Southampton. The Brook (Martyn)

Dragged myself out of bed around 11. My body clock has all but gone, we live by night and travel by day, sleep is not in abundance (I'm typing this at 3.30am). One of my favourite gig's today, the Brook in Southampton. Plenty of mocking of my apparent aparrition on the way home last night. At one point, as we leave a service station, Mike, who has run to the exit without me knowing, pretends to be a hitch hiker with a sign for Nazareth!! Thankfully he didnt find a green robe! Maybe I am loosing it!onights gig turns out to be very special, and would probably rank in my all- time top 10 favourite gigs. The crowd (standing) were amazing, and made for an atmosphere that is difficult to describe. My stuff is not exactly sing along material but on this occasion it was. 'Dic Penderyn' was moving as they sang along on the chorus, a mailny English audience joining in the lament for the first martyr of the Welsh working class. They matched this on songs like 'Change Your World' and 'Talk About It In The Morning' only to raise the roof when it came to 'One Of Us'. I could have just played the chords and let them get on with it! I have to say without wishing to sound trite that I felt loved, it was at times overwhelming. Nigel and I grin through it all, knowing something special is happening, I love playing the stuff with him, he has come on board in a big way. Mac is out front cooking the faders, Gaynor is dealing the practicals..the Brook is ours and we all swim in style together.I wish we had taped the gig, but I wont forget that one in a long time. Some poor lady actually ventured a little too near a candle at the back of the room and her hair caught fire! Mike did his best fireman inpersonation ( waves hands and points ) and all is well. Just over half way through the tour now, a little tired, but could honestly do this for months. I love that connection every night, the community of it all. I like this job and don't want a proper one. I greet folk after the show and we finally leave around 12.45am. Tommorow is a new venue for me in Stamford and we wont be back home till Friday. Must kiss the kids quietly before I shut my eyes