Welcome back to Part 3 of the Wild Strays Flashback Series.
Myself, Grace and Jake were working hard on the songs in the studio and we were hungry to get this band out onto the road.
I knew of a drummer I used to work with. His name was Phil and although a little older than us. Plus he wont mind me saying this, but we are bit heavier than bands he has played in before aswell.
He said he was happy to come down and play though the songs and even do a few gigs until we find a full time drummer. That’s pretty honourable to be fair. To put time into a friends band to get it off the ground.
So we arranged a day to meet up at Robannas. He came down to studio and I introduced him to everyone. He fitted straight into the band, and we had a blast playing together.
We worked hard on refining the set list and next it was to try and get some gigs lined up.
The idea behind this, was that we would look more appealing to another drummer if we are a gigging band.
After going to Robannas now for over two years with the previous band and now this one. We built up a good relationship with Rob Hoffman and some of his employees.
He and Rich both suggested we contact Adam Ward from Punks Alive Promotions. He puts gigs on all over Birmingham and would be a good place to start. So I sent a message to him and mentioned both Rob and Rich's names.
Adam sent a message back and said, yeah ill sort you out a gig. He was happy to put us on and give us a shot.
Now I almost feel like I could write an entire blog on Adam. He is a larger than life character. Just such a lovely guy and he gives me and Grace such a massive hug when ever we see him..
I’m smiling as I‘m writing this, he is a great guy and became our first Promoter and still supports us to this day.
He set us up for a gig in Birmingham at a venue called Get The Fear.
A warehouse in the back streets of Digbeth. This place didn’t even have a bar, it was bring your own alcohol. It was a crazy place, but a good old proper grass roots venue for us to Début
I was invited down to see this venue and a gig he was putting on there a few weeks before we were due play. I remember this well because me and Grace had recorded the first Wild Strays Demo.
A powerful song with a sexual undertone written by Grace called Guilty of my Innocence.
We were on a time line to release this track that weekend after a little build up on Facebook. So I went down on my own and met Adam for the first time while Grace was home mixing the demo.
Adam gave me a warm welcome and one of his hugs, and he thanked me for coming down to support the gig. I was shown backstage, which was made out of pallets. This really was a warehouse and with a makeshift backstage area. But it was brilliant and we were over the moon to play there.
So the stage was set and the date was announced, along with some pretty cool veteran bands.
I mean the other bands on the bill had been around for years working on the Birmingham circuit and it had been a while since me and Grace had been on stage. Jake and Phil also hadn’t gigged for a while too.
We were on first and quite early as remember. So we hoped a few people would be there to see us.
We set up and did a sound check and the night came and went so quickly,
It wasn’t a bad début and sadly I just have the one picture of our sound check earlier in the night.
For me it was one of the toughest gigs I have played. I think because it was early, there wasn’t too many people there to play too. I mean I guess there was twenty or so, including a good friend of mine Andy, but a place like that still felt empty. Plus it was our first ever show.
But we got though it and Adam Ward told me that a couple people came up to him and said they enjoyed our set. So that was nice to hear.
On the back of that Adam Ward booked us again to play a few weeks later. The same venue, but this time we knew the set up and we were really hungry to put on a even better show than last time. There were quite a few bands on this bill too.
It was at this gig we felt more at home and it showed on stage too.
We felt good and put on a much stronger show. We even met and made some pretty cool friends this night.
Adam Probert opened the night with some poetry and you should check him out for his work. Also it was here we met our now great friends Tinfish. We have since played several gigs with them now and we are looking forward to sharing a stage with them later in the year. Please check them out.
Plus it was here that we first met Terrorsaurs. Ian walked up to me and said. “Hey I really enjoyed your set”. “Would you be interested in supporting us on our last show in the UK before we head to Tour the States next year?”
Well of course we jumped at the opportunity. I said yes straight away and immediately went over to tell the rest of the band the good news.
This night really was the first step onto the Birmingham circuit.
Adam was happy with us, and Ian from Terrorsaurs had booked us to support them in early 2018 and we made some great friends with Steve, David and Lawrence from Tinfish. A really great night.
Christmas was approaching and it was time to put a advert out for a new drummer. As much as we would miss Phil, we all knew it was time.
I just want to take a minute to say a huge thank you to him for stepping in and helping the Wild Strays launch onto the Birmingham circuit and enable us to meet other bands and start to look for a full time drummer.
Phil, you will always be part of The Wild Strays history. Thank you xx
To be continued...
Until next time,
Keep it Wild,
KT xx