Tubesnake

Good to hear that The Clarendon in Sunderland has once again opened its’ doors to live music and we’re booked to play there on Sunday 26th October 2008 at 4pm. Bring it on!

Friday 19th September 2008, Heart ‘n’ Soul Rally, Silver Ring Bar, Gosforth Racecourse.

What a great night! The only bad thing about it was missing all the other bands on the bill while being on stage. Tubesnake kicked off at God knows what time, and played ’til God knows what time to to an unbelievable audience. We were even joined by a ‘guest bass player’ towards the end of the night for Sympathy For The Devil, which was a first, but what a brilliant night. Would go back anytime!
… Tom

Great venue. Great atmosphere. Great beer. Great bikes. Great hog roast. Really appreciative crowd (especially the stand-in bass player). Be nice to get there next year, hopefully on the main stage! … Chris

From the first gig at The Lambton Hounds, Pity Me on 12th September 1992 to this gig at The Hearts of Oak in Peterlee 16 years have passed and we’re now on our tenth line-up! We’ve had some excellent nights at The Hearts in the past and this gig was no exception. The venue is now back on the circuit and hosting live bands every second Friday. We got to play the first gig there under the new regime. The house was packed, despite the heavy rain. The large room, with its’ raised stage, is class and allowed us to introduce extra stage lights, smoke machine and P.A. with a heavier bottom end. Thanks to everyone who turned up to give their support and help get this reborn venue off to a cracking start! … Lenny

Atlanta (2000)

Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network. In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged.

Recorded live on VH1’s Storytellers on Wednesday 8th March 2000.

Friday 5th September 2008 at The Ropery in Sunderland. Despite the heavy rain and flood warnings across the north-east we still had an excellent night with a good crowd in, supplemented by a spill-over from a 21st birthday party going on upstairs. Chris commented that his night was … “made even better by having one of my guitar heroes present, Peter Barclay (ex Lucas Tyson)”. True enough, Chris has had Pete listed as one of his “likes” on our Tubesnake Army page for months now.

Slipped in new song Cold Turkey by the Plastic Ono Band (deep joy) and said goodbye to the likes of Dear Prudence and Don’t Believe A Word.

Chris was back at The Ropery on Sunday afternoon to see The Grumpy Old Men … “Thoroughly enjoyed it. They got me up to play Too Rolling Stoned by Robin Trower, one of my other guitar heroes”. Seems The Grumpies like Tubesnake and asked their crowd to check us out, so cheers for that!

One year ago today our website was launched so Happy Birthday to tubesnake.co.uk and many, many thanks to everyone who checks out the site and especially to those of you who have contributed your comments, photos and artwork. Rock on!

Thursday 28th August 2008 at The Beamish Mary Inn, Stanley. The ‘music room’ at this venue has always had a great look and feel to it. We woz gagging for it after three weeks off and another classic gig at the Beamish was had by all. We ain’t played a Thursday night there since 31st May 2005 and thanks to all who made an appearance and showed their support for us and this very cool little venue! … Lenny

Second big break of the year and another three weeks off while Woody and Chris circumnavigate the globe.

Good crowd in at Sleepers, East Boldon, tonight, Friday 1st August 2008. Fullest we’ve seen the place. Good gig, good workout, sure I lost a couple of pounds and Woody gained a free t-shirt from behind the bar. Thanks to everyone who turned out and filled those seats! … Lenny

Sunday afternoon 27th July 2008 at The Beamish Mary, Stanley. Great return to The Beamish on what must’ve been one of the hottest days of the summer.

Feeling uninspired
Think I’ll start a fire
Everybody run
Bobby’s got a gun
Think you’re kinda neat
Then she tells me I’m a creep
Friends don’t mean a thing
Guess I’ll leave it up to me

… Stone Temple Pilots 1993

The Beamish Mary Inn in No Place, Stanley, historically, is known for great food and real-ale (won many awards) and, at one time, for being an excellent MUSIC VENUE with bands twice a week.

Music has not been a real feature at The Beamish for quite a while now, with just a handful of gigs over the last few years, typically organised by the bands themselves (us included). However, the venue now hopes to re-introduce regular gigs each Thursday and Saturday night, the way it used to be for over 10 years. This may take a little while to establish but we’ve offered our support to this favourite venue of ours that has hosted Tubesnake from its’ first line up back in 1992 through to our last gig there in December 2007.

Bands wishing to play there should contact Sally on (07821 678919). She’s looking for THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS only … starting from Saturday 2nd August 2008 up to the end of the year.

Because this is just getting off the ground - the pub will pay £50 to add to whatever you take on the door (we’re putting £2 on the door), this of course should improve if bands start playing there regularly. We’ve already committed to a few gigs for 2008 opening up with a special Sunday afternoon gig there on 27th July at 4pm. Cheers!

Moonage Daydream (2008)

TUBESNAKE recorded live at The Star Inn, Newcastle, on Saturday 21st June 2008.

Thanks to ‘Heedbanger’ for this video clip

Saturday 19th July 2008 at The Lambton Hounds in Pity Me, Durham. Tremendous night at the pub where the very first Tubesnake gig took place on Saturday 12th September 1992. I’m the sole survivor from that originating line-up which was a five-piece with two guitarists in those days. Looking at the set list for that first gig, there’s only one song, Roadhouse Blues by The Doors, that still makes the odd appearance in our current set.

This venue has a pretty small room and the place was heaving. We played an hour-long first set, took an extended break, and the second ran for over an hour and a half finishing somewhere after 12.30am. All songs on the list were played out and a few extra were thrown in, with extended improvisations in G.L.O.R.I.A., Sympathy and Jumping Jack Flash. Even had the whole joint singing those immortal lines from the ‘Flake’ advert at the tops of their voices. I kicked that off for a laugh but surprisingly (or maybe not?) EVERYONE went for it. The crowd were totally behind us and the highly charged atmosphere was excellent. Class night and another top-ranking gig! … Lenny

Texted my mate tonight about an upcoming Tubesnake gig and asked him what he was up to. He replied, “On the step with The Kinks, a whisky and a fat Cuban cigar!”. Cool, I thought, reasoning that he must be listening to The Kinks as opposed to actually squashing up next to them on his front door step. However, I didn’t know if he meant the step at his house down the road from me or the step at his girlfriend’s house across town so I texted him, “Which step?”. He replied, “My very own my friend. The King is in residence, and the kingdom is looking most favourable. One of those evenings when water could I’m sure be walked upon. YEAH!”. Heh! Heh! How many whiskies dude? … Lenny

Word came through via text just before we began our gig at The Daisy Hill on Friday that The Clarendon in Sunderland has closed its’ doors on live music. Three future dates we had planned there have now been removed from the web. Bumma!

Great (big) venue this. Good stage for snake charmers. Dance Floor for boogaloids. Tons of room for ya’s to drink while ya sit, stand, lie down or fall over. Shed some skin and start your weekend with a bang. Come and see TUBESNAKE at The Daisy Hill, Sacriston, Friday 11th July, 2008. Gig starts at 9pm.

More idols than realities
We’re OK, you’re so-so
Up The Hill backwards
It’ll be alright! … Bowie