The Frosty
Paws 10th Anniversary Rally
Featuring
Black Thursday
Aspull Rugby
Union Club, Wigan
27th
November 2015
Black Thursday – Warrington
Links:
Genre: Classic Rock and Blues
Members:
Lee
Johnson: Bass Guitar, Lead/Backing Vocals, Sound
Mike
Coupe: Rhythm Guitar
John
Ollier: Lead Guitars
Garry
Wells: Drums, Percussion, Lighting
Helen
Horne: Lead/Backing Vocals/Harmonica/Tambourine/Blues Harp
Black Thursday
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Helen
Photo Courtesy of Ian Green
It is true what everyone says, and
that is “There is nothing like being in attendance at a Rally. Biker’s know how
to have a good time and let their hair down no matter how little they have!
The weather was extremely cold as
you would expect but no matter there was still a tremendous turn out. The bikes and tents were not in short supply
and neither was the ale! Not that I sampled any, but I don’t need Ale to enjoy
myself just good music and good company and there was plenty of that around at
the small but cosy venue in Aspull, not to mention some very large potholes
which made getting into the venue extremely precarious and the fact there were
no lights we nearly ended up in a field, but that was what we faced getting to
the venue around 8.30pm.
The band that played on Black
Friday were, funnily enough called Black Thursday.
But there was nothing ‘black’
about their performance. Helen has one
amazing voice and sang all the songs that suited her booming voice perfectly!
Packed out!
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Lee also joined in and lent a hand
to some lead vocals too on Sweet Home Alabama, but this was the only track that
sounded slightly weak as the harmonies didn’t seem to flow, but apart from that
the set was thoroughly enjoyable.
Black Velvet was indeed sung to
perfection and one of my favourite tracks of all time!
Managing to get a seat, be it at
the back right hand side the room was nearly filled to capacity and yet people
were still coming into the club in their droves.
We saw some familiar faces there
Michael and Diane Lloyd, Gully, Dave, Ozzy and Deb, Moz and Phil so immediately
it felt like home.
Graham
Photo by Pagan Hel
Happy Birthday Ozzy (and Deb)
Photo by Pagan Hel
Giant Gully
Photo by Pagan Hel
Mike and Diane - (Far right)
Photo by Pagan Hel
The atmosphere was uplifting, warm
and extremely welcoming and the dance floor was never empty! Although there was
a slight skirmish behind me but that was quickly remedied with some early
intervention from Nicky and all ‘so called normality’ resumed.
Nicky - Her coffee is to die for!
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
No it is NOT Peter Griffin it is Bill Watt!
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Nicky and Roo
Photo courtesy of Wolfie Henderson Smith
Photo courtesy of Wolfie Henderson Smith
From the corner of my eye I
suddenly realised that Michael Lloyd was carrying paper plates filled with
shaving foam and leaving them at the front of the stage and then it all became
clear – ‘Rally Virgins’ this time two girls seemed to have copped for a pie in
the face – shaving foam got everywhere!
Poor Rally Virgins
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Both Graham and I participated in
the raffle but alas it wasn’t our turn to win anything and I so desperately
wanted to win those metal book ends, they were custom made by a guy called Dan,
and very fitting for the occasion as they resembled bike parts and pleased to
say that on the second night they were won by the lovely Alison Fitchett.
Custom made book ends by Dan
Frosty
Paws Rally
Featuring
Akoostika and Roadhog
Aspull
Rugby Union Club, Wigan
28th
November 2015
Akoostika – Southport
Links:
Genre: Acoustic Rock and Metal
Members:
James
Gordon – Guitar/Vocals
Karl Baden
– Guitar/Vocals
Roadhog – North West
Links:
Genre: Classic Rock
Members:
Graham Lee
- Vocals
Neil Humphrey
- Bass
Kev McGinn
- Guitar
Raymondo Wong
– Drums
The second night (Saturday) in
normal style for me and Graham we got there early this time after checking out
the venue and enjoyed mingling with some more than friendly faces. There was no
diminishing crowds either and the car park was packed to busting!
We even managed to go round the
outside stalls to see what was on offer, although difficult to see and dodging
some rather large puddles underfoot, I was very tempted to go and stand by the
bonfire at the end of the car park – it was huge! But decided in the end that
indoors was where we needed to be as the wind and rain were picking up. The
tents were all taking a battering and the stall holders were getting a bit fed
up, but you could hardly blame them in the circumstances!
It was huge!
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Inside the now familiar venue the
atmosphere was still friendly, welcoming, up-beat and packed to the rafters!
Akoostika started up their set and
this was by no means ‘just’ an acoustic set! The guitars had a real vibrancy to
them. They sang a few Led Zep numbers which is always welcome in my book,
although it seems the venue got things slightly wrong here as the stage was in
darkness and the club was fully lit, not sure how that worked, well it didn’t
really, but the music made up for this error and was highlighted more when
Chris ‘Grizzler’ Adams got up to sing Crazy Train.
This included all the special
‘Ozzy effects’ from the start, and the crowd was literally buzzing from it and
I certainly thought our own ‘Ozzy’ should have got up to sing it! Hard to
imagine that this was indeed Akoostika’s first ever gig, but despite the
weather it was certainly sunny indoors.
Although there was quite a wait
before Roadhog hit the stage Ian Green, in my opinion is the best DJ I have
ever seen and heard and kept us all entertained with some fantastic music and puzzled
with our heads!! No wonder he won an
award on the night and it was a very large trophy as well, custom made by Eric.
Ian certainly deserved it as there is no music that escapes him – he knows
everything about every band and any time you ask for a track he has it – no
matter how obscure!
There is nothing this man doesn't know about music!
The highlight of the evening was
Paul. This tiny guy who looked like an elf suddenly appeared from nowhere and
started going mental on the dance floor knocking out some amazing moves totally
unaware of his surroundings, and apparently he had travelled from East Sussex
for the event on his 250cc Needless to say he also won an award for travelling
the furthest and in the worst weather conditions possible, so his award was more
than well-deserved too!
Little Paul - his energy is endless!
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Ozzy – yes we have an Ozzy double (as
I mentioned before) and his Mrs Deb (No not Sharon, but it is only his Mrs name
that says he is not the real Ozzy, otherwise you would never know) gave us some
good moments – pretending to wind Paul up as he strutted his moves, in between
Paul trying to teach Ozzy a few moves, which was quite entertaining.
Little Paul and Ozzy
Photo by Pagan Hel
Pne with her friend who looked a
lot like Whitney Dean from Eastenders arrived on the scene – Pne always makes
an entrance and this time was no exception to the rule, supporting a multi
coloured wig which actually suited her down to the ground and her face painted
with pink and green stripes - in fact anyone she came in close proximity to,
were painted and her shorts were short and even made me shiver. Her friend wore
a green tutu and a T shirt exclaiming Gordon is a Twat, which provoked Ian the
DJ to play Jilted John and asked the crowd to shout “Gordon is a Twat” when the
song reached Gordon is a moron, after turning the sound down and of course we
all did!
The multi coloured Pne
Photo by Pagan Hel
By then the rest of Roadhog were
arriving and setting up on stage to headline the Frosty Paws Event.
The first set went without much
ado, and even the banter was kept to a minimum which wasn’t like Graham at all
and his Tourette microphone! However, there is always a good time felt when
seeing Roadhog play live, their classic rock sound always welcome among the
crowd that usually follow them and with a first strong set out of the way came
the giving out of trophies for the best bike and best club turnout etc followed
by a raffle which we didn’t take part in this time.
Roadhog
Photo's courtesy of Ian Green
Oggy
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Kev and Graham
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
The second set of Roadhog’s gig
things were turned up a notch and the dance floor filled up as it usually does.
Paul was still going strong – much to everyone’s amazement, and he hadn’t even
removed his jacket!! He either had good Duracell batteries or he was on speed,
maybe even both as the energy he exerted was just simply phenomenal.
Pne’s friend asked me on several
occasions could she get up and sing with the band, but I didn’t have much time
in between songs to ask so she ended up writing it on a piece of paper to give
to Graham, who mentioned it on stage but nothing happened until Wig Wam Bam and
then Graham relented and pulled her on to the stage. It was only then that he
realised she only knew the words to the chorus but give her, her due she got up
and gave it her best shot!
Graham and willing participant
Photo courtesy of Pagan Hel
Mr Tambourine Man
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
With the band nearing the end of
their set the atmosphere was still at fever pitch and everyone was up enjoying
themselves.
Jan and Jane
Photo by Pagan Hel
Jan and me on the dancefloor
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Me and Oggy in deep conversation
Photo courtesy of Jane Craig
Kev and Jane
Photo by Pagan Hel
The lovely Nicky Ramone
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Me
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Billy S
Photo by Pagan Hel
Large crowd
Photo courtesy of Ian Green
Me and Oggy
Photo courtesy of Jane Craig
The music from Ian flowed and took
on a different edge when some ‘trancy’ stuff was played, which I love just as
much as the rock and clearly the rest of the crowd goers liked it too as the
dance floor was still packed and everyone wore a smile.
So another good rally comes to an
end and well done to everyone who made it a special weekend!
~~~~~~
Special Thanks to The Chorley
Wildhartz for putting on this event – including Bill and Nicky Watt – Marriage definitely
suits them both! Jane Craig (who was a big help with my camera) and Jan for the
dance moves, Rocker Roo, Ian Green – great DJ and thanks for the photos. Phil
Howard, Maria Moz Hulm, Dave Valentine, Dave the lone Ranger! Billy Sherratt and Sharon Thornton, April
Green, Deb and Ozzy Moss, Morph Pole, Alison Fitchet (For the tambourine) Pne
Pitstop, Gully Panther, Chris ‘Grizzler’ Adams (for his rendition of Crazy
Train) Fred and Julia Miller, Nicky Ramone, Michael and Diane Lloyd (on the
first night – sorry Di was taken into hospital again and hope she is well soon)
James Gordon and Karl Baden for the akoustic sounds with a difference and to Roadhog - Graham Lee, Kev McGinn, Neil Humphrey and Raymondo Wong. Definitely a good time
was had by all.
