Shaking Some Action at the Cartoon

There's no need for me to mention Sunday and Monday here really except to say I looked into going to Stuttgart the following Saturday. I'd found out the venue where the band were playing and ever better, I discovered that it was Discount and The Tone supporting them. I KNEW that I had to go then but I still didn't believe that I was really going to do it. Still I looked up cheap (well.. cheapish!!) flights and hotels and booked it all on Tuesday. Fucking A :-)

Speaking of Tuesday that was the day of the Shake Some Action / Back To Nowhere gig at the Cartoon with Discount, The Tone and Blocko. I arrived there at about 7 and Lloyd, Nij and Mates were all standing around outside. When I went in I discovered Stu was already in there. Discount were soundchecking and Alison was having severe problems with her vocals. There was basically too much high-end on them and it was blasting her eardrums. Despite several attempts by her to get the sound guy to turn it down a bit it just sounded exactly the same every time. Eventually she just gave up. Blocko then did their soundcheck with Nij's usual "1-2" routine :-) God, I got heartily pissed that night after having had 3 Stella's by 8.15! That stuff does my head in!

Anyway, Blocko were really good although you couldn't hear Lloyd's bass much. The drums weren't heavy sounding enough either. However, that didn't matter too much as they've got some great songs and that always shines through any sound problems. Nij fucked up a couple of times and decided to tell everyone at the end of each song even though no-one probably noticed! I also heard a new favourite song which, at the time, I thought was called "Wager". Apparently though I was wrong so I'm a bit confused now as to what it was - I think it was "Jimmy".

The Tone were second and played a cracking show. Pauline and Alright (the last two of the set) are fast becoming my favourites. Dan said something derogatory at one point which I can't even remember now but I do know that it was justified. It was either about the crappy sound or the fact that the venue wasn't exactly full. It fucked me off a bit as well. What do people want exactly? Four quid for three great bands including one on their final ever tour sounds like a good deal to me! Anyway, after this show tonight all I can say is when I see the name "The Tone" in any listings in the future I won't be saying "oh god, not The Tone". I'll be going!

Discount were last on and this is where things started becoming more than a little special for me. To say that their live show is amazing would be the understatement of the year. Alison prowls around the stage like she's possessed singing her heart out rocking backwards and forwards and swivelling the mic stand on the floor suddenly, almost falling and then crouching as if she's just going to pounce at any moment. Ryan, Todd and Bill are wonderful at what they do and the Discount of now would not be the same without them. But Alison is the focus and the energy. Dancing in front of the stage at the right hand side Alison came wandering over a couple of times and, teetering on the edge of the stage, stared at me intensely, almost angrily, without wavering, some kind of battle of wills. It was then that I thought "god I love this fucking band. I wish they were forever".

After the show I wanted to go over and say hello to her, tell her how much I'd enjoyed it. But I couldn't. I was… scared? Maybe just shy really but it didn't really feel like that at the time and it certainly doesn't feel that way now.

Nick and I had another ridiculous argument on the way home souring the evening a bit. It was upsetting to say the least. Tuesday night's dreams were full of a spinning, rocking Alison. I don't think I've ever had such an emotional reaction to a show.