To start off, I need to backpedal just a little bit, about ten days or so. Basically, I got a bit sick. Pharyngitis and sinusitis. Nothing too deathly, but the night before I was due to go to the doctor I had my first asthma attack for nearly 14 years. So, that knocked me out for the time leading up to the launch. Then a few days later, Sarah was struck down with serious Laryngitis, so much so that she lost her voice entirely. Exactly one week away. We weren’t panicking. There was still a enough time to get better.
But then came the phone call. A few hours out from our regular Saturday gig, the night before the launch, we found out the Bridget had been rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis. Yes, we were the band of 'itises' (except for Mannie who is immune to everything except chicken). We decided to carry on as normal, after all, what could we do? Everything was arranged, paid-for, invites had been sent out, interviews given, reviews and publicity received, then there was George & Davydd, our partners in crime to think of.
But we were about to find out what our fiddle player was made of.
The first clue about Bridge’s chutzpah came when we got a call on the way to the Saturday night gig. It was Herself, just ringing to confirm it had indeed been appendicitis, the 'stand-back-it's-about-to-blow' kind and that oh, she’d just got out of surgery and was fully intending on being there tomorrow. Well, we were astonished, to say the least, even just to hear from her. Before she succumbed to the painkillers, she’s written out lists and given Georgia, her sister, specific instructions for each of us ( “…Mannie: DON’T PANIC! BREATHE...").
Well we still convinced she wouldn’t be able to make it, after all, she’d spent the night in hospital and wasn’t due to be discharged, sedated, until a few hours before the gig.
Not only did she show up, but Bridget played the entire gig, and with the exception of a couple of songs where she didn’t sing (and here I have to say thanks to Hayley, not only for stepping in at the last moment –she literally ran in just as we were about to start- but also because her being there was just so great, as she sings on the album too). It was an amazing night, and we were truly humbled by the turnout (we honestly had no idea people would be standing five-deep at the entrances. It was said by no small number of people that perhaps we should have booked Customs House or City Hall -next time!) and I'm sure one of the others will blog about everything in more detail later. Just finally, I'd like to say thanks to Davydd, George and Beth for being musically brilliant, Georgia for holding down the door and Ben, for stepping in to be the storekeeper at no notice, and of course, everyone who came. Thanks All!
Listening to: "Mirror Sea" by DeepSpace
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