Guillemots and Retail Rehab
Last week we took advantage of half-term to spend a few days in Birmingham. We had tickets to see Guillemots at the Carling Academy, and the rest of the time was spent in retail rehab, and doing nothing much.
We stayed at the Aston Business School Conference Centre which opened recently. If anything it looks better in real life than the photos on the website. Everywhere was clean and well equipped. The “Superior Bedroom” had a flat screen TV, bath and shower. The staff were competent and did their jobs without being intrusive. This place made last year’s stay at The City Inn, Birmingham seem like a stint in a hostel by comparison.
We had other reasons for choosing to stay there: convenient car parking; being sited right in the middle of the campus where we both studied; nearness to the Carling Academy and the Bull Ring. We were within yards of the Guild where we first met, and as soon as we stepped out of the doors we were surrounded by familiar sights as well as new ones. It was an exciting experience.
The route from the campus to the Carling Academy (or the Hummingbird as it’s sometimes still affectionately known) had changed a bit. Gone were the dank underpasses, replaced by above-ground routes. Martineau Place, completely redeveloped including a Starbucks – a good place to linger over a coffee before going to queue outside the Gig.
It was cold but thankfully not raining as we queued. The Guillemots fans were more reserved and less trendy than other fans I’d seen recently. I got the impression the gig would be peaceful without much jostling. Even so we chose to watch from the balcony.
Support could be one or two acts, depending on whether you count the lengthy setup of the kit on stage by the labcoated Guillemots staff as an act. I would call it performance art of sorts! The musical support was one guy with a guitar, Richard Burke. He came on to the stage unassumingly and at first he could have been just another guitar tech. But he said “Hi”, sang some songs and won over the crowd. I really liked one song where he mused over the existence of an intelligent designer. I promised to myself I would visit the merch stall for a CD. Guiltily, I admit I didn’t, but I’m glad to see he’s online, I’m still in with a chance of adding some of his music to my collection.
Guillemots are unusual — not quite mainstream, they are definitely proper music though — real instruments and songs that can’t be pigeonholed into popular genres. I was a bit apprehensive when I heard the guitars, pedals and amps being set up (and the Theremin!) but I needn’t have been. Live, they sound amazing, even more exciting than their recordings. The lighting and stage show also added to the performance. I was right about the fans, they were very restrained, even though they seemed to have a good time.
After the gig, it was only a short walk back, much better than driving home! We had a lie-in and spent the following day shopping (Selfridges and the Bull Ring). Our consumer stamina wasn’t great so we stopped for coffee a couple of times, and eventually a meal before calling it a day.
We really liked our stay, so we’re planning to go back again as soon as we can.