Late August
August is winding down, September is looming. Summer seems so short sometimes. I guess that’s what happens when you get busy…
My last UK visit was wonderful! No pie, mash and liquor this time, no jellied eels, no haggis for that matter! But it was a whirl wind trip with all the highlights in the right places. First, of course, there was the weather… I’m getting a reputation for this sort of thing: Jim Page arrives and the weather goes haywire. It went like this: my plane was cancelled out of Washington DC so I got to spend about 11 hours in that lovely airport, walking around, reading newspapers, staring into space, and napping on the comfortable airport seats. So instead of arriving in London in the evening I got there the next morning. That’s okay, its easier to get around in the daylight. I was going to stay with a new friend – the wonderful singer and song writer Alastair Artingstall. He had given me directions via the subway and I was half way there when my connection at Kings Cross was cancelled due to flooding. I had not been outside since I landed so I had no idea what the sky looked like. I was real tired and real jet lagged but, okay, I would have to change my train plans. No problem. I was passing through a hallway when the water burst in through the lower levels on both walls, spewing like a fountain in front of me. A lady slipped and fell and the cops came running. “This station is closed – everybody out!” The only way out was through the fountaining water so I rolled my suitcase and guitar through the water and up the stairs and on to the next line. I arrived in Alastair’s part of town about an hour later than I would have but at least I was there. The sun was out and the birds were chirping. It was a beautiful day! Everything had happened while I was underground. London had gotten roughly two months worth of rain in a few hours. Half the country was flooded.
Alastair met me at his flat. He is one of that rare breed of human who trusts and opens to other fellow travelers. A long time musician, sound engineer and tour manager, Alastair is used to the road and knows exactly what its like to be jet lagged and in need of a bed. No need to explain, no need to be social. There’s your room, see you tomorrow. Over the course of my stay I got to know him fairly well and I have the utmost respect for his talents and personality. Thank you Alastair for being who you are. I went to sleep and stayed that way for 16 hours…
Next morning was the rental car and the manic drive to Trowbridge. I was doing 90 at times, passing everything that was passable. I had bought a cell phone earlier on the way to the car place and was able to call ahead so that they wouldn’t worry. I was due on at 2:45 but they wanted me there at 1. I arrived at 2:15 – plenty of time for me as I don’t really warm up. So there I was on stage in the big tent with a severe time lag and a total absence of any sort of self consciousness. All of which made for a good performance. My buddies the Be Good Tanyas were due to play that evening so I hung around. They’re wonderful singers and I highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance.
Next day I was on stage again with Roy Bailey. We sat down and traded songs. What a treat that was! Roy is a wonderful singer and song collector, one of the real ones. Again, I can’t recommend him highly enough. I got to know him through a series of circumstances where he began singing a couple of my songs. So when I was over last January we met up and have become friends. What a singer! He sent me a recording of “Collateral Damage” that he did – himself and Martin Simpson on second guitar. It made me cry it was so good. I almost had to stop singing it myself. Then of course I came back to my senses… After our stage gig I hung around and played in the Trowbridge mud for the rest of the day (remember the downpour) and finally got back to the hotel where there was a disco going on right under my room. Lucky me.
Next day was a slam drive to Liverpool. Liverpool! One of the world’s greatest cities! Home of the Beatles, of course, and I had my picture taken next to the John Lennon statue. We would have been friends, John and I, if circumstances had allowed. I could have saved him some time in his quest for anonymity but alas it was not to be. Anyway, the gig was on the third floor of an art gallery and what a wonderful gig it was! Bruce Scott, a very fine Irish a cappella singer and song writer did an opening set. Masterful work.
Next day I was on the road early for a punishing drive all the way down to Eastbourne, south of London. It’s a really beautiful town, the kind you want to stay in. The gig was in a theater and it was nearly a packed house. Wonderful evening, thank you Eastbourne!
Then back to London to the Green Note. This is a real small venue but one that everybody likes to play. It’s just a real sweet space. A little vegetarian restaurant and bar with a music stage. Alastair came down for that one. Also my agent Mike Cole, a man of many hats. Pie, mash and liquor…
Next day was hang around London day. And later on I got together with my old buddy Kevin Wyatt-Lown, his wife Maggie and their daughter Charlotte. Kevin and I have been talking about doing some business together. There are some knots to work out on my end. I hope it happens to everybody’s satisfaction. Patience.
My flight out was at 6:45 the next morning and the only way to do that was to get to Heathrow the night before and spend the night, which I did. Little did I know that that particular part of the airport has no benches and no seats without arms, which means that there is no way to sleep except sitting up and crinking your neck or laying on the floor. I laid on the floor for a couple of hours. I love floors! The flight took me to Copenhagen and then to Seattle. The layover in Copenhagen was 6 hours. The Danes are more attuned to relaxation and so I was able to find a recliner chair and get a few hours of sleep. By the time I got to Seattle I was as close to comatose as I’ve been since the last time.
Now I’m gearing up for the next time. More soon…
My last UK visit was wonderful! No pie, mash and liquor this time, no jellied eels, no haggis for that matter! But it was a whirl wind trip with all the highlights in the right places. First, of course, there was the weather… I’m getting a reputation for this sort of thing: Jim Page arrives and the weather goes haywire. It went like this: my plane was cancelled out of Washington DC so I got to spend about 11 hours in that lovely airport, walking around, reading newspapers, staring into space, and napping on the comfortable airport seats. So instead of arriving in London in the evening I got there the next morning. That’s okay, its easier to get around in the daylight. I was going to stay with a new friend – the wonderful singer and song writer Alastair Artingstall. He had given me directions via the subway and I was half way there when my connection at Kings Cross was cancelled due to flooding. I had not been outside since I landed so I had no idea what the sky looked like. I was real tired and real jet lagged but, okay, I would have to change my train plans. No problem. I was passing through a hallway when the water burst in through the lower levels on both walls, spewing like a fountain in front of me. A lady slipped and fell and the cops came running. “This station is closed – everybody out!” The only way out was through the fountaining water so I rolled my suitcase and guitar through the water and up the stairs and on to the next line. I arrived in Alastair’s part of town about an hour later than I would have but at least I was there. The sun was out and the birds were chirping. It was a beautiful day! Everything had happened while I was underground. London had gotten roughly two months worth of rain in a few hours. Half the country was flooded.
Alastair met me at his flat. He is one of that rare breed of human who trusts and opens to other fellow travelers. A long time musician, sound engineer and tour manager, Alastair is used to the road and knows exactly what its like to be jet lagged and in need of a bed. No need to explain, no need to be social. There’s your room, see you tomorrow. Over the course of my stay I got to know him fairly well and I have the utmost respect for his talents and personality. Thank you Alastair for being who you are. I went to sleep and stayed that way for 16 hours…
Next morning was the rental car and the manic drive to Trowbridge. I was doing 90 at times, passing everything that was passable. I had bought a cell phone earlier on the way to the car place and was able to call ahead so that they wouldn’t worry. I was due on at 2:45 but they wanted me there at 1. I arrived at 2:15 – plenty of time for me as I don’t really warm up. So there I was on stage in the big tent with a severe time lag and a total absence of any sort of self consciousness. All of which made for a good performance. My buddies the Be Good Tanyas were due to play that evening so I hung around. They’re wonderful singers and I highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance.
Next day I was on stage again with Roy Bailey. We sat down and traded songs. What a treat that was! Roy is a wonderful singer and song collector, one of the real ones. Again, I can’t recommend him highly enough. I got to know him through a series of circumstances where he began singing a couple of my songs. So when I was over last January we met up and have become friends. What a singer! He sent me a recording of “Collateral Damage” that he did – himself and Martin Simpson on second guitar. It made me cry it was so good. I almost had to stop singing it myself. Then of course I came back to my senses… After our stage gig I hung around and played in the Trowbridge mud for the rest of the day (remember the downpour) and finally got back to the hotel where there was a disco going on right under my room. Lucky me.
Next day was a slam drive to Liverpool. Liverpool! One of the world’s greatest cities! Home of the Beatles, of course, and I had my picture taken next to the John Lennon statue. We would have been friends, John and I, if circumstances had allowed. I could have saved him some time in his quest for anonymity but alas it was not to be. Anyway, the gig was on the third floor of an art gallery and what a wonderful gig it was! Bruce Scott, a very fine Irish a cappella singer and song writer did an opening set. Masterful work.
Next day I was on the road early for a punishing drive all the way down to Eastbourne, south of London. It’s a really beautiful town, the kind you want to stay in. The gig was in a theater and it was nearly a packed house. Wonderful evening, thank you Eastbourne!
Then back to London to the Green Note. This is a real small venue but one that everybody likes to play. It’s just a real sweet space. A little vegetarian restaurant and bar with a music stage. Alastair came down for that one. Also my agent Mike Cole, a man of many hats. Pie, mash and liquor…
Next day was hang around London day. And later on I got together with my old buddy Kevin Wyatt-Lown, his wife Maggie and their daughter Charlotte. Kevin and I have been talking about doing some business together. There are some knots to work out on my end. I hope it happens to everybody’s satisfaction. Patience.
My flight out was at 6:45 the next morning and the only way to do that was to get to Heathrow the night before and spend the night, which I did. Little did I know that that particular part of the airport has no benches and no seats without arms, which means that there is no way to sleep except sitting up and crinking your neck or laying on the floor. I laid on the floor for a couple of hours. I love floors! The flight took me to Copenhagen and then to Seattle. The layover in Copenhagen was 6 hours. The Danes are more attuned to relaxation and so I was able to find a recliner chair and get a few hours of sleep. By the time I got to Seattle I was as close to comatose as I’ve been since the last time.
Now I’m gearing up for the next time. More soon…
posted by Jim Page at 9:03 PM
2 Comments:
Hi Jim...
thanks for the glimpse of your whirlwind tour through the UK!
was swept up in the energy of it reading through.
great to see the "young master" I knew in the late 60's find his place in the stellar sphere of his peers.
love
baba
Hi Jim...
I have some friends who saw you at Eastbourne,England. They came back saying "You have got to see Jim Page, he's brilliant". So I visited your Myspace page and listened to your songs, (I was unaware of your work prior to that time). I agree with them, it's brilliant. So my question is, when will you play the South Coast of England again?
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