Gig(gling) again - Report from the Glusburn Institute

A lot of people asked me why on earth I chose a place like Glusburn to do my first gig? Well, let me tell you, having done it, I don’t regret it one bit! Glusburn might be a small place but it’s got a big heart. For those not so good at British Geography, Glusburn is near Keighley, just north west of Leeds. It was the obvious choice for a low key gig as my rhythm section Martin (drums) and Steve (bass) come from ‘round those parts’ so they knew the area, knew quite a few people and as I’m a Yorkshire lass bred, the thought of doing a non-London gig and seeing what the reaction would be like seemed like a good idea.

The problem with London gigs, particularly if you are a band FROM London is dealing with the ‘corsawills’ crowd. No matter how many friends, family or colleagues you have in London, they are basically spoilt for choice when it comes to going out. So when you ask if someone is coming to your gig, you will get the answer ‘course I will’ (hence corsawill), but then as always happens in London, something happens or something better comes along or they mean to come and simply forget.

Then there is the other breed of London gig-goers; the cynics. The cynics attend a lot of gigs, have a lot to say, but will always skulk by the bar being cool, won’t come and tell you afterwards if they liked it or not and may not even come at all if they don’t think the venue warrants their presence.

None of this helps when you have been booked by a promoter who demands that you pull at least 40 people through the door and you are lucky if 12 turn up. Let’s not get this wrong either, all the people who promise to come really mean to, and probably really like your band, they just suffer from Londonitis!

And so I figured that doing a gig in a small town near Leeds would be a good non-pressure alternative.

Well how wrong was I?? This was probably one of the most nerve-wracking gigs I’ve ever done. Along with the worry that I hadn’t been on a stage in my own right for a couple of years was the suggestion of a possible visit from the 50ft family, who had never seen me perform plus the fact that we hadn’t been able to schedule that one last rehearsal.

But the day of the gig didn’t bode well, with a 6 ½ hour drive up the M1 punctuated by roadworks, Sunday drivers out 2 days early and buckets of rain. And that concerned me, as rain is not a gig friendly liquid, tending to discourage people from coming out to a gig, particularly to someone they’ve never heard of!

Upon arrival, the venue didn’t disappoint – a gorgeous Grade II Listed impressive stone building with a high stage befitting a 50ft Woman!

I’m never one for mingling before gigs preferring to arrive just before we are about to go on, apply some more lipstick and get into the ‘zone’, I am really NOT good at waiting. I just want to get on there and have done with it. And the unavoidable delay we had due to having to find a replacement bass drum (thanks to the oversize one being broken during the support act) did not help matters.

And within what seemed like the blink of a 50ft eye, it was all over. A fantastic gig. Everyone, band and audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves. In fact I only found out that the audience had enjoyed it so much, the morning after – typically the whole audience decided to stand so far back that due to the lights on stage I couldn’t see ANY faces or expressions and could only go by applause. TIP; next time don’t be scared – please come to the front, it means so much to our fragile little egos and I don’t bite .. well… er … only gently ;-)

Mind you, we did manage to offend at least one person within 2 songs of coming on stage! Apparently one Glusburn local, dressed appropriately for the weather, took exception to the song Anorak and assumed I was singing literally to him (I suppose you’re an Anorak, boring Anorak, get lost Anorak COULD be taken like that ;-)) and stormed out. TIP 2; Never take song lyrics personally, 50ft Woman lyrics have a multitude of different meanings! And anyway, if you are that easily offended, you probably shouldn’t be there in the first place!

I can’t believe how quickly it was all over. All the panicking and worrying seemed for nothing. And as per usual, I walked around after the gig a little bit shell-shocked, high on Adrenaline, and talking at about 1000 miles an hour to anyone who came to talk to me.

It was so nice to be somewhere with a crowd who are so appreciative and genuine. I could get quite addicted to playing up there, and we have been asked to come back again! Everyone is so friendly and really tells you what they think, and it really did feel like a proper night out, rain or no rain, anoraks or no anoraks!

Sadly I developed the lurgy the day after and ended up spending Saturday night, instead of celebrating with the band, in bed watching Eurovision for punishment. I am definitely owed a northern night out!

And as well as the lurgy, I cam e back with something I hadn’t had before; the confidence that this DOES work, it’s not just a name, some songs on the internet, or a persona. People get the songs, they get the band, they get the whole 50ft vibe live. It’s hard when you are a solo artist, as you don’t have the constant discussion between band members. Every decision is down to you, and that can make you question every little thing. This did me the world of good.

Can’t wait to do it again.

And hope you’ll come to a gig AND stand near the front!

And though this is not an album with sleeve notes, I DO want to take the opportunity to thank some people as I do feel that it was a momentous occasion for me! And it’s my blog, so I can write what I like!

Firstly the 50ft boys – Greg, Marcus, Martin and Steve (special thanks to Steve for the fantastic promotion and organising of the gig)
The 50ft boys’girls – Claire, Rachel, Sharon and Laura for putting up with everyone when they were so stressed out and running around (and getting no sleep the night before)
Glusburn Institute – a little gem of a theatre
Keighley News for the first 50ft Woman exclusive – it looked marvellous.
Stuart (sound) and Mike and Malcolm (lights – I still owe you that pint)
The Assembly - for a fab support (even though sadly I missed you)
Woodland House Guest House – for even offering the garage so I could fit in to sleep

And what people said:

“ a massive presence”
“I loved Ice Cream Man, my kind of song”
‘Can’t wait for you to come back’
‘ It was like watching that first gig of someone you just know is going to be huge’

Oh and sadly I have no news about the placing of the single – It didn’t feature in the Top 40 charts and I was unable to find out exactly where. But never mind – most fireworks come with a slow burn fuse nowadays.