An early evening Sunday roast in The Globe, then time to saunter to the local St Matthews Hall, where pop-star legends John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett were performing a gig.
Their gigs are designed to be experienced rather than reported, so I'll leave out some of the spoiler moments. Suffice to say the bouncing self-effacing pop-star persona of John Otway contrasts to the grounded owl-like professional musician image of Wild Willy Barrett.
A totally entertaining evening with an, at times, unhinged performance interspersed with stories and -er- unusual events.
They've had a couple of hits spaced around 25 years apart, so Otway will describe himself as a pop musician with a long career.
It's never that simple and along the way there were the band years paying several sets of wages, the split and re-union with Wild Willy Barrett, gigs ranging from pubs right the way to the Albert Hall, a failed world tour with an expensive jet plane, and the mysterious coach tour gigs to Dunkirk.
Otway's first book was called "Cor Baby that's really me" and taglined as "Rock-and-roll's greatest failure". He wears the badge proudly and still tells of moment as a nine-year old when the fortune teller explained about his golden bird of good fortune.
On-stage, there's a broad range of instruments, and the two musicians establish and easy and humorous rapport, between themselves and with the audience. The brown wheely bin is a sensational musical instrument in its own right, and I'd say it's the only one of those I've ever seen.
A whole evening best described as 'unforgettable'.
I decided to add some old footage of a few markers along the path, and urge anyone to see them whenever they are in their area.
First, their original Old Grey Whistle Test performance, including live mishap.
Then, a documentary during the 'punk meets Stones' band years.
And a lovely 2010 interview with Otway, which explains a few things
Come back soon.
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