that, BUT what did I miss ? FUNK’DEF!NO are a new band yet they had the crowd with them from song ONE rght until the early hours of New Years Day. I’ve never seen another band that had a capacity crowd shouting for more at the end of THE FIRST SET, never mind the second or third sets. Balding Bloke never spent muh time at his mixing desk all night. Why ? Well as he put it, some things just look after themselves. He never aproached the band, one of the lads of which he knows well, to mention difficulties….only had praise for them, as did Sharon, her Hubby ( John I think…apologies if not ) and the wonderful bar staff.
I find the lack of interest by the editor, ie: missing song tracks from this post, an insight to their possible reasoning for this poor and quite unreasonable posting. Especially when you look at the huge praise given to Rough Trades new drummer. Yes he is talented, but the same praise was heaped upon ME by the editor when I was their drummer. Please I beseech you, do not take my comments as bitterness. I just want to give MY opinion. I hope others will do the same. If I am wrong then so be it, after all… It’s only rock n’ roll.
Im astounded as to the harsh criticism set upon “this new band” Funk Defino, from where is was stood all i could see and hear were a bunch of lads obviously enjoying what they were doing and that was easily passed on to the eager crowd, in my personal opionion i thoroughly enjoyed the night thought the band were great. just a big shame others maybe didnt, id like to hear some other opinions.
I was at ‘The Kings Head’ on New Years Eve too, and I thought this band was ace!! They were the best band I’ve seen in a long time and I’ve been going to pubs for years!! They deffinately don’t dessrve this awful post about them being so bad!! I would go to see them again tomorrow! Funk Defino, If you read this, awsome job guys, don’t take any notice of what has been said from The Kings Head post!!!
@Tony
Yep, freedom of speech, if not I could have deleted this:-)
To be honest knowing who you are and the experience you all have I was EXPECTING much, much better than your actual performance on the night. The Summer of 69 attempt was dreadful and you made us listen to it twice at least. Personally I quite liked the Guns and Roses stuff, that had potential, but as an overall generality the performance was nowhere near as tight and harmonised as it could have been.
Of course there were loads of people up for it, if they can’t on New Year’s Eve when can they be? Bear in mind Balding Bloke can only get out of a mixing desk as good as what is put in, there are enough testaments to his ability so enough said about that.
Sharon’s husband is Richard and the reason for my “lack of interest” is that I am a very busy person, I do this for free, I honestly find it difficult to get to some of the gigs simply because of work and you try getting someone else to write this blog. Many people are quick to criticise however very few are willing to put in an effort to assist.
You must remember that when/if a band “screws-up”, and I am not suggesting you did that at all, then it is The Kings that suffers, not the band, it’s The Kings that have to re-build the customer’s confidence that its high standards are not being compromised.
I trust that makes things clearer for you?
@Jonny
Come on Jonny, that wasn’t a harsh comment…a harsh comment is when I only stay for a couple of tracks and leave the building, then one will really read my wrath and believe me that has happened on more than one occasion. Yep, the lads and the crowd were enjoying themselves, I was even tapping my foot as well, and I’m pretty sure there is the potential for Funk’Defino to become a good band if they practice more and, generally, unless any new band do that then their performance is nearly always inevitably going to be under par…maybe harsh, but true.
I was there on new years eve too, and from past experience, I can tell you, the band suffers as much, if not more than the pub! I thought the band was awsome and would deffinately go to see them again! They are a relitevley new band and are still perfecting their techniques. I loved them as they were and can’t wait to watch them again when they have perfected their show!!
I think there’s something to be said for the sound engineer here. I believe what was said to Witt-less with regards to the dreadful job on the sound that evening by balding bloke is that someone had messed with the desk. A regular excuse from what I’m told. I over heard another member of the audience that night who plays in a band and knows his sound who very much said the mess was down to the engineer not the band. As for Funk’Defino, I had never heard of them, so wasn’t going to bother going to see them, but found myself very pleased I did in the end. I agree with the above comment about having the crowd behind them from song one. Yes things may have got a little messy towards the end, but not a single band I have ever seen play on a new year has ever been able to play such a long night without being absolutely knackered and letting it slip a bit towards the end. It is my opinion that balding bloke needs to stop blaming everyone else and own up to his mistakes. Otherwise the musical community can start recommending far better and more reliable sound engineers for the job. I’m sorry if my comments are harsh, but if the bands can be criticized while he goes blameless then it should and must be pointed out!
Dear Ed. Sharon, Richard..thank you for the name correction, Balding bloke, the staff and a capacity audience loved us. Yeah we made an error or two, it’s a LIVE band after all and not a solo artist and a machine. I’ve seen world famous bands fluff a song or six, so yes things do go astray on the night. We enjoyed ourselves and we as a band thank all at The Kings for their continued support.
Sharon’s doing a great job with the Kings and we wish her continued success, whether we’re invited back or not. A very happy 2012 to you and all.
Well I am shocked! I am sorry but were you even at the same new years eve gig that I and my friends attended??? I was there from the start of the performance, and the crowd loved the band! In fact, many were dancing, singing and clapping form the start, and were still doing this at the end of the night when they were being ushered out of the pub!!! Far from the Kings Head suffering, I think they held the crowd in there and a great night was had by all. Yes, there were some mistakes, but sweet home alabama, every rose, sunshine of your love, not to mention the many other songs that were amazing and had the crowd asking fo more at the end of the first set!!! And Balding Bloke had litle to do, I was chatting to him on and off and he was enjoying himself greatly, as was I and everyone else in the pub
@ The Editor
You are entitled to your opinion as is anyone else, i just hope i can see them again soon and again at the kings, i thought they were great.
As lead singer with Funk Def!no, i must admit I was there for the greater part of the evening and following morning. The following is my personal statement and not one of the band as its own entity. I am sure there were elements of the entire evening that were
A - not to some peoples personal liking and
B - not note / timing perfect
We do not profess to be the most polished musicians you could hear, but merely try to entertain.
I was very pleased with the reception from the VERY friendly crowd, as has been mentioned, from track one, set one right through to the final song in the final set.
As for the sound engineer, i cannot comment other than to say, we sound checked, he was happy, the crowd seemed happy and at no point did he give any indication of any problems. The monitors were clear and levels set to our requirements, front of house mix was entirely in his hands.
Again, on a personal note and from the feedback from other gigs, summer of 69 has been both played and recieved well - a good sing along tune!
I would like to say on behalf of the band, hope you don’t mind guys, a huge thank you for the hospitality, the terrific staff, the entire audience on the night, and the messages of support on this blog from those who have taken the time to comment.
Fortunately, our future bookings at the Kings Head are in the hands of the management and not the obviously very busy bloggmeister who seems not to share the opinions of the majority.
Of course, practice makes perfect, its also a chance to get out for a night and have a few beers! See you monday chaps!
sounds like your on your own Mr Editor.
@Jonny
I know I’m not however IF you do have anything positive to contribute please read my new post today:
http://kingsheadlouth.co.uk/blog/2012/01/lets-make-2012-a-year-to-remember-at-the-kings/
And can I just add, if you don’t think you are alone, where are the comments agreeing with you??? Anone who is interested, I’ve found the facebook page for the band, look for Funkdef!no, dates for gigs are all posted, and there are rather a lot!!! Looking forward to seeing them again soon!!!
Re: Witt-less, editors comment: “just goes to show that when using a sound engineer don’t go around plugging stuff in willy nilly”
Very dissapointed with the above judgemental comment - there was no time on that night nor on any other night that any member of the band plugs anything anywhere with out the express permission/direction of BB. We have always been grateful to BB for the effort he has put in when “doing the sound” for the band not only on gig nights but also for the advice he has given when we practice upstairs - returning to the above comment on the night in question a new piece of effects kit was being used that conflicted with the DI box once this conflict was sorted the rest of the issues were, I was informed, as a result of someone messing with the mixing desk whilst BB was away from it.
We are very much a fledgling band and are without doubt still learning and will always be grateful for constructive criticism but this throw away comment I feel is more akin to a sarcastic insult.
To finish on a positive we are very very grateful to Sharon and all the staff at the Kings for their ongoing support not least of all for allowing us to practice upstairs but also for the friendly atmosphere that always welcomes us - brilliant
I SAY JUST INJOY THE LIVE FREE MUSIC PEOPLE