A triple-header following my current "live" faves, masters of introverted yet verbose (in a nice way) jangle pop Del Amitri, seemingly halfway around the world! It nevertheless started locally, with a gig in Swindon that I had a hand in organising (although not in financing, I'm glad to say..). Helped the band unpack and set up as well! Only 46 people paid to get in, though; at one point guitarist Brian asked if people could go to the loo one at a time! The Dels played a razor-sharp set nonetheless.
Two nights later, and on the first anniversary of my first Del Amitri gig, we reconvened in London early for an advertised "extra special support", which turned out to be The Dels themselves, along with support and friend Kevin McDermott, playing cover versions such as "(Come Up And See Me) Make Me Smile", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Let's Go Crazy" and "Venus", under the name of Bob Dylan And The Libyans! McDermott then played an impressive and emotive solo singer-songwriter set before the Dels themselves headlined with an excellent and enjoyable set of their own numbers!
Finally, a weekend visiting Craig at Sheffield Poly concluded my first gig triple-header; wandered past the Leadmill on a drizzly Saturday afternoon at 4.30, and helped the Dels unpack and set up again, consequently getting in on the guest list! Del Amitri again played a fine set, this time in the face of an indifferent audience, rounding off an impressive three in a row!
