Aren't I tall in this picture?

Last night was the final night for The Sunday Alternative Live (for this year) as I am going to take a break in order to get the videos sorted. To be honest this whole thing has been a big headache behind the scenes yet an utter delight to watch the finished result. Tonight I couldn't video an entire set because the camera kept stopping with a message saying that filming had been suspended. How I am able to film a day out for The Random Saturday Sessions but not a continuous half hour without things going wrong I don't know. As we are not releasing the whole set on YouTube it doesn't really matter but that decision was made due to the lack of complete footage. On the bright side, we have the full sets on audio so there's scope for a podcast series in the future. 

My dad was ill with a bad back and didn't come along to film the show as there's a lot of standing involved. To add to the situation I had forgotten to ask around for someone who could do the door so I was running a one man operation. Luckily my friends Jon and Jo turned up so Jo, bless her, sat on the door for me from time to time. Everything seemed to be a problem for me last night although a lot of it was in my head because I worry about things in general. One of the biggest issues appeared to be that nobody could decide who wanted to sound check in what order when we were getting close to opening time. 

The line up was another beauty and I am genuinely very pleased with myself at the standard I have managed to stick to. One Million Motors (or John as I call him) opened up the proceedings, including reminding me of the time he swore on my radio show when he played. I had previously asked Bainy if he would mind if Blue Vulture went on second because I wanted Diablo Furs to go on later and potentially get a bigger audience. I take the piss out of Bainy and we have the sort of friendship where you don't offend each other with insults (at least I hope it's a friendship, maybe he means it), in particular my refusal to give his band any higher compliment than 'quite good'. The truth is, and here is where my mask slips, that they are a great live band and went down well with the unfortunately small audience. I am pretty certain that Diablo Furs only really got going this year but they have come on in leaps and bounds since the first time I saw them. Headlining was Trioxin Cherry who brought a following with them, not many but it doesn't really matter because everyone enjoyed it and the people who played got paid. Trioxin Cherry play all over the place and have a big following so I am surprised I got them to agree to appear if I'm honest and they played as if they were playing to a packed arena which is how it should be. If I have seen them before I can't remember it but they played an amazing set and rounded off the evening beautifully. 

Without wanting to reignite things, but I think the fact that I have pulled such strong names is down to the same reason a lot of people dislike my style. It is easy to think I'm that arsehole who slags people off but I don't do it deliberately, I just don't filter. The flip side of this is that when I get behind a band then they know that I mean it and know that I will treat them nicely. What I lose on the swings I gain on the roundabouts. 

The Sunday Alternative Podcast #62 is available now from here.

Please read my November newsletter about funding for new projects.

This week's episode of The Random Saturday Sessions is here.