So Low in Manchester.....

What a night- excellent. As my youngest son says 'so so good'. It was billed as a 'holiday concert', so they played the whole of the 'Christmas' EP/album and played much of the show with support band 'Ida', in so doing becoming a 7 piece.

Too many highlights or transcendent moments..... usual crowd shouting.... Alan Sparhawk dedicating the show to 'Michele Obama'- loud applause/shouts.... and then dedicating it to 'Jehovah...even our saviour Christ'...... total silence.... but great- good try!

I heard some new reggae (yes really...) style song. Normally 'reggae style' or 'reggae lite' would have me running screaming quicker than you could say 'G4', 'Il Divo' or 'Westlife'... but it worked and it was something about 'Every knee shall bow'. I would love to play that in church. Might even boogie to it, or at least respectfully tap (slightly) my right foot....

(the basement of the Academy looks nothing like this...) Good gigs are more than good gigs... you've got to have a good mate there. And I did....meal, honest conversation, catching up on faith, family and music and a bit of (respectful, in a kind of 'I'm evangelical but real') swearing and some testosterone fuelled (!) jokes....

Also bumped into the daughter of a good friend at the gig- quote 'I'm becoming really interested in how people with faith work it out in the rock world' - at least that is my take on what was said.

All together now.... 'Take the long way round the sea... (repeat to fade)