77 THE FLATMATES, NORTH OF CORNWALLIS, The Word Merchants, Aldershot Buzz Club, Saturday 23 May 1987

Got driven down for this Saturday night gig, so consumed Carling Special Brew on an eventful journey down, driver Snowy hitting a rabbit on the way! In my drunken state I found the Buzz Club sign, "Admission £3, Members £2.50" hilarious; "d'you mean I have to pay £5.50 to get me and my member in?" Hardy har har...

The Buzz Club itself was a little posh, much like the ICA; openers The Word Merchants covered The Weather Prophets' excellent "Almost Prayed" in their set; North of Cornwallis ended their set with some Monkees covers, capping off a fine pop set which included an excellent, plaintive original "Falling Over December". A band worth seeing again!

The Flatmates were very raucous as expected, dishing out dollops of ramshackle buzzsaw pop with girly vocals. Spoke (or slurred...) at length to the bands afterwards, then promptly fell asleep on the drive home!

86 THE FLATMATES, NORTH OF CORNWALLIS, Riot of Colour, London Camden Dingwalls, Monday 7 September 1987

In London on a 2-day BT training course anyway, so I popped along to this gig! Chatted at length to North Of Cornwallis vocalist Lester Noel, and Bristolian Flatmates Debbie and Sarah, during Riot Of Colour's innocuous but pleasant set.

North Of Cornwallis and The Flatmates both played excellent, fun sets of upbeat pop; North Of Cornwallis playing a splendid "cover" of Grab Grab The Haddock's "Last Fond Goodbye", and the Flatmates, with their new drummer, sounding more coherent as a band and less like a jam session in a student union bar!

88 THE HOUSEMARTINS, The Farm, North Of Cornwallis, London Brixton Academy, Saturday 26 September 1987

Took the train up on a promise of being on the North Of Cornwallis guest-list, but found out on arrival I'd been bumped! Couldn't call NOC's Lester to the backstage door to clarify things, as he was actually onstage at the time! So, watched a bit of his set from the backstage door until being shooed away, firstly heading off sulkily on the tube, but then swallowing my pride and going back to the gig, sorting tickets (balcony only) from a tout. Bah!

Met Lester at the bar downstairs during The Farm's innocuous set, and forgave him. Headliners The Housemartins played a committed and enjoyable set of knockabout pop, not complacent at all despite their current elevated status which was only slightly soured by their socialist preaching - to the converted?

103 NORTH OF CORNWALLIS, Supp. Jim Jiminee, International Rescue, Fleet Football Club, Saturday 28 May 1988

North Of Cornwallis vocalist Lester dropped me a note informing me of this one, and of an open-air gig they were due to play in Forbury Gardens in Reading that afternoon! So I took the train to Reading, meeting up with the band for a kick-about, but didn't get to see their scheduled set as it got delayed, and delayed... then I went home, to get the car to drive to the evening gig, and missed it! bah!

Drove down to the evening's show, and chatted with Lester whilst openers International Rescue were on, exhuming the ska revival of the late 70's/ early 80's rather clumsily. Lester provided us with signed photos (nice!) prior to NOC's excellent but sadly short 7 song set, which featured 3 oldies and 7 new numbers! The 3 oldies, particularly the virtually re-written "Billy Liar", had all been heavily reworked and revamped, so seemed like new numbers to me! Still bouncy, upbeat and uplifting pop, though, so that works for me!

Bumped into Jim Jiminee's vocalist Kevin, who remembered meeting me at their Primitives support show last year, before they took the floor in front of their hometown crowd and predictably went down an absolute storm. Their good time music needs an enthusiastic audience to feed off, and tonight they had that, so they put on an excellent performance. I however was far more impressed by North of Cornwallis... but then I would be, wouldn't I?

104 NORTH OF CORNWALLIS, Supp. Jim Jiminee, London Marquee, Wednesday 1 June 1988

Half of the population of Jim Jiminee's hometown of Fleet seemed to be at the Marquee for their jumping, good-time set! I however took the train up specifically to see North Of Cornwallis; chatted to the guys backstage before they played an excellent set, probably the best I've seen them play (the best they've done, said guitarist Mark Pate afterwards), full of their excellent, intelligent indie pop, with reworked opener "Billy Liar" my standout track. Hopefully Go Discs boss Andy McDonald, also present, was sufficiently impressed to offer them a recording contract! (He didn't! Bah!)

115 THE CHESTERFIELDS, NORTH OF CORNWALLIS, The Milltown Brothers, Beat Hotel, London Camden Dingwalls, Monday 16 January 1989

A pretty ideal line-up at Dingwalls' "Panic Station" night, for my first gig of 1989! Also my first gig with Veronica. Had a slight car parking mare after a long drive through town to North London, so missed some of Beat Hotel's nevertheless punchy and enjoyable set. Spoke to vocalist (and former Chesterfields roadie) Jason at the bar while the Deacon Blue-ish MOR Milltown Brothers were onstage peddling their overlong and dull set.

Met North Of Cornwallis vocalist Lester, also introducing Veronica to him, and had a chat about the forthcoming FA Cup game, pitting my Swindon Town against his West Ham, before NOC played a splendid soulful, if short set, debuting a new bassist and featuring a beautiful opening "Falling Over December".

The Chesterfields were playing their first gig with the new line-up, following co-vocalist Davey and drummer Dom's departure, leaving new full-time vocalist Simon as the sole founder member. I piled down the front and had a good bop to their determined and more rock-oriented set, a more powerful experience then the janglier days of yore. Spoke to Simon Chesterfield afterwards; hopefully they'll be alright!