7:an Goteborg
The last week has been pretty interesting to say the least. It started with another trip to Sweden for the weekend, this time in the company of my very good friend Andy. He had been unable to make the previous trip in August so we decided to go at this time. It turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. Our first full day in town was spent drinking and chewing the fat in a couple of bars. I took Andy to the oldest beer hall in Sweden, Number 7 which is located in the middle of the city. I used to frequent the place when I lived in Sweden but I haven’t been back in years. Thankfully, it has changed little. True, the bar has had a revamp, in fact there is actually a bar now, and the toilets were really primitive and they too have been improved. But the overall character remains and they serve real beer now too!
Joe Bonamassa
Friday night was one I had been looking forward to for a few weeks. Rustan had got us tickets to see Joe ‘I look like Bill Gates’ Bonamassa. Andy had seen him the previous night in Leicester and so took his life in his hands and went for dinner with Alan Newton. I was secretly hoping he had remembered to take out travel insurance. The concert was great and footage can be seen superbly filmed by Rustan on www.afreemanintown.blogspot.com and it’s well worth a look.
Liseberg's Hallen
Me and Mr. Impatient
On Saturday we went to watch Spurs v Everton at the Plain Kitchen our usual venue for such games. It was a disappointing game that finished 1-1. it was an early kick off and we watched the following games. Our very good friend Goran Melin arrived and it was great to meet his three lovely kids again despite the fact that they are all Gooners! A new all time Plain Kitchen was set as we emerged some seven hours later into the night and moved to another familiar bar Karlsons Garage.
Andy and Alan, affter the dinner
The effects of the dinner at Al's start to be noticeable
Guess who won the tips contest?
I think I have been there.
It was a great trip. Andy and I had some time together which we have not had for some years and we arrived back in England suitably refreshed.
Half term meant it was great to have a lie in on Monday morning. Of course, highlight of the week was fast approaching, and it did with a bang on Wednesday night as the lights went up at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftsbury Avenue. We were there to see the musical ‘Thriller Live’. Normally, I would not have been within a thousand metres of the place. But this was Trish’s night out. She had been to enough gigs with me, now it was her turn.
Thriller
Killer
At first we had seats which were both uncomfortable and among a group of people who seemed to want to do nothing more than talk throughout the performance. I was reminded of the time I went to see the great Jimmy Smith at The Jazz Café, when his pre-gig instructions. ‘If you want to talk during the performance then go talk outside’ had instructed the gathered fans. How I wish he had been there on Wednesday. Luckily, during the interval we were able to swap seats for ones on their own and nearer the end of the show we were able to get really close to proceedings. Trish loved it. I enjoyed the singing of one of the leads and the band, secreted claustrophobically behind a screen at the back of the stage, played really well, never missing a cue as they played blind. I didn’t realise that Jackson had brought the ‘crutch grope’ into modern dance, I do now. Musicals, I can live without them, but I don’t think this will be the last one.
On Friday night The Cheats were on the road again, this time a gig at ‘The Chequers at Houghton Regis. There were many times during the night when The Lyric Theatre seemd warm and inviting.
Joe Bonamassa Photos by Rustan Lefin
