where to begin. It's been a tremendous week for us. We've played all over the North of England. Liverpool, Sheffield, York, Huddersfield & Barnsley. Right now, the band are in Monmouth, Wales at Monnow Valley Studios to record. We are thrilled to be here. It's been a hot and sunny day in the valley. We are surrounded by nature on all sides. This island has been very good to us in so many ways.
Nothing Is Real
Liverpool was almost too much. Being in the birthplace of the Beatles was a dream come true. Playing at their old stomping ground the Cavern Club was icing. Platinum icing. We began the bank holiday at Lennon's we played a short set there before moving across Mathew St. to the Cavern. The show at the Cavern was massive. We were introduced by the International Pop Overthrow Fest MC David Bash and launched into Fall Out and Everyone's Ingenue. The sound was pristine on stage. I've never had the privilege of playing a venue with such wonderful sound where I didn't have to scream a single vocal and still got out all the emotion I needed. The Cavern crowd grew during our set. When we finished the set with our Beatles' cover, the Word, the audience was completely with us. Many of them went to the merch stand to pick up copies of the tour EP. Must have been around 80 people in that tiny space. To play on a stage where Macca rocked the house was beyond belief. To rock the stage where Macca played? Priceless. We went over so well that we were called back to Lennon's to perform one more set! The hotness? A dozen people followed us across the street to singalong to the songs they'd just heard. That's right we played 3 shows in one night. And what song did Mr. Bash say from the Cavern stage was the "catchiest song of the festival?" A Talent For Loving. Thank you, Mr. Bash! We are indebted to you. Long live IPO.
Let Me Take You Down
The next day, the band hit the road to travel to York. On the way out of Liverpool, we drove to the suburb of Woolton. There we stopped at Menlove Ave. to pay homage at John Lennon's childhood home. That was overwhelming. To know that John had walked that drive and sidewalk. Touched the fence and the brick posts. I will never forget those few minutes at Menlove Ave. There are few artists who move me as much as John Lennon. I've known and loved his music as long as I can remember. His spirit flows through my music even where you can't hear it. I thought about my favorite Lennon compositions and reflected on his life and how it's impacted mine. It brought to mind several dear friends and family members who share or understand my love of the Beatles. I wish you could have been there to share the moment. I breathed the Woolton air in deeply and held it in my lungs in hope of bringing a bit back with me. Love is all you need.
I even chatted with the young boys who "live next to John Lennon." Everyone I've met has been pleasant and patient with me. From there we got in the car and drove up the hill to Strawberry Field, the orphanage that inspired Lennon's classic song Strawberry Fields. We managed to park at the orphanage and walk around to the main gate and snap some photos in front of the sign.
I hope to have those posted soon. In the meantime, it's back to the studio. I'll try to write about York and our adventures in Barnsley and Hudds soon.
From Wales With Love
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