Reporter: Phil Barr

White Rose Centre Gig

20th May, 2023.

 On the first summer – like day of the year,  nineteen members of the band assembled under the dome of the WRC, with the sun pouring through the glass to create a hothouse atmosphere, a complete contrast to the last time we played there when sheepskin mittens were the order of the day. Thelma made it just in time, having struggled with her satnav which, according to some gossip, had taken her to the edge of the Lake District at one point. Whatever the truth of the matter, Saturday was one of those days where, unlike the sun, the gods were not shining on us. The overriding problem was the constant barrage of white noise from the throng of shoppers who filled the centre. The streets of Leeds must have been very quiet as it seemed the majority of West Yorkshire had decided to head for the White Rose in their search for designer t – shirts, strappy sandals and the like. As David made ready to start, his face told a story and it was one that suggested it didn’t have a happy ending.

Indeed the omens were not good when Richard’s  music stand bracket suffered terminal metal fatigue during the appropriately titled song, There Ain’t No Pleasing You, sending his tablet crashing to the floor. Worse was to come when a plastic bottle containing fizzy drink tumbled down from the balcony, bounced off Mike H’s knee, exploded on contact with the floor and showered three or four of us with the liquid, thereby temporarily putting us off our stride. (Mike’s luck just wasn’t in as only hours previously his team, Bolton, had lost the opportunity to appear at Wembley, having been defeated by that pesky Barnsley team.

Mike S did however attempt to soften the blow by presenting him with a smart tartan waistcoat which will come in handy towards the back end of the year, I’m sure.

Meanwhile, the nearby escalators were groaning under the weight of hundreds of people of all ages, shapes and sizes, constantly coming and going. As an example of these distractions, one couldn’t help but notice one young woman dressed in a vivid orange jumpsuit who did actually stop to listen to the music for 5 minutes with her young children and who, Maria described at the interval, as having a figure ‘to die for’ and I have to say it wasn’t conducive to nailing a G7#5! There were though some bright spots from the playing point of view as it became clear that  we had no choice  but to answer like with like, thus when the volume was turned up with Chatanooga and the Coconuts ditty, there was some chance of being heard.

The bouncy rhythm of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ was well received too as was the catchy Love Potion Number 9 and, at the end, Sweet Sixteen. It had been one of those days when you just had to grit your teeth and try to home in on prompts. Even DB – our version of the strapline displayed on the adjacent shopfront of JD Sports – King of Trainers – couldn’t completely overcome the noise problem and as a result I think most of us would agree that it was not our finest hour, despite everyone, I’m sure, giving their all. 

 Thanks once more to our careworn and battle – scarred leader, to Mike H for liaising with YAA who hopefully had a bumper day selling their merchandise and to  the family supporters who helped to keep our chins up in less than ideal circumstances. ( It seems too that we are also in need of a kit manager to free a bit  of floor space!) 

Next up is a visit to Ashgrove Care Home, just off Barnsley Road at Sandal and opposite the Three Houses Inn in June – date tbc.