Ben Griffith's Tour Blog

The 2 Minute Tour

bengriffithtour — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:42:31 +0000

To give you all a very quick flavor of tour life, here is some of the tour, compressed into 2 minutes! We had a lot of fun!

Tour Manager Round up

bengriffithtour — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:03:27 +0000

Well were back home, after having a wicked two weeks on the road. We’ve meet load of great people and seen lots of cool places, some of which we’ve never been to before. From as far south as Plymouth to as far north as Glasgow, the van and car did us well. Its been a great pleasure traveling and touring with these guys and is an experience we’ll all remember for a very long time. Even tho the UK tour is over for now, many more gig dates will appear soon, and more footage will be added here to the blog. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this tour possible and untill next time….Lets get this show on the road!

Cambridge

bengriffithtour — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:09:42 +0000

First stop Q103, then on to the Hotel.

We had a quick walk about town before heading to the venue, the Boat House.

The last night of the tour, we rocked it, having a great one.

On to the after party, after closing of the pub. We headed to town for big one, much was consumed and the night ended with rob break dancing into someone, it took an hour and a half to walk the 10min back to the hotel!

Nottingham

bengriffithtour — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:32:19 +0000

Sherwood forest here we come, and the gig tonight was at Lee rosys tea room, a small intimate venue not far from the Nottingham town square.

One tip. Never drive in Nottingham, the road system is totally messed up, one way routes ever where and took us over an hour to actually pull up outside the venue, despite it being just a 10 min walk from the hotel!

We did a live BBC session with Jo Davis, which was really great, playing out live to thousands of people and the guest after us was Nigella Lawson, so we said hi to her as well.

Lovely to see all who showed up lastnight and to meet so many of you, cool venue to play as well.

Quote of the day : (Ali to Nigella Lawson) You got any cakes?
Then Rob gave her a 7”!

London

bengriffithtour — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:24:24 +0000

In the capital city and today we had several press things to do before we could get stuck into our big London show.

Congestion charge didn’t really stop the congestion as we made our way to Camden for interviews.

Up to Hollaway Road to Nambucca.

Wicked gig, tones of people we knew and had an amazing time.

Glasgow to London

bengriffithtour — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:11:17 +0000

What a very long way it is driving the length of the country, but we did it, we made it. Traffic held us up in several places, weather was crazy, but clapham looked so welcoming as we arrived. SLIGHT problem with the rooms etc but we got through.

A few local ales and we were ready to hit the sack, ready for the Big london show tomorro!

Hopfully see some of you down there

Quote of the day : Your having another curry…you C**nts

Glasgow

bengriffithtour — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:16:58 +0000

Liverpool to Glasgow today, quite a long drive up the M6, its just over 200 miles.

Plenty of stops for coffee and we are rocking up in central Glasgow. The venue tonight is a very cool Belgian style place right in student-vile. Its down a lovely cobbled street just outside town.

Got to the place nice and early for a pint and jamming session on the street by the venue, playing to masses of passing students on route to and from lectures.

For dinner, the venues restaurant specialty, Mussels. The best we’ve had!

Not going too crazy on the drinking tonight because we drive all the way back to London town tomorrow morning! An easy 450 miles, and the rest!

Cheers to Haight-Ashbury and Ross Fairweather for a top notch support. Bit of a minor hitch, but we’ve lost Ali drum stool!

Quote of the day : (Ali to an Absolute fitty) Oooooo… That’s a beautiful wooden case you’ve got.

Liverpool

bengriffithtour — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:13:53 +0000

Sitting here writing the blog, watching back over several of the shows in recent days and the Tour Doco footage, After the Liverpool show at Barfly

This morning we started our day well, Rob and Ali hit the leisure pool for a swim, then off to a nice out of town pub for a roast dinner, It is Sunday after all.

We’ve been ultra careful here in Liverpool, taking everything out the van at every opportunity. Just in case.

Barfly after a nice Chinese dinner was good, great support band and a steaming energetic set. The band after were…umm interesting.

Quote of the day : No more spice food boys.

Sheffield

bengriffithtour — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:04:00 +0000

On to Sheffield, feeling a little delicate, but the travelling goes quickly.

Hotel check in and we get out just before the fire alarm goes and the whole place is evacuated.

Slight problem with the location of the venue. There are in fact 2 Duck and Fox’s in Sheffield, on opposing sides of town. We had the miss fortune of going to the wrong on, way out of town, in a place we could of got shot at. The sat nav was back in the hotel, so we struggled blind to get to the other venue.

We got there in the end, and the venue was a student style pub venue in Broomhill near the Uni. The rugby was on so we waited until it was over (come on England, into the final) before striking up.

Really good gig, the place filled up.

Quote of the day : I LOVE BALTI-KING

Birmingham

bengriffithtour — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:03:38 +0000

Accident on the motorway slowed our travels north to the curry capital. But inter vehicle fun was had to amuse.

First stop was the Curry stop, found a wicked place. A café style place in the heart of the Asian quarter.

Straight to the venue for load in and sound check.

The Glee club is great, a very cool sit down arrangement, the audience were very attentive.

Brum is crazy at night, Broad street where were staying turns in to an Ayanpa with hundreds of groups that seem like it’s the hen and stage capital. Police sand ready to break up any poor behaviour.

If you cant beat the, join them. We went out and had a large one, from posh bars to samba nights and kebab shops, we got in at 4.30am. Great night tho.

Quote of the day : Curry again lads?

Exeter day 2

bengriffithtour — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:01:53 +0000

Lye-in this morning and a healthy breakfast!

Off to find the venue, the Picture house in Exeter, a very cool cinema in the centre of town.

We spent the afternoon doing interviews then headed for lunch and a spot of bowling. Ben Won! With Ali having the fastest bowl at 20.5mhp! Rob is insisting we put the scores up:

Game 1 Ali 119 Tim 88 Rob 122 Ben 104
Game 2 Ali 89 Tim 83 Rob 105 Ben 92
Game 3 Ali 133 Tim 76 Rob 79 Ben 159
Total Ali 341 Tim 246 Rob 306 Ben 355

The venue tonight was a cool place. Good to see some friendly faces in the crowd.

Quote of the day: I’d rather give you something you want rather some I’m forcing on you.

Wednesday 10th Exeter

bengriffithtour — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:42:02 +0000

Today we drive from Oxford to Exeter via Plymouth for a BBC Devon interview.

Cream teas went down well in Plymouths Barbican area before a slap up Thai meal in Exeter’s cathedral square.

A turning harbour bridge almost ended with rob and ben in the water.

Night off from a live show today, back on it tomorrow in central Exeter at the picture house, which is a very cool cinema style venue.

We’ve also watch back some tour documentary footage and it was so funny we were crying with laughter.

Tuesday 9th- Oxford

bengriffithtour — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:43:02 +0000

Late start this morning which gave us some well needed sleep.

Quick breakfast and on the road after getting some fuses for the bass guitar amp, back over the bridge and on to Oxford.

After hunting for over an hour for some dinner/lunch we found a great little place down an alley and had some great organic soups and salads, tasted wicked!

On to the Jericho, and a nice busy show. Thanks for the tab!!

Quote: that is Nice fella cheese!

Monday 8th-Cardiff

bengriffithtour — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:52:16 +0000

Last night was quite a late one, and we kicked started the day with an ASDA breakfast each.

Cross country took a little longer than planned but we soon travelled over the seven bridge into Wales for the Cardiff leg of the tour.

Cardiff is buzzing with student life, and the tour added a new mascot, a leg! (see pictures)

Took way to long to get to the BBC for an interview and got back to the venue for sound check by the skin of our teeth.

Great to see some familiar faces down at the Cardiff Barfly and good to hang out with the other band Indigo Moss after the show at the Buffalo Bar.

Quote of the day : Boom boom boom, oh let me here you say Wales!…Wales!!!

Southampton

bengriffithtour — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:45:46 +0000

So after all the anticipation we’re finally on tour!

First stop Southampton. Another seaside town with a very relaxed feel to it.

After checking in to a really rough hotel, in a badass part of town, we headed off for a few radio interviews.

Next was locating Unit 22(thank God for Sat-nav and Tour Managers).

It’s now 9:30 and we’re on stage in 30 mins. Very excited indeed.

And then the afterparty………back to our radio interviewer’s friends 21st birthday house party for another impromptu gig.

Bring on the beers….thanks Southampton and see you in Cardiff.

Ben x

Quote of the day : mate….I think there famous

Ready to Hit to Road

bengriffithtour — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:36:45 +0000

Last night was the final practice before the tour, finishing touches before we hit the road on Sunday morning. We’ve got the set lists, the 7″ vinyl, and the band! Here are some photos of our final rehearsal down in Brighton.

2 Days to Go!

bengriffithtour — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:21:40 +0000

We leave Sunny Brighton for our first Gig of the tour in Southampton on Sunday. We’re Playing Unit 22! See you down there.

Welcome to Ben Griffith’s Tour Dairy

bengriffithtour — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:35:24 +0000

Were so happy to be taking to the road this October to bring you the live set. Here are the tour dates:

Tour dates:
7 Oct 2007 Unit 22 – Southampton
8 Oct 2007 Barfly – Cardiff
9 Oct 2007 Jericho – Oxford Oxford
11 Oct 2007 Picturehouse – Exeter
12 Oct 2007 The Glee Club – Birmingham
13 Oct 2007 Fox and Duck – Sheffield
14 Oct 2007 Barfly – Liverpool Liverpool
15 Oct 2007 Brel – Glasgow
17 Oct 2007 Nambucca – London
18 Oct 2007 Lee Rosy’s Tea shop – Nottingham
19 Oct 2007 The Boathouse – Cambridge
20 Oct 2007 Barfly (The Gloucester)- Brighton

Hope to see you at one soon!

Ben