Lonely The Brave / Black Peaks Tour 2015
Tour Blog / Diary #3 – Guitarist Ross Smithwick
Friday November 27th
18th November
Im writing this as we travel back to the UK after about a week in mainland Europe. We traveled out to Belgium the day after the Birmingham show ( which was fantastic, the best show we have done there by a mile ) as the first show out here was supporting Dutch band, Kensington who are massive out here it seems, where we were playing to roughly 2000 people in Brussels. It was nice to break the headline tour up a bit by doing this show, and the chance to win over a whole new crowd who may have never heard us before is a challenge we enjoy. 30 minutes of power to try and impress. Everything about the show was great, the venue, the staff and the show itself. We were treated very nicely and we actually managed to eat a hot meal together for the first time in days. It was amazing to see, but in amongst the thousands of people in the audience, there were small pockets of people who were there just to see us play. They sang along to every word and we managed to chat to them after the show and thank them for coming. After clearing out the catering area for van supplies, we all headed back to the hotel for an early night. The next day we were due to be up at 6 a.m for the long drive to Berlin.
We didn’t really get much sleep that night as the news broke about the Paris attacks. All of us in our separate rooms, reading and watching it online couldn’t really believe what was happening. At this time, the facts were only just emerging. The next morning as we met at the van, of course, this was the only topic on our minds as the true horror of it all came to light. Obviously all of our thoughts were with those who lost their lives in this tragic event, and having people we knew who were in the city at the time brought it all home even more.
So, with trepidation an after an long long drive, we got to Berlin, met up with our boys Black Peaks, and tried to put that fact that we were playing a sold out show in another country to the front of our minds. Easier said than done, and after the room filled up, and as we met some fans, it was clear that everyone felt the same. There was a strange, nervous energy in the venue, one of which I have never felt at a show before but as the night went on, first up with Black Peaks blowing everyone away, and then as we took to the stage, the vibe and energy went from nervous to electric and joyful. We all played our hearts out, an the crowd gave just as much. It was an amazing show and one we will always remember. With everyone feeling very much on edge, I think this is the best thing we al could have done that day. There was a real sense of love and unity in that room.
With that amazing show under our belts, we were pumped for the remaining two, in Hamburg and Cologne. We have played both cities before as a support band, but to be back headlining is amazing, and to more near sold out rooms, something we never take for granted. Both shows were mind blowing. Full crowds singing back the words both nights from our incredibly passionate fans, who it seems are the same wherever we play and makes everything we do worthwhile. As our shows go on, and get bigger and bigger, we’re meeting more and more people that love our band and its incredibly humbling. We have had a awesome time in Germany, and cant wait to get back here.
25th November
I’ve just woke up in our glorious hotel room in Brighton, with a sea view and nesting seagulls on our window sill shouting their heads off. Tonight is the last date in the UK, after being back in the country for 5 of the best shows we have done, in Nottingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton and London. In Nottingham we arrived at the venue thinking it was going to be way smaller than it actually was, and after finding out that the room was gong to be at a very decent percentage, we were really excited. The shows out in Europe were fucking great, but these venues we are doing in the UK on this tour are all a step up for us, so its really exciting to be on the bigger stages. Another banging show had by all, Black Peaks are just getting better and better and are such nice dudes!
Cardiff the next day again was amazing. The venue was a new one for us and a bit smaller than the others on this tour, but the crowd made it seem like it was a small stadium! They were so up for it, probably because it was a friday night and everyone was half cut, but either way it was a great night and the crowd basically supplied us with a boozy choir as they were singing so loudly. It was also Andrew from Black Peaks birthday so we fully embarrassed him by getting the Welsh choir to sing him happy birthday. Was a really fun show.
Next up – Bristol and a home town show for me so i was really up for this one. The Marble Factory is apart of Bristols legendary club, Motion, and it has this dark, dingy warehouse vibe to it which i love. I had the added pressure of basically my whole family coming to this show, so wanted to make sure it was a banger. And it certainly was! This was the biggest crowd we had played to so far on the tour, about 500 humans, and it felt like a proper proper show. Looking out to a sea of people really is something. Im not sure what it was tho, maybe just being run down from tour, but before going i felt fucking weird and was promptly sick just before hitting the stage. Far from ideal but luckily, nurse Bush was there to help. I guess the adrenaline hit as we got on stage as during the show it was amazing. Spoke to the family after and got their approval so all good.
The next day was a sold out show at the Talking Heads in Southampton, a venue we played this time last year and was one of the best shows on that tour, so we had high hopes this time round. The show itself was great, with the crowd giving so much, but there were a few difficulties that put the vibe on stage down a bit. The power on stage seemed to be a bit fucked basically, and a few times during the set, the amps just turned off, and pedal boards stopped working. Like i said, the crowd were completely awesome and on our side, so we managed to have a bit of a lol with them. Another night of meeting and chatting to so many lovely people that come out to see us.
We woke early the next day for the big London show, as we had to get to the capitol in good time to see the awesome folk at Levi’s who were kindly kitting us out with new clobber. Thanks for that guys!
After that we headed to the venue, the assembly halls in Islington. What a venue this is. Its the first time evening seeing this venue for us and we were blown away by the beauty and grandness of the room. Its a big hall thats usually not used for shows, mainly weddings, and it looked far to nice for the likes of us to be playing. We are used to grubby little rock venues, which of course we love equally as much. This being the biggest show on the tour, and with the usual pressure of all that comes with a london show, there was a nervous energy all day which we took on to the stage and used in our advantage. It always makes for a good show when you’re shitting it that extra bit. It was a mega show. Another near sell out crowd all singing their hearts out and we played pretty damn well i think. Its so cool, even in London, to look out at the crowd and see people you recognise as they come back each time we play. Its a really amazing feeling while playing. And there were plenty there that night. We travelled to Brighton after the show, so couldn’t really celebrate, but we have a day off after the brighton show tonight so I reckon there will be a few bevies consumed. We have actually done this whole tour dry as a bone. We all like a drink thats for sure, but when it comes to doing something so important to you, and wanting to make each show as good as it can be, we have realised this is the best thing to do. we’ve definitely learned from past mishaps if you get me! So yeah, I think a drink tonight would be more than fair. In a bit, now.
LIVEDATA 27/11 Metropool, Hengelo 28/11 Melkweg, Amsterdam 29/11 W2, Den Bosch
