Forty years later

Last night we went out to see Nick Lowe and Los Straightjackets perform. Nick Lowe's big hit was Cruel to Be Kind, in 1979. Everyone in the audience was 20 then, so we were a bunch of old geezers out on the town.

Balding and paunchy rock fans

We were not the first in line but we did have seats for the first hour (waiting) and a half (warmup band), but once the main act took the stage we had to stand to see anything. I guess old people are supposed to go to a real theatre with real seats.

Nick Lowe is looking pretty good for 70. He played old and new songs, all with that New Wave/rockabilly/English feel!

Los Straightjackets are an instrumental surf-ish band, who always wear Mexican wrestling face masks. (I dunno why!) I had been assured that Stephen was the only one in the world who liked them, but obviously half the club last night was there to see them rather than Nick Lowe.

Halfway through the evening, Nick went off-stage and left the Straightjackets to blast out their hits. Classic surf songs, mainly, with the volume turned to 11.

He came back in a new shirt.

Finally the two really tall guys in front of me moved and I could see both Nick and the Straightjackets at the same time!

When I was 20 I would have been up there on the floor in front of the stage. It was great to hear the live music and all, but I wish we'd had a better view, a comfier seat, a less crowded venue and maybe even a place to actually dance.