Yeah, I can’t sleep…my brain won’t switch off thinking so I figured I’d waffle on in a blog post for a while to try and get it out there. You know how it is, I’m always buzzing a bit when I get home from a shift, especially a feel good shift where everything just clicked. the band tonight were awesome – Renegade 12, if you haven’t seen them then make a note to catch them the next time they’re here (March 10th). They seem to have infinite energy, it’s rare these days to see bands with such passion and enthusiasm and it’s so unforced, they generally just love it. They work hard on stage and equally as hard off stage to build their fan base who faithfully travel over 40 miles to watch them here on our stage, it’s testament to the bands’ determination and talent. Obviously not forgetting Carly, their very hard working manager behind the scenes, keeping the boys in check. These guys are definitely a band to watch. So, yes it’s been another fab night at The Brickies, we are so very lucky to be able to say that several times a week, even now nearly 13years in.
Christmas and New year were awesome in equal measure, it’s strange to even mention it, it feels so long ago when in reality it was like just five weeks back, and here I am planning the next newsletter with mention of Easter already. It’s really early this year, end of March so we are already planning our first Bank Holiday Bash of the year. It feels wrong and way too early but it’s there and there is nothing we can do about it but embrace it. So the bands are booked and the poster is designed, and newsletter is nearly there. Talking of the newsletters, it seems that generally the new design has been well received, it’s still a bit of a work in progress but it has had good feedback so far. Of course get in touch and feel free to give us some feedback on it, it’s good to know what you all think. March’s edition will be featuring an interview with Floating Greyhounds Drummer and local legend ‘Butty’ so that will definitely be worth a read and quite funny too I reckon.
Local promoter ‘Power Promotions’ have started a new acoustic night on the first Tuesday of the month, (Not another acoustic night I hear you cry…) but wait… This is different, like TOTALLY different. This is acoustic Metal in all it’s glory. Imagine your favourite metal tracks played in a chilled out acoustic manner… Ok, maybe not so chilled but definitely acoustic and like nothing you’ve ever seen or heard before. If you play, sing, growl or scream then get down here and have a go… It has to be metal, and it has to be acoustic.
Obviously our regular acoustic Wednesday Open Mic nights carry on as normal. they have been so busy of late and it’s great to meet new performers all the time. Not just locals either, some performers have travelled from Suffolk and even as far as Cambridge some weeks. Every Wednesday brings new surprises, although not everyone understands the workings of an open mic night. In fact I have been thinking about producing a little tent card to put on the tables for Wednesday’s. A little tent card just outlining the unwritten rules of the open mic night. I don’t know about any of you other performers out there but imagine this, you get up with your guitar to sing three songs that you have sweated your blood and tears into writing, I mean your’re bearing your soul up there for the whole world to see and while you’re trying to find that moment, your flow, all you can hear is the group of guys that have sat down in front of you, are intent in talking and laughing louder than you (even though you’re plugged into a 6k PA system) and pretend like you’re not there. What annoys me more is when other performers who are waiting to go on, or have been on already that then go and do exactly the same thing. For the open mic performer there is no bigger insult than people talking over you, laughing and shouting over you when you are trying to sing, it’s rude and unnecessary, in fact I have told people before who have been excessively noisy to go and sit in the pool room as they clearly didn’t come in to listen to the music. I don’t mean to come across rude myself but I have been that person, that performer, I know how shitty it feels. it’s kinda different if it’s a band on or a booked performance but open mic is different, if you come to watch open mic, you watch it, chat if you must but do so quietly with respect for the performers. If you need to chat loudly or have a roaring giggle with your mates, that’s totally cool but head to the bar area or the pool room, I do realise after all, that we are a pub but we can cater for all. It’s not a lot to ask, it’s just general etiquette for an open mic night. Haha I sound like a right moaning old bag there… Don’t mean to, but there it is.
Well it’s nearly 3am and I supposed I should have another go at a kip. I’m a lucky girl really, I love my job, I get to watch live music all week long and I also get to play. This Saturday (tomorrow) is one such night. Pure Passion will be on around 10pm – 12midnight but before then we have the brilliant Lucy Grubb – who is now 18 and has been playing on our stage since she was 14, (same as me). It will be lovely to finally share a beer or two with her. She is a talented songwriter with a promising future. she will be on about 8.30pm so please come early enough to check her out. After that we have new rock covers band on the scene ‘Rock Garden’ warming you up nicely for us. It’s going to be awesome and I can’t wait to blow away some cobwebs, the old fingers aren’t so fast any more lol.
Oh before I forget, if any of you like quizzes, Sunday night will be just up your street. We are joining over 1800 other pubs across the UK in a Guinness World Record attempt for the biggest pub quiz ever. it starts at 7pm, it’s £2 to enter and you can have a team of up to 8 people. it’s general knowledge, 6 category rounds of 10 questions. The winners get a cash prize and we will be raising money for Sprowston Youth Project. straight after that we will be doing our monthly music quiz too so it will be a marathon night for all quiz fans… Come and join the fun!
I could run on forever but at the risk of boring you all I will say goodnight and see you all down the front soon.
Keep going to gigs guys, and not just ours, Our fine city has some awesome venues and you guys keep the blood pumping in the veins of the Norwich Music Scene… We can’t thank you enough 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸💥 xx
Laters
Cx
THE BRICKIES - BLOG N' ROLL 