Half Man Half Biscuit - Rock City, Notts
A long trek up to Kettering, a quick donning of my “Dukla Prague Away Kit” shirt, followed by a shorter trek up to Nottingham saw us emerge from the car park to see “Birkenhead Car and Van Hire” emblazoned on the side of the nearest van. This can only mean one thing, Half Man Half Biscuit must be playing nearby.
Support came from Calvin Party who were fairly uninspiring to be honest. Once they were finished we took position against the barrier in front of the stage to get in front of the rapidly increasing crowd.
Just after 9pm the main band strolled on stage and launched into the first of many songs, a few technical difficulties delayed parts of the evening but didn’t really spoil things. Firstly Ken (guitar) had problems with his FX pedals necessitating some reconfiguration, and later Neil (Bass) had to replace a problematic lead, at one point disappearing off stage leaving Nigel to keep us amused for a few minutes.
Setlist:
The Light at the End of the Tunnel (is the Light of an Oncoming Train)
Fuckin’ ‘ell it’s Fred Titmus
Restless Legs
Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo
Totnes Bickering Fair
Albert Hammond Bootleg
Running Order Squabble Fest
Deep House Victims Minibus Appeal
Outbreak of Vitus Gerulaitis
Blue Badge Abuser
Ballad of Climie Fisher (intro only, because only Nigel knew how to play it)
Used to be in Evil Gazebo
Vatican Broadside
We Built this Village on a Trad. Arr. Tune
Twenty-Four Hour Garage People (the Pringles cost £1.02 tonight)
National Shite Day
For What Is Chatteris?
Tending The Wrong Grave
Tonight Matthew I’m Going To Be With Jesus (complete with loud cheering from the crowd after the “Rock City, Notts” line)
Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess
Look Dad No Tunes
Everything’s AOR
The Trumpton Riots
Worried Man Blues
All I Want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit
Joy Division Oven Gloves