On Saturday 5th July, I will be making the 90 mile journey from my home to The Junction, Cambridge. I will be doing this in the name of reggae, although the bands I will be seeing would probably prefer to be called ska bands. Since the middle of June, Pama International, The Slackers, The Pietasters and Mungo’s HiFi have been performing across the country on the ‘Reggae for the People Tour 2008’.
So, as any fan of ska music would be, I am excited at the prospect of seeing some of the best in the business. A big fan of The Slackers and The Pietasters, I am also keen to see Pama International who ex-Specials guitarist Lynval Golding now plays with. Great music is expected and a great atmosphere demanded, so now I must plan the evening’s events to ensure the best time possible.
90 miles is a long way to go for a gig and with a finishing time predicted of around midnight, I must decide to stay or not to stay. A hotel would be the perfect way to end the evening and I wouldn’t have to drive tired (I’m sure I have read somewhere that it isn’t a good idea to do so). So do I pay, approximately £50 I guess, for the pleasure of a comfortable bed and good night’s sleep before bombing home in the morning for a football match.
Hotels have showers, air-conditioning, heating, mini-bars, little biscuits, maybe a trouser press and so much more so it would seem the sensible option. But, I have little money and I am bit tight anyway so I will probably just drive home and get to bed about 02:30am and feel worse for wear in the morning as I run ( i use the term loosely) around on a sand pit with grass.
So reggae will be on the menu this weekend, as well as what appears to be a great deal of driving. Wish me luck with the transport, and I will be skanking the night away to some of the finest ska and rocksteady this country is ever likely to see. I will keep the words of The Specials in my mind as I get closer and closer to home – ‘Enjoy Yourself – It’s Later Than You Think’.
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